Environmental Health Watch

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2	Weekly World News 1/22/02
3	Project Partners: Environmental Health Watch Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) – Bruce Haber Greater Cleveland Asthma Coalition – Norman Robbins USDA Research Station, Gainesville – Rick Brenner, David Milne Johns Hopkins Allergy and Asthma Center – Ed Horowitz
4	Project field collaborators EHW USDA Pest control contractors Tenants CMHA Departments - Environmental Contracting Estate Managers Maintenance & Repair
5	Cockroach allergen A potent, pervasive and persistent asthma trigger for low-income, inner-city populations National Cooperative Inner-City Asthma Study [1997]: 37% of children allergic, High levels in 50% of homes, Sensitivity + exposure associated with morbidity measures
6	Small project to explore: Safer and more effective elimination of cockroach infestation Assessment of cockroach allergen contamination More effective cleanup/ decontamination of cockroach allergen
7	Setting 3 multi-family complexes operated by the public housing authority in Cleveland 18 housing units enrolled All units had been getting regular pest control treatment by a licensed contractor
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9	General design Recruit families Confirm roach infestation Eliminate infestation by IPM methods Measure roach allergen Conduct specialized cleaning Measure roach allergen Educate occupants on roach control Measure roach allergen
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13	Roach reduction by IPM Visual inspection and sticky trap monitoring Roaches flushed with a hot air gun and captured with a HEPA vacuum Gel baits and borate powders placed in harborages identified by the flushing Harborages and entry points sealed Occupant education
14	Roach Control Team Pest control contractor Pesticide application EHW staff Flush & vacuum Negotiate repairs Take dust samples Clean Educate occupants
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20	Tenant education EHW Health Educator Part of IPM & sampling team Multiple visits, long duration Build trust Informal education One-on-one and group education Engaged children in process
21	Educational content Roaches & asthma Shared responsibility Pest control contractors Housing authority Occupant Roach food and water sources Bringing roaches in and keeping them out Problem of clutter Working with the contractor
22	Working with the contractor: Uncontained food and food waste feeds roaches and compete with baits. Clutter creates harborages and makes it difficult to inspect and bait effectively. Use of do-it-yourself sprays interferes with baits.
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24	Pest control contractors Followed important elements of IPM strategy: spray pesticides rarely used; highly toxic and volatile pesticides not used; baits used widely
25	Pest control contractors Limitations responding to large, persistent infestations: flushing and vacuuming not used gel baits too often the exclusive method harborages in rooms other than kitchen often not treated too little time was spent in a unit to inspect for harborages, monitor sticky traps and deploy baits
26	Changes needed in pest control contracting (e.g., fee structure, contract specifications and performance monitoring) training and supervision of pest control contractor personnel maintenance and repair practices tenant education and enforcement of responsibilities.
27	Shared responsibility Housing Authority - provide and maintain dwelling unit free from defects that support roach infestation. Pest Control Contractor - thoroughly inspect entire unit to determine roach harborages, entry points, and food and water resources; use safe and effective treatments to get rid of the roaches; and provide on-going monitoring. Tenants - cooperate with pest control efforts by contractor and housing authority; maintain housekeeping practices that do not support roach infestation.
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