Heat waves currently account for significant mortality and morbidity and climate change is resulting in more frequent, more intense, and longer heat waves. Developing effective prevention strategies for heat-related illness and morality is of critical importance. We hypothesize that significant differences in heat-related health risks exist between urban and rural communities. The research proposed here extends our initial work in developing community-engaged research in underserved urban and rural communities in Alabama. In it we propose to gather community-level and individual-level heat and air pollution exposure data in communities. This analysis will result in a more precise picture of exposures to heat and air pollution as well as behavioral factors that may medicate exposure in at-risk populations in the Deep South. We propose to do the following in the present study: 1) Build our current collaborations that bridge diverse research disciplines and local level government and community organizations in urban (Birmingham) and rural communities in the Black Belt region of Alabama through community advisory board meetings and capacity building workshops , 2) Measure community-level heat and air pollution exposure in urban and rural communities by setting up stationary monitoring sites where community members frequent, 3) Determine individual-level exposure by recruiting community members to wear personal monitors and 4) Identify behavioral and physiological parameters associated with personal exposure through daily activity logs and questionnaire. The proposed investigation will contribute to prevention research by identifying specific exposure and behavioral risk factors in urban versus rural communities which will aid in developing prevention strategies tailored to the needs of these communities. Spatially explicit vulnerability maps that apply remote sensing datasets will inform community prioritization and planning applicable to a broader geographical scale.

Public Health Relevance

Increasing evidence suggests effective strategies for preventing heat-related illness and mortality will require community level interventions. Working with community groups, the proposed research will determine whether significant differences in vulnerability to heat-related health impacts exist between underserved urban and rural communities in the Deep South.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
7R01ES023029-02
Application #
9135762
Study Section
Community Influences on Health Behavior (CIHB)
Program Officer
Thompson, Claudia L
Project Start
2015-11-01
Project End
2019-10-31
Budget Start
2015-11-01
Budget End
2016-10-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2016
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Veterinary Medicine
DUNS #
003137015
City
Blacksburg
State
VA
Country
United States
Zip Code
24060
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