Environmental Justice in Middlesex County: Assessing the sensitivity of results in Environmental Justice studies as influenced by environmental source characteristics and analytical techniques

Environmental Justice (EJ) studies use a variety of statistical techniques in analyzing relationships between environmental hazards and socioeconomic status of affected populations. Results of such studies can often vary based on the approach used. This thesis investigated the distribution of a comprehensive set of environmental sources (both small and large) located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Important elements of the analytical plan included the use of multiple geographic scales and buffers as well as a suite of appropriate statistical tests. The findings of this thesis suggest that there is some sensitivity in the findings of EJ studies depending upon the analytical approach. However, the results were relatively consistent across geographic scales, source type and method of analysis. The study concludes that based upon the available data that socioeconomically disadvantaged communities in Middlesex County are subjected to more environmental sources than socioeconomically advantaged communities.