Health Lens Analysis: A Strategy to Engage Community in Environmental Health Research in Action

Abstract

Health Lens Analysis (HLA) is a tool to facilitate collaboration among diverse community stakeholders. We employed HLA as part of a community-based participatory research (CBPR) and action study to mitigate the negative health effects of traffic-related air pollution TRAP and ultrafine particles (UFPs) in Somerville, MA. HLA is a Health in All Policies tool with previously limited implementation in a North American context. As part of the HLA, community and academic partners engaged residents from across near-highway neighborhoods in a series of activities designed to identify health concerns and generate recommendations for policies and projects to improve health over an 18-month planning period. Noise barriers, which may reduce TRAP exposure among residents in addition to reducing traffic noise, were seen as an acceptable solution by community stakeholders. We found HLA to be an effective means to engage stakeholders from across sectors and diverse community residents in critical discourse about the health impacts of near-roadway exposures. The iterative process allowed the project team to fully explore the arguments for noise barriers and preferred health interventions, while building a stakeholder base interested in the mitigation of TRAP, thus creating a shared language and understanding of the issue.

‘Health in All Policies’—A Key Driver for Health and Well-Being in a Post-COVID-19 Pandemic World

“…It was developed in South Australia to enable a joined-up approach within the government of South Australia [ 50 ]. It has been used less in other jurisdictions, but there is some recent experience of its use in North America [ 51 ]. HLA starts at the agenda setting and development stage of policymaking [ 52 ].…”

Spatio-Temporal Evolution and Spatial Heterogeneity of Influencing Factors of SO2 Emissions in Chinese Cities: Fresh Evidence from MGWR

“…At present, the research on air pollution mainly focuses on AQI, PM 2.5 , PM 10 , CO, NO 2 , SO 2, and other major pollutants [6,7]. There are a considerable amount of studies on the causes [8], hazards [9], spatio-temporal evolution [10], influencing factors [11], and governance models of air pollution [12]. The influencing factors of air pollution are a comprehensive result of natural and human factors [13].…”

An Evaluation of an Environmental Health Infographic in Community Settings

“…Our communities of focus are neighborhoods near highways that are considered environmental justice communities due to having large numbers of people who are lower income and/or racial/ethnic minorities and who face high levels of air pollution due to housing inequities. 27 Environmental racism, or racism in political decision-making and enforcement of environmental laws and regulations, burdens minority communities disproportionately affected by environmental pollution. 28 Multiple, intersecting factors, such as socioeconomic status, language, ethnicity, and legal status, affect communities of color, particularly legal and equitable access to healthy land, air, and water.…”

“…Community Assessment of Freeway Exposure and Health has a history of community engagement on environmental health topics and includes academic and community leaders who are dedicated to the mitigation of traffic-related pollution. 27 , 31 , 32 We utilized focus groups and individual interviews to evaluate the infographic and identify areas in which it can be improved for implementation. We also highlight actions that disproportionality affected communities can take to protect themselves.…”