1. Jacksonville Ash Site Toxicology Training to Improve Knowledge of the Lay Community
1Becker, A., 2Pawlowicz, G., 1Suther, S., 1Close, F., 1Haire, K., 1Carter, M., 2Hilliard, A., 2Tucker, G., 1Harris, C. 1Institute of Public Health(IPH) , Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Florida
2 Duval County Health Department, Jacksonville, Florida (Abstract # 1126)
Introduction
Ash site landfills have a large minority population, low income and low property values when compared to the national average (Costner & Thornton, 1990). Communities most affected by location of hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal are working class communities of color located near industrial activity (Boer, Pastor, Sadd & Snyder, 1997). African Americans and Hispanics are more likely to grow up near a hazardous waste site (United States Government Accountability Office, 2005).
The Environmental Protection Agency, Health Zone 1of Jacksonville, Florida contamination is the result of the City of Jacksonville’s solid waste incinerators disposal of ash in and around neighborhoods. The ash sites include Forest Street Incinerator Site, 5th and Cleveland Incinerator Site, Lonnie Miller Sr. Park and Brown’s Dump. All sites are contaminated with elevated lead, arsenic, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), dioxins. These contaminants have been detected in soil, surface water, ground water, and sediments in rivers/creeks at some portions of these sites.
Concern of exposure to contaminants in surface water and/or sediments through swimming, and eating potentially contaminated fish and shell fish caught in contaminated rivers or creeks initiated the development of a community toxicology curriculum to inform the residents at the Jacksonville Ash Sites of the potential health hazards.
Methods
The goal of this project was to plan, develop, and implement a sustained community-based, culturally sensitive environmental health and toxicology educational program. Proactive outreach and training of community stakeholders (train-the-trainer approach) impacted by the Jacksonville Ash sites was emphasized. Community partners, Duval County Health Department and FAMU drafted a toxicology curriculum and educational materials based on previous risk assessments conducted by Agency for Toxic Substances Disease Registry. A training session was set up for FAMU to train community leaders(train-the-trainers). The community leader in-turn presented the information to community residents. Community impact was measured by administering pre-and post-tests (to measure knowledge gained) as well as a participant satisfaction survey. Protocols were reviewed by Human Subjects Institutional Review Board.
Train-the-Trainer Coaching
Community Training Residents
FAMU/IPH delivery of the Training
Conclusions
Additional presentations are planned in the near future for community leaders and residents after corrections are made from community and other stakeholders input. The final training materials will be provided to the community leaders electronically to continue using them as tools to train community residents. Additional interactive games will be incorporated to improve learning.
Incorporating a toxicology short video in the presentation based on the toxicology curriculum should simplify the toxicology terminology. Parallel toxicology training will be also be offered to area physicians using a separate medical provider oriented curriculum developed by the Duval County Health Department with input from stakeholders.
Health concerns remain regarding potential (and sometimes probable) exposures of minorities living near hazardous waste sites to toxic substances. One of the key gaps is the lack of knowledge regarding the toxicology and health impact of environmental contaminants amongst the community. At the local level, the Jacksonville Ash Site Toxicology Training served to mitigate these gaps.
Florida A&M University
Research·Training·Community Outreach
Institute of
Public Health
Environmental Science Institute
Fugacity Model Caltox
Rapid Inquiry Facility
Tracking
Florida Department of Health
Research
Duval County Health Department
Training
Health Professional Students
Modeling/Tracking
Health Care Providers
Environmental Medicine Training
Community Outreach
Community Leader
Layperson Toxicology Curriculum
Train-the Trainer
FAMU Interns
Technical Assistance
Northside Community
Environmental Health and Toxicology Program
Education & Awareness
Jacksonville Racial and Ethnic Environmental Approaches to Community Health (REEACH):
An Environmental Health and Toxicology Training Program
Results
The desired outcome of the REEACH Community Toxicology Curriculum is to inform and educate lay community about the link between environmental exposures and human health in the north and urban core areas of Jacksonville, Florida.
The majority of participants strongly agreed that the Community Toxicology Curriculum is a useful tool for promoting awareness of potential environmental risks in their community. Suggestions for improvement included using terminology more appropriate for the lay community, developing a website and a brochure for the communities impacted by the ash sites. Based on the pre/post test, there was a 24% average learning gain for the community leader (train-the-trainer) session and a 46% average learning gain for the community resident training session.
References
Boer, T., Pastor, M., Sadd, J., Snyder, L.(1997). Is There Environ United States Government Accountability Office. Hazardous and Non-Hazardous Waste: Demographics of People Living Near Waste Facilities. RCED
Mental Racism? The Demographics of Hazardous Waste in Los Angeles County. Social Science Quarterly, 78(4),
Costner, P., Thornton, J. (1990). Playing with Fire: Hazardous waste incineration. Green Peace U.S.A. Washington, DC
This project was funded with a grant funded by ATSDR (grant # 5 R01/TS ).