Using community knowledge to improve site characterization and engagement

This presentation highlights how a partnership between the UNC Superfund Research Program (SRP) and the NC Division of Public Health's (DPH) Health Assessment, Consultation, and Education Program led to improved understanding of community concerns and site characteristics relevant to public health assessments at two National Priorities List (NPL, or “Superfund”) sites in eastern North Carolina. Through a qualitative study, the SRP Research Translation Core (RTC) assessed community knowledge and concerns, information needs, and potential routes of exposure in the communities surrounding these two sites: Horton Iron & Metal Co. in Wilmington, NC, and Wright Chemical Corp. in Riegelwood, NC. Site contamination included polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), metals, and /or asbestos contamination of sediments and soil. Working closely with DPH, the RTC identified relevant patterns of fish consumption and recommended ways to incorporate other findings into site-related community engagement activities. In this presentation, we will identify the concerns of a variety of stakeholders and their need for information related to environmental health and other risks associated with the sites; discuss how expressed needs differed based on the position of the stakeholder in the community; and describe the ways that the NC Division of Public Health used the information to invigorate its plans for community engagement at each site. We will also comment on how draft ATSDR guidance on community engagement informed the process.