Defining "Overburdened Communities" in State Level Legislation Using Cumulative Impacts Frameworks to Inform Environmental Decision-Making: Implications for Environmental and Health Justice.

ABSTRACT:

Problem statement

Geographic-specific strategies for reducing air pollutants are of increasing interest for informing policies that reduce disparate air pollution exposure and health impacts. State legislation identifying such geographic areas use varying definitions, often focused on pollutant levels and/or population characteristics, with implications that are not well understood.

Research question

How do commonly used legislative definitions of overburdened communities (OBCs) differ in capturing areas that experience excess air pollutants? What are implications for eliminating excess pollutant exposure and health inequities?

Methods

We extracted OBC definitions from state legislation using cumulative impact frameworks introduced or passed before May 2024. Using Mic

SUBMITTER: Schulz AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12609561 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature