The Intersectional Environmental Injustices of BTEX-contaminated Drinking Water in Crude Oil Producing Communities in the United States, 2010-2020

Keywords: drinking water, energy-water nexus, petroleum contamination, environmental justice
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Saturday
Session Start / End Time: 2/26/2022 05:20 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/26/2022 06:40 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 52

Abstract

Crude oil production in the United States (U.S.) has grown 206% from 2010 through 2020. Its production poses many risks to water quality and public health. Of significance, is a group of aromatic hydrocarbons, called Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylene (BTEX). BTEX are Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs) that can exist in air, groundwater, and can be volatilized in homes through home plumbing systems. Inhalation and/or ingestion of BTEX has been linked to several negative health outcomes, such as leukemia, kidney disease, and adverse birth outcomes among rural mothers. Furthermore, the literature has found that communities of color and of low socioeconomic status are disproportionately exposed to environmental hazards (e.g. air pollution and unsafe drinking water) and their subsequent health effects. Altogether this poses the question, are particular populations disproportionately burdened by the negative outcomes (i.e., the presence of BTEX in drinking water) of crude oil production in the U.S.? Due to the potential negative health effects of BTEX and the disproportionate burden of environmental injustices on communities of color and of low socioeconomic status, this study uses longitudinal multilevel modeling to assess the potential intersectional environmental injustices associated with BTEX drinking water violations and county-level sociodemographic characteristics in the top five crude oil producing states in the U.S. from 2010 through 2020.