Grantee Research Project Results
2021 Progress Report: Building Resilience in Vulnerable Older Adult Communities Facing Increased Exposure Risks to Wastewater Contamination from Flooding in Puerto Rico
EPA Grant Number: R840040Title: Building Resilience in Vulnerable Older Adult Communities Facing Increased Exposure Risks to Wastewater Contamination from Flooding in Puerto Rico
Investigators: Ikuma, Kaoru , Rehmann, Chris , Poleacovschi, Cristina , Weems, Carl , Zambrana, Ivis Garcia
Institution: Iowa State University
EPA Project Officer: Aja, Hayley
Project Period: August 1, 2020 through July 31, 2023 (Extended to July 31, 2024)
Project Period Covered by this Report: August 1, 2020 through July 31,2021
Project Amount: $800,000
RFA: Contaminated Sites, Natural Disasters, Changing Environmental Conditions and Vulnerable Communities: Research to Build Resilience (2019) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Safer Chemicals , Sustainable and Healthy Communities
Objective:
The objective of this study is to gather data that will aid in building resilience in vulnerable populations against contamination risks posed by flooding. Our underlying hypothesis is that even in vulnerable older adult communities exposed to natural disasters and resulting contamination, community-based risk reduction efforts can significantly decrease risk and increase the resilience of such populations especially when factors such as psychosocial vulnerabilities and the built environment are taken into consideration. Specifically, we are interested in improving our scientific understanding of how flooding results in elevated exposure risks to wastewater-related contaminants among older adults (Objective 1), determining what secondary/modifying psychosocial variables affect the vulnerability of older adults to risk posed by contaminant exposure (Objective 2), and learning how to build resilience in vulnerable communities with older adults by connecting the information gathered in the previous objectives (Objective 3).
Progress Summary:
Objective 1
Modeling of flooding and contamination was conducted using MIKE+ and MIKE21 software (DHI) for the Loíza, Puerto Rico municipality. The model setup incorporates the unique bathymetry and topography as well as buildings and other infrastructure of Loíza. Boundary conditions for the simulations include a tidal boundary to the offshore sides, a discharge/inflow boundary for Río Grande de Loíza, and a free outflow boundary for the coastal region. Both coastal storm surges and excess rainfall were considered for the simulations.
The model has undergone preliminary testing for mesh sizes, validation of flood zones, and determination of spin-up and warm-up periods. The model links hydrodynamic simulation for flooding and water depth with contaminant (e.g., caffeine and Escherichia coli) fate and transport from point sources of a wastewater treatment plant and single household septic systems.
Objective 2
Over 200 door-to-door household surveys and in-person/virtual interviews were conducted focusing on older adults (>65 years old) throughout Loíza in May-June 2021. Precautions were taken with face masks and social distancing during survey data collection by the researchers. Though we are still analyzing the data, preliminary results suggest that:
- mental health (CES-D) and physical health (PHQ) items for older adults were negative correlated with water perception parameter items and positively correlated with hurricane stressor items;
- there is disconnect between community and stakeholder perceptions on water quality perceptions;
- compounding effects of housing damage and socioeconomic vulnerability evoke recovery practitioners who manage housing recovery practices to prioritize aspects that truly matter to the affected individuals on the personal level;
- reconstruction initiation time is influenced by socioeconomic vulnerabilities (gender and annual income) and housing vulnerabilities (property title and insurance); and
- social connection is the most critical developmental process to the older adults.
Future Activities:
Year 2 will focus on simulating a range of flooding conditions in Loíza and assessing the hot spots of chemical and biological contaminants in flood waters (Objective 1). These hot spots will be correlated with Year 1 survey data results on psychosocial vulnerability and resilience to assess the relationship between contamination and health of older adults. Furthermore, the survey and interview data from Year 1 (Objective 2) will be thoroughly analyzed and coded to determine the impacts of water quality, contamination, flooding, and the built environment on the wellbeing of older adults in Loíza.
In addition, we will conduct preliminary workshops (Objective 3) with an advisory committee of key stakeholders from Loíza to obtain feedback on our data collected in Year 1 as well as to brainstorms ways of using the data to plan interventions for building resilience in the vulnerable, older adult populations within the community. These stakeholder workshops will provide crucial information for the ultimate community workshop in Year 3.
Journal Articles on this Report : 1 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
Other project views: | All 2 publications | 1 publications in selected types | All 1 journal articles |
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Type | Citation | ||
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Russell J, Marsee M, Weems C. Developmental Variation in Amygdala Volumes:Modeling Differences Across Time, Age, and Puberty. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY-COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2021;6(1):117-125. |
R840040 (2021) |
Exit Exit |
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.