Using a Health Impact Assessment for Redevelopment Decisions of Brownfields in an Urban Setting

Background: A large metropolitan city in the Mid-west was awarded a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to do an assessment and redevelopment plan for several brownfields in the Northwest Area neighborhood. The grant included conducting a health impact assessment to assist in the decision making process. The grant was administered for the city by an environmental engineering firm and the health impact assessment was to be conducted with the neighborhood, and assistance from faculty and students at the Indiana University Fairbanks School of Public Health and the Marion County Public Health Department.

Methods: There are six steps in conducting a health impact assessment. Screening was conducted with representatives from all the partner groups. Scoping was conducted with the neighborhood, school and health department representatives and included designing a survey. Assessment involved a review of the literature, administration of the survey and key informant interviews. The final steps are still in process, but will be completed mid 2015.

Results: The Northwest area has higher rates of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, childhood asthma and cerebrovasular accidents then the rest of the county.

To date neighbors are interested in having the brownfields redeveloped for new businesses, including Aquaponics, a grocery store (the neighborhood is a food dessert), and senior housing.

Conclusions: Health impact assessments are useful in informing decision from non-health sectors. The redevelopment of the brownfields in the Northwest Area will positively impact their high rates of disease through impacting employment opportunities and access to healthy food and housing.