Fenceline communities along the Delaware River in southeastern Pennsylvania have long faced high levels of pollution from petrochemical refineries, municipal waste incinerators, and several other industrial facilities. In 1996, the US EPA acknowledged the disproportionate siting of harmful facilities in the city of Chester, Pennsylvania, and noted elevated rates of infant mortality, cancer mortality, and asthma among residents.
Chiger AA, Gigot C, Robinson ES, Tehrani MW, Claflin M, Fortner E, Stark H, Krechmer J, Canagaratna MR, Herndon S, Yacovitch TI, Koehler K, Rule AM, Burke TA, Fox MA, DeCarlo PF, Nachman KE. Improving Methodologies for Cumulative Risk Assessment: A Case Study of Noncarcinogenic Health Risks from Volatile Organic Compounds in Fenceline Communities in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Environ Health Perspect. 2025 May;133(5):57004. doi: 10.1289/EHP14696. Epub 2025 May 8. PMID: 40127300; PMCID: PMC12061051.