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Explore the findings and recommendations of the Strategic Health Effects Research Panel (SHERP) in Houston, emphasizing priority research questions, data compilation, and post-SHERP developments in air pollution health effects research.
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Houston Strategic Health Effects Research Panel (SHERP) Beth Beloff BRIDGES to Sustainability Golder Associates Inc.
Background • “Assessment of Information Needs for Air Pollution Health Effects Research in Houston, Texas” • Funded by Texas Council on Environmental Technology (TCET), 2002/2003 • Goal: assist agency in developing air pollution health effects research strategy focused on high priority research in Houston
Approach • “Strategic Health Effects Research Panel” (SHERP) to guide project • Compilation of what has been done (research and data sources) • To produce consensus on priority research questions and recommendations (Workshop involving SHERP and other representatives)
The SHERP • Involving local air pollution health effects experts • Responsibilities: • Review research compilation for scope, structure, completeness, and accuracy • Provide input on key research questions and information needs • Participate in Workshop to prioritize key research questions and produce recommendations • Review final report
SHERP Composition • Academia • Matt Fraser (Rice), Winnie Hamilton (BCM), Lovell Jones (UT MDACC), Maria Morandi (UT SPH) • Government • Rob Barrett (HGAC), Pam Berger (Houston), Michael Honeycutt (TCEQ), Jacqueline Lentz (Houston) • Business • Walt Crow (URS/HRM), Joseph Luspin (Lyondell) • Public: Jane Laping (MFCA) • TCET: Mark Wiesner (Rice)
Other Workshop Participants • Stuart Abramson (TCH), Daewoon Byun (UH), Ann Johnson (Environmental Defense), Mary Jane Naquin (Informed Futures), Peggy Rogers (Houston), Tom Stock (UT SPH) • BRIDGES / NUATRC project team
Research Compilation • ‘Epidemiological and other pertinent studies’ and existing data sources for health effects research • Focus on ‘air pollutants of greatest concern to Houston region’: ozone, PM, and HAPs • Include the followings • Health effects and exposure studies, Houston-specific • Toxicological studies, Houston-based • Data sources on air quality, exposure and lifestyle, and health outcomes
What We Found • Most health effects studies focused on respiratory effects of ozone and PM • Many studies are part of national (multi-city) studies • Data sources are constrained in terms of availability and usefulness for research • Absence of Houston-specific data on exposure, exposure modifiers, and confounding factors
2002 SHERP Conclusions • High priority research questions • Health effects of exposure • Acute health impacts, PM, and chronic health impacts • Disparities • Susceptibility factors, Houston differentiators, and geospatial/temporal disparities • Data quality • Public health data, community exposure data, personal exposure/ lifestyle activity pattern • Air pollution health effects research for the Houston area is underdeveloped in spite of TMC and high quality researchers
2002 SHERP Recommendations • Determine key differentiators of Houston air pollution health effects • Support data development (exposure and time-activity pattern) • Investigate association between exposure to pollutants of greatest concern for Houston and well defined health outcomes for susceptible population • Develop long-term research agenda based on high-priority questions • Establish center of excellence in environmental health in the Houston area
What Happened Since • TCET dissolved and functions absorbed into TCEQ • Completion of health effects and exposure studies: RIOPA, ATAC, ER asthma study, … • Launch of Houston EPHTN and other new efforts • Publications from TexAQS 2000 study
What Happened Since • Recent attention on Houston air pollution leads • Houston Chronicle series on air toxics (Dina Cappiello) • Mayor’s new initiative: • Mayor’s Task Force on Reducing AQ Health Risks • Air monitoring initiative around suspected sources • TexAQS II (April 2005 – October 2006) • Air Toxics Workshop • Houston Endowment funding to reconvene SHERP in 2005
Update of SHERP Documents 2002 SHERP Report and updated research matrix available at: www.bridgestos.org/sherp Your comments appreciated