Grantee Research Project Results
2023 Progress Report: Leveraging Community Knowledge to Understand and Map the health impacts of cumulative environmental exposures and social vulnerability in the context of climate change
EPA Grant Number: R840485Title: Leveraging Community Knowledge to Understand and Map the health impacts of cumulative environmental exposures and social vulnerability in the context of climate change
Investigators: Hassan, Saria , Saikawa, Eri
Institution: Emory University School of Medicine , Emory University
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: September 1, 2022 through May 9, 2025
Project Period Covered by this Report: September 1, 2022 through August 31,2023
Project Amount: $1,349,998
RFA: Cumulative Health Impacts at the Intersection of Climate Change, Environmental Justice, and Vulnerable Populations/Lifestages: Community-Based Research for Solutions (2021) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Watersheds , Endocrine Disruptors , Environmental Justice , Human Health
Objective:
The goal of this project is to understand how the cumulative health impact of chemical and non-chemical exposures is exacerbated by climate change among the most vulnerable communities in Atlanta. We achieve this goal through the following three objectives: 1. To create an index and map at the neighborhood level focused on the cumulative chemical and non-chemical exposure of individuals in Atlanta and how their health effects are exacerbated by climate change. Hypothesis: Climate change will increase flood frequency, PM2.5 and ozone concentrations, extreme heat days, and exposure to heavy metals/metalloids. 2. To understand how highly susceptible individuals with chronic disease perceive and manage the effects of chemical, non-chemical, and climate-related factors on their mental health, asthma, and obesity-sensitive conditions 3. To facilitate community-based and community-led education initiatives to empower the community and increase resilience against climate change and its effects on health.
Progress Summary:
For each of the objectives of the study we have made significant progress and have preliminary accomplishments. We have developed and discussed with the community the preliminary components of the cumulative health index. Through this process we have generated preliminary maps for the relevant neighborhoods in Atlanta to understand variability in key climate, environmental, social, and health outcomes. We have also completed the preliminary phase of community consultations to improve the CitizensApp that will be used to collect realtime information on environmental hazards. We have created beautifully complex causal loop diagrams that explain the intricate relationship between chemical and nonchemical stressors on priority health outcomes (obesity, asthma, mental health) and importantly how climate change exacerbates those relationships. We have successfully convened climate champions from nine vulnerable neighborhoods in the West and SouthWest of Atlanta into 3 community action circles where several sessions have empowered those members with knowledge and skills to address the impact of cumulative risk and climate change on their communities.
Future Activities:
We will move forward with development and testing of the cumulative health index. We will complete initial edits to the CItzensApp and pilot test it with members of the community. We will complete are models explaining interaction of factors related to the main health problems of focus. We will use these models to prioritize interventions to reduce the impact of climate change on health. We will continue to convene community action circles and develop the individual and community plan for action. We will also conduct neighrbohood outreach events with a mobile cinic that can provide basic screening and management for climate-sensitive conditions. These outreach events will be coupled with education.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 4 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
air, water, soil, global climate, exposure, risk, health effects, vulnerability, cumulative effects, chemicals, community-based, EPA Region 4Progress 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.