Traffic-related environmental health influences in an urban, underserved community in New Orleans, LA

Our research team is examining the potential for exposures to various chemical contaminants in soil in an urban, minority community in New Orleans, LA. We are looking at high-priority elemental and heavy metal contaminants, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and diesel-range organic compounds. We have sampled 25 distinct sites throughout this neighborhood that broadly cover the entire community. We are ultimately interested in any associated and observed adverse health effects in this community that might be related to these contaminants. In addition, we are expanding our environmental health impact assessment by examining air quality data in the fall of 2014.

Residents in this community have consistently voiced concerns over soil contamination and air pollution in their neighborhood possibly affecting their health and well-being. After numerous community meetings, these residents helped identify the main areas of concern, many of which consisted of residents' homes, urban gardens, and playgrounds. Once our analysis is complete, we will effectively communicate our findings and summarize possible risks, and we will disseminate educational materials to improve environmental health knowledge among the residents. We will then be able to develop intervention and mitigation techniques if and where necessary, and thus improve community health.