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Superfund Indiana

Superfund Indiana

Superfund Indiana - Precision Pollution Science

Indiana bears a heavy burden of chemical pollution, ranking first nationwide for total pollution releases per square mile and last among all 50 states for toxic chemical pollution and associated health risks, according to U.S. News and World Report. With 39 hazardous waste sites designated as “Superfund” cleanup sites by the Environmental Protection Agency, Indiana has one of the nation’s most diverse portfolios of chemical pollution.

Many of these problems can be traced to Indiana’s historically vital role in manufacturing, particularly within pharmaceutical development and the broader chemical industry. While these sectors are powerhouses for the state’s economy, this legacy of industrial development has left Hoosiers grappling with significant environmental challenges.

Indiana map of superfund and brownfield sites.

With 39 Superfund hazardous waste sites, Indiana has one of the nation's most diverse portfolios of chemical pollution. In addition to EPA-designed Superfund sites, Indiana has a large number of contaminated “brownfield” sites. Counties shaded blue are represented within the data-rich Person-to-Person (P2P) health study to improve population health.

Unprecedented Collaboration for Transformative Solutions

A new coalition is tackling these problems with the combined strength of Indiana University, Purdue University, Notre Dame, the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, and key partners in local communities and collaborating organizations.

Through its innovative “Precision Pollution Science” approach, the Superfund Indiana team is using next-generation research tools to address community-specific contamination issues by:

Precisely identifying and mapping specific chemical pollutants and mixtures across Indiana, with a spotlight on disproportionately affected areas

Determining previously unknown health effects of these chemicals using a combination of rich medical data, innovative cellular and molecular-level testing techniques, and powerful computational and AI strategies

Identifying the populations and communities most at risk, and supporting community leadership in driving tailored solutions

Advancing green chemistry and remediation to eliminate pollution

Informing policies and practices for a future of clean air, water, and soil in Indiana

Science, Community, and Economy: Partnering for Sustainability

Bringing together leading toxicologists, health economists, environmental health researchers, remediation specialists, data scientists, and community-based implementation experts, this ambitious project aims to achieve an unprecedented level of precision in identifying, quantifying, and mitigating the health impacts of pollution across Indiana.

Critically, Superfund Indiana prioritizes the needs and experiences of residents. Deeply engaging with and empowering community leaders — including workforce training in contemporary data and visualization tools — enables a clearer understanding of real-world effects to support environmental justice and address barriers to a healthy environment.

Superfund Indiana's vision is a Hoosier state where every resident can thrive in an environment of clean air, pure water, and fertile soil. By partnering with business leaders with a long view on what it takes to support a healthy economy, this initiative will chart a course from Indiana's legacy of pollution to a more equitable and sustainable future.