EES Seminar: A socio-environmental cluster analysis to assess vulnerability to PFAS exposure in Brevard County

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Abstract: As climate change disproportionally impacts more vulnerable communities across the globe, resources need to be allocated more efficiently and equitably. Social vulnerability indices (SVI) are used as a tool for prioritizing communities most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change driven natural disasters. Frequently used SVIs that create a single vulnerability score rely on a high level of assumptions which can diminish the importance of specific variables. This can cause SVIs to overlook the relevancy of interconnected variables and obscure complex patterns, potentially leading to contradictory policy recommendations. Furthermore, indices are limited in their ability to address cascading or cumulative effects because of the way they simplify and flatten the interactions within dynamic systems. To address this issue, we propose a model-based clustering as an alternative analysis that can rapidly identify vulnerable sub-populations by grouping together communities (e.g., census tracts) with similar socio-environmental profiles while avoiding the artificial constraints on the distribution introduced by the assumptions required to create an index. Our quantitative framework for vulnerability assessment incorporates socioeconomic, environmental and flood inundation indicators of vulnerabilities for Brevard County, Florida. We used a Bayesian profile regression (BPR) technique to identify clusters of socio-environmental profiles and jointly model associations between soil PFAS levels and identified clusters. This allowed us to identify communities facing a high level of combined social and environmental vulnerability and disproportionately elevated soil PFAS levels.

Bio: Dr. Katherine Deliz Quiñones is an Assistant Professor in the Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure and Environment (ESSIE) at the University of Florida (UF). She received her PhD in Environmental Engineering Sciences at UF and her MS and BS in Limnology and Biology, respectively, at the University of Puerto Rico, in Mayagüez Campus. Dr. Deliz is an interdisciplinary scientist with a core skillset in environmental biochemistry, microbial ecology, exposure risk, and remediation. Prior to joining UF Dr. Deliz worked as an Environmental Consultant and Quality Assurance Manager for a toxicology Laboratory. She has extensive experience developing and implementing field sampling and analysis plans to investigate environmental contamination, fate and transport of pollutants (e.g. PFAS, Hg) and pathogens (Vibrio spp.), and potential exposure risk to communities. Dr. Deliz also collaborates in the development of sustainable materials and remediation technologies for wastewater and biosolid reuse. Her work emphasizes team science to co-create knowledge for improved management and policy, enhancing the resilience of vulnerable communities and ecosystems. She is currently leading multiple interdisciplinary projects funded by the Environmental Protection Agency and the US Geological Service, some of which involve strong Community Engagement with CBOs and citizen scientists in Florida.