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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Monica A. Riojas, MD, Field Investigator, University of Tulsa/University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio - Laredo Campus Extension, Indoor Air Program/Department of Family & Community Medicine STEER Program, 1937 E. Bustamante St., Laredo, TX 78041, 956-523-7447, monica_r_@hotmail.com, Claudia S. Miller, MD, MS, Professor, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Vice Chair, Community Medicine, Director, STEER Program, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, Richard J. Shaughnessy, PhD, Program Manager, Indoor Air Program, University of Tulsa, 1204 S. Harvard, Tulsa, OK 74104, and Roger B. Perales, MPH, RS, Faculty Associate, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Assistant Director, South Tx. Env. Education & Research (STEER), University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio - Laredo Campus Extension, 1937 E. Bustamante Ave., Laredo, TX 78041.

Children living at the Texas-Mexico Border appear to be at increased risk for developing asthma, compared to other U.S. children. However, little is known about the indoor air exposures in these largely Hispanic homes that may contribute to this elevated risk. Trained field investigators conducted a series of eleven structured "environmental house calls" over a 1-year period in each of 60 homes of children with moderate to severe asthma living in Laredo, Texas. The goal of this project was to create a healthier habitat for the children and their families by identifying and evading asthma triggers, heavy metal exposures, and other health and safety hazards.

A comprehensive, written assessment plan containing 278 items guided home surveys and helped insure systematic identification of potential hazards and also provided specific recommendations for correcting each condition identified. The families received individually tailored and prioritized action plans, as well as one-on-one training and a list of resources, including a welcome basket with alternative cleaning products, an air purifier, a vacuum cleaner, etc.

Detailed health data collected prior to, at intervals, and following the interventions, will be used to determine the validity of these tools and the effectiveness of the home interventions. This HUD-funded project, a collaboration between the University of Tulsa Indoor Air Program and the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio-South Texas Environmental Education and Research Program (STEER), was conducted between 2003-2006. Asthma triggers and other conditions found in study homes, some unique to the border region, will be presented.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to

• Recognize the environmental factors that can contribute to disease and injury to children, especially asthma triggers in homes.
• Describe the basic outline of the community based asthma study that took place in the Laredo community.
• Identify at least 3 factors that can improve an asthmatic child's health.

Keywords: Asthma, Environmental Health

Related Web page: steer @uthscsa.edu

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered