Oral

Everyone has a right to clean water. As children we learn that water is an essential element to promote and sustain life. However, some communities are at a marked disadvantage because they are at increased risk for poor health due to lack of clean water. In this session, presenters will discuss projects that examine the connection between social status and access to clean water in different communities in the US (California, New Mexico, Alabama, and the Navajo Nation). Presenters examine access to clean drinking water in the context of environmental justice. They describe how the communities face increased exposures to contaminants in the drinking water known to cause adverse health effects. The presenters will outline research strategies to quantify the levels of contamination faced by the communities, and highlight intervention strategies to mitigate and prevent exposure to the contaminants in the water.

Session Objectives: (1) Discuss the connection between SES and access to clean water. (2) Identify strategies to mitigate exposure to contaminated water sources. (3) Discuss various research methodologies to collect data on water quality to show connection to environmental justice.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH)