Associations between Asthma, Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) Air Emissions and Environmental Equity in Virginia
Leah Halfon
Background: While substantial literature has been published on the interaction between air pollution and asthma, the potential link between hazardous air pollutants and asthma has not been thoroughly explored. The purpose of this correlational study is to examine associations between toxic air emissions, demographics and the risk of asthma in Virginia.
Methods: By using the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s 1996-1997 Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) database, U. S. Census population data and Geographical Information Systems software (GIS), the distribution of asthma in Virginia was mapped and environmental equity issues were examined. Chi-square and multiple regression analyses were performed to determine which cofactors (TRI air emissions, number of facilities, race, income) were most significantly associated with asthma.
Results: This study found no associations between TRI air emissions and asthma rates in Virginia. However, TRI air emissions of chemicals suspected to cause asthma were significantly associated with race, or the percent nonwhite population per county (p = 0.02). Furthermore, race was a significantly and positively associated with asthma morbidity (p < 0.05) while income was negatively correlated with asthma mortality (p <0.05).
Conclusions: TRI air emissions appear not to play a role in asthma morbidity or mortality in Virginia. The most important factors in the development and exacerbation of asthma are related to race and income status. A preliminary assessment of environmental equity indicates that Virginia TRI facilities releasing asthma-causing chemicals are disproportionately located in counties with higher nonwhite populations. Overall, further research with more advanced environmental exposure assessment is necessary to evaluate the role of air toxics as a risk factor for asthma.
