Mode of Program Participation
Academic Scholarship
Participation Type
Panel
Session Title
Environmental Health Concerns in the Central Appalachian Coalfields
Session Abstract or Summary
Health disparities not fully explained by socio-behavioral factors persist in Central Appalachia, and community concerns surrounding environmental health are common. This panel will present the efforts of interdisciplinary teams specifically investigating the impacts of environmental quality on human health in Central Appalachia. Presentations will include:
1) Recent land cover change in Central Appalachia – Landsat satellite imagery from 1980-2015 was used to identify changes in forested areas, urban areas, surface mining, and other land use/land cover types in Tazewell County, Virginia. The analysis detected changes in extent and location of surface mining activities as well as developed areas.
2) Challenges in providing safe drinking water in Central Appalachia – This presentation will focus on a review of drinking water access, as well as results from interconnected efforts investigating municipal water violations, private drinking water screenings, and efforts to understand water scavenging.
3) Indoor air quality concerns in Central Appalachia – The underlying geology of much of the region renders indoor radon a significant environmental health risk. A screening of 300 homes in Tazewell County revealed that radon levels can be startlingly high, and that there is limited awareness of this health risk.
4) Youth environmental health concerns in Tazewell County, Virginia – Prompted by the concurrent sarcoma diagnoses of three teenagers at a local high school, this effort engaged local youth in a “PhotoVoice” project. Students took pictures of their community that reminded them of cancer and their environment; an analysis of their pictures and associated commentary illuminates both youth concerns and community strengths.
Presentation #1 Title
Challenges in providing safe drinking water in Central Appalachia
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
This presentation will focus on a review of drinking water access, as well as results from interconnected efforts investigating municipal water violations, private drinking water screenings, and efforts to understand water scavenging.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Leigh-Anne Krometis is an Assistant Professor in Biological Systems Engineering at Virginia Tech. Her research focuses on the provision of safe drinking water and appropriate sanitation domestically, and past USDA, NSF, and university funded projects include investigations of bacteria and lead in private drinking water wells, the ecological impacts of straight piped sewage, and agricultural spread of antibiotic resistance.
Presentation #2 Title
Recent land cover change in Central Appalachia
Presentation #2 Abstract or Summary
Landsat satellite imagery from 1980-2015 was used to identify changes in forested areas, urban areas, surface mining, and other land use/land cover types in Tazewell County, Virginia. The analysis detected changes in extent and location of surface mining activities as well as developed areas.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #2
Korine Kolivras is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography at Virginia Tech. Her research examines the impact of environmental variability, in both human and physical environments, on human health using geospatial techniques. Recent research projects have studied the role of land cover and demographic characteristics in the southward expansion of Lyme disease in Virginia, as well as potential shifts in mosquito-borne diseases with climate variability and change.
Presentation #3 Title
Indoor air quality concerns in Central Appalachia
Presentation #3 Abstract or Summary
The underlying geology of much of the region renders indoor radon a significant environmental health risk. A screening of 300 homes in Tazewell County revealed that radon levels can be startlingly high, and that there is limited awareness of this health risk.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #3
Susan Marmagas is an Associate Professor of Public Health Practice and interim director of the public health program at Virginia Tech. She is currently site chair for accreditation with the Council on Education for Public Health and a member of the board of the community health center of the New River Valley. Research interests include community engaged environmental health research in Appalachia and the health impacts of environmental exposures on women and children.
Presentation #4 Title
Youth environmental health concerns in Tazewell County, Virginia
Presentation #4 Abstract or Summary
Prompted by the concurrent sarcoma diagnoses of three teenagers at a local high school, this effort engaged local youth in a “PhotoVoice” project. Students took pictures of their community that reminded them of cancer and their environment; an analysis of their pictures and associated commentary illuminates both youth concerns and community strengths.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #4
Sophie Wenzel is a Lecturer and the Associate Director for the Center for Public Health Practice and Research, which is housed in the Department of Population Health Sciences at Virginia Tech. Ms. Wenzel's research and professional interests include maternal child and adolescent health, youth risk behaviors, international health, sexual and reproductive health, healthy eating/active living, community engaged research and participatory methods, and evaluation of public health programs.
Challenges in providing safe drinking water in Central Appalachia
This presentation will focus on a review of drinking water access, as well as results from interconnected efforts investigating municipal water violations, private drinking water screenings, and efforts to understand water scavenging.
