Project Director

Ford, Dawn

Department Examiner

Reynolds, Bradley

Department

Dept. of Biological and Environmental Sciences

Publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Place of Publication

Chattanooga (Tenn.)

Abstract

This study views the risks associated with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as an environmental injustice issue due to the connection between existing environmental disparities and the disproportional negative impacts brought upon by the virus. The social and health determinants attributed to those environmental disparities have traditionally been evaluated as individual risk factors, an approach that fails to gauge the complexity of an environmental injustice issue. This study employs the emerging theory of intersectionality, a belief that phenomena cannot be linked to one principal cause but instead an interconnected web of influences, in order to synthesize the multitude of factors believed to create a heightened risk to COVID-19. The U.S. Census variables integrated into the Centers for Disease Control Social Vulnerability Index (CDC SVI) provides a familiar outline of determinants to consider for risk assessment by local authorities and outreach efforts. Additional influences are evaluated to further highlight the intersectional nature of the pandemic’s consequences that also serve as unique identifiers when mainstream data is unavailable. The scientific literature, case studies and COVID-related data reviewed here have revealed new insights on long-standing environmental issues and reinforced the need for comprehensive risk assessments.

Degree

B. A.; 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 Arts.

Date

12-2021

Subject

COVID-19 (Disease); Environmental justice; Health risk assessment

Keyword

Environmental injustice; COVID-19; risk assessment

Discipline

Environmental Health | Epidemiology

Document Type

Theses

Extent

39 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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