Validating self-reported Toxic Release Inventory data using Benford's Law: investigating toxic chemical release hazards in floodplains

Kristin Osiecki; Syed Hussaini; Apostolis Sambanis; Logan Quinsey; Chloe Liew

doi:10.3389/fpubh.2024.1342510

Frontiers in Public Health (Jun 2024)

Validating self-reported Toxic Release Inventory data using Benford's Law: investigating toxic chemical release hazards in floodplains

Kristin Osiecki,
Syed Hussaini,
Apostolis Sambanis,
Logan Quinsey,
Chloe Liew

Affiliations

Kristin Osiecki: Center for Learning Innovation, University of Minnesota Rochester, Rochester, MN, United States
Syed Hussaini: Emergency Management and Resilience Planning Graduate Certificate Program, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
Apostolis Sambanis: Emergency Management and Resilience Planning Graduate Certificate Program, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
Logan Quinsey: Emergency Management and Resilience Planning Graduate Certificate Program, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
Chloe Liew: Center for Learning Innovation, University of Minnesota Rochester, Rochester, MN, United States

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1342510
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 12

Abstract

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IntroductionAcute and long-term health impacts from flooding related toxic chemical releases are a significant local health concern and can disproportionately impact communities with vulnerable populations; reliable release data are needed to quantify this hazard.MethodsIn this paper, we analyze US Federal Emergency Management Agency designated floodplain data and US Environmental Protection Agency Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) data to determine if geographically manipulated databases adhere to Benford's Law.ResultsWe investigated multiple variants and discovered pollution releases adhere to Benford's Law and tests which thereby validates the self-reported toxic release dataset.DiscussionWe find that Benford's Law applies to self-reported toxic chemical release and disposal data, indicating a lack of widespread data errors or manipulation.

Published in Frontiers in Public Health

ISSN: 2296-2565 (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine: Public aspects of medicine
Website: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health

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