Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 23, 2026
14:43
A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
Published on: January 12, 2018
12.5K
A community-based participatory research program to identify lead exposure risks and community priorities
Jocelyn Zavala-Garcia1, Nina Ali2, Obed Arango3
1M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, Villanova University, Villanova, PA USA.
Discover Social Science and Health
|January 22, 2026
Summary
Community members identified lead in water, soil, and paint as key concerns. They desire accessible information and testing to address lead exposure risks and systemic neglect.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Community-Based Participatory Research
- Public Health
Background:
- Lead exposure is a significant environmental health hazard disproportionately affecting minority communities in the U.S.
- Aging infrastructure, historical land use, and remediation challenges contribute to widespread lead exposure incidents.
- Understanding community perspectives is crucial for effective lead exposure mitigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify community-perceived concerns, needs, and priorities regarding lead exposure.
- To gather insights into current lead exposure prevention methods used by the community.
Main Methods:
- Four focus groups were conducted with 73 community members in Norristown, Pennsylvania.
- A community-based participatory research (CBPR) framework and semi-structured interviews were employed.
- Thematic analysis of transcribed data was performed using open coding.
Main Results:
- Key themes included community-identified sources of lead (water, soil, paint), information gaps (especially in Spanish), systemic neglect (workplaces, healthcare, landlords), and financial concerns (costs, displacement fears).
- Participants expressed a strong desire for lead testing in household environments (water, paint, soil) and personal blood lead level screening.
- A significant need for language-appropriate information and culturally sensitive outreach was highlighted.
Conclusions:
- Broad community support exists for comprehensive lead exposure risk assessments covering multiple environmental sources and blood lead levels in all age groups.
- Addressing information disparities, particularly for non-English speaking populations, is essential.
- Implementing diverse lead exposure assessment strategies is necessary for effective public health interventions.
Related Concept Videos
00:30What are Populations and Communities?
37.3K
Overview
37.3K
01:30Community Based Intervention
286
Community-based interventions in mental health represent a paradigm shift from institution-centered care to treatments embedded within the fabric of local communities. By prioritizing inclusion and leveraging existing societal structures, this approach fosters a supportive environment conducive to addressing mental health challenges while promoting individual dignity and agency.
Foundations of Community Mental Health Programs
Central to the success of community-based interventions is the...
Foundations of Community Mental Health Programs
Central to the success of community-based interventions is the...
286
01:28Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing
543
Quorum sensing is a mechanism of bacterial communication that enables coordinated gene expression in response to changes in population density. This facilitates collective behaviors that enhance survival, resource acquisition, and ecological adaptation. This process relies on small signaling molecules called autoinducers that accumulate as bacterial populations grow. When a critical threshold concentration of autoinducers is reached, bacterial cells collectively modify gene expression,...
543
01:12Relative Risk
2.0K
Relative risk (RR) is a statistical measure commonly used in epidemiology to compare the likelihood of a particular event occurring between two groups. This metric is important for evaluating the relationship between exposure to a specific risk factor and the probability of a particular outcome. It plays a crucial role in medical research, public health studies, and risk assessment. Relative risk quantifies how much more (or less) likely an event is to occur in an exposed group compared to an...
2.0K
01:22Phase-lead and Phase-lag Controllers
537
Understanding the working function of different types of controllers can be illustrated with practical analogies, such as adjusting a stereo's volume equalizer. Cranking up the bass involves a phase-lead controller, which functions as a high-pass filter, while increasing the treble uses a phase-lag controller, which acts as a low-pass filter. PD controllers, similar to high-pass filters, enhance the system's response to high-frequency components. PI controllers, akin to low-pass...
537
01:26Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection
13.3K
The hosts' susceptibility to infection depends on several factors. The integrity of the skin and mucous membranes helps protect the body against microbial attacks. When the skin is altered, the chance of infection, limb loss, and even death increases.
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin...
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin...
13.3K