Grantee Research Project Results
2023 Progress Report: Health and High Water: Health Impacts of Increased Rainfall on Families Living in Racially Isolated Neighborhoods in Pittsburgh PA
EPA Grant Number: R840473Title: Health and High Water: Health Impacts of Increased Rainfall on Families Living in Racially Isolated Neighborhoods in Pittsburgh PA
Investigators: Dubowitz, Tamara , May, Linnea Warren , Lewis, Walter , Haig, Sarah , Elliott, Emily , Bain, Daniel , Lyon, Alyssa
Institution: RAND Corporation , University of Pittsburgh , Homewood Childrens Village , Black Environmental Collective
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: February 1, 2023 through May 7, 2025
Project Period Covered by this Report: January 1, 2023 through December 31,2023
Project Amount: $1,349,997
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:
1. Characterize the bacterial and fungal pathogens and indoor air quality (e.g., radon concentrations, humidity) in residential basements in two predominantly Black, low income, urban neighborhoods in Pittsburgh.
2. Characterize respiratory and behavioral health conditions of residents exposed to the microbial pathogens.
3. Examine associations between basement pathogens and contaminants, basement moisture, daily rainfall extremes, housing and neighborhood conditions, and cumulative health impacts for residents across the adult lifespan.
4. Develop and disseminate community-based solutions to address cumulative health impacts of pathogen/contaminant exposure related to wet basements and heavy rainfall events.
Progress Summary:
• In collaboration with community partners, created and developed household survey to be administered to all participants
• Programmed, pilot-tested household survey for administration by trained resident data collectors in participants’ homes
• Developed a sampling strategy and began rolling recruitment for the study
• Hired and trained resident data collectors on survey administration and environmental data collection
• Conducted regular community outreach about the study at community meetings and published a study website
- Presented a study introduction at a community meeting for the ThinkPHRESH (Pittsburgh Hill/Homewood Research on Neighborhoods, Thinking and Memory) Open House on December 13, 2023.
• Presented a study update to the Negley Run Watershed Task Force on the study on January 25, 2024.
• Data collection including surveys, placement of air quality data sensors, and collection of dust samples
• Data cleaning, integration, and analysis
• Regular community outreach and engagement, including planning for community engagement to make sense of the data and start to develop community-relevant solutions to the problems identified in the data.
Future Activities:
We plan to begin and complete data collection with 125 households during this time period. We also plan to continue ongoing efforts to engage the community through interim updates, community events, and newsletters. We will also begin data cleaning, integration, and analysis. We will also begin to plan for community engagement sessions to make sense of the data and start to develop community-relevant solutions to the problems identified in the data.
We will submit amendments to RAND’s HSPC as needed to keep records updated with the most recent data collection procedures, participant materials, and other relevant information.
Supplemental Keywords:
health equity; built environment; flooding; mold; fungus; climate change; public health; respiratory health; mental healthRelevant Websites:
RAND - Health and High Water Project 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.