Social and Environmental Determinant of Health in Beaumont and Port Arthur Gulf Communities

Lamar University led the Community Air Quality and Health Survey, as part of a broader NASEM‑funded Gulf Research initiative spearheaded by Prairie View A&M University, focused on environmental health, community capacity, and regional resilience in the Beaumont–Port Arthur (BPA) area. Under the leadership of Principal Investigator Dr. Chiung‑Fang Chang, the university carried out all aspects of survey design, community engagement, human subjects compliance, and data collection. Leveraging its long-standing community relationships and status as a regional Hispanic‑Serving Institution, Lamar University provided a trusted platform for gathering community‑informed insights into environmental hazards, air quality, social vulnerability, and health conditions. The survey covered all 11 ZIP codes within Beaumont and Port Arthur and intentionally oversampled high–social‑vulnerability neighborhoods to ensure meaningful representation of residents most burdened by environmental exposures. Data were collected over a six‑month period (November 2024–May 2025) using a mixed recruitment strategy that combined digital outreach, community events, and collaboration with partner institutions involved in community air monitoring. After rigorous data cleaning, the final analytic sample included 2,846 adult respondents. Findings indicate that BPA residents experience a complex interplay of environmental exposures, socioeconomic constraints, and health challenges: Environmental conditions were a central community concern. Nearly 90% of residents noticed changes in air quality in the past five years, and almost half reported that air quality had worsened. Perceived declines were concentrated in ZIP codes near industrial facilities, major transportation routes, and high‑SVI areas. Climate‑related concern was widespread. Most residents were familiar with climate change and described it in terms of extreme weather, sea‑level rise, and disruption to local ecosystems. Many anticipated increased hurricanes, heatwaves, and flooding in the near future. Environmental distress and psychological impacts were measurable. A 23‑item distress and impairment scale revealed moderate emotional distress related to climate change, though functional impairment from climate‑related worry was comparatively lower. Internal consistency was stronger for emotional distress than for impairment. Social determinants of health reflected heightened household vulnerabilities. – Over half of respondents experienced food insecurity. – Nearly 40% encountered transportation barriers that affected medical access and daily functioning. – Utility insecurity affected more than one‑quarter of households. – Housing quality issues were common, especially in coastal and high‑SVI ZIP codes. Respiratory health burdens were notable. Asthma prevalence exceeded 34% in all ZIP codes and surpassed 50% in some communities. COPD and other lung conditions were also disproportionately concentrated in environmentally burdened neighborhoods and among older adults and racial minority groups. Health behaviors and perceived well‑being presented a mixed picture. Although most residents rated their health as good or excellent, tobacco exposure—both active and passive—was high, and self‑reported poor health was concentrated in communities experiencing the greatest environmental and social risks. The study’s findings underscore the cumulative impact of environmental exposure, socioeconomic disadvantage, and structural stressors on community health in the BPA region. While the cross-sectional design cannot establish causation, the convergence of self‑reported exposures, concerns about air quality, and elevated rates of respiratory illness provides strong evidence that environmental and social vulnerabilities intersect to shape health disparities. The report highlights the need for future research that integrates community‑based air monitoring, high‑resolution spatial exposure modeling, and longitudinal health data. Equitable and community-driven interventions—particularly in high‑SVI neighborhoods such as 77701, 77703, 77640, 77642, and 77655—are essential for reducing environmental burdens, strengthening resilience, and supporting public health across the Gulf Coast.