Increased population and economic growth on the Gulf Coast: Implications for water quality

Background and issues

Communities along the Gulf Coast are experiencing rapid growth. In the states of Mississippi, Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle, this growth as resulted in an increase in populations in urban and rural communities and a concern for the environmental impact on the many rivers, canals, and waterways in the area. The region is attractive to major industries as well as tourist and recreational industries. The collective influence of the demographic and economic changes in the communities has brought agencies and environmental advocacy groups together.

Description

The purpose of this project is to apply the epidemiologic triad to the assessment of the communities in the Gulf Coast region. Analysis of changing population data is presented. The biological and chemical agents that put the communities at risk are identified. The environmental attributes that impact the quality of water in the communities are described.

Lessons learned

The investigators discovered a network of local, state, and national agencies that are working to protect and preserve a safe water supply through monitoring and surveillance activities. The role of the public health nurse in surveillance, case finding and community education are supported as well as the importance of inclusion of environmental assessment strategies in advanced public health nursing curricula.

Recommendations

Further assessment activities should include surveillance of water borne illnesses and the development and evaluation of effective primary prevention interventions in the communities. The epidemiologic triad is recommended as an effective model for assessing and evaluating community data.