Community-Based Environmental Protection in Low-Income African-American Communities in North Carolina

Abstract

TM5-O-04 Introduction: The purpose of this paper is to highlight the efforts of a local organization in Mebane, NC that has used community-based research and environmental surveillance to address negative public health risks, environmental injustice, and health disparities in low-income black neighborhoods. These neighborhoods are burdened by disproportionate impacts of the built environment including the systematic denial of basic amenities (sewer and water services); overburdened by locally unwanted land uses; abused by inequities in land-use planning and zoning; and problems with non-compliance with civil rights and environmental justice regulations by local, state, and federal officials. Introduction: The community-driven research approach was used to document and mitigate the differential burden of environmental health hazards on these communities. Community advocates partnered with university researchers to develop acommunity-driven environmental surveillance program. Community members used their knowledge of local land uses to map environmental health risks. Community members helped develop a household hazards survey. Community monitors were trained to collect household hazards survey data and water samples that were analyzed to assess the levels of fecal pollution from septic systems in residential water supplies. Community-driven public health education and leadership workshops were held to increase environmental knowledge and leadership abilities of affected residents. Results: Community hazards mapping showed that the neighborhoods had an inequitable impact of the built environment including planned highway, a landfill, sewage treatment plant, and brownfields. Survey data showed that many households were dilapidated, had a high prevalence of septic system failure, and had structural problems that led to mold and mildew issues. High concentrations of bacterial indicators of fecal pollution were detected at residential control and study sites exceeding Environmental Agency single sample maximum allowable densities. The community environmental protection, research and activism efforts led to a moratorium on the building of the transportation bypass, upgrades in sewer, water, and transportation infrastructure in some neighborhoods, and more stakeholder involvement in community planning and revitalization. Conclusion: The community-based research partnerships have led to an increased capacity of the community organization to document and redress local environmental health issues. The study provides evidence of inequity of sewer services and drinking and surface water vulnerability to sources of fecal contamination impacting residents in these communities. This work also confirms that community-based environmental protection is a model approach that other communities burdened by environmental health disparities should use to empower themselves to affect environmental and social change at the local level.