UTEP researchers present environmental health study highlighting air pollution, cancer-screening gaps and calls for ongoing monitoring

UTEP researchers and partners presented results of an ARPA-funded community-centered environmental health assessment on May 21, telling County Commissioner's Court that residents in south-central El Paso report worsening air and noise conditions and that local sensor networks recorded repeated ozone and sulfur-dioxide peaks relative to permanent monitors. The study combined a 410-response community survey, a small clinical screening cohort (73 examinations) and a low-cost sensor network deployed across neighborhoods.

Survey findings included persistent resident concern about air pollution, dust and noise; 40% of respondents felt environmental health had worsened in five years. Self-reported household health problems commonly included high blood pressure and headaches; a notable share reported a cancer diagnosis among household members or neighbors. UTEP's health screening found a high prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension and low cancer-screening rates. Sensor data showed elevated SO2 and ozone spikes at some monitors; the team cautioned those results are preliminary and need multi-year collection to assess trends and causation.

Researchers recommended continued, longer-term environmental monitoring, expanded noise and vibration studies, a prioritized cancer-screening and epidemiologic surveillance initiative for the study area, and coordinated actions with county public health and clinical partners. Community leaders at the meeting urged that study findings be shared across city, county and school partners and used to pursue additional funding and policy responses. County staff pledged follow-up on legislative and infrastructure tools, and commissioners asked for continued reporting and coordination with health agencies.