Tatiana Rosen

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Within Los Angeles County, there are 338 sites labeled as Toxic Release Index Sites, or TRI sites. Utilizing a combination of value-based categorizations, attribute filtering, spatial joins and spatial calculations, buffer analysis, and basic SQL commands/calculations, I found that 314 of those sites are located within a one-mile radius of a k-12 Los Angeles County school, with many of these areas of overlap concentrated in highly urban/industrial areas of the county. In particular, filtering by value allowed me to find that one of the most impacted areas is the southern part of the county, particularly south of downtown Los Angeles to Long Beach. This region and other industrialized areas are also impacted by sites that score high via the EPA’s RSEI Hazard score, which is used to indicate the risk level that a particular TRI site has on the area and people around it. This proximity, as well as the toxic waste released by these TRI sites can create long-term consequences for students near within the vicinity, increasing their risks for chronic illnesses, cancer, and other more severe diagnoses.

ANALYSIS

When overlaying the placement of TRI sites on a 2D vector map, their locations become apparent throughout most of the county, although most of these sites are concentrated in notable industrial areas throughout the San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Valley, and Los Angeles City Proper. This concentration is particularly prevalent in southern portion of the county, and especially so in areas around Torrance to Long Beach, which are especially large industrial areas that are significant not just for the county but for the state as well. This sort of status brings with it higher rates of the off-shoots of industrial work, including higher amounts of toxic waste released, which we can see reflected in figure one.

Utilizing basic categorizations marked by pounds released, we can assign each TRI site into one of five categories, within a range of as little as zero to as much as 2,112,400 pounds of toxic waste released in a year. Within this distribution, we can see that many of the sites within the southern portion of Los Angeles County fall within the upper two categories of toxic waste released, releasing a minimum of 200,000 pounds within the year 2022. The largest amounts released are mostly concentrated in the southernmost portions of the county, where we can see more sites that fall into the larger two categories, including three of the five biggest sites that release toxic waste. When we step back to include the areas from downtown to Long Beach, we see this trend expanded, and find that the vast majority of sites that release the highest amount of toxic waste fall into this portion of the county, as displayed in figure two.

Rank	Name	Address	Pounds released
1	CHEVRON PRODUCTS CO. DIV OF CHEVRON USA INC.	324 W EL SEGUNDO BLVD, EL SEGUNDO, CA 90245	2112400
2	ECOBAT RESOURCES CALIFORNIA INC.	720 S SEVENTH AVE, CITY OF INDUSTRY, CA, 91746	1806788.53
3	TESORO LOS ANGELES REFINERY-CARSON OPERATIONS	24696 S WILMINGTON AVE, CARSON, CA, 90745	1211196.22
4	LOS ANGELES GALVANIZING CO.	2524 E 52ND ST, HUNTINGTON PARK, CA, 90255	361284.01
5	TORRANCE REFINING CO LLC	3700 W 190TH ST, TORRANCE, CA, 90504	359153.3
6	HI-SHEAR CORP	2600 SKYPARK DR, TORRANCE, CA, 90505	276749
7	PHILLIPS 66 LOS ANGELES REFINERY WILMINGTON PLANT	1660 W ANAHEIM ST, WILMINGTON, CA, 90744	270688.62
8	M. ARGUESO & CO. INC.	2628 RIVER AVE, ROSEMEAD, CA, 91770	195802.86
9	ULTRAMAR INC WILMINGTON REFINERY	2402 E. ANAHEIM STREET, WILMINGTON, CA, 90744	159740.4
10	POLYPEPTIDE LABORATORIES INC.	365 MAPLE AVE, TORRANCE, CA, 90503	154572
11	SGL TECHNIC INC POLYCARBON DI V	28176 N AVE STANFORD, SANTA CLARITA, CA, 91355	137844
12	WEBER METALS INC.	16706 GARFIELD AVE, PARAMOUNT, CA, 90723	136700
13	ALTAIR PARAMOUNT LLC	14700 DOWNEY AVE, PARAMOUNT, CA, 90723	132311.53
14	PHILLIPS 66 LOS ANGELES REFINERY CARSON PLANT	1520 E SEPULVEDA BLVD, CARSON, CA, 90745	107059.5
15	US BORAX INC.	300 FALCON ST, WILMINGTON, CA, 90744	78851.75
16	PRESS FORGE CO	7700 JACKSON ST, PARAMOUNT, CA, 90723	73686
17	BAXALTA US INC. PART OF THE TAKEDA GROUP	4501 COLORADO BLVD, LOS ANGELES, CA, 90039	66382.13
18	ANHEUSER-BUSCH LLC	15800 ROSCOE BLVD, VAN NUYS, CA, 91406	65124
19	PHENOMENEX INC	411 MADRID AVE, TORRANCE, CA, 90501	55620.91
20	US ECOLOGY VERNON INC.	5375 S BOYLE AVE, VERNON, CA, 90058	52421

When filtering sites to account for toxic waste release utilizing basic SQL commands, we can see a wide and disproportionate range of toxic waste release among the top twenty highest TRI sites. The disproportion comes at the higher end of the range, with the top three sites releasing over one million pounds of toxic waste in 2022. Meanwhile, most of the rest of the twenty top sites release anywhere from 100,000 to 360,000 pounds, which is significantly lower than the top three sites (while still releasing a lot of waste). We can also see that among these top twenty TRI sites, seventeen are located in and around southern Los Angeles, particularly in highly industrial areas like Torrance, Paramount, and Carson.

Earlier it was noted that these areas are highly industrial. However, alongside that fact, it’s also important to note that these areas are also highly populated, including families with children in grades k-12 We can see this when adding layers for k-12 schools in Los Angeles County, and focusing in on the Torrance-Long Beach area we find a significant concentration of schools around these TRI sites, as documented in figure three.

In figure three, we can see a significant number of TRI sites within a one-mile radius of k-12 schools, calculated using buffer analysis with a dissolved one-mile radius buffer around k-12 schools. As well as some of these sites being among the top twenty sites releasing toxic waste, when categorizing these sites by their Risk-Screening Environmental Indicators (RSEI), we can find that most of these sites rank extremely high in terms of toxic risk factor, which can impact both the short-term health and long-term wellness of both habitat and human populations. Not only that, but the toxic waste released by TRI sites doesn’t just pertain to the single small area that the site is located- depending on the type of waste, or the toxic chemicals within the waste, these elements can travel much further, impacting virtually every school over a large swath of area.

We can see how schools in this area are further impacted when calculating the total sum of toxic waste released near these schools that is equal to at least 250,000 pounds. This is showcased in figure four, where the sum of total waste has been calculated based on the spatial relationships between the school and the TRI sites.

Name	Address	Attendees	Sum of Waste Released
El Segundo Middle	332 Center Street El Segundo CA 90245-4047	819	2112400
Palm Canyon	15151 Palm Avenue Hacienda Heights CA 91745-2000	x	1814530.83
Palm Elementary	14740 East Palm Avenue Hacienda Heights CA 91745-1938	x	1806827.03
Aspire Ollin University Preparatory Academy	2540 East 58th Street Huntington Park CA 90255-2659	557	451586.35
Aspire Pacific Academy	2565 58th Street Huntington Park CA 90255-4126	517	451586.35
Pacific Boulevard	2660 East 57th Street Huntington Park CA 90255-2545	341	451586.35
Renuevo Leadership Academy	2665 Clarendon Ave. Huntington Park CA 90255	24	445663.09
Renuevo Elementary School	2665 Clarendon Ave. Huntington Park CA 90255	16	445663.09
San Antonio Continuation	2911 Belgrave Avenue Huntington Park CA 90255-5268	87	419738.27
Huntington Park Senior High	6020 Miles Avenue Huntington Park CA 90255-3109	1465	419738.27
Vernon City Elementary	2360 East Vernon Avenue Los Angeles CA 90058-1609	154	407612.51
Holmes Avenue Elementary	5108 Holmes Avenue Los Angeles CA 90058-1911	157	394224.99
North High	3620 West 182nd Street Torrance CA 90504-3935	1791	392317.29
Edison Elementary	3800 182nd Street Torrance CA 90504-4837	494	366372.3
Philip Magruder Middle	4100 West 185th Street Torrance CA 90504-4706	534	366372.3
Playhouse School	18213 Prairie Avenue Torrance CA 90504	25	366372.3
Yukon Elementary	17815 Yukon Avenue Torrance CA 90504-3927	327	359153.3
Abraham Lincoln	15324 California Avenue Paramount CA 90723-4378	560	347101.53
Walteria Elementary	24456 Madison Street Torrance CA 90505-6653	626	278587.7
Nishiyamato Academy	2458 Lomita Boulevard Lomita CA 90717	88	278587.7
Lomita Math/Science/Technology Magnet	2211 247th Street Lomita CA 90717-1503	854	276749
John Adams Elementary	2121 238Th Street Torrance CA 90501-6116	357	276749
Howard Wood Elementary	2250 West 235th Street Torrance CA 90501-5705	343	276749
Coastal Academy	2043 Lomita Blvd. Lomita CA 90717	108	276749
center for learning unlimited	2785 Pacific Coast Highway, G Torrance CA 90505	22	276749
Dr. Richard A. Vladovic Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy	1111 Figueroa Place Wilmington CA 90744-2311	449	270776.52
Hawaiian Avenue Elementary	540 Hawaiian Avenue Wilmington CA 90744-4922	516	270776.52
Rolling Hills Preparatory Schools	1 Rolling Hills Prep Way San Pedro CA 90732	209	270776.52
William J. Johnston Community Day	2210 Taper Avenue San Pedro CA 90731-1162	67	270688.62
Taper Avenue Elementary	1824 Taper Avenue San Pedro CA 90731-1175	671	270688.62
Mary Star of the Sea High School	2500 North Taper Avenue San Pedro CA 90731	377	270688.62
Fern Elementary	1314 Fern Avenue Torrance CA 90503-6125	465	260491.74

As indicated by the locations of these schools, many of the schools who have these high levels of waste released nearby are located withing southern Los Angeles, with an especially high proportion coming from the neighborhoods in and around Torrance to Long Beach. Added with the factor of high toxicity risk scoring of the nearby sites, one can’t help but notice that children in this area are particularly vulnerable to the effects of regular exposure to the harms of this waste, just by virtue of being nearby.

However, this area isn’t the only part of Los Angeles County with school-aged children being potentially impacted by the indirect effects of toxic waste. When we take a step back to calculate and review certain other elements, we begin to see other parts of the county incorporated more in data sets, such as the number of schools that are in one mile proximity to more than five TRI sites (see figure five).

Name	Address	Attendees	Number of TRI sites nearby
Christopher Dena Elementary	1314 Dacotah Street Los Angeles CA 90023-2707	384	11
Switzer Learning Center	2201 Amapola Court Torrance CA 90501	275	11
San Antonio Continuation	2911 Belgrave Avenue Huntington Park CA 90255-5268	87	10
Huntington Park Senior High	6020 Miles Avenue Huntington Park CA 90255-3109	1465	10
Vernon City Elementary	2360 East Vernon Avenue Los Angeles CA 90058-1609	154	10
Fern Elementary	1314 Fern Avenue Torrance CA 90503-6125	465	10
St. Paul High School	9635 Greenleaf Avenue Santa Fe Springs CA 90670	447	10
Garza (Carmen Lomas) Primary Center	2750 East Hostetter Street Los Angeles CA 90023-4332	91	9
Del Amo Elementary	21228 Water Street Carson CA 90745-1849	317	9
Aeolian Elementary	11600 Aeolian Street Whittier CA 90606-3306	327	9
Paramount Virtual Academy	15110 California Ave Paramount CA 90723-4320	x	9
INTER-TRIBAL Family Of Nations Day School Program	7200 Somerset Boulevard (Ste.982) Paramount CA 90723	6	9
Our Lady of the Rosary School	14813 South Paramount Boulevard Paramount CA 90723	183	9
Keystone Academy	11807 7/8 Slauson Avenue Santa Fe Springs CA 90670	109	9
Pacific Boulevard	2660 East 57th Street Huntington Park CA 90255-2545	341	8
Avalon Gardens Elementary	13940 South San Pedro Street Los Angeles CA 90061-2624	165	8
Loma Vista Elementary	3629 East 58th Street Maywood CA 90270-2616	556	8
Benjamin Banneker Career and Transition Center	14024 South San Pedro Street Los Angeles CA 90061-2659	178	8
Leona Jackson	7220 Jackson Street Paramount CA 90723-4378	695	8
Paramount Park Middle	14608 Paramount Boulevard Paramount CA 90723-3465	565	8
Paramount Unified Community Day	14507 Paramount Boulevard Paramount CA 90723-3419	10	8
Wesley Gaines	7340 East Jackson Street Paramount CA 90723-4809	335	8
Hollydale	5511 Century Boulevard South Gate CA 90280-8114	802	8
Abraham Lincoln	15324 California Avenue Paramount CA 90723-4378	560	8
Resurrection	3360 E. Opal Street Los Angeles CA 90023	189	8
Aspire Ollin University Preparatory Academy	2540 East 58th Street Huntington Park CA 90255-2659	557	7
Oscar De La Hoya Animo Charter High	1114 South Lorena Street Los Angeles CA 90023-2915	606	7
Aspire Pacific Academy	2565 58th Street Huntington Park CA 90255-4126	517	7
Alliance Marine – Innovation and Technology 6-12 Complex	11933 Allegheny Street Sun Valley CA 91352-1834	1013	7
KIPP Pueblo Unido	3759 East 57th Street Maywood CA 90270-2614	343	7
McKinley Elementary	6822 Paramount Boulevard Long Beach CA 90805-1937	514	7
Henry T. Gage Middle	2880 East Gage Avenue Huntington Park CA 90255-4346	1195	7
San Antonio Elementary	6222 State Street Huntington Park CA 90255-4403	463	7
Los Nietos Middle	11425 East Rivera Road Los Nietos CA 90606-3245	258	7
Howard Tanner	7210 Rosecrans Avenue Paramount CA 90723-2502	462	7
Los Cerritos	14626 Gundry Avenue Paramount CA 90723-4378	387	7
Richard L. Graves Middle	13243 East Los Nietos Road Whittier CA 90605-3295	495	7
Islah Academy	2900 Slauson Avenue Los Angeles CA 90043	58	7
Heritage Christian School, Bell Gardens, California	8300 Eastern Ave Bell Gardens CA 90201	31	7
New Montessori School	15243 E. Nelson Ave. La Puente CA 91744	12	7
Aspire Antonio Maria Lugo Academy	6100 Carmelita Avenue Huntington Park CA 90255-4138	421	6
Aspire Gateway Academy Charter	8929 Kauffman Avenue South Gate CA 90280-3422	339	6
Aspire Firestone Academy Charter	8929 Kauffman Avenue South Gate CA 90280-3422	337	6
Superior Street Elementary	9756 Oso Avenue Chatsworth CA 91311-5359	439	6
Stauffer (Mary R.) Middle	11985 Old River School Road Downey CA 90242-2155	1332	6
Old River Elementary	11995 Old River School Road Downey CA 90242-2155	657	6
Huntington Park Elementary	6055 Corona Avenue Huntington Park CA 90255-3332	316	6
Elizabeth Learning Center	4811 Elizabeth Street Cudahy CA 90201-5205	1389	6
Fernangeles Elementary	12001 Art Street Sun Valley CA 91352-2499	471	6
Gardena Elementary	647 West Gardena Boulevard Gardena CA 90247-5021	469	6
Chester W. Nimitz Middle	6021 Carmelita Avenue Huntington Park CA 90255-3320	1177	6
Ramona Head Start/State Preschool	14616 Dinard Avenue Norwalk CA 90650-5110	x	6
Frank J. Zamboni	15733 South Orange Avenue Paramount CA 90723-4378	737	6
Lake Marie Elementary	10001 Carmenita Road Whittier CA 90605-3206	181	6
Puente Hills High	15430 Shadybend Drive Hacienda Heights CA 91746-2829	x	6
Valley Alternative High (Continuation)	15430 Shadybend Drive Hacienda Heights CA 91745-2121	x	6
Valley Community Day	15430 Shadybend Drive Hacienda Heights CA 91745-2121	x	6
Nelson Elementary	330 North California Avenue La Puente CA 91744-3718	x	6
Berean Baptist Academy	2302 S. Mountain Avenue Duarte CA 91010	11	6
Renuevo Leadership Academy	2665 Clarendon Ave. Huntington Park CA 90255	24	6
Junipero Serra High School	14830 S. Van Ness Avenue Gardena CA 90249	380	6
Maria Regina	13510 S. Van Ness Avenue Gardena CA 90249	254	6
Renuevo Elementary School	2665 Clarendon Ave. Huntington Park CA 90255	16	6
St. Albert the Great Elementary School	804 East Compton Boulevard Rancho Dominguez CA 90220	201	6

Using spatial joins and calculating the spatial relationships of TRI sites and all schools on an individual basis, sixty-four schools were revealed to have more than five TRI sites within a one-mile radius. The majority of the schools in this data set have between six-to-eight TRI sites, but the school with the most, Christopher Dena Elementary, has as many as eleven TRI sites within a one-mile radius. Looking at the addresses, a significant portion of the schools with more TRI sites nearby are in and around the southern portion of Los Angeles. However, we can also see that a large number of schools are from other more industrial areas of the county, reflecting how they’re also impacted by the potential threats of being within proximity of TRI sites, even if they’re near sites that don’t release much in terms of toxic waste. This proximity can just as easily impact their short-term health and long-term wellness, even if not quite at the same scale as schools in the most concentrated TRI site areas.

While special focus should be put on examining the potential effects of TRI, that isn’t to say that other schools throughout the county are either safe from or not impacted by the proximity to these sites. If we take a step back and observe TRI sites and their proximity to all schools within Los Angeles County, we quickly find that nearly all schools are close to at least one TRI site, as demonstrated in figure six.

In figure six, basic SQL commands helped to calculate that of the 338 TRI sites within the county, 314 (or about 93%) of all sites are located within a one-mile radius of a k-12 school. Additionally, approximately 82% of all toxic waste is released within a one-mile radius of a k-12 school, indicating that a significant portion of the county’s schoolchildren are in close proximity to at least one TRI site, and indirectly exposed to toxic waste on a regular basis. When accounting for the potential spread of toxic chemicals via air and water, that portion of affected students grows exponentially, causing nearly all k-12 students to be exposed. Even exposure to a lesser extreme can still increase the risks of chronic or severe conditions later in life, creating potential health crises.

CONCLUSION

The vast majority of TRI sites within Los Angeles fall within a one-mile radius of a k-12 school. While the proximity and waste released can create potential harm to all students within the vicinity, students within highly industrial and urban areas like the southern part of Los Angeles County tend to be exposed to toxic waste at the highest proportions, given that their schools are located in areas that tend to have the highest concentrations of TRI sites. Many of the sites within these concentrations also released the largest amount of toxic waste in 2022, and they also rank high in terms of the RSEI Hazard score. This higher proximity makes students within this area particularly vulnerable to the consequences of long-term exposure, which can impact their health and development throughout their lives. This data provides insight at the distribution of TRI sites and how that disproportionately impacts students in more industrial areas, and can be useful into gauging the potential impacts of toxic waste on these communities, especially when observing these levels and the rates of health issues in these areas over an extended period of time. The extended research can also help governmental bodies figure out how to take steps to engage in better waste-management, or to establish hazard-reduction procedures for the community at large and reduce health crises.