Thursday, December 26, 2024
12/26/2024
PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT In August 2023, the unprecedented Maui wildfires, Hawaii's worst natural disaster, aggravated existing socioeconomic and health disparities among Maui's diverse population, including Native Hawaiians, Filipino Americans, and Hispanics/Latinos. This catastrophe amplified chronic disease risk factors and conditions already prevalent among these groups. Moreover, environmental hazards post-wildfires expose residents to health- compromising contaminants, underscoring an urgent need to understand the disaster's multifaceted impact. We aim to (1) Initiate a comprehensive cohort study examining wildfire exposure's socioeconomic and health impacts on 1,000 residents, integrating survey tools with biospecimen analyses to measure stress and toxicant exposure. (2) Conduct longitudinal analysis by revisiting the cohort annually for five years, tracking health and socioeconomic changes during recovery, and comparing findings to unexposed cohorts. (3) Craft a comprehensive dissemination strategy and deploy a data-driven toolkit supporting recovery efforts, guiding policy-making, and enhancing disaster preparedness strategies. Our pioneering research will address the uncharted intersection of social and biological consequences from Maui wildfires, aspiring to guide informed disaster recovery and resilience planning locally and nationwide.
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