BOARD APPROVES REQUEST FOR HEALTH ASSESSMENT OF RESIDENTS LIVING NEAR BALDWIN HILLS OIL FIELDS

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

March 9, 2010                                                                                                                                          Contact:      Aurelio Rojas 213-280-6579

                                                                                                                                                                                         James Bolden 213-200-5314

              

BOARD APPROVES RIDLEY-THOMAS REQUEST FOR COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH

ASSESSMENT OF RESIDENTS LIVING NEAR BALDWIN HILLS OIL FIELDS

 

LOS ANGELES – Responding to a request by Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas and concerns voiced by residents near the Baldwin Hills oil fields, the Board of Supervisors today allocated $155,000 for a comprehensive health assessment of residents in the area.

 

The survey, to be conducted by the Field Research Corporation, will sample approximately 1,000 adult residents randomly identified from households that report living in one of eight zip codes within the Baldwin Hills area. 

 

In 2007, Field conducted the sweeping Los Angeles County Health Survey, collecting information about health status, health-related behaviors, access to and utilization of health care and preventive health services.

 

“This study responds to the Baldwin Hill community’s concerns over their health and safety.  It will be an important step towards understanding and monitoring any health trends in that community, “Supervisor Ridley-Thomas said.

 

“In order to analyze the Baldwin Hills community’s health concerns in a meaningful way, the community survey must use the same survey methods as those used to conduct the 2007 (study), which will enable (the Department of Public Health) to compare each survey’s respective health data and will provide a baseline for assessment of future health impacts.”

The assessment will include three components:

• An analysis of mortality rates and patterns in the selected population based on death certificates reported to the Department of Public Health;
• An analysis of cancer rates and patterns based on data compiled by the University of Southern California Cancer Surveillance Program; and

·   Collection of data reported in a community survey, regarding self-reported illness such as asthma and other health concerns. DPH is currently conducting the first and second components of the comprehensive community health assessment.

 

The surveys, conducted through 15-minute phone interviews in English and Spanish, will include questions that address quality-of-life issues, odors, noise, vibrations, and specific health conditions of residents living in the vicinity of the Baldwin Hills oil field.

 

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