Extramural Research
Strengthening Environmental Justice Research and Decision Making: A Symposium on the Science of Disproportionate Environmental Health Impacts (Disproportionate Impacts Symposium)
Planning Committee Co-Chairs:
- Heather Case, Office of Environmental Justice, EPA
- Onyemaechi Nweke, Office of Environmental Justice, EPA
- Devon Payne-Sturges, Office of Research and Development, National Center for Environmental Research, EPA
Contributing Experts:
- Gilbert C. Gee, University of California, Los Angeles
- Amy Kyle, University of California, Berkeley
- Russ Lopez, Boston University
- Rachel Morello-Frosch, University of California, Berkeley
- Nsedu Obot-Witherspoon, Children's Environmental Health Network
- Robin Saha, University of Montana
- Donele Wilkins, Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice
Grantee Research Project Results
On March 17-19, 2010, EPA held a symposium on environmental justice research and decision making called: Strengthening Environmental Justice Research and Decision Making: A Symposium on the Science of Disproportionate Environmental Health Impacts. The purpose of the symposium was to describe the current state-of-the-science on factors associated with environmental health disparities; explore a variety of frameworks, analytical tools, and methods for assessing the environmental health impacts of environmental programs, policies, and activities on disadvantaged populations and identify short and long-term preliminary goals that could serve as a blueprint for an action agenda, including research and data needs.
EPA published a white paper in 2007 (PDF) (12 pp, 67 K) that describes factors to consider to properly include environmental justice scenarios in a regulatory decision. These factors, listed below, are prevalent among minority and low-income populations and are associated with environmental health impacts and disparities in environmental health impacts:
- Proximity to risks, threats or hazards to health and the environment
- Susceptibilities and vulnerabilities
- Pathways of exposure to unique environmental pollutants
- Multiple and cumulative pollutant exposures/health impacts that may create disadvantages to specific individuals and groups
- Community capacity to participate in the decision-making process of the EPA
- Physical infrastructure
- Chronic exposure to stress and the implication for health outcomes related to exposure to environmental hazards
Sponsors
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EPA National Center for Environmental Research |  |
Co-Sponsors
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