Insurers, outside legal counsel, investors, state health officials, and particularly those affected by exposure to a hazard want to know not just where the hazard was found but also the number of persons, properties, and businesses affected over time.
o Is there a substantial number of persons exposed over time?
o Are property values in an area near the site changed relative to similar areas?
o Is the rate of property sales slower or faster given the types of properties?
o Are commercial sales depressed because of the threat of the cost of remediation?
o What are the likely medical risks for members of the population?
All of these questions rely on knowing the impact of contamination on the population, which in turn requires knowing what population is affected by proximity to such a site.
