Reducing health disparities related to environmental exposures: The Great Lakes Environmental Health Project

Background: Children are more vulnerable than adults to health problems as a result of environmental exposures. This is because they are still growing, they eat more, drink more, and breathe more in proportion to their body size, and their behavior can expose them more to chemicals and organisms (e.g., crawling on the floor). The goal of the Great Lakes Environmental Health Project (GLEHP) was to empower families served by a Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) Program in a large, urban, Midwestern neighborhood to reduce their children's exposure to a variety of environmental health risks through education and risk reduction skill-building sessions. This project built on the strengths of three partners including the local health department, state university, and private medical college to produce a sustainable change in public health systems that would deliver an innovative approach to reduce environmental risks in low-income children. GLEHP developed mechanisms to increase the number of WIC families and health professionals, who were able to identify and take action to reduce children's exposure to environmental health risks. Methods: Community-based participatory research methods were used to design the educational/skills building program and solicited community input including health professionals (nutritionists, public health nurses) and WIC clients including pregnant and nursing women, and fathers. Several classes were offered on topics including water quality, air quality, and toxins. Measurements included pre- and post-test evaluation of knowledge gained. Quarterly partnership meetings were held to plan, monitor and evaluate processes, activities, and outcomes. Results: Thirty-three public health professionals and nursing students participated in the educational workshop on interventions to reduce environmental risks. Thirty WIC clients attended at least one educational session. Pre-post test scores measuring knowledge increased: Water Quality (p= 0.072); Air Quality (p= 0.025), and Toxins (p= 0.000). Public health professionals have successfully incorporated environmental health information into their practice, including home visits, and Prenatal Care Coordination. Conclusions: GLEHP promoted environmental justice through sustainable social and community changes to reduce environmental health risks to low-income families, and ensure that current and future generations are protected from unnecessary and unwarranted health risks.