The Environmental Protection Agency's Community-Focused Exposure and Risk Screening Tool (C-FERST) and Its Potential Use for Environmental Justice Efforts

• DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2010.300087
• Publication Date: 2011-10-21T04:20:52Z
• Authors: Valerie G. Zartarian; Bradley D. Schultz; Timothy M. Barzyk; MaryBeth Smuts; Davyda M. Hammond; Myriam Medina-Vera; Andrew M. Geller
• Keywords: Internet; Environmental Exposure; 16. Peace & justice; Risk Assessment; United States; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Residence Characteristics; Social Justice; 13. Climate action; Geographic Information Systems; Humans; United States Environmental Protection Agency; Software

Objectives. Our primary objective was to provide higher quality, more accessible science to address challenges of characterizing local-scale exposures and risks for enhanced community-based assessments and environmental decision-making. Methods. After identifying community needs, priority environmental issues, and current tools, we designed and populated the Community-Focused Exposure and Risk Screening Tool (C-FERST) in collaboration with stakeholders, following a set of defined principles, and considered it in the context of environmental justice. Results. C-FERST is a geographic information system and resource access Web tool under development for supporting multimedia community assessments. Community-level exposure and risk research is being conducted to address specific local issues through case studies. Conclusions. C-FERST can be applied to support environmental justice efforts. It incorporates research to develop community-level data and modeled estimates for priority environmental issues, and other relevant information identified by communities. Initial case studies are under way to refine and test the tool to expand its applicability and transferability. Opportunities exist for scientists to address the many research needs in characterizing local cumulative exposures and risks and for community partners to apply and refine C-FERST.