A Framework for Interfacing and Partnering with Environmental Justice Communities as a Prelude to Human Health and Hazard Identification in the Vulnerable Census Tracts of Columbus, Ohio

Abstract

Columbus, Ohio is one of the more prosperous, well-educated, and progressive cities in the United States. However, it ranks as the second worst life expectancy at birth, has a census tract wealth gap (27-year disparity), and one of the higher infant mortality rates in the country. These data suggest that there are likely several high-risk, vulnerable neighborhoods in Columbus with residents experiencing disparate and adverse outcomes. Illustrative of this fact are studies that have examined the social processes and mechanisms through which neighborhood contexts are at the forefront, including exposures to chemical stressors such as particulate matter (PM_2.5) as well as non-chemical stressors including violence, social determinants of health, zoning, and land use policies. It is documented that disparate and adverse outcomes are magnified in the vulnerable neighborhoods on the Near East Side as compared to Columbus city proper, Franklin County and/or the state of Ohio. As such, we developed a nuanced community engagement framework to identify potential environmental hazards associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in those census tracts. The refined framework uses a blended version of traditional community-based participatory research (CBPR) models and is referred to as E⁶, Enhancing Environmental Endeavors via e-Equity, Education, and Empowerment.

Keywords: Public Health Exposome; community engagement; community-based participatory research (CBPR); environmental justice; environmental public health practitioner; hazard identification; stakeholder coalition; urban census tracts.

Figure 1

Graphic depiction of our transformative community engagement model that is referred to as E⁶, Enriching Environmental Endeavors via e-Equity, Education and Empowerment. This model utilizes a functional, multidisciplinary, community-based research stakeholder team to educate and improve the quality of life for residents living in environmental justice communities, as well as to foster citizen science among residents and researchers. The E⁶ model prioritizes the perspectives and desires of the residents and is a novel approach to bring effective mitigation strategies directly to where residents live, work, play, and pray (See text for details). [Reproduced and adapted with permission from the corresponding author of Cifuentes et al., 2019 on 18 October 2022] [5].

Figure 2

The phases of progression and development of the E⁶ framework towards acquisition of a USEPA Science to Achieve Excellence (EPA STAR) grant that addresses concerns of the Near East Side residents (See text for details).

Figure 3

PRISMA diagram for review of literature in PubMed, Scopus, and Embase databases for the present article.

Figure 4

Health Opportunity Index (HOI) composite map of the vulnerable (dark green) census tracts in metropolitan, urban Columbus, Ohio. The census tracts are color coordinated based on what quintile their HOI composite score falls in. In this analysis, the lower HOI composite scores fall in Quintile 1, while the higher HOI scores fall in Quintile 5. [Reproduced and adapted with permission from the corresponding author of Ogojiaku et al., 2020 on 18 October 2022] [75].