We analyzed billions of rows of EPA data to do something the agency had never done before: map the spread of cancer-causing industrial air emissions down to the neighborhood level.
by Lylla Younes, Al Shaw and Ava Kofman
Nov. 2, 4:59 a.m. EDT
Source: https://www.propublica.org/article/how-we-created-the-most-detailed-map-ever-of-cancer-causing-industrial-air-pollution
Introduction
ProPublica spent two years analyzing billions of rows of EPA data to visualize the spread of toxic air pollution from industrial facilities in the U.S. The result is the most detailed map of cancer-causing industrial air pollution ever published.
The analysis underlying our map uses data from an EPA model called Risk-Screening Environmental Indicators, or RSEI. This model takes a variety of inputs, including emissions data, weather modeling, and facility specific information, and puts out estimated concentrations of toxic chemicals in the air around industrial facilities. In this methodology, we explain how we used the EPA’s database to compute cancer risk estimates for air releases and discuss the advantages and shortcomings of using EPA data to map industrial cancer risk.
Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the U.S., after heart disease. A variety of factors may contribute to an individual’s risk of developing cancer, including age, family history, access to health care, diet and exercise. Our map should not be used to try to establish with any certainty that an individual case of cancer was the result of toxic releases from specific industrial facilities. Rather, it provides a starting point for readers to learn more about the potential sources of industrial cancer risk near them.
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How We Created the Most Detailed Map Ever of Cancer-Causing Industrial Air Pollution
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