Sacoby Wilson

This project is a sister project to Project CAESARR. It seeks to understand exposure and health risks for low contact recreational users of the Anacostia River. Very little research has been done to understand cumulative exposure of low contact users to chemical and microbial contaminants in the Anacostia River. A large body of research and monitoring reveals that the Anacostia River is contaminated with PCBs, metals, pesticides, PAHs, sediment, and fecal microbes due to stormwater runoff and… Show more

This project is a sister project to Project CAESARR. It seeks to understand exposure and health risks for low contact recreational users of the Anacostia River. Very little research has been done to understand cumulative exposure of low contact users to chemical and microbial contaminants in the Anacostia River. A large body of research and monitoring reveals that the Anacostia River is contaminated with PCBs, metals, pesticides, PAHs, sediment, and fecal microbes due to stormwater runoff and combined sewer overflows. However, no work has been done in the region to assess human exposure particularly through the use of biomarkers and health risks using an epidemiologic design. Project CAESARR seeks to fill this gap. The team has been using community engagement approach to engage low contact recreational users and collect information about their exposures through surveys, Photovoice, and exposure assessment including biomarkers. Show less

This project seeks to understand exposure and health risks for urban fishers in the Anacostia River Region. Very little research has been done to understand actual exposure of urban fishers particularly subsistence fishers to chemical and microbial contaminants in the Anacostia River. A large body of research and monitoring reveals that the Anacostia River is contaminated with PCBs, metals, pesticides, PAHs, sediment, and fecal microbes due to stormwater runoff and combined sewer overflows.… Show more

This project seeks to understand exposure and health risks for urban fishers in the Anacostia River Region. Very little research has been done to understand actual exposure of urban fishers particularly subsistence fishers to chemical and microbial contaminants in the Anacostia River. A large body of research and monitoring reveals that the Anacostia River is contaminated with PCBs, metals, pesticides, PAHs, sediment, and fecal microbes due to stormwater runoff and combined sewer overflows. However, no work has been done in the region to assess human exposure particularly through the use of biomarkers and health risks using an epidemiologic design. Project CAESARR seeks to fill this gap. The team has been using community engagement approach to engage fishers and collect information about their exposures through surveys, Photovoice, and biomarkers. This work is currently funded by a grant from the Smithsonian-UMD grant program. Show less

The Restoration in Graniteville through Supportive Engagement (RISE) Project explores residents’ and health care providers’ thoughts on how the Graniteville train derailment and chlorine spill disaster affected their quality of life, health and health care services. Community Investigators (Tina Bevington and Louisiana Wright Sanders) and a community advisory board comprised of influential community members and advocates assisted in the development and implementation of the project. The project… Show more

The Restoration in Graniteville through Supportive Engagement (RISE) Project explores residents’ and health care providers’ thoughts on how the Graniteville train derailment and chlorine spill disaster affected their quality of life, health and health care services. Community Investigators (Tina Bevington and Louisiana Wright Sanders) and a community advisory board comprised of influential community members and advocates assisted in the development and implementation of the project. The project was funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Show less

Dr. Wilson is also Co-PI of an Environmental Health core at a NIMHD-funded health disparities P20 Center of Excellence at USC led by Dr. Saundra Glover to study and address environmental justice issues and environmental health disparities in the state of South Carolina. As part of this project, the team has been using GIS to assess burden and exposure disparities in the state of South Carolina including assessing differences in the distribution and concentration of LULUs such as POTWs… Show more

Dr. Wilson is also Co-PI of an Environmental Health core at a NIMHD-funded health disparities P20 Center of Excellence at USC led by Dr. Saundra Glover to study and address environmental justice issues and environmental health disparities in the state of South Carolina. As part of this project, the team has been using GIS to assess burden and exposure disparities in the state of South Carolina including assessing differences in the distribution and concentration of LULUs such as POTWs, Superfund sites, CAFOs, LUSTs, landfills, brownfields, and TRI facilities across changing geographies and sociodemographic composition; differences in distribution of and exposure to salutogenic and pathogenic infrastructure; and cancer risk disparities using the NATA dataset. In addition, the team has used Photovoice and surveys to assess differences in knowledge about the local environment's role in driving poor health outcomes including cancer in Orangeburg and Charleston, South Carolina. In addition, the team has used CBPR and the block assessment methodology to assess quality of the built and social environments at the block level in Orangeburg and North Charleston, SC through community-university partnerships. Show less

Dr. Wilson is a former Co-Investigator and currently is a consultant on the GRACE study. The study seeks to understand the long-term pulmonary health implications of individuals who were exposed to chlorine gas during the January 6, 2005 accidental train derailment and subsequent release. The Graniteville, SC incident is the largest chlorine disaster to-date in the United States. The study itself is the first and largest long-term study of a population suddenly and acutely exposed to chlorine… Show more

Dr. Wilson is a former Co-Investigator and currently is a consultant on the GRACE study. The study seeks to understand the long-term pulmonary health implications of individuals who were exposed to chlorine gas during the January 6, 2005 accidental train derailment and subsequent release. The Graniteville, SC incident is the largest chlorine disaster to-date in the United States. The study itself is the first and largest long-term study of a population suddenly and acutely exposed to chlorine gas in a public health disaster.

Using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) methodology, the study seeks to actively involve the community and effectively translate any research findings in a way which makes a significant difference in the lives of those affected by the disaster. While the first phase of the study focuses on millworkers who were working adjacent to the disaster site, the opportunity for all members of the community to benefit (such as health and lung screenings) exists. Indeed, the health effects of the event exceed far beyond the physical concerns to include the emotional, mental and socioeconomic wellbeing of the community-at-large.
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Currently, Dr. Wilson is Principal Investigator of a NIEHS-funded R21 research to action grant with Charleston Community Research to Action Board (CCRAB) and the Low Country Alliance for Model Communities (LAMC) entitled Use of a Community-University Partnership to Eliminate Environmental Stressors. This project seeks to examine pollution and health issues in North Charleston, SC, and build community capacity to address these issues in the region. Since 2009, the team has been using the CBPR… Show more

Currently, Dr. Wilson is Principal Investigator of a NIEHS-funded R21 research to action grant with Charleston Community Research to Action Board (CCRAB) and the Low Country Alliance for Model Communities (LAMC) entitled Use of a Community-University Partnership to Eliminate Environmental Stressors. This project seeks to examine pollution and health issues in North Charleston, SC, and build community capacity to address these issues in the region. Since 2009, the team has been using the CBPR framework to understand and address environmental justice issues in underserved communities of color that will be impacted by the Port of Charleston expansion. The project has included the use of GIS to assess burden and exposure disparities in the region including cancer risks using NATA dataset, baseline monitoring of particulate matter and soil contamination, and use of outreach, education, and empowerment through Project Excellence to build community capacity to address environmental injustice, environmental health disparities, and revitalization needs.

Dr. Wilson and other members of a related collaborative partnership between LAMC, City of North Charleston, the SC State Ports Authority, and other stakeholders received a 2009 Environmental Justice Achievement Award from the Environmental Protection Agency. Show less