Metal Air Pollution Partnership Solutions (MAPPS)

• Overview
• People
• Environmental Concern?
• Community Reports
• Photos
• Resources

Overview

Watch 311 video - Learn how to address an environmental health concern!

UTHealth receives $2.5 million to study metal recycling particle emissions in Houston

The Project and Partners

Metal recycling facilities accept and process scrap metals. The benefits of metal recycling over the use of raw materials include energy savings, the conservation of resources, and job creation. Yet, some recycling plants in Houston are in close proximity to neighborhoods and concerns have been raised by residents about smoke and dust. 

MAPPS is a collaborative research-to-action project of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health to study and address potential health risks associated with air emissions from metal recycling facilities in Houston. In addition to UTHealth School of Public Health, other research partners include Air Alliance Houston, the Houston Health Department Bureau of Pollution Control and Prevention, and Rice University working collaboratively with metal recycling industry representatives and neighborhood residents.  

The MAPPS five-year research-to-action project will be conducted in three phases: 

Research: Conduct outdoor air monitoring, determine health risks and describe residents’ environmental health concerns
Action: Develop and apply a plan to address the research findings
Evaluation: Measure the success of our action plan

Vea el video 311 - ¡Aprenda cómo abordar un problema de salud ambiental!

El Proyecto y los Socios

Las instalaciones de reciclaje de metales aceptan y procesan chatarra. Los beneficios del reciclaje de metales en comparación con el uso de materias primas incluyen el ahorro de energía, la conservación de recursos y la creación de empleos. Sin embargo, algunas plantas de reciclaje en Houston están ubicadas cerca de vecindarios y los residentes han planteado preocupaciones sobre el humo y el polvo.

MAPPS es un proyecto colaborativo de investigación-a-la-acción de la Escuela de Salud Pública del Centro de Ciencias de la Salud de la Universidad de Texas (Escuela de Salud Pública de UTHealth por sus siglas en inglés) para estudiar y abordar los riesgos de salud potenciales, asociados con las emisiones al aire de las instalaciones de reciclaje de metales en Houston. Además de la Escuela de Salud Pública de UTHealth, otros socios de la investigación incluyen la Alianza Pro Aire de Houston, la Agencia de Control y Prevención de la Contaminación del Departamento de Salud de la Ciudad de Houston, y la Universidad de Rice, todos trabajando colaborativamente con representantes de la industria de reciclaje de metales y residentes de los vecindarios.

El proyecto de investigación a la acción de MAPPS se llevara a cabo en tres fases:

Investigación: Conducir monitoreo del área de afuera, determinar los riesgos a la salud y describir las preocupaciones sobre la salud medioambiental de los residentes
Acción: Desarrollar y aplicar un plan para abordar los resultados de la investigación
Evaluación: Medir el éxito de nuestro plan de acción

People

Principal Investigator Elaine Symanski, PhD
Research Partners
UTHealth School of Public Health Heyreoun An Han, PhD Inkyu Han, PhD Maria D. Jimenez Christine Markham, PhD Sheryl McCurdy, PhD Mary Ann Smith, PhD	Rice University Loren Raun, PhD	Air Alliance Houston Juan Flores Bakeyah Nelson
Houston Health Department, Bureau of Pollution Control and Prevention Daisy D. James Nguyen Ly Donald R. Richner Jr., CIH  Amy Scarafile		Former Members Isaac DeSouza Kulsum Lopez
Community Advisory Board
Metal Recyclers Brad Bredesen John Bianculli John Eldridge Juan Garza Michael Gaydos Brandi Harleaux Wade Lindeman David Miller	Neighborhood Residents Reverend James Caldwell Cecelia Fontenot Humberto Hernandez Eva Loredo Mary Roberts Victor Villarreal Bobbie Wyatt	Former Members Tom Baker Carlos Breeden Ron Cayon Miguel Leija Eric Knecht

Environmental Concern?

Do you have an environmental health concern relating to Allied Alloys, CMC Recycling, Cronimet, or Spectrum?  Click on the flyers below to learn how to address your concerns (available in English and Spanish).

South Park Near Allied Alloys

Fifth Ward/Northside Near CMC Recyling

Magnolia Park Near Cronimet

Magnolia Park Near Spectrum/EMR

Community Reports

South Park Near Allied Alloys

Fifth Ward/Northside Near CMC Recyling

Magnolia Park Near Cronimet

Magnolia Park Near Spectrum/EMR

Photos

Resources

MAPPS Brochures and Flyers / Volantes y Folletos de MAPPS (por sus siglas en inglés) 

Do you want to learn more MAPPS project?  Click on the brochure and flyer below. 

BROCHURE / FOLLETO	VOLANTE / FLYER

2018 MAPPS Community Forums

The MAPPS team held Community Forums in South Park, Northside/5th Ward, and Magnolia Park.  We shared our health risk assessment results and plan of action to minimize metal air pollution and improve communication to address environmental health concerns.  Click the flyer button below to get more information. 

South Park Community Forum:
Thursday, November 8, 2018 at Kelso Elementary

Northside/5th Ward Community Forum:
Tuesday, November 13, 2018 at Sherman Elementary

Magnolia Park Community Forum:
Thursday, November 15, 2018 at Edison Middle School