Spatial variability in toxicity indicators used to rank chemical risks.
OBJECTIVE
This study used 6 different measures of toxicity to explore spatial and statistical variations in relative risk indicators of Toxic Release Inventory emissions.


METHODS
Statistical and spatial correlations between the 6 indices were computed for individual South Carolina facilities.


RESULTS
Although the 6 toxicity indices are not highly correlated in theory, they have more commonality in practice. There was significant spatial variation in the indices by individual facility level.


CONCLUSIONS
Environmental justice researchers must be cognizant of differences in toxicity indices because the choice of the toxicity measure can alter (statistically and spatially) the results of equity analyses and lead to erroneous conclusions.
Cutter
Susan L
SL
Department of Geography, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA. scutter@sc.edu
Scott
Michael S
MS
Hill
Arleen A
AA
D003625:Data Collection; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis / Q000145:classification; D005843:Geography; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis / Q000145:classification; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry / Q000145:classification* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015233:Models, Statistical; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000145:classification*; D017062:Small-Area Analysis; D013022:South Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D020711:Threshold Limit Values
D015386:Hazardous Substances