Wikipedia

Fenceline community

Afenceline communityorfrontline communityis a neighborhood that is immediately adjacent to a company, military base, industrial or service center and is directly affected by the noise, odors, chemical emissions, traffic, parking, or operations of the company.[1][2][3]These communities are exposed to hazardous chemicals, high pollution levels, andenvironmental degradationalong with the threat of chemical explosions.[4][5]

Many fenceline communities are situated insacrifice zonesthat are disproportionately inhabited by people of color, Indigenous communities, and theworking poor.[6][7][8][3]

Background

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As a result of exposure to hazardous materials and emissions, fenceline communities experience higher rates and risk of cancer and respiratory challenges.[5]Fenceline communities also face additional health and socioeconomic issues such as poor housing infrastructure, lack of access to nutritious and non-toxic food, and higher rates of diseases, along with the increase stress and challenges that result from unemployment, poverty, crime, and racism.[5]Climate change-induced extreme weather events and natural disasters place fenceline communities at risk of a high level of exposure to toxic emissions from facility explosions and chemical leaks.[9][10]

Fenceline communities "fear that it may jeopardize jobs and economic survival" to organize to reduce their exposure to hazardous waste. "[11]Additionally, residents in fenceline communities are often unable to relocate. This is because the large industries adjacent to residential communities often produce effects that dramatically lower the property value of these homes. Therefore, residents are unable to sell their homes for a value that would be high enough for them to purchase property elsewhere.[12]

An example of a fenceline community is the African American Diamond community inNorco, Louisiana.This community lived on the fenceline of aShellplant.[13]

Solutions

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Examples of actions that can minimize the negative impact a nearby company has on a fenceline community include, greater education and information sharing between companies and communities, improved safety regulations, health-impact assessments, and increased monitoring, reporting, and reduction of toxic emissions.[5]Communities also organize against adjacent company's and advocate for their standard of living. However, fenceline communities can face barriers in doing so as they often "do not have the social or financial resources to mitigate their exposures."[14]

See also

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References

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  1. ^Burke, Edmund M. (1999).Corporate Community Relations: The Principle of the Neighbor of Choice.Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 63.ISBN027596471X.Retrieved22 January2013.
  2. ^Henriques, Adrian (2012).Corporate Impact: Measuring and Managing Your Social Footprint.Earthspan. p. 79.Retrieved22 January2013.
  3. ^ab"Let's Talk about Sacrifice Zones".Climate Reality.2021-05-13.Retrieved2022-02-16.
  4. ^"Let's Talk about Sacrifice Zones".Climate Reality.2021-05-13.Retrieved2022-02-17.
  5. ^abcd"Life at the Fenceline: Understanding Cumulative Health Hazards in Environmental Justice Communities".Coming Clean Inc.Retrieved2022-02-17.
  6. ^Robert D. Bullard, ed. (2005).The Quest for Environmental Justice: Human Rights and the Politics of Pollution.Sierra Club Book.ISBN1578051207.Retrieved22 January2013.
  7. ^US Environmental Protection Agency, ed. (1992).Environmental Equity:Reducing Risk for All Communities (vol. 1)(PDF).United States Government.Retrieved5 March2017.
  8. ^US Environmental Protection Agency, ed. (1992).Environmental Equity:Reducing Risk for All Communities (vol. 2)(PDF).United States Government.Retrieved5 March2017.
  9. ^Nicole, Wendee (May 2021)."A Different Kind of Storm: Natech Events in Houston's Fenceline Communities".Environmental Health Perspectives.129(5). Research Triangle Park: 52001.doi:10.1289/EHP8391.PMC8099156.PMID33950702.
  10. ^Johnston, J.; Cushing, L. (2020)."University of Toronto Libraries".Current Environmental Health Reports.7(1): 48–57.doi:10.1007/s40572-020-00263-8.PMC7035204.PMID31970715.Retrieved2022-02-17.
  11. ^"Environmental Racism".United Church of Christ. Archived fromthe originalon 19 February 2014.Retrieved22 January2013.
  12. ^Lerner, Steve (2005).Diamond: A Struggle for Environmental Justice in Louisiana's Chemical Corridor.London, England: First MIT Press. pp.10.ISBN9780262122733.
  13. ^Lerner, Steve (2006).Diamond.The MIT Press.ISBN0262622041.
  14. ^Johnston, Jill; Cushing, Lara (2020-03-01)."Chemical Exposures, Health, and Environmental Justice in Communities Living on the Fenceline of Industry".Current Environmental Health Reports.7(1): 48–57.doi:10.1007/s40572-020-00263-8.ISSN2196-5412.PMC7035204.PMID31970715.
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Community organizations
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