Life Expectancy and TRI facilities in Illinois

Keywords: TRI, Life Expectancy, Illinois
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Friday
Session Start / End Time: 2/25/2022 08:00 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/25/2022 09:20 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 74

Abstract

Exposure to toxic chemicals could decrease life expectancy. Residents living within close proximity to Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) facilities could have a lower life expectancy compared to residents living farther away from a TRI. Data on life expectancy, socioeconomic status and TRI facilities was compiled for all Illinois tracts in 2015. Interpolation was used to obtain an emission level for each tract in Illinois. Multiple statistical techniques were used including principal components analysis, bivariate modeling and regression analysis. Preliminary results reveal that life expectancies are higher in tracts without a TRI facility, yet there does not appear to be an influence with emissions and life expectancy. Furthermore, income is more indicative of TRI placement rather than race or ethnicity for Illinois. TRI emissions are higher in tracts with less income, but again, tracts with higher rates of minorities are not exposed to more emissions. Finally, even though the highest TRI emissions are found in rural areas of the state, life expectancies are also higher in the rural areas. In Illinois metropolitan areas, there does seem to be a visual connection between emissions and life expectancies, yet this connection did not hold up under statistical analysis. These findings contrast with previous research regarding non-White communities being disproportionally exposed to toxic emissions.