Environmental health hazards: the impact on a southern community

The impact of environment on health is a growing area of concern for nurses. The purpose of this study is to describe and characterize residents living near an abandoned hazardous waste site, assess their past and present exposure risk, and describe health concerns and psychosocial effects. Data were obtained by a door-to-door outreach effort. Networking was also used to identify residents with health concerns. Extensive field notes were taken to record the responses of residents. A preliminary windshield survey was conducted to approximate the number of residents living in the geographic area, assess the residential community, analyze drainage pathways away from the site, and observe outdoor activity patterns. Community concerns from the residential population were collected and analyzed for recurrent themes. Significant off-site activity patterns included use of drainage ditches as play areas for children. Foraging on-site activities included picking berries, crawfishing, geophagy (clay eating), and rabbit hunting. Common health problems described by residents included skin rashes, respiratory-related complaints, reproductive difficulties, and headaches. The majority of residents were concerned about the incidence of cancer in the area. Identifying the concerns of residents and indicators of health problems helps nurses begin to understand the relationship between the environment and health.