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Neighbourhood-level screening algorithms are increasingly being deployed to inform policy decisions. However, their potential for harm remains unclear: algorithmic decision-making has broadly fallen under scrutiny for disproportionate harm to marginalized groups, yet opaque methodology and proprietary data limit the generalizability of algorithmic audits. Here we leverage publicly available data to fully reproduce and audit a large-scale algorithm known as CalEnviroScreen, designed to promote environmental justice and guide public funding by identifying disadvantaged neighbourhoods. We observe the model to be both highly sensitive to subjective model specifications and financially consequential, estimating the effect of its positive designations as a 104% (62–145%) increase in funding, equivalent to US$2.08 billion (US$1.56–2.41 billion) over four years. We further observe allocative tradeoffs and susceptibility to manipulation, raising ethical concerns. We recommend incorporating technical strategies to mitigate allocative harm and accountability mechanisms to prevent misuse.

 

Abstract Background Water resources development promotes agricultural expansion and food security. But are these benefits offset by increased infectious disease risk? Dam construction on the Senegal River in 1986 was followed by agricultural expansion and increased transmission of human schistosomes. Yet the mechanisms linking these two processes at the individual and household levels remain unclear. We investigated the association between household land use and schistosome infection in children. Methods We analyzed cross-sectional household survey data ( n  = 655) collected in 16 rural villages in August 2016  across demographic, socio-economic and land use dimensions, which were matched to Schistosoma haematobium ( n  = 1232) and S. mansoni ( n  = 1222) infection data collected from school-aged children. Mixed effects regression determined the relationship between irrigated area and schistosome infection presence and intensity. Results Controlling for socio-economic and demographic risk factors, irrigated area cultivated by a household was associated with an increase in the presence of S. haematobium infection (odds ratio [ OR ] = 1.14; 95% confidence interval [95% CI ]: 1.03–1.28) but not S. mansoni infection ( OR  = 1.02; 95% CI : 0.93–1.11). Associations between infection intensity and irrigated area were positive but imprecise ( S. haematobium: rate ratio [ RR ] = 1.05; 95% CI : 0.98–1.13, S. mansoni : RR  = 1.09; 95% CI : 0.89–1.32). Conclusions Household engagement in irrigated agriculture increases individual risk of S. haematobium but not S. mansoni infection. Increased contact with irrigated landscapes likely drives exposure, with greater impacts on households relying on agricultural livelihoods.