Environmental Risks in theEnvironmental Risks in theSouthern Central Valley, Southern Central Valley,

CaliforniaCalifornia

A presentation for: A presentation for:

Californians for Environmental JusticeCalifornians for Environmental Justice

By: Dan Williams

The Study AreaThe Study Area

South Central Valley:South Central Valley:OverviewOverview

Total Total Population: Population: 2,292,1972,292,197

6 Counties: 6 Counties: – KernKern– FresnoFresno– TulareTulare– KingsKings– MercedMerced– Madera Madera

Age Total %

0-17 738,735 32.2%18-29 404,976 17.7%30-49 648,613 28.3%50+ 499,873 21.8%

Total %

Asian 118,515 5.2%Black 111,870 4.9%White 1,319,831 57.6%Other 741,981 32.4%

Hispanic 998,960 43.6%

South Central Valley:South Central Valley:Identifying At-Risk CommunitiesIdentifying At-Risk Communities

Goal - Identify risks based on:Goal - Identify risks based on:– Ethnic/Racial BackgroundEthnic/Racial Background– Age GroupAge Group– Geographic ResidenceGeographic Residence

Methodology – Examine relationship Methodology – Examine relationship between Census Data and 3 Pollution between Census Data and 3 Pollution Types: Types: – Ambient Air QualityAmbient Air Quality– Point Source Air PollutersPoint Source Air Polluters– Ground Water Aquifer ContaminationGround Water Aquifer Contamination

South Central Valley:South Central Valley:Ambient Air QualityAmbient Air Quality

Created weighted air pollution index Created weighted air pollution index for each county based on number of for each county based on number of Orange, Red and Purple days.Orange, Red and Purple days.

Ranked counties from best (Madera) Ranked counties from best (Madera) to worst (Kern).to worst (Kern).

Identified at-risk age and ethnic/racial Identified at-risk age and ethnic/racial groups based on demographic groups based on demographic distribution between counties.distribution between counties.

South Central Valley:South Central Valley:Ambient Air QualityAmbient Air Quality

South Central Valley:South Central Valley:Demographic CharacteristicsDemographic Characteristics

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Fresno Kern Kings Madera Merced Tulare

% White % Hispanic % School-aged % over 65

South Central Valley:South Central Valley:Ambient Air Quality--ConclusionsAmbient Air Quality--Conclusions

No significant relationship between county No significant relationship between county demographics and air pollution rankingsdemographics and air pollution rankings

Residents do not choose their home Residents do not choose their home location based mainly on the county, but location based mainly on the county, but rather the specific neighborhood or area. rather the specific neighborhood or area.

County-level comparisons are insufficient, County-level comparisons are insufficient, as air level qualities are certain to differ as air level qualities are certain to differ throughout the county.throughout the county.

Need to compare smaller units of analysis, Need to compare smaller units of analysis, such as Census blocks.such as Census blocks.

South Central Valley:South Central Valley:Air Pollution Sources and Age/Ethnic Air Pollution Sources and Age/Ethnic

Distribution--Distribution-- Study Methodology Study Methodology

Data:Census 2000 demographics by Data:Census 2000 demographics by BlocksBlocks

Impact area: a 25 km buffer around Impact area: a 25 km buffer around major air polluters, defined by the major air polluters, defined by the EPA. EPA.

Identified at-risk age and Identified at-risk age and ethnic/racial groups based on ethnic/racial groups based on demographic distribution in relation demographic distribution in relation to impact area.to impact area.

South Central Valley:South Central Valley:Air Pollution Sources and Ethnic Air Pollution Sources and Ethnic

DistributionDistribution

Point Source Emitters: Point Source Emitters: Racial/Ethnic Groups at RiskRacial/Ethnic Groups at Risk

75.3% of population (1,726,024) lives within 75.3% of population (1,726,024) lives within 25 km of a major air pollution point source.25 km of a major air pollution point source.

The percentage of Asians and Blacks living The percentage of Asians and Blacks living within the impact area is higher than other within the impact area is higher than other ethnic and racial groups in the impact area.ethnic and racial groups in the impact area.

Asian 118,515 88.6% 105,047

Black 111,870 84.5% 94,528

White 1,319,831 73.5% 969,514

Other 741,981 75.0% 556,526

Total 2,292,197 75.3% 1,725,615

Hispanic 998,960 75.2% 751,492

Point Source Emitters: Age Groups at Point Source Emitters: Age Groups at RiskRisk

The age distribution within the impact area The age distribution within the impact area shows that the largest single proportion of shows that the largest single proportion of residents are in the youngest age category residents are in the youngest age category (ages 0-17)—among the age groups most (ages 0-17)—among the age groups most likely to be affected by poor air quality. likely to be affected by poor air quality.

0-17 557,453 32.3%18-29 311,829 18.1%30-49 489,294 28.4%50+ 367,039 21.3%Total 1,725,615

South Central Valley:South Central Valley:Air Pollution Sources and Ethnic Air Pollution Sources and Ethnic

DistributionDistribution In general, the proportions of Asians and In general, the proportions of Asians and

Blacks within the impact area are higher Blacks within the impact area are higher than outside.than outside.

The proportion of Whites, however, is The proportion of Whites, however, is higher outside the impact area than inside.higher outside the impact area than inside.

Overall Within Buffer Outside Buffer

Asian 5.2% 6.1% 2.4%Black 4.9% 5.5% 3.1%White 57.6% 56.2% 61.8%Other 32.4% 32.3% 32.7%

Hispanic 43.6% 43.5% 43.6%

A very high percentage (75.3%) of all A very high percentage (75.3%) of all residents live within 25 kilometers of a residents live within 25 kilometers of a major air pollution source.major air pollution source.

Asians, Blacks, and children are slightly Asians, Blacks, and children are slightly more likely than other groups to live more likely than other groups to live within these areas near sources of air within these areas near sources of air pollution.pollution.

South Central Valley:South Central Valley:Air Pollution Sources and Age/Ethnic Air Pollution Sources and Age/Ethnic

Distribution--ConclusionsDistribution--Conclusions

Data:Census 2000 demographics by Data:Census 2000 demographics by BlocksBlocks

Defined impact area: a 10 km buffer Defined impact area: a 10 km buffer around polluted wells, according to around polluted wells, according to the EPA. the EPA.

Identified at-risk age and Identified at-risk age and ethnic/racial groups based on ethnic/racial groups based on demographic distribution in relation demographic distribution in relation to impact area.to impact area.

South Central Valley: South Central Valley: Well Water Pollution and Age/Ethnic Well Water Pollution and Age/Ethnic

Distribution– Distribution– Study MethodologyStudy Methodology

Polluted Well Water:Polluted Well Water:Ethnic/Racial Groups at RiskEthnic/Racial Groups at Risk

91.4% of population (2,095,348) lives 91.4% of population (2,095,348) lives within 10 km of a polluted water well.within 10 km of a polluted water well.

Asians and Blacks have a higher Asians and Blacks have a higher percentage living in these areas.percentage living in these areas.

Total% Within Impact Area

Total within Impact Area

Asian 118,515 98.0% 116,160

Black 111,870 93.8% 104,925

White 1,319,831 90.5% 1,194,094

Other 741,981 91.7% 680,169

Total 2,292,197 91.4% 2,095,348

Hispanic 998,960 92.0% 918,924

South Central Valley:South Central Valley:Polluted Well Water and Ethnic DistributionPolluted Well Water and Ethnic Distribution

Polluted Well Water:Polluted Well Water:Age Groups at RiskAge Groups at Risk

The largest age group of residents The largest age group of residents within the impact area is also children— within the impact area is also children— 679,020 persons aged 0-17 live within 679,020 persons aged 0-17 live within 10 km of a polluted well.10 km of a polluted well.

Total within Impact Area

% of Total within Impact Area

0-17 679,020 32.4%18-29 373,888 17.8%30-49 589,779 28.1%50+ 452,661 21.6%Total 2,095,348

South Central Valley:South Central Valley:Well Water Pollution and Ethnic Well Water Pollution and Ethnic

DistributionDistribution In general, the proportion of Asians, Blacks, In general, the proportion of Asians, Blacks,

Hispanics, and ‘Other’ within the impact Hispanics, and ‘Other’ within the impact area is higher than outside.area is higher than outside.

However, the proportion of Whites are However, the proportion of Whites are higher outside the impact area than inside.higher outside the impact area than inside.

Overall Within Impact Area

Outside of Impact Area

Asian 5.2% 5.5% 1.2%Black 4.9% 5.0% 3.5%White 57.6% 57.0% 63.9%Other 32.4% 32.5% 31.4%

Hispanic 43.6% 43.9% 40.7%

Combined air pollution impact areas Combined air pollution impact areas with well water pollution impact with well water pollution impact areasareas

Selected only Census blocks in both Selected only Census blocks in both impact areas, in order to identify impact areas, in order to identify regions most affected by pollutionregions most affected by pollution

South Central Valley: South Central Valley: Identification of Highest Risk Block Groups– Identification of Highest Risk Block Groups–

Methodology Methodology

South Central Valley: South Central Valley: Highest Risk Block GroupsHighest Risk Block Groups

South Central Valley Pollution Study:South Central Valley Pollution Study:Final ConclusionsFinal Conclusions

Urban centers are most impacted by air and Urban centers are most impacted by air and water pollutionwater pollution

Asians and Blacks are slightly over-Asians and Blacks are slightly over-represented as residents in polluted areasrepresented as residents in polluted areas

Among age cohorts, children are over-Among age cohorts, children are over-represented in areas impacted by pollutionrepresented in areas impacted by pollution

Overall, Hispanics consist of 43.5% of those Overall, Hispanics consist of 43.5% of those residents in the highest risk block groups. residents in the highest risk block groups.

1,665,969 S. Central Valley residents (72.7%) 1,665,969 S. Central Valley residents (72.7%) live in the highest risk block groups live in the highest risk block groups