Interdisciplinary Methods to Study a Complex Environmental Health Issue: Wood Pellet Production Facilities
Citation:
Weaver, A., M. Turner, T. Minich, E. Hilborn, A. Jalowska, AND A. Chelminski. Interdisciplinary Methods to Study a Complex Environmental Health Issue: Wood Pellet Production Facilities. Society for Epidemiologic Research, Portland, OR, June 13 - 16, 2023.
Impact/Purpose:
Wood pellet manufacturing is an emerging industry in the US Southeast. This team of interdisciplinary scientists is planning a research project to better understand the environmental and health impacts of this industry. Many of these plants are located in potential environmental justice communities. Geography experts will assess locations of existing wood pellet manufacturing facilities and will link known environmental and demographic characteristics. Then, epidemiologists will assess potential health impacts. Social scientists will interview community members about their perceptions around the wood pellet industries. Finally, exposure scientists, epidemiologists, and clinicians will measure individual-level air pollution exposure and health.
Description:
Emerging complex issues present opportunities for epidemiologists to work collaboratively with scientists from other disciplines. Here, we discuss interdisciplinary methods to study environmental and health impacts of the wood pellet industry. Since 2016, the wood pellet industry has grown by about 60%, with most wood pellet production facilities (WPPFs) located in the in the Southeastern US. They may be a significant source of water and air pollution that impacts the health of local communities. Residents of communities where WPPFs are located have also expressed concerns about environmental injustice. However, the environmental and health impacts of WPPFs have not been systematically characterized in the scientific literature. Geospatial experts will map locations of WPPFs and source forests in the Southeastern US. These data will be linked to Census-based data on demographics and socioeconomic status of local populations, existing air pollution data, water quality data, and watershed data to assess environmental and environmental justice impacts of WPPFs. Epidemiologists will then use Medicare data to conduct an ecologic study of potentially related health outcomes (asthma, COPD, cardiovascular disease, mortality) in communities with WPPFs before and after WPPFs became operational. Social scientists will interview community members to better understand environmental, social, economic, and health concerns of impacted populations. Finally, exposure scientists, epidemiologists, and medical experts will measure individual-level air pollutant exposures and health metrics, assessing potential associations. Interdisciplinary teams are required to fully understand the scope of emerging environmental and health concerns. As epidemiologists, we have immense opportunities to collaborate with scientific colleagues. This abstract does not necessarily reflect EPA policy.