Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?
Graduate
Project Type
individual
Campus
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
Santiago Acuna Gonzalez, Graduate student
Lead Presenter's Name
Santiago Acuna Gonzalez
Lead Presenter's College
DB College of Aviation
Faculty Mentor Name
Dr. Cynthia Pugh
Abstract
Spatial Dynamics of Lead Waste: An ESDA Approach to U.S. Interstate Transfers This research applied a novel Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis (ESDA) methodology to analyze interstate movements (n= 446) of lead (Pb; CAS 7339-92-1) among facilities that transported more than 1,000 lbs offsite across the United States, using the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2024 Toxic Release Inventory (TRI). Using QGIS, the analysis produced three geospatial products by integrating TRI Form R Schedule 3A with coordinates from the EPA Facility Registry Service (FRS) to populate offsite locations. First, a state-level net-flow choropleth distinguished exporting from importing states. Second, an export-focused map combined kernel density hotspots of origin facilities with interstate flow lines and destination symbols. Third, an import-focused map combined kernel density hotspots of destination facilities with the same flow lines and origin symbols. Although demonstrated here with lead, this ESDA framework is adaptable to other TRI-tracked chemicals with offsite transfer records. Compilation statistics from the resulting GeoPackages were then analyzed and tabulated using QGIS’ attribute table, LibreOffice Calc, and Matplotlib. Results showed an interstate waste economy totaling 21.8 million pounds, dominated by battery manufacturing (NAICS 335910). Missouri emerged as the neuralgic point of Pb transportation, importing 8,041,486.41 lbs, roughly three times the amount received the second largest: Texas. The top five interstate corridors carried 58.8% of all transferred volume, while five receiving facilities absorbed 62.2% of the national total. Although most interstate lead was sent to recycling rather than disposal, its extreme geographic concentration indicates that the toxic burden was burdened by a small number of states, specially in the "Old Lead Belt" within Missouri.
Did this research project receive funding support (Spark, SURF, Research Abroad, Student Internal Grants, Collaborative, Climbing, or Ignite Grants) from the Office of Undergraduate Research?
No
Spatial Dynamics of Lead Waste: An ESDA Approach to U.S. Interstate Transfers
Spatial Dynamics of Lead Waste: An ESDA Approach to U.S. Interstate Transfers This research applied a novel Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis (ESDA) methodology to analyze interstate movements (n= 446) of lead (Pb; CAS 7339-92-1) among facilities that transported more than 1,000 lbs offsite across the United States, using the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2024 Toxic Release Inventory (TRI). Using QGIS, the analysis produced three geospatial products by integrating TRI Form R Schedule 3A with coordinates from the EPA Facility Registry Service (FRS) to populate offsite locations. First, a state-level net-flow choropleth distinguished exporting from importing states. Second, an export-focused map combined kernel density hotspots of origin facilities with interstate flow lines and destination symbols. Third, an import-focused map combined kernel density hotspots of destination facilities with the same flow lines and origin symbols. Although demonstrated here with lead, this ESDA framework is adaptable to other TRI-tracked chemicals with offsite transfer records. Compilation statistics from the resulting GeoPackages were then analyzed and tabulated using QGIS’ attribute table, LibreOffice Calc, and Matplotlib. Results showed an interstate waste economy totaling 21.8 million pounds, dominated by battery manufacturing (NAICS 335910). Missouri emerged as the neuralgic point of Pb transportation, importing 8,041,486.41 lbs, roughly three times the amount received the second largest: Texas. The top five interstate corridors carried 58.8% of all transferred volume, while five receiving facilities absorbed 62.2% of the national total. Although most interstate lead was sent to recycling rather than disposal, its extreme geographic concentration indicates that the toxic burden was burdened by a small number of states, specially in the "Old Lead Belt" within Missouri.