updated content/formatting in a few stories

stories/black-belt-climate-ej.stories.mdx

@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ pubDate: 2024-11-11
 taxonomy:
   - name: Topics
     values:
-      - Environmental Justice
       - Heat
       - Land Use
       - Natural Disasters
@@ -35,12 +34,6 @@ taxonomy:
     <p style={{ marginBottom: '0.5em' }}>
       <sup>[3]</sup> University of Maryland and Global Modeling and Assimilation Office, NASA
     </p>
-    <p style={{ marginBottom: '0.5em', fontWeight: 'bold' }}>
-      Mission: NASA Earth Action: A thriving world, driven by trusted, actionable Earth science
-    </p>
-    <p style={{ fontSize: '0.9em', fontStyle: 'italic' }}>
-      This study demonstrates innovative applications of NASA and other datasets to highlight environmental inequities. Please note that these results are preliminary and have not yet undergone peer review.
-    </p>
   </Prose>
 </Block>
 

stories/houston-aod.stories.mdx

@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ pubDate: 2023-10-31
 taxonomy:
   - name: Topics
     values:
-      - Environmental Justice
       - Air Quality
       - Urban
   - name: Source

stories/landfill-ej.stories.mdx

@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ pubDate: 2024-05-21
 taxonomy:
   - name: Topics
     values:
-      - Environmental Justice
       - Air Quality
   - name: Source
     values:
@@ -29,8 +28,14 @@ taxonomy:
     **Mission**: [NASA Earth Action](https://science.nasa.gov/earth/in-action/): A thriving world, driven by trusted, actionable Earth science
 
     <mark>🚧 This Data Story presents work in progress and not peer-reviewed results! 🚧</mark>
+  </Prose>
+</Block>
+
+<Block>
+  <Prose>
+    ### Introduction
 
-    Environmental Justice (EJ) advocates for a fair distribution of environmental benefits and risks, regardless of race, color, or socioeconomic status [1]. In places such as Dallas [2], Stockton [3], and others [4] where proximity to landfills significantly impact health outcomes, environmental justice principles become especially relevant.     Since the General Accounting Office (GAO) [5] published “Siting Hazardous Waste Landfills and Their Correlation with Racial and Economic Status of Surrounding Communities,”  researchers from various disciplines such as law, sociology, public policy, geosciences, and economics have explored such relationships, using various measures of exposure, spatial scales, and statistical controls. Consistently, these studies have shown that while air quality has improved in the United States over the past several decades, people of color (POC), particularly Black and Hispanic American populations, bear an unequal burden of the environmental impacts stemming from landfills. Moreover, research into the roles of race and income have highlighted race as the most significant factor in determining exposure to environmental hazards. As with other EJ concerns, the underlying causes of systemic disparities in racial/ethnic air pollution exposure are complex and intertwined with historical patterns of exclusion and discrimination, perpetuating cycles of injustice that manifest in impacts on health, urban planning, and real estate values.
+    Promoting protection from environmental and health hazards while addressing the unequal distribution of environmental benefits and risks is essential to fostering healthier communities [1]. In areas like Dallas [2], Stockton [3], and others [4], where proximity to landfills significantly affects health outcomes, these considerations take on critical importance. Since the General Accounting Office (GAO) [5] published “Siting Hazardous Waste Landfills and Their Correlation with Racial and Economic Status of Surrounding Communities,”  researchers from various disciplines such as law, sociology, public policy, geosciences, and economics have explored such relationships, using various measures of exposure, spatial scales, and statistical controls. Consistently, these studies have shown that while air quality has improved in the United States over the past several decades, people of color (POC), particularly Black and Hispanic American populations, bear an unequal burden of the environmental impacts stemming from landfills. Moreover, research into the roles of race and income have highlighted race as the most significant factor in determining exposure to environmental hazards. As with other environmental and health concerns, the underlying causes of disparities in racial/ethnic air pollution exposure are complex and intertwined with historical patterns of exclusion and discrimination that manifest in impacts on health, urban planning, and real estate values.
 
   </Prose>
 </Block>
@@ -166,16 +171,32 @@ taxonomy:
     ### Discussion
 
     The relationship between environmental hazards and race/poverty offers insight into the concerns of the Environmental Justice (EJ) movement, yet it only partially captures its scope. EJ issues encompass both Distributive Justice, concerning the fair allocation of environmental burdens, and Procedural Justice, focusing on the decision-making processes guiding these allocations. While advocating for Distributive Justice ensures no group bears a disproportionate share of negative environmental consequences, achieving Procedural Justice is crucial for fostering sustainable and equitable growth. Thus, addressing the underlying sociological, economic, and policy factors that evolve over generational timescales is paramount. Historical legacies of discrimination, such as redlining and biased land use decision-making from firms, have contributed to the current spatial distribution of pollution sources among diverse communities. For economic reasons, firms may prioritize areas with inexpensive land, low-wage labor, or accessible transportation networks. These factors often coincide with locations of impoverished households for various reasons. Poorer households also might seek inexpensive land, for example, and have lower wages by definition. Consequently, the resulting locations of major sources of pollution and landfills, are typically long-lived.  
+
     Therefore, grassroots efforts are essential to promote programs and initiatives aimed at fostering sustainable development within communities. This involves enhancing local economic conditions, addressing disparities, and investing in various aspects such as education, community centers, cleanliness, greenspaces/parks, and infrastructure, including sewage systems. Encouraging investment and providing incentives for firms to support development in these communities are crucial steps. By rectifying historical injustices and striving for equitable development, this approach aims to create a fairer and healthier environment for all.  
+
     It's not just about stopping the waste coming into the community; it's also about advocating for sustainable solutions, including building and rebuilding local economies and creating jobs to empower communities facing environmental challenges. 
+
+  </Prose>
+</Block>
+
+<Block>
+  <Prose>
+    ### References 
 
     1. Christine Todd Whitman. (2001). Environmental Protection Agency, EPA’s Commitment to Environmental Justice, Memorandum. 
+
     2. https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2020/11/16/environmental-racism-dallas-shingle-mountain/
+
     3. Piper, I. (2023). The Inequitable Placement of Hazardous Waste Facilities: How Underserved Communities are Disproportionately Impacted.
+
     4. Siddiqua, A., Hahladakis, J. N., & Al-Attiya, W. A. K. (2022). An overview of the environmental pollution and health effects associated with waste landfilling and open dumping. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 29(39), 58514-58536.
+
     5. US General Accounting Office. (1983). Siting of hazardous waste landfills and their correlation with racial and economic status of surrounding communities. RCED-83-168.
+
     6. Lane, H. M., Morello-Frosch, R., Marshall, J. D., & Apte, J. S. (2022). Historical redlining is associated with present-day air pollution disparities in US cities. Environmental science & technology letters, 9(4), 345-350.
+
     7. Ard, K., & Smiley, K. (2022). Examining the Relationship Between Racialized Poverty Segregation and Hazardous Industrial Facilities in the U.S. Over Time. American Behavioral Scientist, 66(7), 974-988.
+
     8. Mohai, P., and Saha, R. (2015a). Which came first, people or pollution? A review of theory and evidence from longitudinal environmental justice studies. Environ. Res. Lett. 10:125011.
 
   </Prose>
@@ -186,21 +207,33 @@ taxonomy:
     ### Data Access
 
     * [NASA Description for EMIT](https://lpdaac.usgs.gov/products/emitl2bch4plmv001/)
-    * [CDC/ATSDR SVI Data and Documentation Download | Place and Health | ATSDR](https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/placeandhealth/svi/data_documentation_download.html)
 
+    * [CDC/ATSDR SVI Data and Documentation Download | Place and Health | ATSDR](https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/placeandhealth/svi/data_documentation_download.html)
+
+  </Prose>
+</Block>
+
+<Block>
+  <Prose>  
+
     **Authors**: Maheshwari Neelam 
 
-    **Editor**: Maheshwari Neelam and Ashley Riddle ; 
-    **Developers**: Trent Cowan, Andrew Blackford, and Jerika Christman ;
-    **Science and Content Contributors**: Maheshwari Neelam and Brian Frietag ;
-    **Acknowledgements**: All individuals dedicated to Environmental Justice ;
-    **Questions / Feedback (email address)**: maheshwari.neelam@nasa.gov
+    **Editor**: Maheshwari Neelam and Ashley Riddle
+
+    **Developers**: Trent Cowan, Andrew Blackford, and Jerika Christman
+
+    **Science and Content Contributors**: Maheshwari Neelam and Brian Frietag
+
+    **Questions / Feedback**: Email maheshwari.neelam@nasa.gov
 
     #### Additional Resources
 
     1. https://dtsc.ca.gov/2020/09/23/water-treatment-chemical-company-in-stockton-pays-32k-penalty-for-hazardous-waste-accumulation/
+
     2. https://www.keranews.org/news/2022-08-23/dallas-lets-polluters-build-in-black-and-latino-neighborhoods-complaint-alleges
+
     3. https://www.americanbar.org/groups/crsj/publications/human_rights_magazine_home/vol--44--no-2--housing/environmental-injustice-in-uniontown--alabama--decades-after-the/
+
     4. https://sites.uab.edu/humanrights/2018/09/05/the-plastic-problem/
 
   </Prose>

stories/nc-hogs.stories.mdx

@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ pubDate: 2024-10-31
 taxonomy:
   - name: Topics
     values:
-      - Environmental Justice
       - Air Quality
   - name: Source
     values:
@@ -58,7 +57,7 @@ taxonomy:
     <mark>🚧 This Data Story presents work in progress and not peer-reviewed results! 🚧</mark>
 
     ### Introduction
-    Pork producers in eastern North Carolina call the stench of pig waste [“the smell of money”](https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/23003487/north-carolina-hog-pork-bacon-farms-environmental-racism-black-residents-pollution-meat-industry) but to the local residents, it’s the scent of environmental inequalities. The proliferation of hog farms in this area has raised significant environmental justice concerns, particularly within low socioeconomic status communities. For example, black North Carolinians are  150% more likely than white residents to live within three miles of a hog farm. Thus, minority populations face disproportionate exposure to the harmful effects of Concentrated Animal Farming Operations (CAFOs).  
+    Pork producers in eastern North Carolina call the stench of pig waste [“the smell of money”](https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/23003487/north-carolina-hog-pork-bacon-farms-environmental-racism-black-residents-pollution-meat-industry) but to the local residents, it’s the scent of environmental inequalities. The proliferation of hog farms in this area has raised significant concerns, particularly within low socioeconomic status communities. For example, black North Carolinians are  150% more likely than white residents to live within three miles of a hog farm. Thus, minority populations face disproportionate exposure to the harmful effects of Concentrated Animal Farming Operations (CAFOs).  
 
     These operations impose an environmental burden encompassing a wide range of issues. Hog farm production waste is typically collected in lagoons or vats, where it is often transferred to nearby fields to be sprayed as fertilizer or converted to biogas. The waste releases methane and ammonia into the atmosphere. When sprayed as a fertilizer, the wind catches the waste and spreads it over the neighboring area, blanketing it in a layer of feces, urine, pus, and blood. The pervasive odor from these lagoons makes basic outdoor activities and chores challenging for communities in these regions. Not only do emissions from waste cause foul odors, they can also be responsible for short-term and long-term health risks. For example, a 2021 [report](https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2021/05/10/farm-pollution-deaths/) from Duplin County, NC found that about 89 premature deaths per year can be attributed to hog farm emissions. Disasters such as Hurricane Florence in 2018 have exacerbated the environmental impacts of CAFOs by causing the waste lagoons to overflow and leak into the local water supply. 
 
@@ -142,7 +141,7 @@ taxonomy:
   <Prose>
     The resulting air and water quality degradation can have both short and long-term health effects. Short-term health effects include nausea and vomiting, asthma, and headaches while serious long-term health risks include cancer, increased infant mortality, anemia, kidney disease, tuberculosis and septicemia. 
 
-    To tackle this and other environmental justices across the country, the White House introduced the [White House Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool](https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/en/#3/33.47/-97.5) in 2022, which includes factors such as air pollution, health outcomes, and economic status to identify communities vulnerable to environmental and economic injustice. While the tool currently excludes race as a factor, data from the White House's Council on Environmental Quality has the potential to enhance decision making related to environmental justice by directing federal aid for climate, clean energy, and environmental improvements to underserved communities.  
+    To tackle this concern, the White House introduced the [White House Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool](https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/en/#3/33.47/-97.5) in 2022, which includes factors such as air pollution, health outcomes, and economic status to identify communities vulnerable to environmental and economic disparities. While the tool currently excludes race as a factor, data from the White House's Council on Environmental Quality has the potential to enhance decision making by directing federal aid for climate, clean energy, and environmental improvements to underserved communities.  
   </Prose>
 </Block>
 
@@ -220,7 +219,7 @@ taxonomy:
   <Prose>
     For example, data from the screening tool provides additional valuable information on the disproportionate impacts of hog farms for Bladen, Duplin, Sampson, and Wayne counties when compared to the rest of North Carolina (Table 1). More than 70% of the population in these counties are classified as disadvantaged, impacting nearly 200,000 people in counties where hog farming is prevalent. The population in these counties is nearly evenly distributed between white and non-white races. Compared to the entire state of North Carolina, 38% of the population is non-white and only 37% is classified as disadvantaged. Hog farms within Bladen, Duplin, Sampson, and Wayne counties significantly increase the percentage of the population classified as disadvantaged when compared to the overall population in North Carolina.
 
-    For environmental justice related decision making, development of comprehensive tools that address social vulnerability (intersecting factors including age, race, access to transportation, domicile and economics) and health are critical to ensure equitable access of resources and opportunities. 
+    The development of comprehensive tools to address social vulnerability and health are critical to ensure unimpeded access of resources and opportunities. 
   </Prose>
 </Block>
 
@@ -229,8 +228,11 @@ taxonomy:
     ### Additional Resources
 
     * [Economic Impact of Hog Farms](https://ncpork.org/economic-impact/)
+
     * [Race and Environmental Justice in North Carolina](https://psmag.com/social-justice/environmental-racism-in-north-carolina)
+
     * [CDC/ATSDR SVI Data and Documentation Download | Place and Health | ATSDR](https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/placeandhealth/svi/data_documentation_download.html)
+
     * [General Assembly of North Carolina](https://www.ncleg.net/enactedlegislation/sessionlaws/html/1997-1998/sl1997-458.html)
 
   </Prose>

stories/urban-heating.stories.mdx

@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ pubDate: 2023-02-06
 taxonomy:
   - name: Topics
     values:
-      - Environmental Justice
       - Urban
       - Heat
   - name: Source
@@ -57,7 +56,7 @@ taxonomy:
 <Block>
 <Prose>
   ## Environmental Inequality in Houston, TX
-  Houston is the site of some of the earliest studies of environmental inequality. Robert Bullard, known as the “father of environmental justice,” proved that waste facilities were disproportionately sited in poor and minority neighborhoods as far back as the late 1970s (Bullard 1983). Today, environmental justice  research is still important in Houston, which is among the most racially segregated cities in the United States (Logan et al. 2013). In 2012, Houston was ranked the most economically segregated metropolitan area in the entire country (Fry and Taylor 2012). According to this study, 24% of high-income households live in high-income neighborhoods and 37% of low-income households reside in low-income neighborhoods (Fry and Taylor 2012).
+  Houston is the site of some of the earliest studies of environmental inequality. Robert Bullard's research proved that waste facilities were disproportionately sited in poor and minority neighborhoods as far back as the late 1970s (Bullard 1983). Today, this type of research is still important in Houston, which is among the most racially segregated cities in the United States (Logan et al. 2013). In 2012, Houston was ranked the most economically segregated metropolitan area in the entire country (Fry and Taylor 2012). According to this study, 24% of high-income households live in high-income neighborhoods and 37% of low-income households reside in low-income neighborhoods (Fry and Taylor 2012).
 </Prose>
 </Block>
 
@@ -180,7 +179,7 @@ taxonomy:
   ### Data Access
   * [NASA Extreme Heat Data - Pathfinders](https://www.earthdata.nasa.gov/learn/pathfinders/disasters/extreme-heat-data-pathfinder) 
 
-  * [Earthdata EJ Data Catalog](https://www.earthdata.nasa.gov/learn/environmental-justice-data-catalog)
+  * [NASA's Science Discovery Engine (SDE) Data Catalog](https://sciencediscoveryengine.nasa.gov/app/nasa-sba-ej/#/ej/home)
   </Prose>
 </Block>
 
@@ -190,6 +189,7 @@ taxonomy:
   Bullard, R. D., 1983: Solid Waste Sites and the Black Houston Community*. Sociol. Inq., 53, 273–288, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-682X.1983.tb00037.x.
 
   Fry, R., and P. Taylor, 2012: The Rise of Residential Segregation by Income. Pew Research Center, 25 pp.
+
   Logan, J. R., C. Fischer, and C. Buchmann, 2013: US2010: Discovery America in a New Century. 1–62. http://www.s4.brown.edu/us2010/Data/data.htm.
 
   Reckien, D., and Coauthors, 2018: Equity, environmental justice, and urban climate change.