Protecting Public Health Is Complicated. But Science Can Help, and the Time Is Now.

Understanding Cumulative Impacts: A Holistic Approach to Environmental Health

Public health protections have historically focused on individual sources of pollutants, asking whether a specific chemical from a particular source poses harm to people. However, the reality is that pollution is experienced in a cumulative way, with multiple contaminants affecting individuals simultaneously. It is crucial to consider the broader picture when assessing the impact of pollutants on public health.

In a significant development earlier this year, the EPA updated the ethylene oxide sterilizer rule to reduce emissions of this carcinogenic compound. While this was a step in the right direction, the focus was still on a single carcinogen from a specific facility. To truly protect public health, we need to shift towards assessing cumulative impacts.

Cumulative impact assessments take into account a range of factors, including health, environmental, and social considerations, to make more informed environmental decisions. Rather than looking at the isolated effects of individual chemicals, these assessments consider how multiple pollutants from various sources can impact communities, especially those already facing health disparities or limited access to healthcare.

There are existing methods for assessing cumulative impacts, and efforts are underway to integrate these approaches into environmental decision-making processes. Incremental steps, such as the EPA’s Environmental Justice Legal Tools and Cumulative Impacts Addendum, provide a framework for considering cumulative impacts within existing regulatory frameworks.

Reports informing decisions, like those implemented in Minnesota and Massachusetts, require facilities to assess and report on potential health impacts when applying for permits. By considering multiple stressors and burdens, these reports have led to reductions in planned air pollution levels, highlighting the effectiveness of cumulative impact assessments in reducing environmental harm.

Tools like spreadsheets and mapping technologies are being used to evaluate cumulative impacts more comprehensively. States like California and New Jersey have implemented regulations that compare stressors and burdens in different areas, allowing for a more holistic assessment of environmental impacts.

Integrating Stories and Data: A New Approach to Cumulative Impact Assessments

A recent paper by Dr. Sandra Whitehead, Dr. Benjamin Pauli, and colleagues explores the integration of qualitative and quantitative data in cumulative impact assessments. By combining community stories and experiences with quantitative data, researchers can provide a more nuanced understanding of environmental impacts on communities.

While the benefits of these new approaches are still being realized, tools like CalEnviroScreen in California have already directed funds and resources to disadvantaged communities based on cumulative impact assessments. By incorporating community stories and feedback alongside quantitative data, we can develop more effective strategies to protect overburdened communities from environmental harm.

Overall, a shift towards considering cumulative impacts in environmental decision-making is essential for ensuring the holistic protection of public health and the environment. By integrating a variety of factors and perspectives, we can better understand the complex interactions between pollutants, social determinants of health, and community well-being.