Living Near Contamination: The Impacts on Personal Well-Being

Abstract

The impact of residential proximity (RP) to EPA-designated Superfund sites on personal well-being remains understudied. This study evaluated the well-being of residents living near a former uranium processing facility in Fernald, Ohio, now a Superfund site, which emitted significant amounts of radioactive hazardous waste. Baseline data were collected from 7,957 participants who voluntarily enrolled in the Fernald Community Cohort. Participants completed the Health Risk Appraisal (HRA), which assessed four well-being indicators: Life Satisfaction, Life in Control, Life Perspective, and Overall Physical Health. Separate multivariable ordinal logistic regression models were used to evaluate the cross-sectional relationship between RP and well-being outcomes. The results indicated that residents living within a 1-mile radius of the Superfund site had 38% greater odds of reporting lower Life Satisfaction compared to those residing 4–5 miles away [OR 1.38, 95% CI: 1.17, 1.64]. In the fully adjusted models, other significant risk factors emerged. Participants who reported two or more recent misfortunes in the past year were more likely to report a negative Life Perspective [OR 2.79, 95% CI: 2.36, 3.32]. Additionally, those with a weakened social ties had significantly higher odds of reporting diminished Life Satisfaction [OR 5.16, 95% CI: 4.33, 6.16]. This study identified RP to a Superfund site and psychosocial characteristics as significant predictors of well-being. Given the global prevalence of contaminated sites, particularly in socioeconomically disadvantaged regions, further investigation into their impact on local communities is essential.