Integrating epidemiology, education, and organizing for environmental justice: community health effects of industrial hog operations.

Full Abstract

The environmental justice movement has stimulated community-driven research about the living and working conditions of people of color and low-income communities. We describe an epidemiological study designed to link research with community education and organizing for social justice. In eastern North Carolina, high-density industrial swine production occurs in communities of low-income people and people of color. We investigated relationships between the resulting pollution and the health and quality of life of the hog operations' neighbors. A repeat-measures longitudinal design, community involvement in data collection, and integration of qualitative and quantitative research methods helped promote data quality while providing opportunities for community education and organizing. Research could affect policy through its findings and its mobilization of communities.

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Author information

Author/s: Wing, Steve (S); Horton, Rachel Avery (RA); Muhammad, Naeema (N); Grant, Gary R (GR); Tajik, Mansoureh (M); Thu, Kendall (K);

Affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, CB 7435, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7435, USA. steve_wing(-atsign-)unc.edu

Grants: R01 ES011359 (Agency:United States NIEHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

Journal: American journal of public health (Am J Public Health), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Aug; vol 98 (issue 8) : pp 1390-7

Dates: Created 2008/07/09; Completed 2008/08/12;

PMID: 18556620, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent
Adult
African Americans
Air Pollutants - adverse effects; analysis
Animal Husbandry
Animals
Consumer Participation
Environmental Exposure - adverse effects; analysis; prevention & control
Environmental Monitoring
Health Status Indicators
Hispanic Americans
Humans

Indians, North American
Interviews as Topic
Longitudinal Studies
Middle Aged
North Carolina - epidemiology
Particulate Matter
Poverty
Quality of Life
Rural Health
Social Justice
Stress, Psychological - epidemiology
Swine

Associated Chemicals: Air Pollutants (0) ; Particulate Matter (0)

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