At a glance
The Environmental Burden Module (EBM) contains environmental indicators that either cause pollution or otherwise negatively affect human health. The EBM contains indicators relating to air pollution, potentially hazardous and toxic sites, the built environment, pollution related to transportation, and water pollution.
Air pollution
Ozone
What is ozone?
Ground-level ozone forms when pollutants emitted by human activities react with sunlight and is commonly found in urban areas with high vehicle emissions and industrial activities.
Why is ozone included in the EJI?
High levels of ground-level ozone can cause health problems, particularly for vulnerable populations like children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions.
How is ozone calculated for the EJI?
The EJI uses data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Air Quality System (AQS), which includes the mean annual percent of days where the maximum 8-hour average ozone concentration exceeds the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS), averaged across 3-years (2018-2020).
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Particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5)
What is particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5)?
Particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) consists of tiny particles suspended in the air, which can be emitted directly from various sources, such as vehicle exhaust, industrial emissions, and the burning of fossil fuels.
Why is PM2.5 included in the EJI?
PM2.5 particles are small enough to be deeply inhaled into the lungs and pass into the bloodstream, causing adverse health effects.
How is PM2.5 calculated for the EJI?
The EJI uses data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Air Quality System (AQS), which includes the mean annual percent of days where the daily 24-hour average PM2.5 concentration exceeds the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS), averaged across 3 years (2018-2020).
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Diesel particulate matter
What is diesel particulate matter?
Diesel particulate matter refers to the fine particles that are emitted from diesel engines, particularly those powered by diesel fuel. These particles are composed of an elemental carbon core and other toxic carcinogenic substances, such as benzene and formaldehyde.
Why is diesel particulate matter included in the EJI?
Exposure to high levels of diesel particulate matter has been associated with various health problems, including respiratory issues, lung cancer, and cardiovascular disease. Certain groups, such as children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing respiratory or cardiovascular conditions are particularly vulnerable to the health impacts of diesel particulate matter.
How is diesel particulate matter calculated for the EJI?
The EJI uses data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's AirToxScreen, which includes diesel particulate matter concentrations in air (μg/m3) for 2019.
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Air toxics cancer risk
What are air toxics?
Air toxics refer to hazardous air pollutants, such as benzene, dioxin, formaldehyde, and ethylene oxide that can be harmful to human health when inhaled.
Why is air toxic cancer risk included in the EJI?
Inhaling carcinogenic (i.e., cancer-causing) air toxics can negatively impact human health and contributes to lifetime cancer risk.
How is air toxics cancer risk calculated for the EJI?
The EJI uses data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's AirToxScreen, which includes lifetime cancer risk from inhaling air toxics for 2019.
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Potentially hazardous & toxic sites
National priority list (NPL) sites
What are National Priority List (NPL) sites? National Priority List sites, also known as Superfund Sites, are facilities across the country where hazardous substances have been released or disposed of. These sites may be contaminated with pollutants such as heavy metals, toxic chemicals, or other hazardous materials.
Why are National Priority List (NPL) sites included in the EJI?
NPL sites can cause significant contamination to surrounding communities and to the health of the people who live there. While contaminants and their associated effects vary from site to site, NPL sites can affect air, water, and soil quality of nearby communities and can affect the physical and emotional health of the people who live there.
How are National Priority List (NPL) sites calculated for the EJI?
The EJI uses data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Facility Registry Services (FRS) to calculate the proportion of each census tract that is within a 1-mile buffer of National Priority List (NPL) sites, using data from 2024.
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Toxic release inventory sites
What are Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) sites?
Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) sites are industries that are required to report their releases and transfers of toxic chemicals to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The TRI provides valuable information about the type and quantities of toxic substances that are being released into the environment.
Why are Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) sites included in the EJI?
Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) sites can contaminate the air, water, and soil of surrounding communities. Research has shown that living near TRI sites is associated with higher rates of hospitalization for respiratory conditions (e.g., COPD) and certain types of cancer.
How are Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) sites calculated for the EJI?
The EJI uses data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Facility Registry Services (FRS) to calculate the proportion of each census tract that is within a 1-mile buffer of Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) sites, using data from 2024.
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Treatment, storage, and disposal sites
What are Treatment, Storage and Disposal (TSD) Sites?
Treatment, Storage, and Disposal (TSD) sites are responsible for treating, storing, or disposing hazardous waste generated by various industry activities.
Why are Treatment, Storage, and Disposal (TSD) Sites included in the EJI?
Living near hazardous waste sites has been associated with increased hospitalizations for stroke, diabetes, and coronary heart disease. Additionally, the location of TSD sites has historically been influenced by discriminatory practices and zoning decisions that disproportionately place them in low-income neighborhoods and communities of color.
How are Treatment, Storage, and Disposal (TSD) Sites calculated for the EJI?
The EJI uses data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Facility Registry Services (FRS) to calculate the proportion of each census tract that is within a 1-mile buffer of Treatment, Storage, and Disposal (TSD) sites, using data from 2024.
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Risk management plan sites
What are Risk Management Plan (RMP) sites?
Risk Management Plan (RMP) sites handle or store large quantities of hazardous materials and are required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to develop and implement plans to prevent and mitigate accidental releases of hazardous substances. RMP sites include chemical manufacturing plants, refineries, storage terminals, and other industrial operations.
Why are Risk Management Plan (RMP) sites included in the EJI?
Risk Management Plan (RMP) sites can produce chemical releases and explosions that can cause injury and death to people living in surrounding communities. Living near RMP sites has also been shown to increase the risk of developing cancer, respiratory illness, and increasing psychosocial stress.
How are Risk Management Plan (RMP) sites calculated for the EJI?
The EJI uses data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Facility Registry Services (FRS) to calculate the proportion of each census tract that is within a 1-mile buffer of Risk Management Plan (RMP) sites, using data from 2024.
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Coal mines
What are coal mines?
Coal mines are underground or open-pit locations where coal is handled, dug, or drilled from the earth for various purposes, primarily to be used as a source of energy.
Why are coal mines included in the EJI?
Research has shown that living in coal mining communities can cause elevated blood inflammation levels, heart and respiratory disease, kidney disease, increased rates of lung cancer, and low birthweight.
How are coal mines calculated for the EJI?
The EJI uses data from the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration's Mine Data Retrieval System to calculate the proportion of each census tract that is within a 1-mile buffer of a coal mine, using data from 2024.
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Lead mines
What are lead mines?
Lead mines are underground or open-pit locations where lead ore is extracted from the earth for various purposes, primarily for industrial use.
Why are lead mines included in the EJI?
Soil and dust from nearby lead mines can cause health hazards to nearby communities, particularly for children, including elevated blood lead levels.
How are lead mines calculated for the EJI?
The EJI uses data from the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration's Mine Data Retrieval System to calculate the proportion of each census tract that is within a 1-mile buffer of a lead mine, using data from 2024.
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Built environment
Lack of recreational parks
What are recreational parks?
Parks, including greenspaces, recreational areas, and public forests all provide access to areas for recreational activities, greenspace preservation, and environmental conservation. Parks can vary in size and function, but they generally provide opportunities for outdoor recreation, physical and leisure activities, and connection with nature.
Why is the lack of recreational parks included in the EJI?
Recreational parks promote physical activity, recreation, social interaction, relaxation, and connection with nature. Access to parks has been linked to improved mental health, reduced stress levels, increased physical activity, enhanced social cohesion, and better overall quality of life. Parks also positively impact the environment, such as through helping mitigate the impacts of urban heat islands and by providing shaded refuge on extreme heat days.
How is the lack of recreational parks calculated for the EJI?
The EJI uses data from the U.S. Geospatial Survey's PAD-US 4.0 to calculate the proportion of each census tract that is not within a 1-mile buffer of a park, recreational area, or public forest, using data from 2024.
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Housing built pre-1980
What is housing built pre-1980?
While lead-based paint was banned in 1978, housing built around and before that time often contain underlying layers of lead-based paint.
Why is housing built pre-1980 included in the EJI?
Exposure to lead paint, such as through the ingestion of chipped paint flakes by children, may cause elevated blood lead levels. Elevated blood lead levels can cause neurological and developmental issues in children.
How is housing built pre-1980 calculated for the EJI?
The EJI uses data from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey to calculate the proportion of occupied housing that was built before 1980, using data from 2018-2022.
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Lack of walkability
What is walkability?
Walkability is defined by the safety and desirability of the walking routes in a community. Neighborhood walkability is typically defined using measures of street connectivity, transit stop density, and land use mix.
Why is the lack of walkability included in the EJI?
Living in a walkable community can help boost metabolism, lower blood sugar, improve mental health, increase physical activity, lower body mass index (BMI), and lower incidence of diabetes.
How is the lack of walkability calculated for the EJI?
The EJI uses data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Walkability Index (NWI) to calculate the inverse of the NWI Score, in order to represent the lack of walkability for each census tract, using data from 2021.
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Transportation infrastructure
High-volume roads
What are high volume roads?
High-volume roads include major highways and roadways that typically experience moderate to heavy usage each day.
Why are high volume roads included in the EJI?
High volume roads tend to have heavy traffic that can lead to increased air pollution from vehicle emissions, noise pollution from constant traffic, safety risks from accidents and pedestrian injuries, and can create barriers to essential services (e.g., access to healthcare facilities, schools, public transportation). Living near busy roadways has also been shown to be associated with respiratory issues, childhood cancer, adverse birth outcomes, cardiovascular disease, stress, and overall mortality.
How is proximity to high volume roads calculated for the EJI?
The EJI uses data from the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway System (NHS) to calculate the proportion of each census tract that is within a 1-mile buffer of a high-volume street or roadway, using data from 2024.
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Railways
What are railways?
Railways, also known as railroads or train tracks, are a transportation infrastructure system that is used for the movement of trains. Railways can vary in size and complexity, ranging from local or regional networks to extensive national or international networks. Trains running on railways can be powered by different sources, including diesel engines, electric motors supplied by overhead wires (known as electrified railways), or a combination of both.
Why are railways included in the EJI?
Communities near railways may experience more air pollution from locomotive emissions, noise pollution, safety risks from accidents or derailments (which may also result in hazardous material spills), and barriers to public transportation. Living near railways has also been found to cause increased sleep disruption, high blood pressure, and high stress.
How is proximity to railways calculated for the EJI?
The EJI uses data from the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Transportation Atlas Database to calculate the proportion of each census tract that is within 1-mile of a railway, using data from 2020.
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Airports
What are airports?
Airports are facilities designed for the takeoff, landing, and maintenance of airplanes. They serve as transportation hubs for air travel, allowing passengers and cargo to be transported by airplane to various destinations.
Why are airports included in the EJI?
Communities near airports may experience more air pollution from airplane emissions, noise pollution, and safety risks related to potential airplane crashes and fuel spills. Noise pollution from living near airports has also been found to cause sleep disturbances and elevated stress levels.
How is proximity to airports calculated for the EJI?
The EJI uses data from OpenStreetMap and the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Transportation Atlas Database to calculate the proportion of each census tract that is within a 1-mile buffer of an airport, using data from 2024.
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Water pollution
Impaired surface water
What is impaired surface water?
Impaired surface water occurs when surface water bodies (e.g., rivers, lakes, reservoirs) become contaminated. Surface water can become contaminated in various ways, including from industrial discharges, agricultural runoff, sewage overflows, or from waterborne pathogens.
Why is impaired surface water included in the EJI?
Impaired surface water can lead to drinking water contamination, declines in fish population, and less opportunity for recreational activity. Research has shown that ingesting fish from impaired surface water can also cause those chemicals to accumulate in humans as well.
How is impaired surface water calculated for the EJI?
The EJI uses data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Watershed Index Online (WSIO) to calculate the percentage of watershed area that has been classified as impaired for each census tract, using data from 2023.
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