BenMAP Health Impact Estimates for 386 Sonoma County Block Groups

386 block groups in Sonoma County, CA, feature modeled estimates of health and economic impacts from pollution changes. The U.S. EPA's BenMAP program calculated adverse health effect incidence and monetary value using i-Tree models, weather, pollution, and Census data. This dataset was produced by the USDA Forest Service with support from The Davey Tree Expert Company for EnviroAtlas mapping and research.

Use Cases

• Analyze the correlation between modeled pollution concentration changes and estimated mortality incidence across 386 block groups.
• Compare the monetary value of avoided adverse health effects between different Census block groups in Sonoma County.
• Map spatial patterns of estimated morbidity incidence derived from i-Tree models and local weather data.
• Integrate block group-level health impact estimates with other EnviroAtlas ecosystem service layers for cumulative analysis.

Strengths

• Modeled estimates cover 386 distinct Census block groups for granular spatial analysis.
• Health and economic valuations are derived from the EPA's established BenMAP methodology.
• Integrates multiple data sources including i-Tree models, local weather, pollution, and U.S. Census data.

Limitations

• Health impact estimates are modeled outputs, not directly measured health records.
• Analysis is limited to Sonoma County, CA, limiting geographic generalizability.
• Underlying model assumptions and input data quality directly influence result accuracy.

Provenance

Source

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) EnviroAtlas.

Collection Method

Estimates generated using the EPA's BenMAP program with i-Tree models, weather, pollution, and Census data.

Freshness

Dataset metadata was last updated on April 11, 2025.

Geography

Sonoma County, California, USA.