Article archive / August 1, 2011
Originally published: . Volume 2, No. 12. Source pages: 1, 5.
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) announced that it will fund a network of researchers, called the Deepwater Horizon Research Consortia, to study the effects of the oil spill on citizens of the Gulf Coast. “The five-year, $25.2 million program will support population- based and laboratory research at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans; Tulane University, New Orleans; the University of Florida, Gainesville; and The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston,” noted the July 7 press release.
The researchers will study the effects of the oil spill on a variety of physical and psychological variables including reproduction and birth outcomes, mental health, cardio-respiratory system, and resiliency of the Gulf Coast citizens in dealing with disasters.
“A focus will be on the physical and psychological health of vulnerable populations,” noted Gwen Colman, Ph.D., director of the NIEHS Division of Extramural Research and Training, “especially pregnant women, children, fishermen, immigrants, and minorities.” The NIEHS group will also study the potentially harmful effects of “contaminants in air, water, and seafood, and assess their relationship to health outcomes.”
This study is different from the research started earlier this year by NIEHS designed to study adverse effects on oil spill clean-up workers and volunteers, called the “GuLF Study.” The new study will focus on members of the general public.
NIEHS officials noted, “In addition to sharing data and research results, each of the four institutions will implement a community resilience project, which seeks to better understand how local populations respond to and recover from disasters. Through their partnerships with community-based organizations, researchers will assess how culture, social networks, and other determinants may enhance pre-event preparedness and post-event recovery.”
Edward Trapido, ScD, of LSUHSC will lead the research team to answer questions about “mid- and long-term effects…” including physical, behavioral, social, and economic,” he noted in the NIEHS announcement.
“… the LSU School of Public Health-New Orleans will launch a longitudinal study of women and children in the affected parishes to look at the effects of the disaster, …”
Dr. Stephanie Tortu, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, and Professor (Psychology) at LSUHSC told the Times the group is just getting started but will be “looking at the effects on families and children.”
The group plans to study 4,000 women and 2,000 children in Orleans, St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Jefferson, Lafourche, Terrebonne, and St. Mary's Parishes.
Tulane University Maureen Lichtveld, MD, MPH will lead the “The Transdisciplinary Research Consortium for Gulf Resilience on Women’s Health.” She noted in the announcement that the focus of the Consortium will be to study the effects of the disaster, “… combined with the other adversities faced by the area, on mental health and reproductive outcomes among pregnant women and women of reproductive age living in affected parishes in Louisiana.”
An additional goal will be to “Utilize community-based participatory research and outreach strategies to strengthen community resilience in vulnerable Gulf Coast populations.”
For more information go to http://www.niehs.nih.gov/about/od /programs/gulfspill/
May 2010, Houma, La.- Crew of a fixed-wing aircraft release dispersant over oil in Gulf. LSU Health Sciences Center and Tulane U. will help understand physical, psychological, and social impact of the Deepwater Horizon disaster on citizens of coastal parishes. Deepwater Horizon was over a year ago now but the disaster released 5 million barrels of oil and the equivalent of 3 million barrels of natural gas. into the Gulf area. LSUHSC and Tulane will help discover the complex effects, including psychological variables, on those in the coastal Gulf South. Photo courtesy U.S. Coast Guard
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