The Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health (CCCEH) is studying environmental factors that affect children's risks for asthma, developmental delays, and cancer. Four hundred pregnant women are being enrolled in a study that follows the mother and infant until the latter's second birthday in an effort to link environmental exposures in the home to biomarkers of exposure in the mother and child, and measures of health status. In addition to these studies, CCCEH has undertaken two community intervention projects. The first is a study to test the efficacy of integrated pest management in the home to reduce exposure to indoor allergens. The second is a campaign to educate women in Northern Manhattan about known environmental risks for asthma, cancer, and delayed development, and about strategies for safeguarding their families. The focus of this presentation will be the development and implementation of the Healthy Home, Healthy Child campaign, which includes seven topics developed through an interactive process between Center scientists, the Center's community partner organizations, and community residents participating in focus groups. The theme of the campaign is "The Truth About The Environment….And How To Make It Safe". The topics include information about risks and preventive strategies concerning cigarettes, lead poisoning, drugs and alcohol, air pollution, garbage, pest control, and nutrition. The campaign is being implemented through community events, flyers, newspaper articles, and radio announcements. An evaluation is being conducted using public intercept interviews in Northern Manhattan.
Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to: q Identify key issues of environmental concern to low income, urban families. q Recognize some of the issues involved in collaboration between researchers and community members in joint efforts to improve the quality of the environment. q Recognize known risk factors for asthma, delayed development, and cancer in low income, urban children
Keywords: Asthma, Urban Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.