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Nogueira L, Florez N. The Impact of Climate Change on Global Oncology. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 2024; 38:105-121. [PMID: 37580192 DOI: 10.1016/j.hoc.2023.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is the greatest threat to human health of our time, with significant implications for global cancer control efforts. The changing frequency and behavior of climate-driven extreme weather events results in more frequent and increasingly unanticipated disruptions in access to cancer care. Given the significant threat that climate change poses to cancer control efforts, oncology professionals should champion initiatives that help protect the health and safety of patients with cancer, such as enhancing emergency preparedness and response efforts and reducing emissions from our own professional activities, which has health cobenefits for the entire population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leticia Nogueira
- Surveillance and Health Equity Sciences, American Cancer Society, Palm Harbor, FL, USA.
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2
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Cutts BB, Vilá O, Bray LA, Harris A, Hornsby G, Goins H, McLean S, Crites M, Allen A, McMenamin N, Harlee T. Shifting terrains: Understanding residential contaminants after flood disasters. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 907:167577. [PMID: 37839486 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Flood disasters can induce the mass transport of soils and sediments. This has the potential to distribute contaminants and present novel combinations to new locations - including residential neighborhoods. Even when soil contaminants cannot be directly attributed to the disaster, data on bacterial and heavy metal(loids) can facilitate an environmentally just recovery by enabling reconstruction decisions that fill data gaps to minimize future exposure. These data-gathering interventions may be especially useful in poor, rural, and racially diverse communities where there is a high probability of exposure to multiple hazards and a potential dependency on the financial resources of disaster aid as a means of reducing chronic exposures to other environmental pollutants. At the same time, entering these post-disasters spaces is ethically complex. To acknowledge this complexity, we pilot a framework for work that gathers social-ecological hazard information while retaining a fair-minded approach to transdisciplinary work. Assembled a transdisciplinary team to recruit participants from 90 households subjected to flooding in the southeastern US. Participating households agreed to interviews to elicit flood experience and environmental health concerns, soil sampling for fecal bacteria (E. coli) and soil sampling for selected heavy metals and metalloids (Pb, As, Cd) at their flooded residence. Soil sampling found a wide range of E. coli concentrations in soil (0.4-1115.7 CFU/ dry gram). Heavy metal(loid)s were detected at most residences (As 97.9 %; Ca 25.5 %; Pb 100 %). Individually, heavy metal(loid) concentrations did not exceed regulatory thresholds. Hazard, risk, and mitigation concerns expressed during interviews reveal that integrated human-nature concepts complicate common understandings of how hazard perceptibility (smell, sight, touch, and information) affects research-action spaces. Qualitative analysis of interviews and field notes revealed that soil-related hazards addressed by our biophysical protocols were less salient than changes with direct causal associations with flooding. We conclude by discussing the potential for the social-ecological hazard information that is fair-minded and transdisciplinary (SHIFT) framework to advance environmentally just approaches to research-action spaces after disasters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bethany B Cutts
- Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, NC State University, Raleigh, NC, USA; Center for Geospatial Analytics, NC State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
| | - Olivia Vilá
- Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, NC State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Laura A Bray
- Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, NC State University, Raleigh, NC, USA; Department of Sociology and Anthropology, NC State University, 2800 Faucette Drive, Raleigh, NC, USA.
| | - Angela Harris
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, NC State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
| | - Gracie Hornsby
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, NC State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Hannah Goins
- Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, NC State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Sallie McLean
- Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, NC State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Margaret Crites
- Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, NC State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Angela Allen
- Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, NC State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Nathan McMenamin
- Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, NC State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Taleek Harlee
- Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, NC State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
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Sansom GT, Hernandez R, Johnson JN, Newman G, Atoba K, Masterson JH, Davis D, Fawkes LS. Evaluating the impact of proximity to reported toxic release facilities and flood events on chronic health outcomes in the city of Galena Park, Texas. CLIMATE RISK MANAGEMENT 2023; 40:100507. [PMID: 37975020 PMCID: PMC10652947 DOI: 10.1016/j.crm.2023.100507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Evidence has conclusively revealed that environmental justice communities experience poor environmental conditions compared to more affluent majority communities. However, there has been little research evaluating the health impacts of immediate proximity to industrial pursuits and flood events on a population compared to others living within the same community who are only marginally removed from these locations. This cross-sectional study (N = 130) utilized three approaches to assess health outcomes (1) the 12 item Short Form Health Survey, which creates a general physical component score, (2) self-reported noncancerous chronic conditions, and (3) self-reported diagnosis of twelve different cancers. Three risk levels were spatially created using a 5-scale ordinal score for each residential parcel based on the corresponding flood probability level and proximity to facilities which report to the United States Environmental Protection Agencies Toxic Release Inventory. Analysis revealed that general physical health scores were significantly lower (P-value < 0.001) in the medium and high-risk locations, Similarly chronic conditions witnessed a non-significant twofold increased risk in the highest-risk locations compared to the lowest (POR 1.91; 95 % CI 0.82-4.39) and a non-significant increased risk of cancer diagnosis (POR 1.51; 95 % CI 0.38-5.99). This research underscores the importance of place and health outcomes even within relatively geographically compact communities. Public health and urban planning interventions and designs should take into account fine grain approaches to respond to community needs while still being mindful of limited resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garett T. Sansom
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Texas A&M School of Public Health, 1266 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, United States
| | - Ruby Hernandez
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Texas A&M School of Public Health, 1266 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, United States
| | - Jacquita N. Johnson
- Department of Health Promotion, Texas A&M School of Public Health, 1266 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, United States
| | - Galen Newman
- Department of Landscape Architecture & Urban Planning, Texas A&M University, College of Architecture, Langford Architecture Building 3137, College Station, TX 77840, United States
| | - Kayode Atoba
- Department of Marine & Coastal Environmental Science, Texas A&M University 200 Seawolf Pkwy, Galveston, TX 77554, United States
| | - Jaimie Hicks Masterson
- Department of Landscape Architecture & Urban Planning, Texas A&M University, College of Architecture, Langford Architecture Building 3137, College Station, TX 77840, United States
| | - Deidra Davis
- Department of Landscape Architecture & Urban Planning, Texas A&M University, College of Architecture, Langford Architecture Building 3137, College Station, TX 77840, United States
| | - Leanne S. Fawkes
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Texas A&M School of Public Health, 1266 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, United States
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Rao B, Reible D, Athanasiou D, Lou HH, Zhao R, Fang J, Drygiannaki I, Millerick K, Barragan N, Pagnozzi G. Environmental Impacts of Hurricane Harvey on the Neches-Brakes Bayou River System in Beaumont, Texas. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 71:730-740. [PMID: 36378320 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-022-01743-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Hurricane Harvey caused unprecedented floods across large regions of Southeast Texas resulting in several infrastructural issues. One of the notable failures was of a drinking water source pump in Beaumont, Texas, that necessitated the emergency use of a temporary pump intake station in the Neches River system. This study examines the environmental consequences of Harvey-induced flooding in the Neches River system by focusing on sensitive locations, including a Superfund site (International Creosoting, IC) and adjacent to the temporary pump intake. Post-Harvey water samples showed greater than two orders of magnitude increase in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) about 3 weeks after Harvey (350-420 µg L-1 on September 22) at locations adjacent to IC and the temporary water pump intake, which by that time was no longer in use. The organic carbon normalized PAH measurements in the heavily contaminated water samples from both locations (~3% w/w) agreed well with surficial soil/sediment samples collected at the east bank adjacent to the IC site (0.7-5.2% w/w). Furthermore, molecular diagnostic ratios of select PAHs supported the contribution of PAHs from the IC site into the surface waters. PAH measurements were consistent with sediment resuspension by floodwaters that were initially diluted by large flows but became more significant as the flood subsided. Overall, our data showed that flooding can cause high levels of contamination weeks after the initial flooding event, with potential for cascading risks through mobilization of pollutants from source areas and impacts to critical water infrastructure systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balaji Rao
- Texas Tech University, Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering, 911 Boston Avenue, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA.
| | - Danny Reible
- Texas Tech University, Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering, 911 Boston Avenue, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA
| | - Dimitrios Athanasiou
- Texas Tech University, Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering, 911 Boston Avenue, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA
- Exponent, Inc., 15375 SE 30th Place, Suite 250, Bellevue, WA, 98007, USA
| | - Helen H Lou
- Lamar University, Dan F. Smith Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX, 77710, USA
| | - Renzun Zhao
- Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Department, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC, 27411, USA
| | - Jian Fang
- Lamar University, Dan F. Smith Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX, 77710, USA
| | - Ilektra Drygiannaki
- Texas Tech University, Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering, 911 Boston Avenue, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA
- Geosyntec Consultants, Chicago, IL, 60602, USA
| | - Kayleigh Millerick
- Texas Tech University, Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering, 911 Boston Avenue, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA
| | - Nahirobe Barragan
- Texas Tech University, Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering, 911 Boston Avenue, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA
| | - Giovanna Pagnozzi
- Texas Tech University, Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering, 911 Boston Avenue, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA
- Geosyntec Consultants, Seattle, WA, 98101, USA
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Sansom GT, Fawkes LS, Thompson CM, Losa LM, McDonald TJ, Chiu WA. Cancer risk associated with soil distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons within three environmental justice neighborhoods in Houston, Texas. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2023; 45:333-342. [PMID: 35246781 PMCID: PMC10216892 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-022-01245-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Residents and advocacy groups began voicing concerns over the environmental quality located in the neighborhoods of Kashmere Gardens, Fifth Ward, and Denver Harbor in Houston, TX, following the confirmation of a cancer cluster in 2019 and another in 2021. These neighborhoods are in close proximity to a railyard and former wood treatment plant known to have utilized coal tar creosote and contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This research took core soil samples in September and October 2020 from 46 sites to assess for the presence and concentration of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA) 7 Carcinogenic PAHs. Results showed the cumulative concentration of these PAHs in each sample was variable with a range of 13,767 ng/g to 328 ng/g and a mean of 2,517.2 ng/g ± 3122. A regional soil screening evaluation revealed that 40 of the 46 soil samples were in excess of the USEPAs most conservative screening levels of 1.0 × 10-6 increased cancer risk, but none exceeding levels considered actionable for remediation. This study is a fundamental first step for quantifying the environmental pollutants in this minority-majority community. Findings revealed a low risk of cancer risk based on current PAH concentrations alone but cannot assess contributions from other contaminants or from past, possibly higher, levels of contamination. Further research is needed to identify the potential casual pathways of the observed cancer cluster and to explore possible remediation needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garett T Sansom
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Texas A&M School of Public Health, 1266 TAMU, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
| | - Leanne S Fawkes
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Texas A&M School of Public Health, 1266 TAMU, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Courtney M Thompson
- Department of Geography, Texas A&M University, Eller Oceanography and Meteorology Building 3147, 797 Lamar St, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Lyssa M Losa
- College of Architecture, Texas A&M University, Langford Architecture Building 3137, College Station, TX, 77840, USA
| | - Thomas J McDonald
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Texas A&M School of Public Health, 1266 TAMU, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Weihsueh A Chiu
- Departments of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
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Amolegbe SM, Lopez AR, Velasco ML, Carlin DJ, Heacock ML, Henry HF, Trottier BA, Suk WA. Adapting to Climate Change: Leveraging Systems-Focused Multidisciplinary Research to Promote Resilience. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:14674. [PMID: 36429393 PMCID: PMC9690097 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192214674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Approximately 2000 official and potential Superfund sites are located within 25 miles of the East or Gulf coasts, many of which will be at risk of flooding as sea levels rise. More than 60 million people across the United States live within 3 miles of a Superfund site. Disentangling multifaceted environmental health problems compounded by climate change requires a multidisciplinary systems approach to inform better strategies to prevent or reduce exposures and protect human health. The purpose of this minireview is to present the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Superfund Research Program (SRP) as a useful model of how this systems approach can help overcome the challenges of climate change while providing flexibility to pivot to additional needs as they arise. It also highlights broad-ranging SRP-funded research and tools that can be used to promote health and resilience to climate change in diverse contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara M. Amolegbe
- Superfund Research Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Durham, NC 27709, USA
| | | | | | - Danielle J. Carlin
- Superfund Research Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Durham, NC 27709, USA
| | - Michelle L. Heacock
- Superfund Research Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Durham, NC 27709, USA
| | - Heather F. Henry
- Superfund Research Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Durham, NC 27709, USA
| | - Brittany A. Trottier
- Superfund Research Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Durham, NC 27709, USA
| | - William A. Suk
- Superfund Research Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Durham, NC 27709, USA
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Associating Increased Chemical Exposure to Hurricane Harvey in a Longitudinal Panel Using Silicone Wristbands. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19116670. [PMID: 35682254 PMCID: PMC9180596 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19116670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Hurricane Harvey was associated with flood-related damage to chemical plants and oil refineries, and the flooding of hazardous waste sites, including 13 Superfund sites. As clean-up efforts began, concerns were raised regarding the human health impact of possible increased chemical exposure resulting from the hurricane and subsequent flooding. Personal sampling devices in the form of silicone wristbands were deployed to a longitudinal panel of individuals (n = 99) within 45 days of the hurricane and again one year later in the Houston metropolitan area. Using gas chromatography−mass spectroscopy, each wristband was screened for 1500 chemicals and analyzed for 63 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Chemical exposure levels found on the wristbands were generally higher post-Hurricane Harvey. In the 1500 screen, 188 chemicals were detected, 29 were detected in at least 30% of the study population, and of those, 79% (n = 23) were found in significantly higher concentrations (p < 0.05) post-Hurricane Harvey. Similarly, in PAH analysis, 51 chemicals were detected, 31 were detected in at least 30% of the study population, and 39% (n = 12) were found at statistically higher concentrations (p < 0.05) post-Hurricane Harvey. This study indicates that there were increased levels of chemical exposure after Hurricane Harvey in the Houston metropolitan area.
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Han I, Whitworth KW, Christensen B, Afshar M, An Han H, Rammah A, Oluwadairo T, Symanski E. Heavy metal pollution of soils and risk assessment in Houston, Texas following Hurricane Harvey. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 296:118717. [PMID: 34933061 PMCID: PMC8883480 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
In August 2017, after Hurricane Harvey made landfall, almost 52 inches of rain fell during a three-day period along the Gulf Coast Region of Texas, including Harris County, where Houston is located. Harris County was heavily impacted with over 177,000 homes and buildings (approximately 12 percent of all buildings in the county) experiencing flooding. The objective of this study was to measure 13 heavy metals in soil in residential areas and to assess cancer and non-cancer risk for children and adults after floodwaters receded. Between September and November 2017, we collected 174 surface soil samples in 10 communities, which were classified as "High Environmental Impact" or "Low Environmental Impact" communities, based on a composite metric of six environmental parameters. A second campaign was conducted between May 2019 and July 2019 when additional 204 soil samples were collected. Concentrations of metals at both sampling campaigns were higher in High Environmental Impact communities than in Low Environmental Impact communities and there was little change in metal levels between the two sampling periods. The Pollution Indices of lead (Pb), zinc, copper, nickel, and manganese in High Environmental Impact communities were significantly higher than those in Low Environmental Impact communities. Further, cancer risk estimates in three communities for arsenic through soil ingestion were greater than 1 in 1,000,000. Although average soil Pb was lower than the benchmark of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the hazard indices for non-cancer outcomes in three communities, mostly attributed to Pb, were greater than 1. Health risk estimates for children living in these communities were greater than those for adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inkyu Han
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Temple University College of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA
| | - Kristina W Whitworth
- Center for Precision Environmental Health, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA; Department of Medicine, Section of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Brian Christensen
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHealth) at Houston School of Public Health, Houston, TX, 77030, USA; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health Cincinnati, OH, 45213, USA
| | - Masoud Afshar
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHealth) at Houston School of Public Health, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Heyreoun An Han
- Center for Precision Environmental Health, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Amal Rammah
- Center for Precision Environmental Health, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Temitope Oluwadairo
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHealth) at Houston School of Public Health, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Elaine Symanski
- Center for Precision Environmental Health, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA; Department of Medicine, Section of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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Camargo K, Vogelbein MA, Horney JA, Dellapenna TM, Knap AH, Sericano JL, Wade TL, McDonald TJ, Chiu WA, Unger MA. Biosensor applications in contaminated estuaries: Implications for disaster research response. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 204:111893. [PMID: 34419473 PMCID: PMC8639622 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Given the time and monetary costs associated with traditional analytical chemistry, there remains a need to rapidly characterize environmental samples for priority analysis, especially within disaster research response (DR2). As PAHs are both ubiquitous and occur as complex mixtures at many National Priority List sites, these compounds are of interest for post-disaster exposures. OBJECTIVE This study tests the field application of the KinExA Inline Biosensor in Galveston Bay and the Houston Ship Channel (GB/HSC) and in the Elizabeth River, characterizing the PAH profiles of these region's soils and sediments. To our knowledge, this is the first application of the biosensor to include soils. METHODS The biosensor enables calculation of total free PAHs in porewater (C free), which is confirmed through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. To determine potential risk of the collected soils the United States Environmental Protection (USEPA) Agency's Regional Screening Level (RSL) Calculator is used along with the USEPA Region 4 Ecological Screening Values (R4-ESV) and Refined Screening Values (R4-RSV). RESULTS Based on GC-MS results, all samples had PAH-related hazard indices below 1, indicating low noncarcinogenic risks, but some samples exceeded screening levels for PAH-associated cancer risks. Combining biosensor-based C free with Total Organic Carbon yields predictions highly correlated (r > 0.5) both with total PAH concentrations as well as with hazard indices and cancer risks. Additionally, several individual parent PAH concentrations in both the GB/HSC and Elizabeth River sediments exceeded the R4- ESV and R4-RSV values, indicating a need for follow-up sediment studies. CONCLUSIONS The resulting data support the utility of the biosensor for future DR2 efforts to characterize PAH contamination, enabling preliminary PAH exposure risk screening to aid in prioritization of environmental sample analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krisa Camargo
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences - Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology (IFT), Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA; Texas A&M University Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, College Station, TX, 77845, USA
| | - Mary Ann Vogelbein
- Department of Aquatic Health Sciences, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary, Gloucester Point, VA, 23062, USA
| | - Jennifer A Horney
- Epidemiology Program, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Timothy M Dellapenna
- Department of Marine and Coastal Environmental Science, Texas A&M University Galveston, Galveston, TX, 77554, USA
| | - Anthony H Knap
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences - Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology (IFT), Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA; Texas A&M University Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, College Station, TX, 77845, USA
| | - Jose L Sericano
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences - Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology (IFT), Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA; Texas A&M University Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, College Station, TX, 77845, USA
| | - Terry L Wade
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences - Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology (IFT), Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA; Texas A&M University Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, College Station, TX, 77845, USA
| | - Thomas J McDonald
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences - Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology (IFT), Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA; School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Weihsueh A Chiu
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences - Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology (IFT), Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Michael A Unger
- Department of Aquatic Health Sciences, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary, Gloucester Point, VA, 23062, USA.
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Crawford SE, Brinkmann M, Ouellet JD, Lehmkuhl F, Reicherter K, Schwarzbauer J, Bellanova P, Letmathe P, Blank LM, Weber R, Brack W, van Dongen JT, Menzel L, Hecker M, Schüttrumpf H, Hollert H. Remobilization of pollutants during extreme flood events poses severe risks to human and environmental health. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 421:126691. [PMID: 34315022 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/17/2021] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
While it is well recognized that the frequency and intensity of flood events are increasing worldwide, the environmental, economic, and societal consequences of remobilization and distribution of pollutants during flood events are not widely recognized. Loss of life, damage to infrastructure, and monetary cleanup costs associated with floods are important direct effects. However, there is a lack of attention towards the indirect effects of pollutants that are remobilized and redistributed during such catastrophic flood events, particularly considering the known toxic effects of substances present in flood-prone areas. The global examination of floods caused by a range of extreme events (e.g., heavy rainfall, tsunamis, extra- and tropical storms) and subsequent distribution of sediment-bound pollutants are needed to improve interdisciplinary investigations. Such examinations will aid in the remediation and management action plans necessary to tackle issues of environmental pollution from flooding. River basin-wide and coastal lowland action plans need to balance the opposing goals of flood retention, catchment conservation, and economical use of water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Crawford
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology and Environmental Toxicology, Institute of Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Markus Brinkmann
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada; School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada; Global Institute for Water Security, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - Jacob D Ouellet
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology and Environmental Toxicology, Institute of Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Frank Lehmkuhl
- Department of Geography, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Klaus Reicherter
- Institute of Neotectonics and Natural Hazards, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Jan Schwarzbauer
- Institute of Geology and Geochemistry of Petroleum and Coal, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Piero Bellanova
- Institute of Neotectonics and Natural Hazards, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany; Institute of Geology and Geochemistry of Petroleum and Coal, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Peter Letmathe
- Chair of Management Accounting, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Lars M Blank
- Chair of Applied Microbiology, Institute of Applied Microbiology, Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
| | - Roland Weber
- POPs Environmental Consulting, Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany
| | - Werner Brack
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology and Environmental Toxicology, Institute of Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Department Effect-Directed Analysis, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research GmbH, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Joost T van Dongen
- Institute of Biology I, Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
| | - Lucas Menzel
- Department of Geography, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Markus Hecker
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada; School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Holger Schüttrumpf
- Institute for Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Henner Hollert
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology and Environmental Toxicology, Institute of Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany; LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
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11
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Chen Z, Jang S, Kaihatu JM, Zhou YH, Wright FA, Chiu WA, Rusyn I. Potential Human Health Hazard of Post-Hurricane Harvey Sediments in Galveston Bay and Houston Ship Channel: A Case Study of Using In Vitro Bioactivity Data to Inform Risk Management Decisions. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:13378. [PMID: 34948986 PMCID: PMC8702027 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182413378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Natural and anthropogenic disasters may be associated with redistribution of chemical contaminants in the environment; however, current methods for assessing hazards and risks of complex mixtures are not suitable for disaster response. This study investigated the suitability of in vitro toxicity testing methods as a rapid means of identifying areas of potential human health concern. We used sediment samples (n = 46) from Galveston Bay and the Houston Ship Channel (GB/HSC) areas after hurricane Harvey, a disaster event that led to broad redistribution of chemically-contaminated sediments, including deposition of the sediment on shore due to flooding. Samples were extracted with cyclohexane and dimethyl sulfoxide and screened in a compendium of human primary or induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cell lines from different tissues (hepatocytes, neuronal, cardiomyocytes, and endothelial) to test for concentration-dependent effects on various functional and cytotoxicity phenotypes (n = 34). Bioactivity data were used to map areas of potential concern and the results compared to the data on concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the same samples. We found that setting remediation goals based on reducing bioactivity is protective of both "known" risks associated with PAHs and "unknown" risks associated with bioactivity, but the converse was not true for remediation based on PAH risks alone. Overall, we found that in vitro bioactivity can be used as a comprehensive indicator of potential hazards and is an example of a new approach method (NAM) to inform risk management decisions on site cleanup.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zunwei Chen
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (Z.C.); (S.J.); (W.A.C.)
| | - Suji Jang
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (Z.C.); (S.J.); (W.A.C.)
| | - James M. Kaihatu
- Civil & Environmental Engineering and Ocean Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA;
| | - Yi-Hui Zhou
- Biological Sciences and Statistics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; (Y.-H.Z.); (F.A.W.)
| | - Fred A. Wright
- Biological Sciences and Statistics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; (Y.-H.Z.); (F.A.W.)
| | - Weihsueh A. Chiu
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (Z.C.); (S.J.); (W.A.C.)
| | - Ivan Rusyn
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (Z.C.); (S.J.); (W.A.C.)
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12
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Perez MJ, Crist JD, Kirsch KR, Salter PS, Horney JA. When Apologies become Meaningful: Perceptions of Apologies in Environmental Justice Communities. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY 2021; 77:101675. [PMID: 34720327 PMCID: PMC8555765 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2021.101675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
In the United States, people of color from low income and working-class backgrounds are at disproportionate risk to pollution and other environmental stressors. These environmental justice communities (EJCs) can also experience increased risk when a natural disaster collides with a preexisting environmental risk. The current research is an exploratory field study that examines perceptions of environmental risk after a natural disaster and how meaningful a public apology would be in three communities. Residents (N=161) in two EJCs and a community without documented risks reported their environmental concerns and perceptions of public apologies. Overall, EJC residents reported greater concern about chemical hazard exposure than did residents with decreased risk. Furthermore, chemical exposure concerns facilitated public apology meaningfulness within the EJCs, but not in the decreased risk community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Perez
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University
| | - Jaren D Crist
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University
| | - Katie R Kirsch
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Texas A&M University
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13
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Aly NA, Casillas G, Luo YS, McDonald TJ, Wade TL, Zhu R, Newman G, Lloyd D, Wright FA, Chiu WA, Rusyn I. Environmental impacts of Hurricane Florence flooding in eastern North Carolina: temporal analysis of contaminant distribution and potential human health risks. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2021; 31:810-822. [PMID: 33895777 PMCID: PMC8448918 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-021-00325-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 03/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hurricane Florence made landfall in North Carolina in September 2018 causing extensive flooding. Several potential point sources of hazardous substances and Superfund sites sustained water damage and contaminants may have been released into the environment. OBJECTIVE This study conducted temporal analysis of contaminant distribution and potential human health risks from Hurricane Florence-associated flooding. METHODS Soil samples were collected from 12 sites across four counties in North Carolina in September 2018, January and May 2019. Chemical analyses were performed for organics by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Metals were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Hazard index and cancer risk were calculated using EPA Regional Screening Level Soil Screening Levels for residential soils. RESULTS PAH and metals detected downstream from the coal ash storage pond that leaked were detected and were indicative of a pyrogenic source of contamination. PAH at these sites were of human health concern because cancer risk values exceeded 1 × 10-6 threshold. Other contaminants measured across sampling sites, or corresponding hazard index and cancer risk, did not exhibit spatial or temporal differences or were of concern. SIGNIFICANCE This work shows the importance of rapid exposure assessment following natural disasters. It also establishes baseline levels of contaminants for future comparisons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noor A Aly
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Gaston Casillas
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Yu-Syuan Luo
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Thomas J McDonald
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Terry L Wade
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
- Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
- Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Rui Zhu
- Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Galen Newman
- Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Dillon Lloyd
- Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Departments of Biological Sciences and Statistics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Fred A Wright
- Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Departments of Biological Sciences and Statistics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Weihsueh A Chiu
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Ivan Rusyn
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
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14
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Chen Z, Lloyd D, Zhou YH, Chiu WA, Wright FA, Rusyn I. Risk Characterization of Environmental Samples Using In Vitro Bioactivity and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Concentrations Data. Toxicol Sci 2021; 179:108-120. [PMID: 33165562 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfaa166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Methods to assess environmental exposure to hazardous chemicals have primarily focused on quantification of individual chemicals, although chemicals often occur in mixtures, presenting challenges to the traditional risk characterization framework. Sampling sites in a defined geographic region provide an opportunity to characterize chemical contaminants, with spatial interpolation as a tool to provide estimates for non-sampled sites. At the same time, the use of in vitro bioactivity measurements has been shown to be informative for rapid risk-based decisions. In this study, we measured in vitro bioactivity in 39 surface soil samples collected immediately after flooding associated with Hurricane Harvey in Texas in a residential area known to be inundated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contaminants. Bioactivity data were from a number of functional and toxicity assays in 5 human cell types, such as induced pluripotent stem cell-derived hepatocytes, cardiomyocytes, neurons, and endothelial cells, as well as human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Data on concentrations of PAH in these samples were also available and the combination of data sources offered a unique opportunity to assess the joint spatial variation of PAH components and bioactivity. We found significant evidence of spatial correlation of a subset of PAH contaminants and of cell-based phenotypes. In addition, we show that the cell-based bioactivity data can be used to predict environmental concentrations for several PAH contaminants, as well as overall PAH summaries and cancer risk. This study's impact lies in its demonstration that cell-based profiling can be used for rapid hazard screening of environmental samples by anchoring the bioassays to concentrations of PAH. This work sets the stage for identification of the areas of concern and direct quantitative risk characterization based on bioactivity data, thereby providing an important supplement to traditional individual chemical analyses by shedding light on constituents that may be missed from targeted chemical monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zunwei Chen
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology.,Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843
| | - Dillon Lloyd
- Bioinformatics Research Center.,Departments of Biological Sciences and Statistics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695
| | - Yi-Hui Zhou
- Bioinformatics Research Center.,Departments of Biological Sciences and Statistics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695
| | - Weihsueh A Chiu
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology.,Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843
| | - Fred A Wright
- Bioinformatics Research Center.,Departments of Biological Sciences and Statistics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695
| | - Ivan Rusyn
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology.,Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843
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15
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Shabani A, Woznicki SA, Mehaffey M, Butcher J, Wool TA, Whung PY. A coupled hydrodynamic (HEC-RAS 2D) and water quality model (WASP) for simulating flood-induced soil, sediment, and contaminant transport. JOURNAL OF FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT 2021; 14:1-17. [PMID: 35126656 PMCID: PMC8811800 DOI: 10.1111/jfr3.12747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Increased intensity and frequency of floods raise concerns about the release and transport of contaminated soil and sediment to and from rivers and streams. To model these processes during flooding events, we developed an External Coupler in Python to link the Hydrologic Engineering Center-River Analysis System (HEC-RAS) 2D hydrodynamic model to the Water Quality Analysis Simulation Program (WASP). Accurate data transfer from a hydrodynamic model to a water quality model is critical. Our test results showed the External Coupler successfully linked HEC-RAS and WASP and addressed technical challenges in aggregating flow data and conserving mass during the flood event. We ran the coupled models for a 100-year flood event to calculate flood-induced transport of sediment-associated arsenic in Woodbridge Creek, NJ. Change in surface sediment and arsenic at the end of 48-h flood simulation ranged from a net loss of 13.5 cm to a net gain of 11.6 cm, and 16.2 to 2.9 mg/kg, respectively, per model segment, which demonstrates the capability of the coupled model for simulating sediment and contaminant transport in flood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afshin Shabani
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, Tennessee
| | - Sean A. Woznicki
- Annis Water Resources Institute, Grand Valley State University, Muskegon, Michigan
| | - Megan Mehaffey
- Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
| | | | - Tim A. Wool
- Region 4, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Pai-Yei Whung
- Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
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16
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Nicole W. A Different Kind of Storm: Natech Events in Houston's Fenceline Communities. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2021; 129:52001. [PMID: 33950702 PMCID: PMC8099156 DOI: 10.1289/ehp8391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
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Lieberman-Cribbin W, Liu B, Sheffield P, Schwartz R, Taioli E. Socioeconomic disparities in incidents at toxic sites during Hurricane Harvey. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2021; 31:454-460. [PMID: 33875771 PMCID: PMC8992005 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-021-00324-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hurricane Harvey facilitated exposure to various toxic substances and floodwater throughout the greater Houston metropolitan area. Although disparities exist in this exposure and vulnerable populations can bear a disproportionate impact, no research has integrated disparities in exposure to toxic incidents following Hurricane Harvey. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to analyze the relationship between flooding, socioeconomic status (SES), and toxic site incidents. METHODS Data on toxic site locations, reported releases, and flood water depths during Hurricane Harvey in the greater Houston area were compiled from multiple sources. A multivariable logistic regression was performed to predict the odds of a toxic site release by flooding at the site, SES and racial composition of the census tract. RESULTS 83 out of 1403 toxic sites (5.9%) had reported releases during Hurricane Harvey. The proportion of toxic sites with reported incidents across increasing SES index quintiles were 8.35, 7.67, 5.14, 4.55, and 0.51, respectively. The odds of an incident were lower in the highest SES quintile areas (ORadj = 0.06, 95% CI: 0.01-0.42) compared to the lowest SES quintile. Flooding was similar at toxic sites with and without incidents, and was distributed similarly and highest at toxic sites located in lower SES quintiles. SIGNIFICANCE Despite similar flooding across toxic sites during Hurricane Harvey, areas with lower SES were more likely to have a toxic release during the storm, after accounting for number of toxic sites. Improving quality of maintenance, safety protocols, number of storm-resilient facilities may minimize this disproportionate exposure and its subsequent adverse outcomes among socioeconomically vulnerable populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wil Lieberman-Cribbin
- Department of Population Health Science and Policy and Institute for Translational Epidemiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Joint Center for Disaster Health, Trauma and Resilience, Great Neck, NY, USA
| | - Bian Liu
- Department of Population Health Science and Policy and Institute for Translational Epidemiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Joint Center for Disaster Health, Trauma and Resilience, Great Neck, NY, USA
| | - Perry Sheffield
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rebecca Schwartz
- Department of Population Health Science and Policy and Institute for Translational Epidemiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Joint Center for Disaster Health, Trauma and Resilience, Great Neck, NY, USA
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Epidemiology and Prevention, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra-Northwell, Great Neck, NY, USA
| | - Emanuela Taioli
- Department of Population Health Science and Policy and Institute for Translational Epidemiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Joint Center for Disaster Health, Trauma and Resilience, Great Neck, NY, USA.
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18
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Eyes of a Hurricane: The Effect of Hurricane Harvey on Ophthalmology Consultations at Houston's County Hospital. Disaster Med Public Health Prep 2021; 17:e13. [PMID: 33818371 DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2020.470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to characterize ophthalmology consultations ordered after Hurricane Harvey compared to consultations ordered during the same time period of the prior year. METHODS A retrospective chart review was performed at an urban, level 1 trauma center of a county hospital. All patients were included who received an electronic health record, documented ophthalmology consultation order between September 2017 and October 2017 (the time period immediately following Hurricane Harvey) or September 2016 and October 2016. Patient demographic risk factors were collected. Patient ICD10 clinical diagnoses were categorized as extraocular, intraocular, infectious, physiological, or other, and then subcategorized as trauma or non-trauma-related. A geographical heat map was generated to compare the changes in diagnosis volume by zip code to the magnitude of rainfall in the county. RESULTS Following Hurricane Harvey, ophthalmology consultation volume decreased, number of infectious ophthalmology diagnoses increased (P < 0.001), percentage of patients on immunosuppression increased (P < 0.001), and the number of private insurance payers increased while the number of county-funded insurance payers decreased (P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS The risk of infectious eye diagnosis was double the risk of traumatic eye diagnosis from Hurricane Harvey flooding. During public disaster planning, different ophthalmological medical resources and responses should be considered for flooding versus high-wind events.
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19
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Rusca M, Messori G, Di Baldassarre G. Scenarios of Human Responses to Unprecedented Social-Environmental Extreme Events. EARTH'S FUTURE 2021; 9:e2020EF001911. [PMID: 33869652 PMCID: PMC8047902 DOI: 10.1029/2020ef001911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
In a rapidly changing world, what is today an unprecedented extreme may soon become the norm. As a result, extreme-related disasters are expected to become more frequent and intense. This will have widespread socio-economic consequences and affect the ability of different societal groups to recover from and adapt to rapidly changing environmental conditions. Therefore, there is the need to decipher the relation between genesis of unprecedented events, accumulation and distribution of risk, and recovery trajectories across different societal groups. Here, we develop an analytical approach to unravel the complexity of future extremes and multiscalar societal responses-from households to national governments and from immediate impacts to longer term recovery. This requires creating new forms of knowledge that integrate analyses of the past-that is, structural causes and political processes of risk accumulation and differentiated recovery trajectories-with plausible scenarios of future environmental extremes grounded in the event-specific literature. We specifically seek to combine the physical characteristics of the extremes with examinations of how culture, politics, power, and policy visions shape societal responses to unprecedented events, and interpret the events as social-environmental extremes. This new approach, at the nexus between social and natural sciences, has the concrete advantage of providing an impact-focused vision of future social-environmental risks, beyond what is achievable within conventional disciplinary boundaries. In this paper, we focus on extreme flooding events and the societal responses they elicit. However, our approach is flexible and applicable to a wide range of extreme events. We see it as the first building block of a new field of research, allowing for novel and integrated theoretical explanations and forecasting of social-environmental extremes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Rusca
- Department of Earth SciencesUppsala UniversityUppsalaSweden
- Centre of Natural Hazards and Disaster Science (CNDS)UppsalaSweden
| | - Gabriele Messori
- Department of Earth SciencesUppsala UniversityUppsalaSweden
- Centre of Natural Hazards and Disaster Science (CNDS)UppsalaSweden
- Department of MeteorologyStockholm UniversityStockholmSweden
- Bolin Centre for Climate ResearchStockholmSweden
| | - Giuliano Di Baldassarre
- Department of Earth SciencesUppsala UniversityUppsalaSweden
- Centre of Natural Hazards and Disaster Science (CNDS)UppsalaSweden
- Department of Integrated Water Systems and GovernanceIHE Delftthe Netherlands
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20
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Sansom GT, Kirsch KR, Casillas GA, Camargo K, Wade TL, Knap AH, Baker ES, Horney JA. Spatial Distribution of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Contaminants after Hurricane Harvey in a Houston Neighborhood. J Health Pollut 2021; 11:210308. [PMID: 33815906 PMCID: PMC8009646 DOI: 10.5696/2156-9614-11.29.210308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/17/2021] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hurricane Harvey made landfall along the Texas Gulf Coast as a Category 4 hurricane on August 25, 2017, producing unprecedented precipitation that devastated coastal areas. Catastrophic flooding in the City of Houston inundated industrial and residential properties resulting in the displacement and transfer of soil, sediment, and debris and heightening existing environmental justice (EJ) concerns. OBJECTIVES The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the presence, distribution, and potential human health implications of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in a residential neighborhood of Houston, Texas following a major hurricane. METHODS Concentrations of PAHs in 40 soil samples collected from a residential neighborhood in Houston, Texas were measured. Spatial interpolation was applied to determine the distribution of PAHs. Potential human health risks were evaluated by calculating toxicity equivalency quotients (TEQs) and incremental excess lifetime cancer risk (IELCR). RESULTS Total priority PAH concentrations varied across samples (range: 9.7 × 101 ng/g-1.6 × 104 ng/g; mean: 3.0 × 103 ng/g ± 3.6 × 103 standard deviation). Spatial analysis indicated a variable distribution of PAH constituents and concentrations. The IELCR analysis indicated that nine of the 40 samples were above minimum standards. CONCLUSIONS Findings from this study highlight the need for fine scale soil testing in residential areas as well as the importance of site-specific risk assessment. COMPETING INTERESTS The authors declare no competing financial interests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garett T. Sansom
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Texas A&M School of Public Health, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Katie R. Kirsch
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Texas A&M School of Public Health, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Gaston A. Casillas
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Krisa Camargo
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Terry L. Wade
- Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Anthony H. Knap
- Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Erin S. Baker
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
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21
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Rowe GT, Fernando H, Elferink C, Ansari GAS, Sullivan J, Heathman T, Quigg A, Petronella Croisant S, Wade TL, Santschi PH. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) cycling and fates in Galveston Bay, Texas, USA. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0243734. [PMID: 33370322 PMCID: PMC7769252 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The cycling and fate of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is not well understood in estuarine systems. It is critical now more than ever given the increased ecosystem pressures on these critical coastal habitats. A budget of PAHs and cycling has been created for Galveston Bay (Texas) in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, an estuary surrounded by 30-50% of the US capacity of oil refineries and chemical industry. We estimate that approximately 3 to 4 mt per year of pyrogenic PAHs are introduced to Galveston Bay via gaseous exchange from the atmosphere (ca. 2 mt/year) in addition to numerous spills of petrogenic PAHs from oil and gas operations (ca. 1.0 to 1.9 mt/year). PAHs are cycled through and stored in the biota, and ca. 20 to 30% of the total (0.8 to 1.5 mt per year) are estimated to be buried in the sediments. Oysters concentrate PAHs to levels above their surroundings (water and sediments) and contain substantially greater concentrations than other fish catch (shrimp, blue crabs and fin fish). Smaller organisms (infaunal invertebrates, phytoplankton and zooplankton) might also retain a significant fraction of the total, but direct evidence for this is lacking. The amount of PAHs delivered to humans in seafood, based on reported landings, is trivially small compared to the total inputs, sediment accumulation and other possible fates (metabolic remineralization, export in tides, etc.), which remain poorly known. The generally higher concentrations in biota from Galveston Bay compared to other coastal habitats can be attributed to both intermittent spills of gas and oil and the bay's close proximity to high production of pyrogenic PAHs within the urban industrial complex of the city of Houston as well as periodic flood events that transport PAHs from land surfaces to the Bay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilbert T. Rowe
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Harshica Fernando
- Department of Chemistry, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, Texas, United States of America
| | - Cornelis Elferink
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - G. A. Shakeel Ansari
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - John Sullivan
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Thomas Heathman
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Antonietta Quigg
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | | | - Terry L. Wade
- Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Peter H. Santschi
- Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Marine and Coastal Environmental Science, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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22
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Bacosa HP, Steichen J, Kamalanathan M, Windham R, Lubguban A, Labonté JM, Kaiser K, Hala D, Santschi PH, Quigg A. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and putative PAH-degrading bacteria in Galveston Bay, TX (USA), following Hurricane Harvey (2017). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 27:34987-34999. [PMID: 32588304 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-09754-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Hurricane Harvey was the wettest hurricane in US history bringing record rainfall and widespread flooding in Houston, TX. The resulting storm- and floodwaters largely emptied into the Galveston Bay. Surface water was collected from 10 stations during five cruises to investigate the concentrations and sources of 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and relative abundances of PAH-degrading bacteria. Highest PAH levels (102-167 ng/L) were detected during the first sampling event, decreasing to 36-69 ng/L within a week. Four sites had elevated concentrations of carcinogenic benzo[a]pyrene that exceeded the Texas Standard for Surface Water threshold. The highest relative abundances of known PAH-degrading bacteria Burkholderiaceae, Comamonadaceae, and Sphingomonadales were detected during the first and second sampling events. PAH origins were about 60% pyrogenic, 2% petrogenic, and the remainder of mixed sources. This study improves our understanding on the fate, source, and distributions of PAHs in Galveston Bay after an extreme flooding event.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hernando P Bacosa
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX, 77553, USA.
- Department of Marine and Coastal Environmental Science, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX, 77553, USA.
| | - Jamie Steichen
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX, 77553, USA
| | - Manoj Kamalanathan
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX, 77553, USA
| | - Rachel Windham
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX, 77553, USA
| | - Arnold Lubguban
- Department of Chemical Engineering & Technology, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, 9200, Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, Philippines
| | - Jessica M Labonté
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX, 77553, USA
| | - Karl Kaiser
- Department of Marine and Coastal Environmental Science, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX, 77553, USA
- Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - David Hala
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX, 77553, USA
| | - Peter H Santschi
- Department of Marine and Coastal Environmental Science, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX, 77553, USA
- Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Antonietta Quigg
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX, 77553, USA
- Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
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23
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Banerjee S, Suter MA, Aagaard KM. Interactions between Environmental Exposures and the Microbiome: Implications for Fetal Programming. CURRENT OPINION IN ENDOCRINE AND METABOLIC RESEARCH 2020; 13:39-48. [PMID: 33283070 PMCID: PMC7716732 DOI: 10.1016/j.coemr.2020.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Decades of population-based health outcomes data highlight the importance of understanding how environmental exposures in pregnancy affect maternal and neonatal outcomes. Animal model research and epidemiological studies have revealed that such exposures are able to alter fetal programming through stable changes in the epigenome, including altered DNA methylation patterns and histone modifications in the developing fetus and infant. It is similarly known that while microbes can biotransform environmental chemicals via conjugation and de-conjugation, specific exposures can also alter the community profile and function of the human microbiome. In this review, we consider how alterations to the maternal and or fetal/infant microbiome through environmental exposures could directly and indirectly alter fetal programming. We highlight two specific environmental exposures, cadmium (Cd) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and outline their effects on the developing fetus and the perinatal (maternal and fetal/infant) microbiome. We further consider how chemical exposures in the setting of natural disasters may be of particular importance to environmental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sohini Banerjee
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Departments of Molecular & Human Genetics, Molecular & Cell Biology, and Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Melissa A. Suter
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Departments of Molecular & Human Genetics, Molecular & Cell Biology, and Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Kjersti M. Aagaard
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Departments of Molecular & Human Genetics, Molecular & Cell Biology, and Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030
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24
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Grineski SE, Flores AB, Collins TW, Chakraborty J. Hurricane Harvey and Greater Houston households: comparing pre-event preparedness with post-event health effects, event exposures, and recovery. DISASTERS 2020; 44:408-432. [PMID: 31231850 DOI: 10.1111/disa.12368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Most disaster studies rely on convenience sampling and 'after-only' designs to assess impacts. This paper, focusing on Hurricane Harvey (2017) and leveraging a pre-/post-event sample of Greater Houston households (n=71) in the United States, establishes baselines for disaster preparedness and home structure flood hazard mitigation, explores household-level ramifications, and examines how preparedness and mitigation relate to health effects, event exposures, and recovery. Between 70 and 80 per cent of participants instituted preparedness measures. Mitigation actions varied: six per cent had interior drainage systems and 83 per cent had elevated indoor heating/cooling components. Sixty per cent reported home damage. One-half highlighted allergies and two-thirds indicated some level of post-traumatic stress (PTS). Three-quarters worried about family members/friends. The results of generalised linear models revealed that greater pre- event mitigation was associated with fewer physical health problems and adverse experiences, lower PTS, and faster recovery. The study design exposed the broad benefits of home structure flood hazard mitigation for households after Harvey.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara E Grineski
- Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Utah, United States
| | - Aaron B Flores
- Doctoral Student in the Department of Geography at the University of Utah, United States
| | - Timothy W Collins
- Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of Utah, United States
| | - Jayajit Chakraborty
- Professor of Geography in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at the University of Texas at El Paso, United States
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Johnston J, Cushing L. Chemical Exposures, Health, and Environmental Justice in Communities Living on the Fenceline of Industry. Curr Environ Health Rep 2020; 7:48-57. [PMID: 31970715 PMCID: PMC7035204 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-020-00263-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Polluting industries are more likely to be located in low-income communities of color who also experience greater social stressors that may make them more vulnerable than others to the health impacts of toxic chemical exposures. We describe recent developments in assessing pollutant exposures and health threats posed by industrial facilities using or releasing synthetic chemicals to nearby communities in the U.S. RECENT FINDINGS More people are living near oil and gas development due to the expansion of unconventional extraction techniques as well as near industrial animal operations, both with suggestive evidence of increased exposure to hazardous pollutants and adverse health effects. Legacy contamination continues to adversely impact a new generation of residents in fenceline communities, with recent studies documenting exposures to toxic metals and poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). Researchers are also giving consideration to acute exposures resulting from inadvertent industrial chemical releases, including those resulting from extreme weather events linked to climate change. Natural experiments of industrial closures or cleanups provide compelling evidence that exposures from industry harm the health of nearby residents. New and legacy industries, coupled with climate change, present unique health risks to communities living near industry due to the release of toxic chemicals. Cumulative impacts from multiple stressors faced by environmental justice communities may amplify these adverse effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jill Johnston
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Lara Cushing
- Department of Health Education, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, USA
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26
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Sansom GT, Kirsch K, Horney JA. Using the 12-item short form health survey (SF-12) to assess self rated health of an engaged population impacted by hurricane Harvey, Houston, TX. BMC Public Health 2020; 20:257. [PMID: 32075614 PMCID: PMC7031970 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-020-8349-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the last decade there has been an increase in community-based organizations providing support and educational outreach to populations effected by hazards. Prior research has demonstrated various roles that community social capital can play in both the enhancement of disaster preparedness and the mitigation of physical and mental health impacts following a natural disaster. METHODS To assess self-reported health of residents of South Houston, Texas impacted by Hurricane Harvey, attendees of a community event completed a survey that included the 12 item short form health survey version 2 (SF-12v2). RESULTS Although survey participants were older and more likely to be African-American than the overall population of Houston, they had higher mental health composite scores that the national average, with increases in mental wellbeing associated with a longer length of residence in their neighborhood. CONCLUSIONS The City of Houston, with highly segregated, socially vulnerable populations at high risk from natural hazards, should consider ways to support community engagement around disaster preparedness, response, and recovery that may build community cohesion and improve post-disaster mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garett T. Sansom
- Research Assistant Professor, Environmental and Occupational Health, Texas A&M University School of Public Health, College Station, TX 77840 USA
| | - Katie Kirsch
- Research Associate, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Texas A&M University School of Public Health, College Station, TX 77840 USA
| | - Jennifer A. Horney
- Professor and Founding Director, Epidemiology Program, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19713 USA
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27
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Citizen Science-Informed Community Master Planning: Land Use and Built Environment Changes to Increase Flood Resilience and Decrease Contaminant Exposure. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17020486. [PMID: 31940904 PMCID: PMC7013473 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17020486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Revised: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Communities adjacent to concentrated areas of industrial land use (CAILU) are exposed to elevated levels of pollutants during flood disasters. Many CAILU are also characterized by insufficient infrastructure, poor environmental quality, and socially vulnerable populations. Manchester, TX is a marginalized CAILU neighborhood proximate to several petrochemical industrial sites that is prone to frequent flooding. Pollutants from stormwater runoff discharge from industrial land uses into residential areas have created increased toxicant exposures. Working with local organizations, centers/institutes, stakeholders, and residents, public health researchers sampled air, water, indoor dust, and outdoor soil while researchers from landscape architecture and urban planning applied these findings to develop a community-scaled master plan. The plan utilizes land use and built environment changes to increase flood resiliency and decrease exposure to contaminants. Using a combination of models to assess the performance, costs, and benefits of green infrastructure and pollutant load impacts, the master plan is projected to capture 147,456 cubic feet of runoff, and create $331,400 of annual green benefits by reducing air pollution and energy use, providing pollution treatment, increase carbon dioxide sequestration, and improve groundwater replenishment. Simultaneously, there is a 41% decrease across all analyzed pollutants, reducing exposure to and transferal of toxic materials.
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28
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GREENBERG STEPHENB. PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS: PUTTING "CLIMATE" BACK INTO THE "CLIMATOLOGICAL". TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN CLINICAL AND CLIMATOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION 2020; 131:1-24. [PMID: 32675838 PMCID: PMC7358470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- STEPHEN B. GREENBERG
- Correspondence and reprint requests: Stephen B. Greenberg, MD, MACP, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, Texas 77030, E-mail:
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29
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Marcantonio RA, Field S, Regan PM. Toxic trajectories under future climate conditions. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0226958. [PMID: 31869830 PMCID: PMC6927791 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0226958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Extreme weather events, driven by changing climatic conditions, interact with our built environment by distributing-or redistributing-environmental risk and damaging physical infrastructure. We focus on the role of extreme weather events in the distribution of toxic substances within and between residential communities in the largest cities in the United States (US). We explore the impact of projected inland and coastal flooding on the redistribution of toxicity from known contaminated sites, and how patterns of toxic flow change the total population and social demographics of the population at risk from toxic materials. We use the Urban Adaptation Assessment and data on toxic site locations from the US government to evaluate risk of toxin dispersion from flooding in cities and down to the census tract level for the period 2021-2061. We demonstrate that future climate conditions significantly increase the risk of the dispersion of toxins from contaminated sites by 2041.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard A. Marcantonio
- The Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies and the Anthropology Department, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States of America
| | - Sean Field
- The Anthropology Department, the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States of America
| | - Patrick M. Regan
- The Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies and the Political Science Department, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States of America
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30
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Bera G, Camargo K, Sericano J, Liu Y, Sweet S, Horney J, Jun M, Chiu W, Rusyn I, Wade T, Knap A. Baseline data for distribution of contaminants by natural disasters: results from a residential Houston neighborhood during Hurricane Harvey flooding. Heliyon 2019; 5:e02860. [PMID: 31763489 PMCID: PMC6861583 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Revised: 11/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas August 25, 2017, bringing massive rains and flooding that impacted soils in a residential neighborhood in East Houston. Trace elements, organochlorine pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polybrominated diphenyl ether fire retardants (PBDEs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were determined in 24 soil samples. The highest concentrations found in soils were total PAHs, which ranged from 1,310 μg/kg to 85,700 μg/kg with a mean of 12,600 μg/kg. Analysis of specific PAH ratios indicate the source of the PAHs were dominated by pyrogenic rather than petrogenic sources. Chlordanes were detectable in the area where the likely local source is for ant control. The trace metal concentrations were below any environmental health concern concentrations but As, Cd, Hg, Pb, Se, Ag, Zn were enriched over the crustal abundance. While Hurricane Harvey was responsible for the redistribution of many contaminants, the large volume of rain and floodwater likely transported contaminants from the land areas and into the Houston Ship Channel and Galveston Bay. The findings from this study will serve as baseline data for determining the mobilization of contaminants caused by natural disasters.
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Affiliation(s)
- G. Bera
- Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77840, USA
| | - K. Camargo
- Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77840, USA
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77840, USA
| | - J.L. Sericano
- Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77840, USA
| | - Y. Liu
- Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77840, USA
| | - S.T. Sweet
- Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77840, USA
| | - J. Horney
- School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77840, USA
| | - M. Jun
- Department of Statistics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77840, USA
| | - W. Chiu
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77840, USA
| | - I. Rusyn
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77840, USA
| | - T.L. Wade
- Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77840, USA
| | - A.H. Knap
- Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77840, USA
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31
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Kwok RK, Miller AK, Gam KB, Curry MD, Ramsey SK, Blair A, Engel LS, Sandler DP. Developing Large-Scale Research in Response to an Oil Spill Disaster: a Case Study. Curr Environ Health Rep 2019; 6:174-187. [PMID: 31376082 PMCID: PMC6699641 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-019-00241-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Research conducted in the wake of a disaster can provide information to help mitigate health consequences, support future recovery efforts, and improve resilience. However, a number of barriers have prevented time-sensitive research responses following previous disasters. Furthermore, large-scale disasters present their own special challenges due to the number of people exposed to disaster conditions, the number of groups engaged in disaster response, and the logistical challenges of rapidly planning and implementing a large study. In this case study, we illustrate the challenges in planning and conducting a large-scale post-disaster research study by drawing on our experience in establishing the Gulf Long-term Follow-up (GuLF) Study following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster. We describe considerations in identifying at-risk populations and appropriate comparison groups, garnering support for the study from different stakeholders, obtaining timely scientific and ethics review, measuring and characterizing complex exposures, and addressing evolving community health concerns and unmet medical needs. We also describe the NIH Disaster Research Response (DR2) Program, which provides a suite of resources, including data collection tools, research protocols, institutional review board guidance, and training materials to enable the development and implementation of time-critical studies following disasters and public health emergencies. In describing our experiences related to the GuLF Study and the ongoing efforts through the NIH DR2 Program, we aim to help improve the timeliness, quality, and value of future disaster-related data collection and research studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard K Kwok
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), NIH, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA.
| | | | - Kaitlyn B Gam
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), NIH, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Matthew D Curry
- Social & Scientific Systems, Inc., Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Steven K Ramsey
- Social & Scientific Systems, Inc., Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Aaron Blair
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Lawrence S Engel
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), NIH, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Dale P Sandler
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), NIH, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
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32
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Sansom G, Cizmas L, Aarvig K, Dixon B, Kirsch KR, Katare A, Sansom L. Vulnerable Populations Exposed to Lead-Contaminated Drinking Water within Houston Ship Channel Communities. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16152745. [PMID: 31374814 PMCID: PMC6695821 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16152745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Revised: 07/27/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Recent events have drawn increased attention to potential lead exposures from contaminated drinking water. Further, homes with older infrastructure are at greatest risk due to the presence of the disinfectant chemical chloramine, which can leach lead from older pipes. There is a growing need to determine the extent of lead leaching especially within vulnerable communities and homes with children. This pilot study collected survey data and performed lead analysis on drinking water in the small community of Manchester in Houston, TX. Manchester is characterized by industrial sites, flooding, and a low socioeconomic population. Surveys and water analyses were completed on randomly selected homes (N = 13) and documented perceptions of participants on their drinking water regarding presence and concentration of lead. Lead was discovered in 30.8% of homes ranging from 0.6 to 2.4 (µg/L), all below the US Environmental Protection Agency action level of 15 ppb, but above the water standard goals. These findings further suggest that contaminated water is a broad issue requiring concerted efforts to ensure the health of US residents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garett Sansom
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Texas A&M School of Public Health, 1266 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
| | - Leslie Cizmas
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Texas A&M School of Public Health, 1266 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Kathleen Aarvig
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Texas A&M School of Public Health, 1266 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Benika Dixon
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Texas A&M School of Public Health, 1266 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Katie R Kirsch
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Texas A&M School of Public Health, 1266 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Anjali Katare
- Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, Texas A&M University, 400 Bizzell St., College Station, TX 77840, USA
| | - Lindsay Sansom
- Department of Geography, Texas A&M University, 400 Bizzell St., College Station, TX 77840, USA
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33
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Stone KW, Casillas GA, Karaye I, Camargo K, McDonald TJ, Horney JA. Using Spatial Analysis to Examine Potential Sources of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in an Environmental Justice Community After Hurricane Harvey. ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE (PRINT) 2019; 12:194-203. [PMID: 32292537 PMCID: PMC6707063 DOI: 10.1089/env.2019.0007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are environmental contaminants associated with adverse human health outcomes. Environmental justice neighborhoods experience disproportionate environmental health risks. Hurricane Harvey made landfall on August 25, 2017, bringing record rainfall and catastrophic flooding to Houston, Texas, redistributing PAHs in residential soil. We aimed to describe PAH distributions in soil in the Manchester neighborhood of Houston, TX, and identify their potential sources. Soil samples were collected from 24 residential addresses and analyzed for 16 priority PAH concentrations using an accelerated solvent extractor. PAH distribution and source determination were conducted using spatial analysis and isomer ratios. All sample sites detected PAHs in soil, with the total mass ranging from 0.75 to 69.9 ng/g, which were predominantly four-ring structured PAHs. Total PAH concentrations were highest on the northeastern border of the neighborhood, whereas lower overall concentrations of PAHs were found on the southwestern border, at the highest elevation in the watershed. The ratio indeno[1,,3-cd]pyrene (IP) to indeno[1,,3-cd]pyrene plus benzo[ghi]perylene indicated vehicular combustion as the primary source in 19 of 23 samples. After heavy rainfall from Hurricane Harvey in the Manchester neighborhood, PAHs in soil were unevenly distributed throughout the neighborhood, with an accumulation of PAHs in the northeastern edges. Using isomer ratios and spatial analysis, the likely source of PAHs is from use of transportation infrastructure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kahler W. Stone
- Dr. Kahler W. Stone is an Assistant Professor at Department of Health and Human Performance, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee
| | - Gaston A. Casillas
- Gaston A. Casillas is a Graduate Assistant Researcher at Department of Veterinary Physiology & Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | - Ibraheem Karaye
- Dr. Ibraheem Karaye is a Postdoctoral Researcher at Program in Epidemiology, College of Health Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware
| | - Krisa Camargo
- Krisa Camargo is a Graduate Assistant Researcher at Department of Veterinary Physiology & Pharmacology, Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | - Thomas J. McDonald
- Dr. Thomas J. McDonald is a Professor at Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Texas A&M School of Public Health, College Station, Texas
| | - Jennifer A. Horney
- Dr. Jennifer A. Horney is Professor and Founding Director at Program in Epidemiology, College of Health Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware
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Horney JA, Rios J, Cantu A, Ramsey S, Montemayor L, Raun L, Miller A. Improving Hurricane Harvey Disaster Research Response Through Academic-Practice Partnerships. Am J Public Health 2019; 109:1198-1201. [PMID: 31318601 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2019.305166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
After Hurricane Harvey, researchers, media, and public health agencies collected data in Houston, Texas, to assess potential health effects and inform the public. To limit redundancy and ensure sampling coverage of impacted areas, research and practice partners used disaster research response (DR2) resources and relied on partnerships formed during a 2015 DR2 workshop in Houston. Improved coordination after the disaster can improve the effectiveness and efficiency of DR2 and enable the use of data to improve recovery and preparedness for future disasters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A Horney
- Jennifer A. Horney is with the Epidemiology Program and Disaster Research Center, University of Delaware, Newark, DE. Janelle Rios is with the Office of Public Health Practice, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX. Adelita Cantu is with the School of Nursing, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX. Steve Ramsey is with Field Operations, Social & Scientific Systems, Inc., Durham, NC. Lisa Montemayor and Loren Raun are with Houston Health Department, Houston, TX. Aubrey Miller is with National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC
| | - Janelle Rios
- Jennifer A. Horney is with the Epidemiology Program and Disaster Research Center, University of Delaware, Newark, DE. Janelle Rios is with the Office of Public Health Practice, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX. Adelita Cantu is with the School of Nursing, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX. Steve Ramsey is with Field Operations, Social & Scientific Systems, Inc., Durham, NC. Lisa Montemayor and Loren Raun are with Houston Health Department, Houston, TX. Aubrey Miller is with National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC
| | - Adelita Cantu
- Jennifer A. Horney is with the Epidemiology Program and Disaster Research Center, University of Delaware, Newark, DE. Janelle Rios is with the Office of Public Health Practice, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX. Adelita Cantu is with the School of Nursing, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX. Steve Ramsey is with Field Operations, Social & Scientific Systems, Inc., Durham, NC. Lisa Montemayor and Loren Raun are with Houston Health Department, Houston, TX. Aubrey Miller is with National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC
| | - Steve Ramsey
- Jennifer A. Horney is with the Epidemiology Program and Disaster Research Center, University of Delaware, Newark, DE. Janelle Rios is with the Office of Public Health Practice, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX. Adelita Cantu is with the School of Nursing, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX. Steve Ramsey is with Field Operations, Social & Scientific Systems, Inc., Durham, NC. Lisa Montemayor and Loren Raun are with Houston Health Department, Houston, TX. Aubrey Miller is with National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC
| | - Lisa Montemayor
- Jennifer A. Horney is with the Epidemiology Program and Disaster Research Center, University of Delaware, Newark, DE. Janelle Rios is with the Office of Public Health Practice, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX. Adelita Cantu is with the School of Nursing, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX. Steve Ramsey is with Field Operations, Social & Scientific Systems, Inc., Durham, NC. Lisa Montemayor and Loren Raun are with Houston Health Department, Houston, TX. Aubrey Miller is with National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC
| | - Loren Raun
- Jennifer A. Horney is with the Epidemiology Program and Disaster Research Center, University of Delaware, Newark, DE. Janelle Rios is with the Office of Public Health Practice, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX. Adelita Cantu is with the School of Nursing, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX. Steve Ramsey is with Field Operations, Social & Scientific Systems, Inc., Durham, NC. Lisa Montemayor and Loren Raun are with Houston Health Department, Houston, TX. Aubrey Miller is with National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC
| | - Aubrey Miller
- Jennifer A. Horney is with the Epidemiology Program and Disaster Research Center, University of Delaware, Newark, DE. Janelle Rios is with the Office of Public Health Practice, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX. Adelita Cantu is with the School of Nursing, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX. Steve Ramsey is with Field Operations, Social & Scientific Systems, Inc., Durham, NC. Lisa Montemayor and Loren Raun are with Houston Health Department, Houston, TX. Aubrey Miller is with National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC
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Kirsch KR, Elizondo J, Hoyos Salazar DD, Washington S, Burdick T, Alvarez P, Horney JA. Engaged Environmental Science for Underserved Youth. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION RESEARCH 2019; 25:1416-1425. [PMID: 31814794 PMCID: PMC6897383 DOI: 10.1080/13504622.2019.1637822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Revised: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/14/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences has called for targeted efforts to engage underserved youth in environmental education programs that support environmental literacy and contribute to the development of a diverse workforce pipeline for environmental science-related occupations. Evidence suggests that career knowledge among low income and minority youth is more likely to be incompatible with post-secondary educational opportunities than other racial and ethnic groups. One approach to attenuating discordant college and career expectations among underserved youth is building networks for information sharing between secondary and post-secondary students. The purpose of this commentary is to describe the development and implementation of a high school curriculum on environmental science and environmental justice by Texas A&M University in collaboration with community engagement partners, students, and teachers at Furr High School, an innovative XQ Super School in Houston, Texas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie R. Kirsch
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Texas A&M School of Public Health, College Station, TX, USA
| | | | | | - Steven Washington
- Texas Sea Grant College Program, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Travis Burdick
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Texas A&M School of Public Health, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Pablo Alvarez
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Texas A&M School of Public Health, College Station, TX, USA
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Du J, Park K, Dellapenna TM, Clay JM. Dramatic hydrodynamic and sedimentary responses in Galveston Bay and adjacent inner shelf to Hurricane Harvey. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 653:554-564. [PMID: 30414585 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.10.403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2018] [Revised: 10/28/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Hurricane Harvey, one of the worst hurricanes that hit the United States in recent history, poured record-breaking rainfall across the Houston metropolitan area. Based on a comprehensive set of data from various sources, we examined the dramatic responses in hydrodynamic and sedimentary processes of Galveston Bay to this extreme event. Using a freshwater fraction method that circumvents the uncertainties in surface runoff and groundwater discharge, the freshwater load into the bay during Harvey and the following month was estimated to be 11.1 × 109 m3, about 3 times the bay volume, which had completely refreshed the entire bay. Harvey also delivered 9.86 × 107 metric tons of sediment into the bay, equivalent to 18 years of average annual sediment load. At a site inside the San Jacinto Estuary, acute bed erosion of 48 cm followed by deposition of 22 cm of new sediment was observed from the sediment cores. Slow salinity recovery (~2 month) and a thick flood deposit (~10.5 cm average over the entire bay) had likely impacted the ecosystem in the bay and the adjacent inner shelf. Estuaries with similar bathymetric and geometric characteristics, i.e., shallow bathymetry with narrow outlets, are expected to experience similar dramatic estuarine responses while extreme precipitation events are expected to occur more frequently under the warming climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiabi Du
- Department of Marine Sciences, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX 77554, United States.
| | - Kyeong Park
- Department of Marine Sciences, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX 77554, United States
| | - Timothy M Dellapenna
- Department of Marine Sciences, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX 77554, United States
| | - Jacinta M Clay
- Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, United States
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Dong C, Taylor MP, Zahran S. The effect of contemporary mine emissions on children's blood lead levels. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2019; 122:91-103. [PMID: 30509512 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.09.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2018] [Revised: 09/11/2018] [Accepted: 09/12/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Broken Hill is home to Australia's oldest silver-zinc-lead mine. However, the precise source of childhood blood lead (PbB) exposures has been subject to considerable debate. Lead sources include natural soil Pb enrichment, legacy deposition, contemporary mining emissions, and Pb-based paint. OBJECTIVE To test whether contemporary mining emissions independently affect childhood PbB in Broken Hill. METHODS Children's (<5 years old) PbB measures from 2011 to 2015 (n = 4852), obtained from Broken Hill Child & Family Health Centre, were analyzed using generalised linear regression models, including covariates of household soil Pb, city dust Pb concentrations (PbD), demographic factors and Pb ore production. Two natural experiments involving wind direction and the 2009 dust storm were examined to test whether the PbB-distance gradient from the mining operations was influenced by contemporary emissions. The influence of contemporary emissions was further interrogated by examining the effect of ore production on PbB and PbD. RESULTS Children living downwind and proximate to the mine had substantially higher PbB outcomes than children similarly distant but upwind. Dust Pb deposition increased significantly with proximity to mining operations as well to Pb production (1991-2013). Average annual PbB correlated with Pb ore production (p < 0.01) with all subsets of children PbB levels responding with near unit elasticity to Pb ore production (p < 0.01). Pre- and post-analysis of the dust storm showed the PbB-distance gradient remained statistically unaltered further confirming contemporary emissions as a source of exposure. CONCLUSIONS Contemporary mining emissions influence children's PbB measures independent of other sources and need to be remediated to facilitate reductions in harmful exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenyin Dong
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
| | - Mark Patrick Taylor
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Energy and Environmental Contaminants Research Centre, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sammy Zahran
- Department of Economics, Centre for Disaster and Risk Analysis, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
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Nicole W. Wristbands for Research: Using Wearable Sensors to Collect Exposure Data after Hurricane Harvey. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2018; 126:042001. [PMID: 29687980 PMCID: PMC6071742 DOI: 10.1289/ehp3131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2017] [Accepted: 11/22/2017] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
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