Impact/Purpose:

Project objectives are to: 1) assess environmental exposures in communities of color and/or economically/educationally disadvantaged communities, 2) develop the research infrastructure of the NCCU Environmental Science Program, and 3) develop improved tools for conducting community-based exposure research in environmental justice communities.

Description:

Research has shown that communities of color and economically/educationally disadvantaged communities are at a greater risk of impact from environmental hazards. In many past studies in environmental justice (EJ) communities, scientists have used surrogate measures of exposure because of the lack of data on actual exposures. In 2001, North Carolina Central University (NCCU) received Congressional funding for a research and training initiative to (1) assess environmental exposures in a community impacted by environmental hazards and (2) develop the research infrastructure of the NCCU Environmental Science Program. This work is being conducted under a cooperative agreement between NCCU and EPA. The long-range goal of this project is to develop community-level tools than can be adapted for use in other communities to collect data that can be used to better understand environmental exposures and their impacts. A systematic approach was developed and applied to select potential local communities for the exposure study. Two communities were selected for study under this project. The first exposure study is being conducted in Durham, NC. Meetings were held with the community to identify and prioritize environmental issues of concern. The environmental issue of concern in the Durham community is exposure to contaminants from auto salvage shops/junkyards. A technical approach to assess the environmental hazards involves site screening at eight junkyards, followed by a more comprehensive site assessment at those sites identified to be of greatest concern based on screening measurements and modeling results. The site screening involves collection of soil and water samples in the vicinity of the junkyards and analyses of the samples for selected metals and organic chemicals that are known to be associated with auto salvage activities. The second community to be studied will be in Moncure, NC. Air quality is a concern in this community due to the location of a number of manufacturing facilities in the area. Work on the Durham study will continue during 2006. The Moncure study will be performed in 2006 and 2007. During this period, work will continue to strengthen the facilities and capabilities of the Environmental Science Program. Work under this project will provide new expertise, facilities, and capabilities in environmental sciences that can be applied to problems in EJ communities. The tools that are developed by NCCU under this project will be disseminated to the scientific community for use in other EJ communities.

Record Details:

Record Type:PROJECT

Start Date:08/01/2001

Projected Completion Date:09/01/2007

OMB Category:Other

Record ID: 56219

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Project Information:

Progress :The cooperative agreement was awarded in 2001. The initial efforts on the project focused on the development of the research infrastructure of the NCCU Environmental Sciences Program and set up of the laboratory required to support work in the community exposure studies. The NCCU Environmental Sciences laboratory was configured for both the exposure field studies and for teaching. During 2002, an Environmental Sciences and Technology Seminar Series was developed in collaboration with other NCCU departments including geography and Chemistry, relevant academic/research programs at Duke University, and the EPA. Two new courses in Environmental Sciences were established and work began toward an accreditation with the National Environmental Health Sciences and Protection Accreditation Council. NCCU established an Advisory Board to guide the project and provide community interaction. Advisory Board members include representatives from State and Community Groups in NC (e.g., NC Department of the Environment & Natural Resources, NC Environmental Justice Network, departments of health), NCCU, the private sector, and the federal government (EPA and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences). Advisory Board meetings have been held twice each year since the start of the project. Community selection guidelines developed in collaboration with the Advisory Board were applied to identify and prioritize three communities in central North Carolina for exposure studies as part of the project: 1) Durham, 2) Moncure, and 3) Roxboro. The Durham community was selected as the site for the first exposure study. NCCU collected background data on the Durham community and worked with community representatives to address potential exposure concerns in their community. For the Durham Community, potential exposure to contaminants from auto salvage yards/junkyards was identified as the highest priority issue of concern. Information on junkyards was collected and eight sites were identified within the boundaries defined for the community. During 2004, a study design was developed for the Durham Community Exposure Study and work was started. The study design involves site screening measurements at the eight junkyard sites, followed by a more comprehensive site assessment at one or two of the sites. The contaminants to be measured include metals and selected organic compounds. For the site screening, soil and water samples are being collected. Sampling and analytical methods were developed based on EPA methods. Method validation tests were performed and preliminary analyses of samples were conducted. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were developed. A Quality Assurance Project Plan was developed. Work continued on the Durham study during 2005. In mid-2005, work was temporarily suspended on the Durham study due to the requirement to move the laboratory facilities to a new Science building at NCCU. The analytical laboratory will be available for use in early 2006, when work will resume on both the Durham and Moncure studies.



Relevance :This study will directly impact the communities to be studied by providing community-specific exposure data for environmental pollutants of concern. Because the study will be conducted in an environmental justice community, it will also begin to address the concept of "cumulative risk." The community, by definition is an EJ community and, thus, may also be exposed to additional stressors that influence the community's cumulative risk. In the long-term, this information will be relevant to other similar EJ communities by providing experiences and lessons learned on the best approaches for conducting exposure studies in minority/low income communities. It will add to the knowledge base for: selecting the community for study, involving the community and community groups, designing the study, communicating the end results to the community, and providing follow up information on mitigation if needed. Through this project, NCCU will develop research capabilities and faculty expertise in human exposure assessment and community-based research. Laboratories to support exposure studies will be developed and available to students for training. The project will develop an Environmental Science program that will train future leaders and experts in community exposure research.

Clients :U.S. Congressman David Price, OARM/Office of Acquisition Management/Small Business Office (Contact: Jerry Dodson), OAQPS/Emission Standards Division/Policy Planning & Standards Group (Contact: Amanda Aldridge)

Project IDs:

ID Code :10763

Project type :OMIS