Abstract
Safeguarding chinatown's well-being: Mitigating health risks amidst dual mega-developments in New York City
Lan Doan, PhD, MPH, Yi-Ling Tan, MPH, Jennifer Wong, MPH, Stella Yi, PhD, MPH and Simona Kwon, DrPH
NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY
APHA 2024 Annual Meeting and Expo
The simultaneous construction of the Manhattan Detention Center and Two Bridges mega-project in Manhattan Chinatown, New York City, poses significant health threats to residents due to air, noise, and vibration pollution. In close proximity to these construction sites are residential senior housing for low-income older adults, community-based organizations, early childcare centers, and community health and social service centers. The construction activities are expected to exacerbate existing health issues, particularly affecting predominantly individuals of color in Chinatown and vulnerable subpopulations, such as immigrants, older adults, and children. This presentation will detail ongoing activities, including environmental monitoring and the cultural and linguistic adaptation of the Environmental Distress Scale, a validated measure of the bio-psychosocial costs of development. Additionally, the presentation will highlight initiatives to generate responsive community-research data and foster multisector partnerships aimed at addressing environmental justice concerns.
Diversity and culture Epidemiology Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs Public health or related research Social and behavioral sciences
Abstract
Serum PFAS concentrations and renal cell carcinoma risk among minoritized racial and ethnic communities
Jongeun Rhee, ScD, MS
National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
APHA 2024 Annual Meeting and Expo
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of environmentally persistent man-made chemicals, known as âforever chemicals.â In 2023, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), one of the most studied PFAS, as a human carcinogen based on limited epidemiologic evidence of an association with renal cell carcinoma. While serum PFAS are detectable in over 95% of U.S. adults, biomarker data for PFAS is limited for understudied racial and ethnic groups, thereby constraining our understanding of true population patterns and associated cancer risks. This presentation will highlight new evidence on serum PFAS concentrations and their association with renal cell carcinoma among minoritized racial and ethnic groups.
Environmental health sciences Epidemiology Public health or related research
Abstract
Advancing Asian American representation in environmental health: The echo program
Ruby Nguyen, PhD
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
APHA 2024 Annual Meeting and Expo
The first all-Asian American pregnancy cohort, addressing the underrepresentation of Asian Americans in NIH-supported environmental health research, is being established in Minnesota. As an integral part of the broader Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program â an NIH-funded initiative aimed at comprehensively understanding the impacts of environmental factors on child health and development; this cohort plays a vital role. This presentation will showcase initiatives to increase Asian American enrollment in the ECHO program, ultimately seeking a better understanding of the impact of environmental toxins, such as phthalates, on the health of Asian Americans from multiple countries of origin. With plans to enroll 780 pregnant individuals from diverse Asian ethnic groups in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area, the Radiance Cohort addresses the critical need to enhance Asian American representation within the ECHO Program.
Diversity and culture Environmental health sciences Epidemiology Public health or related research
Abstract
Development of a university-community partnership to address occupational health disparities in immigrant salon worker communities.
Tran Huynh, PhD, CIH
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
APHA 2024 Annual Meeting and Expo
Asian American nail salon workers are virtually in every community in the US, yet their disproportionate exposure to chemicals in the salon environment and the subsequent health implications are often less talked about. This presentation will highlight current occupational health challenges facing immigrant salon communities, and our university-community partnership to provide technical assistance to business owners and workers to reduce chemical exposures in their work environment.
Environmental health sciences Occupational health and safety Public health or related research
Abstract
Envisioning climate resilient and equitable open spaces for Bostonâs chinatown
MyDzung Chu, PhD, MSPH1, Jenny Huang, MPhil, PhDc2, John Durant, PhD, PE3, Ponnapa Gift Prakkamakul, ASLA, PLA4, Jeena Chang, BA2, Kiran Kui, MPH5, Yanqing Huang, BA1, Aoife Schmitt, BSE3, Isabelle Berman, BSEc3, Sabrina Balmaseda, BAc6 and Rebecca Leu, BA2
(1)Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, (2)Asian Community Development Corporation, Boston, MA, (3)Tufts University, Medford, MA, (4)Sasaki Associates, Boston, MA, (5)Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Boston, MA, (6)Northeastern University, Boston, MA
APHA 2024 Annual Meeting and Expo
Environmental justice communities like Bostonâs Chinatown, home to working class Asian immigrant families, are hit hardest by climate change, with compounding injustices like heat stress, traffic-related air pollution, limited access to green space, housing insecurity, and displacement. Chinatown residents and community-based organizations have long fought for health promoting and climate-resilient open spaces and infrastructural investments. This presentation will highlight the Chinatown HEROS (Heat Equity and Resilience in Open Spaces) Study, community-based participatory research collaboration between community leaders from the Asian Community Development Corporation (ACDC), local artist Ponnappa Gift Prakkamukul, and researchers at Tufts Medical Center and Tufts University. The goal of our project is to assess heat stress, air pollution, land use, and user characteristics across multiple open space sites in Chinatown and to engage local residents in the envisioning and design of what these spaces should look like for the community. We will provide key findings from our environmental data collection campaign during the summer of 2023 and research translation to multigenerational and bi-lingual audiences through a series of community charrettes.
Advocacy for health and health education Environmental health sciences Epidemiology Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines Public health or related public policy Public health or related research