Abstract
Environmental disasters are increasing in frequency and scope, raising public health concern. Our research team has investigated environmental exposures following oil spills, wildfires and hurricane-related flooding using passive wristband sampling devices. We use a community-engaged approach to inform our research strategy, and return all data to impacted communities and study participants. Here, we will present the tools we used (rapid response disaster ethical protocol, wristband, individual report-back template) to investigate personal environmental exposures following Hurricane Harvey. Hurricane Harvey induced catastrophic rainfall-triggered flooding in the Houston metropolitan area. Of the 41 Superfund sites within Harris County, 13 flooded. There was immediate concern that these events may result in exposure to toxic chemicals. In collaboration with Baylor College of Medicine and UT Health, our team deployed wristbands immediately after the hurricane (T1; n=173) to flood-impacted communities within Harris County, and again one year later (T2; n=239). All wristbands were analyzed for 1,530 semi-volatile and volatile organic chemicals. Within the population we detected common (>50% detection frequency) and uncommon (<10% detection frequency) chemicals. At both T1 and T2, an average of 26 chemicals (T1 SD=6.02; T2 SD=5.27) were found per wristband, and an equivalent numbers of chemicals were detected (T1=183; T2=189), yet chemical composition differed between T1 and T2. Looking at the sum average, endocrine disrupting chemicals were highest in T1 and T2, followed by pesticide- (T1) and industrial-use chemicals (T2). While no dioxins or PCBs were detected in T1, very low levels were detected in T2. Based on preliminary data, wristbands from Houston contained many common chemicals, but also demonstrated unique exposures when compared to non-disaster environmental exposures. The results from this study will inform characterization of post-disaster environmental exposures and will be communicated to all study participants and communities. Keywords: Environmental disasters Passive sampling wristband Personal exposures Air pollution
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