The Mission of the National Center for Health in Public Housing (NCHPH) is to strengthen the capacity of federally funded Public Housing Primary Care (PHPC) health centers and other health center grantees by providing training and a range of technical assistance.
NCHPH, a project of North American Management, receives funding through a cooperative agreement grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration.
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Aftermath of Hurricane Sandy
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Warnings for Hurricane Sandy began the week of October 22nd, 2012 as the Caribbean faced death tolls into the double digits. The southern states felt the effects of Hurricane Sandy as it barreled up the coast, but states were not sent into high alert until about Monday, October 29th as President Obama declared a state of emergency for states that were in the direct path of the hurricane. Although Hurricane Sandy has subsided the damage left behind is tremendous. As of November 1, 2012, the US death toll from Hurricane Sandy totaled 82 people, 34 counted directly from the state of New York. Over 8 million people were without power and countless others faced damage to homes and property. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS Emergency preparedness is essential to protecting people and property from damage during traumatic events. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is the main point of contact after disasters. There are resources available for those who need assistance with recovery and other needs. FEMA also provides information on emergency preparedness plans. Many relief efforts for Hurricane Sandy are also being taken on by the Red Cross, a non-profit that assists in recovery efforts after disasters. |
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Hurricane Sandy Resources
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HRSA community-based service delivery grantees located in presidentially-declared disaster areas may be eligible for federal financial assistance. HRSA recommends that grantees take advantage of local and state disaster assistance programs and assistance available through nongovernmental organizations and apply to Federal disaster assistance programs.
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Lung Cancer
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 Lung cancer is the primary cause of cancer mortality in the United States. More women die from lung cancer than breast cancer, and 60% of all nonsmoker lung cancer cases are female. Lung cancer is commonly caused by smoking, but may also be a result of metastases, or cancer spread from another organ. Other substances that contribute to lung cancer are exposure to radon, asbestos, and other toxins such as beryllium, mustard gas, uranium, diesel exhaust and gasoline, and coal products.
Lung cancer can appear in two forms: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which is the most common form, and small cell lung cancer. Lung cancer is commonly seen in older adults, but can occur in younger populations and in nonsmokers. Secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure, along with genetic factors, are also contributing factors for lung cancer.
SHS exposure or environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) negatively affects the health status of millions of American adults and children. About 50,000 nonsmoking adults die every year from SHS, but mortality data does not include how SHS contributes to other primary mortality causes, such as lung cancer and heart disease. Another identified hazard is what is now called third-hand smoke. Third-hand smoke is caused by residuals from tobacco products which linger on clothing, surfaces and fabrics, and negatively affect health long after the smoker has left.The CDC estimates that smoking contributes to 443,000 deaths a year.
Prevention
Although radon exposure is known to occur in the home (usually due to cracks in the foundation of houses), asbestos exposure is most often linked to occupational exposures. Arsenic contaminated water has also been linked to lung cancer and should be avoided. People who have a persistent cough, experience chronic fatigue, cough up blood or have chest pain should see a physician as these symptoms may be associated with lung cancer. The best way to prevent lung cancer is to know your family history, avoid tobacco products and people who smoke, and limit exposure to radon and asbestos. Currently there are no recommendations for lung cancer screenings for nonsmokers.
Sources: CDC, US Preventive Task Force, National Cancer Institute, EPA, National Library of Medicine
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Perception of the Public
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Non-smokers can be exposed to tobacco smoke in their homes and on their jobs. In recent years there has been an increase of smoking regulation in public places such as restaurants, clubs, and other indoor venues. SHS contains toxic substances, approximately 50 various chemicals that contribute to disease incidence. A recent poll by Gallup surveyed US adults to determine whether people think smoking is harmful to others. Results showed that less than a third of smokers considered SHS "very harmful" to other people. Smokers and nonsmokers tend to agree that smoking is harmful to smokers, but think it is less harmful to others.
Although the biomarker which measures tobacco exposure, cotinine, has decreased in nonsmokers in recent years, 43% of nonsmokers continue to have elevated levels. These detectable levels pose health threats to persons with allergies and asthma, and to infants and children. For the report click here:
Sources: HUD, Surgeon General Report 2007, Gallup Poll
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Secondhand Smoke and Children
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Children who are exposed to tobacco smoke have an increased risk of suffering from ear infections, respiratory issues, and mortality from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Exposure to toxins from tobacco products inhibits developmental processes in children. Also, children who have chronic exposure to SHS are usually more sickly than children who do not. SHS triggers asthmatic response more often and more severely, which may lead to death. Research has shown that there is an association between premature infants and cigarette smoke. The American Academy of Otolaryngology is still conducting studies to obtain a better understanding. To read the news article, click here.
SHS can increase a nonsmoker's risk of lung cancer by 20-30% and can increase incidence of chronic diseases. Tobacco smoke increases the risk for heart disease, cancers, hypertension, and diabetes. SHS can also cause adverse health effects in pregnant women and unborn children. Other health issues may arise that can effect reproductive health, an example being issues with fertility in both men and women.
Sources: Surgeon General Report 2007, ACS
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Instituting Smoke-Free Housing
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There are many programs that are being implemented nationwide to ban smoking and reduce SHS-related disease. One of those programs is smoke-free housing. Within the last few years, smoke-free housing has received much recognition and there is now a push to begin implementing smoke-free housing on public housing properties. Several public housing authorities across the country have transitioned to smoke-free housing properties and have seen favorable results. The National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH) created an informative fact sheet, click here to access it.
Many landlords support transitioning to smoke-free housing because it can reduce operating costs, as well as decrease apartment turnover. There may be financial incentives as well from insurance companies because a smoke-free unit is less of a liability. Not only does smoking contribute to poor health outcomes, it also is the primary cause of residential fires and leads to many deaths annually. Although landlords may fear residents' reaction to a smoke-free plan, tenants may be receptive to the idea. In a nationwide survey by NCHH, 78% of all tenants, nonsmokers and smokers alike, reported that they would prefer to live in smoke-free housing. Click to access the HUD toolkit for landlords and tenants.
Sources: NCHH, HUD
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Instituting Smoke-Free Driving
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The right to privacy is an important tenet of the American way of life. However, when children are harmed from exposure to the class A carcinogen secondhand smoke (SHS), public health and safety should take precedence over smoking. Smoke-free vehicles ensure that clean air is maintained within the vehicle to fulfill a child's need to breathe fresh air. Here is background information to support such a position.
Source: GASP
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Host a Lung Cancer Awareness Event
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Great American Smokeout
The American Cancer Society is marking the 37th Great American Smokeout on November 15 by encouraging smokers to use the date to make a plan to quit, or to plan in advance and quit smoking that day. By doing so, smokers will be taking an important step towards a healthier life - one that can lead to reducing cancer risk.
Shine a Light on Lung Cancer Vigil 
For the 4th straight year, the National Shine a Light on Lung Cancer Vigil is the largest nationally and internationally coordinated awareness event for lung cancer. Vigils in local communities provide a voice for the millions touched by lung cancer. The vigils provide hope, compassion and support, empowering attendees to join the historic movement for lung cancer.The goal for the vigil is simple-to ease the burden of all those impacted by connecting our community in a national call to action.
On Tuesday, November 13th and throughout the month of November, volunteers and participants will join together to honor one another. Each vigil features personal stories from survivors, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and others while sharing information on local resources and support groups as well as a call to action. Our community of support and hope will come together and we will grow the lung cancer movement for change. There really is something for everyone!
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Grantee Corner
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Click picture to visit site.
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Feature: Cornell Scott Hill Health Center
For Lung Cancer Awareness Month, Cornell Scott of New Haven, Connecticut is hosting an event for the Great American Smokeout which is November 15. Smokers can visit the health center to turn in their packs of cigarettes in exchange for a "survivor" kit, which will help them begin the cessation process. Those who wish to participate in Kick Butts Day can contact the health center for more information.
Cornell Scott offers a smoking cessation course regularly at their health center. The course, Now is the Time to Quit, is generally offered once a week. To get more information, click here.
November is also American Diabetes Month. Cornell Scott has an event covering this topic:
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
The Wilson Library, New Haven
Free Health Screenings, Give-a-ways, Free Food, and more!
Contact the center at (203)-503-3000.
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Policy: Less Smoke
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Secondhand Smoking
Decreasing the prevalence of cigarette use may be possible by increasing the cost of cigarettes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (2012). Increased prices come in the form of excise taxes on cigarettes and are currently being imposed in all states and the District of Columbia. Based on CDC studies and previous evidence, increases in cigarette excise taxes would result in demand reductions for cigarettes, which in turn would decrease smoking and the "associated morbidity and mortality". Additionally, the Surgeon General determined that higher cigarette taxes would lead to health improvements for the long-term. Click here to access this report.
Lung Cancer and the Clean Air Act
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that amendments to the Clean Air Act "will prevent over 230,000 early deaths in 2020". The benefits of the amendments will total almost $2 trillion in the year 2020. The other benefits include preventing diseases, heart attacks, and bronchitis due to ozone exposure (EPA, 2011). Additionally, reducing air pollution will help decrease lung cancer, according to new studies from National Institutes of Health (2011).
To view the Clean Air Act, click here.
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Other Resources
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Smokefree: Quitting on your phone, on your terms. SmokefreeTXT is a mobile service designed for young adults across the United States. SmokefreeTXT was created to provide 24/7 encouragement, advice, and tips to help smokers stop smoking for good. Signing up is quick and easy!
Lung Cancer Alliance: This organization provides support for those with lung cancer and for those who
want information on current research, prevention methods, and treatment strategies.
State of the Air: Protect your health and download the American Lung Association's State of the AirŪ app. Get life-saving updates on your local air quality and learn how you can help fight for air.
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The National Center for Health in Public Housing (NCHPH), a project of North American Management, is supported in part by a cooperative agreement grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
This publication was made possible by grant number U30CS09734 from the Health Resources and Services Administration, Bureau of Primary Health Care and its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of HRSA.
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Upcoming Events
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for a list of November Webinars
When: November 9, 2012
Where: Greenville, NC
When: November 10, 2012
Where: New York, NY
When: November 16-17, 2012
Where: Phoenix, AZ
When: November 29-30, 2012
Where: Philadelphia, PA
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