Disparities in COPD Hospitalizations: A Spatial Analysis of Proximity to Toxics Release Inventory Facilities in Illinois

Disproportionate distribution of air pollution is a major burden on the health of people living in proximity to toxic facilities. There are over 1000 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) facilities distributed across the state of Illinois. This study investigates and spatially analyzes the relationship between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) hospitalizations and toxic emissions from TRI facilities. In addition, this study investigates the connection between COPD hospitalizations and socioeconomic variables. Accounting for dispersion of air pollution beyond the TRI facilities source was attained using the inverse distance weighting interpolation approach. Multiple statistical methods were used including principal components analysis, linear regression, and bivariate local indicators of spatial association (BiLISA). The results from the linear regression model and BiLISA clustering maps show there is a strong connection between COPD hospitalizations and socioeconomic status along with race. TRI emissions were not statistically significant, but there are three major clusters of high COPD hospitalizations with high TRI emissions. Rural areas also seem to carry a higher burden of pollution-emitting facilities and respiratory hospitalizations.

Does Peer Adoption Increase the Diffusion of Pollution Prevention Practices?

Voluntary adoption of pollution prevention (P2) practices has been used to reduce toxic emissions in the US. Spillovers among facilities owned by the same firm likely play an important role in the diffusion of P2 practices. This paper estimates the intrafirm spillover effects of P2 adoption. Using instrumental variables methods applied to facility panel data from the Toxics Release Inventory, we find that a facility’s own adoption of P2 practices increases in response to greater P2 adoption by facilities from the same firm. Intrafirm spillovers are stronger among small firms and firms with higher degree of sibling homophily.

Information as a Policy Tool: The Toxics Release Inventory

The Toxics Release Inventory, created in the aftermath of the Bhopal poisonous gas tragedy in India, is a cornerstone of the environmental right-to-know program in the U.S. TRI is the nation’s first program to use information as an explicit tool of public policy. The program incorporates several novel features, but does not require companies to reduce toxic pollution. However, the “report card” aspect of publicly-available information has spurred substantial reductions nonetheless.