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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

John Sullivan, MA, Sealy Center for Environmental Health & Medicine / NIEHS, University of Texas Medical Branch @ Galveston TX, 301 University Blvd., Environmental Toxicology - UTMB, Galveston, TX 77555-1110, 409-747-1246, josulliv@utmb.edu, Bryan, L. Parras, BA, Nuestra Palabra: Latino Writers Having Their Say, 3201 Allen Parkway, Suite 150, Houston, TX 77019, Jennifer Gorenstein, BA, Center for Research on Environmental Disease, University of Texas / MD Anderson Cancer Center, Box 389, Smithville, TX 78957, Robin Fuchs-Young, PhD, Research Division, University of Texas / MD Anderson Cancer Center, Box 389, Smithville, TX 78957, and Pam Diamond, MFA, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch @ Galveston TX, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555-1071.

National Institute Environmental Health Sciences centers nation-wide created inter-disciplinary working groups focused on human health threats stemming from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. These groups assessed threats posed by mold, harmful algal blooms, chemical toxicants, and various infectious agents at selected sites throughout the hurricane impact zone. Because of proximity to impacted areas, UTMB NIEHS Center in Environmental Toxicology was charged with coordinating direct community outreach efforts in Louisiana and East Texas. In early October, UTMB / NIEHS Center Community Outreach & Education Core, in collaboration with outreach counterparts at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center @ Smithville TX / Center for Research in Environmental Disease sent two groups into southern Louisiana. One group used Lafourche Parish as a base to deliver humanitarian aid and assess local needs for additional supplies during local recovery / reclamation. A second group, ranging through New Iberia, New Orleans, Chalmette, rural Terrebonne, Lafourche and Jefferson Parishes, and north into Baton Rouge, met with community environmental leaders, emergency personnel and local citizens to 1) sample public risk perceptions, 2) evaluate the scope and reach of ongoing risk communication efforts, and 3) determine how the NIEHS could best collaborate with local groups in environmental health research and local capacity building efforts. This scoping visit identified specific information gaps limiting efficacy of risk communication, produced a community “wish list” of potential collaborative research projects, and provided a platform for future collaborative efforts in environmental health assessment & risk communication.

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

• Define crucial terms such as local knowledge, techical / cultural rationality, exposure pathway, risk anxiety, acceptable risk, and inverted risk communication paradigm,
• Describe how inverted risk communication paradigm infuses technical risk assessment with local knowledge,
• Identify specific environmental health information gaps following hurricane Katrina which contributed to risk anxiety and complicated reentry decisions,
• List factors contributing to public perceptions of environmental health risk.

Keywords: Environmental Health Hazards, Risk Communication

Related Web page: www.ehponline.org/docs/2006/114-1/niehsnews.html#coep

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation