Addressing community concerns about asthma and air toxics.

Abstract

People with asthma who live near or downwind from a source of toxic emissions commonly express concerns about the possible impact of hazardous air pollution on their health, especially when these emissions are visible or odorous. Citizens frequently turn to their local and state health departments for answers, but health departments face many challenges in addressing these concerns. These challenges include a lack of asthma statistics at the local level, limited exposure information, and a paucity of scientific knowledge about the contributions of hazardous air pollutants to asthma induction or exacerbation. Health agencies are creatively developing methods to address these challenges while working toward improving asthma surveillance data at the state and local levels. Recent community health investigations suggest that hazardous air pollutants that are occupational asthmagens or associated with odors may deserve more attention. In seeking to address community concerns about hazardous air pollution and asthma, community health investigations may also help to fill gaps in our scientific knowledge and identify areas for further research or environmental intervention. The solutions to community problems associated with environmental contamination and asthma, however, require sustained, coordinated efforts by public and private groups and citizens. Public health agencies can make a unique contribution to this effort, but additional resources and support will be required to develop information systems and epidemiologic capacity at the state and local levels. Key words: asthma; air pollutants, environmental; epidemiology; hazardous waste sites; odors; population surveillance.

Tracking Pediatric Asthma:The Massachusetts Experience Using School Health Records

“…Local public health officers and other stakeholders often express interest in community-level prevalence estimates, but little information is available (Boss et al 2001; Lanphear and Gergen 2003; White et al 2002). This interest is based on the desire to identify and address the impacts of local environmental factors, as well as to delineate the need for health intervention programs.…”

Communicating results to community residents: Lessons from recent ATSDR health investigations

“…As a result of the relationships established between ATSDR staff and the community during this previous exposure investigation, the community was very receptive when other ATSDR staff proposed a follow-up epidemiologic study. Similarly, a health investigation of asthma among children potentially exposed to diisocyanates in Glenola, North Carolina was conducted after an earlier ATSDR investigation found evidence of exposure and issued a public health advisory (Orloff et al, 1998;ATSDR, 2001;Middleton et al, 2001;White et al, 2002). In both communities, the concerns of residents about exposure were confirmed and validated before the health investigations were undertaken.…”

Environmental air toxics: role in asthma occurrence?

“…Mary White of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR, Atlanta, Georgia) discussed recent epidemiological investigations by public health agencies into community concerns about asthma and hazardous air pollutants (15). Some of the difficulties in investigations within a community were highlighted.…”