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SciPoll 551: USEPA's Proposed Changes to TSCA Risk Evaluation Framework Rule
The term "overburdened communities" should be added to the list of potential exposed or susceptible subpopulations
Results
(110 Answers)
Answer Explanations
- Agreeuser-175854adding this term will recognize the heightened risk these communities often face due to factors like proximity to industrial sites and limited access to health resources, ensuring more equitable and comprehensive risk assessments.
- Disagreeuser-499245Again, a class distinction and not a determinable variable.
- Agreeuser-691039Especially regarding neurtoxins and developing BBB.
- Agreeuser-411596The term "overburdened communities" refers to communities that experience a disproportionate burden of environmental, social, and economic challenges. These challenges may include exposure to pollution, lack of access to essential resources, higher rates of poverty, and limited access to healthcare and educational opportunities. Recognizing overburdened communities as potential exposed or susceptible subpopulations is important in various contexts, such as public health, environmental justice, and disaster preparedness.
- Disagreeuser-414626Depends on the definition of "overburdened". This may be new-speak for "poor" or for people with particular sensitivities. The poor often live in neighborhoods and housing that experience higher levels pollution which can be stressor that is additive or a potential synergist for the action of other toxicants.
- Agreeuser-378118Risks vary significantly from one place to another, and makes sense to define the severity of risks during discussions
- Disagreeuser-521436"overburdened communities" has no clear meaning and risk assessments are intended to protect populations including sensitive populations.
- Disagreeuser-574398The term is too subjective and of questionable value.
- Disagreeuser-998255It leaves too much room for political rather than scientific opinions
- Disagreeuser-653570unclear and ill defined term.... what does "overburdened" mean? If by "overburdened" it means "overexposed" or signficantly more exposed" to one or more substances then they should say so. If it means something else then they should define it.
- Agreeuser-673903This environmental justice aspect acknowledges the significant health disparities that can result from communities overburdened by poverty, residential locations near freeways, polluted water, pesticide exposures, and wildfires.
- Agreeuser-931808They make up a population which are significant
- No opinionuser-754769At the moment the concept of "overburdened communities" is unclear to me and my opinion on this is not set in stone.
- Agreeuser-553839The very philosophy of science is to improve the lot of the human race across the globe. An addition of term "overburdened communities" is likely to enhance the sensitivities and in the process empathy will prevail. The enhanced sensitivities will also augment the human health care system in its own way. I therefore support this view.
- Agreeuser-997228Including "overburdened communities" as a specific category among potential exposed or susceptible subpopulations in the EPA's evaluation process for chemicals under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) is a sensible and necessary step.
Reasons- Environmental Justice Consideration: Identifying and acknowledging overburdened communities within the evaluation process recognizes the disproportionate burden these communities face due to exposure to toxic chemicals. These areas often experience higher levels of pollution and environmental hazards, leading to adverse health effects among residents. By explicitly considering them as a vulnerable group, the EPA can focus efforts on protecting these communities.
- Holistic Risk Assessment: Including overburdened communities as a susceptible subpopulation ensures a more comprehensive risk assessment. It broadens the scope of evaluation beyond traditional vulnerable groups (like children, pregnant women, the elderly, etc.) to encompass communities facing cumulative environmental stressors, socio-economic disparities, and historic environmental injustices.
- Disagreeuser-153764this proposed category is a political term and adds nothing to the RCRA/TSCA process
- Agreeuser-445218Yes, in the spirit of environmental justice, these communities should be added as susceptible subpopulations.
- Agreeuser-523578To achieve the most significant impact, we must go where we are most likely to find the problem.
- DisagreeSciPinion AdminIt is counter-productive to use vaguely defined (i.e. undefined) terms that are also emotionally and therefore politically loaded.
- AgreeSonne72To define hot spots yes. But many communities are over-burdened.
- Agreeuser-841110This is an important acknowledgement that some communities near chemical plants, etc. exhibit much higher exposure rates and have less resources to deal with chemical exposure compared to the general population.
- Agreeuser-125195Clearly certain populations experience undue challenges due to higher pollution levels, poor nutrition and the like due to factors such as poverty and the like. In my mind decision makers should take into account the excess risks placed on "overburdened communities" to best achieve overall public health