IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v20y2023i24p7160-d1296989.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Correlations between Educational Struggle, Toxic Sites by School District and Demographic Variables, with Geographical Information System Projections

Author

Listed:
  • Junu Shrestha

    (School of Integrated Sciences, Sustainability, and Public Health, University of Illinois, Springfield, IL 62703, USA)

  • Raihan K. Khan

    (Department of Health Sciences, College of Health and Behavioral Studies, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA 22801, USA)

  • Shane McClintock

    (Clinton County Environmental Health Department, Clinton County, DeWitt, IA 52742, USA)

  • John DeGroote

    (Department of Geography, College of Social & Behavioral Sciences, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA 50614, USA)

  • Catherine L. Zeman

    (Department of Health Sciences, College of Health and Behavioral Studies, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA 22801, USA)

Abstract

This correlational study associated data on children enrolled in individualized educational plans in their K-12 schools (IEP) and an algorithm-calculated score of neurotoxins at contaminated sites located in each school district. The study also mapped and projected the correlations using Geographical Information System (GIS) technology. These data were populated in ArcMap 10.5 (a GIS software) for generating maps and data to conduct geospatial analysis. A total of 1 Superfund site and 39 CERCLA sites were identified as contaminated sites for this analysis. The majority of contaminants were heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, mercury, and cadmium. The mean toxic score of all contaminated sites combined was 13.4 (SD 14.4). Correlational analysis between the IEP numbers from each school district and toxic scores from the contaminated school district sites exhibited a positive relationship (F = 23.7, p < 0.0001). Correlations were also seen among higher toxics scores, IEP numbers, and children under the age of 10 ( p < 0.00052) as well as higher proportions of black students in areas with high toxics scores ( p = 0.0032). Black students were also far more likely to be enrolled in an IEP ( p < 0.0001). Household income and poverty percentage in contaminated areas were also correlated ( p = 0.0002). Individuals without college degrees were overrepresented in high toxic score school districts ( p < 0.0001). The important low socio-economic status indicator of free and reduced lunch programs also correlated with increasing toxic scores ( p = 0.0012) and IEP numbers ( p = 0.0416). This study emphasizes the need to account for multiple exposures to wholistically appreciate environmental factors contributing to negative health outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Junu Shrestha & Raihan K. Khan & Shane McClintock & John DeGroote & Catherine L. Zeman, 2023. "Correlations between Educational Struggle, Toxic Sites by School District and Demographic Variables, with Geographical Information System Projections," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(24), pages 1-16, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:24:p:7160-:d:1296989
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/24/7160/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/24/7160/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mohai, P. & Lantz, P.M. & Morenoff, J. & House, J.S. & Mero, R.P., 2009. "Racial and socioeconomic disparities in residential proximity to polluting industrial facilities: evidence from the Americans' Changing Lives Study," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 99(S3), pages 649-656.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Hausman, Catherine & Stolper, Samuel, 2021. "Inequality, information failures, and air pollution," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    2. Ryan Johnson & Kim Ramsey-White & Christina H. Fuller, 2016. "Socio-demographic Differences in Toxic Release Inventory Siting and Emissions in Metro Atlanta," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-12, July.
    3. Kristi Pullen Fedinick & Ilch Yiliqi & Yukyan Lam & David Lennett & Veena Singla & Miriam Rotkin-Ellman & Jennifer Sass, 2021. "A Cumulative Framework for Identifying Overburdened Populations under the Toxic Substances Control Act: Formaldehyde Case Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-13, June.
    4. Jayajit Chakraborty & Timothy W. Collins & Sara E. Grineski & Marilyn C. Montgomery & Maricarmen Hernandez, 2014. "Comparing Disproportionate Exposure to Acute and Chronic Pollution Risks: A Case Study in Houston, Texas," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 34(11), pages 2005-2020, November.
    5. Lara J. Cushing & Shiwen Li & Benjamin B. Steiger & Joan A. Casey, 2023. "Historical red-lining is associated with fossil fuel power plant siting and present-day inequalities in air pollutant emissions," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 52-61, January.
    6. Grineski, Sara & Collins, Tim & Renteria, Roger & Rubio, Ricardo, 2021. "Multigenerational immigrant trajectories and children's unequal exposure to fine particulate matter in the US," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    7. Andre M. Eanes & Todd R. Lookingbill & Jeremy S. Hoffman & Kelly C. Saverino & Stephen S. Fong, 2020. "Assessing Inequitable Urban Heat Islands and Air Pollution Disparities with Low-Cost Sensors in Richmond, Virginia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-18, December.
    8. Faven Araya & Jeanette A. Stingone & Luz Claudio, 2021. "Inequalities in Exposure to Ambient Air Neurotoxicants and Disparities in Markers of Neurodevelopment in Children by Maternal Nativity Status," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-12, July.
    9. Philine Gaffron & Deb Niemeier, 2015. "School Locations and Traffic Emissions — Environmental (In)Justice Findings Using a New Screening Method," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-17, February.
    10. Teriana Moore & Pamela Payne-Foster & JoAnn S. Oliver & Ellen Griffith Spears & Christopher H. Spencer & Jacqueline Maye & Rebecca S. Allen, 2022. "Community Perspectives and Environmental Justice Issues in an Unincorporated Black Township," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-10, June.
    11. Zwickl, Klara & Ash, Michael & Boyce, James K., 2014. "Regional variation in environmental inequality: Industrial air toxics exposure in U.S. cities," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 494-509.
    12. Cassandra Johnson Gaither & Sadia Afrin & Fernando Garcia-Menendez & M. Talat Odman & Ran Huang & Scott Goodrick & Alan Ricardo da Silva, 2019. "African American Exposure to Prescribed Fire Smoke in Georgia, USA," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-15, August.
    13. Yanelli Nunez & Jaime Benavides & Jenni A. Shearston & Elena M. Krieger & Misbath Daouda & Lucas R. F. Henneman & Erin E. McDuffie & Jeff Goldsmith & Joan A. Casey & Marianthi-Anna Kioumourtzoglou, 2024. "An environmental justice analysis of air pollution emissions in the United States from 1970 to 2010," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    14. Stephanie E. Clark-Reyna & Sara E. Grineski & Timothy W. Collins, 2016. "Ambient Concentrations of Metabolic Disrupting Chemicals and Children’s Academic Achievement in El Paso, Texas," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-16, September.
    15. Amy J. Schulz & Graciela B. Mentz & Natalie Sampson & Melanie Ward & J. Timothy Dvonch & Ricardo De Majo & Barbara A. Israel & Angela G. Reyes & Donele Wilkins, 2018. "Independent and Joint Contributions of Fine Particulate Matter Exposure and Population Vulnerability to Mortality in the Detroit Metropolitan Area," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-15, June.
    16. Leanne M. Brown & Ryan A. Hagenson & Tilen Koklič & Iztok Urbančič & Lu Qiao & Janez Strancar & Jason M. Sheltzer, 2024. "An elevated rate of whole-genome duplications in cancers from Black patients," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-18, December.
    17. Emmanuelle Lavaine, 2015. "An Econometric Analysis of Atmospheric Pollution, Environmental Disparities and Mortality Rates," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 60(2), pages 215-242, February.
    18. Hans Oh & Harvey L Nicholson Jr & Ai Koyanagi & Louis Jacob & Joe Glass, 2021. "Urban upbringing and psychiatric disorders in the United States: A racial comparison," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 67(4), pages 307-314, June.
    19. Yuqin Jiao & Julie K. Bower & Wansoo Im & Nicholas Basta & John Obrycki & Mohammad Z. Al-Hamdan & Allison Wilder & Claire E. Bollinger & Tongwen Zhang & Luddie Sr. Hatten & Jerrie Hatten & Darryl B. H, 2015. "Application of Citizen Science Risk Communication Tools in a Vulnerable Urban Community," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-24, December.
    20. Sara E. Grineski & Timothy W. Collins & Jayajit Chakraborty & Marilyn Montgomery, 2017. "Hazard Characteristics and Patterns of Environmental Injustice: Household‐Level Determinants of Environmental Risk in Miami, Florida," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 37(7), pages 1419-1434, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:24:p:7160-:d:1296989. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.