Project Director

Ford, Dawn

Department Examiner

Potts, Gretchen

Department

Dept. of Integrated Studies

Publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Place of Publication

Chattanooga (Tenn.)

Abstract

The concept of environmental injustice stems from the building of environmentally harmful infrastructure in minority communities. These communities are disproportionally subjected to increased environmental risk than other areas of society. As there is a large minority and impoverished population on the Southside of Chattanooga these issues are prevalent. Hamilton County was determined as a hotspot for childhood lead poisoning. The EPA began testing the soil for lead, but residents have not seen efforts to completely resolve the issue. In this study, a survey was used to assess community awareness of the lead contaminated soil and to highlight the aspects of environmental injustice effecting Cowart Place and Southside Gardens within the Southside community. In this study none of the residents with children had their children blood tested for lead even though their neighborhood was identified as a hotspot for soil lead contamination. This lack of individual prevention could be a product of the lack of awareness proven by the survey in which only one respondent (9%) was aware of the soil lead contamination. As a result of these findings, recommendations are presented to address the issue and minimize the possibility of reoccurrence. Reasons as to why environmental injustice existed in this community are also explored to better inform the recommendations.

IRB Number

17-108

Degree

B. I. S.; An honors thesis submitted to the faculty of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Bachelor of Integrated Studies.

Date

5-2018

Subject

Environmentalism -- Social aspects; Environmental justice; Pollution -- Social aspects

Keyword

Environmental injustice; Lead contamination

Document Type

Theses

Extent

38 leaves

DCMI Type

Text

Language

English

Rights

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/

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