Improving Hurricane Harvey Disaster Research Response Through Academic–Practice Partnerships

Horney, Jennifer A.; Rios, Janelle; Cantu, Adelita G.; Ramsey, Steve; Montemayor, Lisa; Raun, Loren; Miller, Aubrey

doi:10.2105/ajph.2019.305166

Cited by 14 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Another example of a successful approach to reduce the risk of redundant studies and minimize participant burden was undertaken after Hurricane Harvey [ 28 ]. Researchers, media, state and local agencies, and nonprofit organizations throughout the region conducted environmental and biological sampling, community health assessments, and surveys/registries in a coordinated fashion through participation in pre-established academic-practice partnerships formed through the DR2 Program.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Institutional Review Board Preparedness for Disaster Research: a Practical Approach

Packenham

Rosselli

Fothergill

et al. 2021

Curr Envir Health Rpt

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Purpose of Review Disasters are becoming more common and challenge national and global resiliency and response efforts. As a result, government agencies have increased interest in disaster research to understand their environmental impact and health-related consequences. With the research field greatly expanding, Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) are being asked to review research protocols aimed at assessing health risks, exposures, and outcomes from disaster survivors. Few IRBs have experience reviewing disaster research protocols. This article describes approaches for IRB preparedness in reviewing disaster research. Recent Findings From a human research protections perspective, primary attention has focused on vulnerability of individuals and/or populations affected by a disaster who may serve as research participants [3, 4]. From our review of the current literature, there is a lack of best practices and/or guidance for IRBs in the review of disaster research protocols. Summary The growth of the disaster research field has brought more attention to potential ethical concerns of disaster research studies. Disaster survivors, responders, and those that assist in cleanup and remedial efforts may be left with significant unmet needs and long-term physical and emotional challenges as a result of their experiences. It is important for IRBs and investigators to collaboratively address how best to protect the welfare of individuals and communities affected by a disaster. A new approach is needed to systematically consider the various factors relevant to an assessment of human research protection issues following disasters.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Institutional Review Board Preparedness for Disaster Research: a Practical Approach

Packenham

Rosselli

Fothergill

et al. 2021

Curr Envir Health Rpt

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…With respect to the degree of the overall preparedness of environmental scientists to participate in DR2, a number of scientific questions about the environmental health impacts of disasters and the effectiveness of response and recovery strategies are now considered through major government-academia coordination efforts ( 41 , 42 ). Both national, regional and local capacity in DR2 is now established for researchers through training in field study design, environmental sample collection, and safety procedures associated with deployments into the areas where restrictions on public access are just being removed and dangers may still exist ( 43 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental impacts of Hurricane Florence flooding in eastern North Carolina: temporal analysis of contaminant distribution and potential human health risks

Aly

Casillas

Luo

et al. 2021

J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol

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Background: Hurricane Florence made landfall in North Carolina in September 2018 causing extensive flooding. Several potential point sources of hazardous substances and Superfund sites sustained water damage and contaminants may have been released into the environment. Objective: This study conducted temporal analysis of contaminant distribution and potential human health risks from Hurricane Florence-associated flooding. Methods: Soil samples were collected from 12 sites across four counties in North Carolina in September 2018, January and May 2019. Chemical analyses were performed for organics by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Metals were analyzed using inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Hazard index and cancer risk were calculated using EPA Regional Screening Level Soil Screening Levels for residential soils. Results: PAH and metals detected downstream from the coal ash storage pond that leaked were detected and were indicative of a pyrogenic source of contamination. PAH at these sites were of human health concern because cancer risk values exceeded 1×10 −6 threshold. Other contaminants measured across sampling sites, or corresponding hazard index and cancer risk, did not exhibit spatial or temporal differences or were of concern. Significance: This work shows the importance of rapid exposure assessment following natural disasters. It also establishes baseline levels of contaminants for future comparisons.

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“…As human interactions on the earth's surface have altered climate patterns, flood events have become more frequent (Hendricks et al, 2018). Simultaneously, flood effects have become more severe due to increases in impermeable urban area, rising sea levels, and increases in extreme precipitation events (Horney et al, 2019;Stone et al, 2019). When floods occur, cities (especially legacy cities with elevated amounts of brownfields, vacant lands, aging infrastructure, and combined sewer and stormwater systems) face increased risks of flood-related contamination (Alexandre, 2018;Desimini, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The projected impacts of smart decline on urban runoff contamination levels

Zhu

Newman

2021

Comput.Urban Sci.

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There has been mounting interest about how the repurposing of vacant land (VL) through green infrastructure (the most common smart decline strategy) can reduce stormwater runoff and improve runoff quality, especially in legacy cities characterized by excessive industrial land uses and VL amounts. This research examines the long-term impacts of smart decline on both stormwater amounts and pollutants loads through integrating land use prediction models with green infrastructure performance models. Using the City of St. Louis, Missouri, USA as the study area, we simulate 2025 land use change using the Conversion of Land Use and its Effects (CLUE-S) and Markov Chain urban land use prediction models and assess these change’s probable impacts on urban contamination levels under different smart decline scenarios using the Long-Term Hydrologic Impact Assessment (L-THIA) performance model. The four different scenarios are: (1) a baseline scenario, (2) a 10% vacant land re-greening (VLRG) scenario, (3) a 20% VLRG scenario, and (4) a 30% VLRG scenario. The results of this study illustrate that smart decline VLRG strategies can have both direct and indirect impacts on urban stormwater runoff and their inherent contamination levels. Direct impacts on urban contamination include the reduction of stormwater runoff and non-point source (NPS) pollutants. In the 30% VLRG scenario, the annual runoff volume decreases by 11%, both physical, chemical, and bacterial pollutants are reduced by an average of 19%, compared to the baseline scenario. Indirect impacts include reduction of the possibility of illegal dumping on VL through mitigation and prevention of future vacancies.

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Improving Hurricane Harvey Disaster Research Response Through Academic–Practice Partnerships

Cited by 14 publications

References 4 publications

Institutional Review Board Preparedness for Disaster Research: a Practical Approach

Institutional Review Board Preparedness for Disaster Research: a Practical Approach

Environmental impacts of Hurricane Florence flooding in eastern North Carolina: temporal analysis of contaminant distribution and potential human health risks

The projected impacts of smart decline on urban runoff contamination levels

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