Community Perspectives on the Cumulative Impacts of Chemical and Non-Chemical Stressors in Southeastern Pennsylvania

The need to study and understand cumulative impacts, the combined influence of chemical and non-chemical stressors on health and quality of life, is becoming increasingly recognized. The goal of this study is to understand how residents in fenceline communities experience the cumulative impacts of pollution and other non-chemical stressors on their physical and mental health and to develop meaningful policy solutions to mitigate the harms caused by these cumulative burdens.

We used a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach, partnering with residents in southern Delaware County, PA, experiencing environmental injustice, to design and conduct focus groups. Our focus groups aimed to better understand how residents characterize stressors related to their environmental, physical, and mental health. We used a deductive/inductive hybrid data analysis method to distill the most significant findings from the focus groups.

We conducted focus groups with residents (n = 22) of four Southeastern Pennsylvania fenceline municipalities. Participants discussed chemical (e.g., air pollution and odors) and non-chemical stressors (e.g., lack of access to green spaces) influencing their physical and mental health. Participants also described how these stressors are interconnected and worsen their health and quality of life. Participants identified solutions (e.g., policy change and community organizing) to mitigate the most pressing stressors.

This study is the first in the area to work alongside community investigators to understand how residents in fenceline communities experience cumulative impacts. Our findings were presented to key community stakeholders to inform future advocacy work to mitigate the cumulative burdens faced by these fenceline communities.