Hurricane Harvey resulted in a natural-technological disaster in which flooding caused petrochemical facilities to release hazardous chemicals. Natural-technological disasters are rarely analyzed from an environmental justice (EJ) perspective. We calculated a Hurricane Harvey petrochemical hazard density index (PHDI) based on the locations of 42 facilities with reported releases along the Texas Gulf Coast. We used sociodemographic data from the American Community Survey to examine census tract-level social inequalities in PHDI (n = 1099 tracts). Results from generalized estimating equations indicate that tracts with higher proportions of Hispanic, disabled, or young residents had greater PHDI. PHDI was positively associated with tract poverty, with a slight downward curve at high poverty. Under conditions of higher Hispanic composition, the positive effect of poverty on PHDI was amplified. With more frequent storms predicted, regulatory agencies need to ensure that the petrochemical industry prepares for rapid shutdowns in order to protect residents from natural-technological disasters.

中文翻译：

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飓风哈维过后，石化产品的释放对德克萨斯州墨西哥湾沿岸的社会弱势群体造成了不成比例的影响

飓风哈维导致了一场自然技术灾难，洪水导致石化设施释放危险化学品。很少从环境正义 (EJ) 的角度分析自然技术灾害。我们根据德克萨斯州墨西哥湾沿岸报告的 42 家设施的位置计算了飓风哈维石化危害密度指数 (PHDI)。我们使用来自美国社区调查的社会人口统计数据来检查 PHDI（n = 1099 个区域）中人口普查区域层面的社会不平等。广义估计方程的结果表明，西班牙裔、残疾人或年轻居民比例较高的地区具有较高的 PHDI。PHDI 与区域贫困呈正相关，在高度贫困时略有下降曲线。在西班牙裔构成较高的条件下，贫困对PHDI的积极影响被放大。随着预计风暴将更加频繁，监管机构需要确保石化行业为快速停工做好准备，以保护居民免受自然技术灾害的影响。