Sacoby M. Wilson, MS, Environmental Sciences & Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB #7431, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, 9199602777, smwilson@email.unc.edu

The session will highlight the work of WERA to document indoor air quality problems in low-income communities in Mebane, North Carolina. Many WERA households are dilapidated and have structural problems which lead to mold and mildew problems in the homes. WERA researchers developed a household survey to document the number of homes in the WERA communities that have structural problems, need maintenance of indoor plumbing, presence of mold and mildew, dust problems and presence of pests/dander. The survey will also document the occurrence of acute respiratory events and incidence rate of chronic respiratory problems such as coughing, bronchitis and asthma in households with indoor air quality problems.

The session will discuss intervention strategies that households can utilize to reduce the growth of mold and mildew, reduce household dust load and remove pests. This session will also address environmental hazards found in low-income households, discuss various disease impacts and quality of life impacts on burdened residents, and the role of education and healthy behavoirs in limiting exposure and facilitating a reduction in disease morbidity.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe how mold/mildew, dust and pest/animal dander can create household air quality problems in WERA communities
• List the types of respiratory health ailments associated with exposure to indoor air pollutants
• Discuss education and behavorial strategies that can be used to reduce the levels of harmful air pollutants in low-income/minority communities in Mebane, NC

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.