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Health-Related Environmental Indices and Environmental Equity in England and Wales

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  • Benedict W Wheeler

    (Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, Whiteladies Road, Bristol BS8 2PR, England)

Abstract

This study developed small-area health-related environmental indices for England and Wales in the context of an investigation into socioeconomic inequity in the distribution of environmental risk. Selection of environmental hazards, relevant datasets, and their attribution to standard small-area geography using a geographic information system are described. Four indices for 1991 Census wards are proposed, relating to ambient air quality, atmospheric chemical releases from large-scale industrial processes, landfills, and sites registered under Control of Major Accident Hazard regulations. Ecological measures of association between these indices and the Carstairs material deprivation index and its components are presented in the context of variations by urban–rural status. Based on these analyses, the study generally supports previous findings of environmental inequity in England and Wales, but highlights that associations are dependent on the environmental and deprivation measures under consideration, and urban–rural context. It is proposed that environmental indices such as those described here should be included in considerations of area deprivation, could assist with equitable environmental decisionmaking and planning, and that measures of environmental inequity could be considered as indicators of progress towards sustainable development.

Suggested Citation

  • Benedict W Wheeler, 2004. "Health-Related Environmental Indices and Environmental Equity in England and Wales," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 36(5), pages 803-822, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:sae:envira:v:36:y:2004:i:5:p:803-822
    DOI: 10.1068/a3691
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. John D. Graham & Nancy Dean Beaulieu & Dana Sussman & March Sadowitz & Yi‐Ching Li, 1999. "Who Lives Near Coke Plants and Oil Refineries? An Exploration of the Environmental Inequity Hypothesis," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 19(2), pages 171-186, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Maria-Stella Portelli & Elisabeth Conrad & Charles Galdies, 2020. "Developing an Environmental Justice Index for Small Island States: The Case of Malta," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-20, November.
    2. Gary S. Young & Mary A. Fox & Michael Trush & Norma Kanarek & Thomas A. Glass & Frank C. Curriero, 2012. "Differential Exposure to Hazardous Air Pollution in the United States: A Multilevel Analysis of Urbanization and Neighborhood Socioeconomic Deprivation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 9(6), pages 1-22, June.
    3. Michael Ahlheim & Oliver Frör, 2005. "Constructing a Preference-oriented Index of Environmental Quality - A welfare theoretical generalization on the concept of environmental indices -," Diskussionspapiere aus dem Institut für Volkswirtschaftslehre der Universität Hohenheim 251/2005, Department of Economics, University of Hohenheim, Germany.
    4. Hanneke Kruize & Mariël Droomers & Irene Van Kamp & Annemarie Ruijsbroek, 2014. "What Causes Environmental Inequalities and Related Health Effects? An Analysis of Evolving Concepts," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-21, May.
    5. Rehana Shrestha & Johannes Flacke & Javier Martinez & Martin Van Maarseveen, 2016. "Environmental Health Related Socio-Spatial Inequalities: Identifying “Hotspots” of Environmental Burdens and Social Vulnerability," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-23, July.
    6. Meg Huby & Steve Cinderby & Piran White & Annemarieke de Bruin, 2009. "Measuring Inequality in Rural England: The Effects of Changing Spatial Resolution," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 41(12), pages 3023-3037, December.

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