Examining "Environmental Justice" from a Risk-Based Perspective. Dr. Ken Sexton, U.S. EPA, Office of Health Research
A primary goal of risk-based approaches is to identify and evaluate those populations, subpopulations, and individuals at potentially greater risk so that, if warranted, appropriate mitigation measures can be implemented. Conceptually, individuals and groups are deemed to be at potentially greater risk when they are 1) exposed to environmental agents above some health-related benchmark, and/or 2) more susceptible to the effects of exposures. Although much of the evidence is anecdotal and circumstantial, there are mounting concerns that many environmental health risks are borne disproportionately by economically disadvantaged communities, including a higher percentage of certain ethnic and racial groups. The resulting calls for "environmental justice" raise important questions about values (e.g., what is the operational definition of environmental justice in our society?) and facts (e.g., what scientific evidence is needed to test whether injustices exist, and, if they do, to decide which risk reduction/prevention strategies are most appropriate?). Although these and related questions are only now beginning to be asked, their resolution is central to realistic assessment of risks and to informed decisions about risk management. A central issue is whether traditional approaches and methods for risk assessment are adequate to deal with issues of environmental justice?