About

Garett Sansom, DrPH, is an Assistant Professor in the School of Public Health at Texas A&M University, specializing in Environmental & Occupational Health. His research interests include health and sustainability, community health assessment, environmental exposures and health effects, greenspace development and nature, environmental contaminants, and community resilience. His teaching focuses on environmental health policy and planning, sustainable development and public health, and environmental health field research methods. Dr. Sansom holds a Doctor of Public Health degree in Epidemiology and Environmental Health and a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from Texas A&M University, as well as a BA in Philosophy from St. Edwards University. His work involves investigating environmental risks and their impacts on physical and mental health within communities, utilizing participatory research methods to address environmental concerns. He has contributed to scholarly publications on topics such as disaster resilience education, sustainable cities, water-energy-food governance, and community health impacts related to environmental risks.

Research topics

• Political Science
• Sociology
• Business
• Geography
• Medicine
• Environmental health
• Public relations
• Psychology
• Computer Security
• Computer Science
• Engineering
• Nursing
• Gerontology
• Marketing
• Environmental protection
• Public economics
• Economics
• Civil engineering
• Psychiatry
• Environmental engineering
• Medical emergency
• Environmental planning
• Environmental resource management
• Cartography

Selected publications

• Trust, Privacy, and Data Governance in Public Health Surveillance: A Mixed-Methods Study in Two Hispanic Communities in Texas (Preprint)

  2026-03-17

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  <sec> <title>BACKGROUND</title> Public health surveillance relies on public trust, particularly for voluntary systems such as syndromic surveillance that are governed primarily through data-use agreements rather than by statute. In historically underrepresented communities, willingness to participate may depend on perceived community benefit, safeguards against misuse, and meaningful involvement in data governance. </sec> <sec> <title>OBJECTIVE</title> To examine how trust, perceived benefits, and privacy concerns shape willingness to participate in public health surveillance among two underrepresented Hispanic communities in Texas. </sec> <sec> <title>METHODS</title> We conducted a mixed-methods study in a semi-rural Hispanic colonia in Hidalgo County along the US–Mexico border and an urban industrial community in Harris County near Houston. Bilingual promotoras administered in-person household surveys (N=100; 50 per site) assessing perceptions of health information, preferences for data sharing and governance, and privacy-related attitudes. We summarized responses descriptively and compared results by site. We content-coded open-ended survey responses and performed thematic analysis of Spanish-language focus groups (Hidalgo n=12; Harris n=7; Harris recruited n=8 with 7 attending) to contextualize quantitative findings. </sec> <sec> <title>RESULTS</title> Support for surveillance was high when framed around community benefit and trusted health actors. Most respondents agreed that personal health information should be collected to inform public health decisions even when privacy risks exist (Hidalgo 76%; Harris 82%). A large majority in both sites supported sharing health data with public health authorities even if this required access to personally identifiable information (Hidalgo 78%; Harris 78%). However, concerns differed by site: Hidalgo respondents more often worried that collected data would not benefit their community, whereas Harris respondents more often worried about information being shared beyond intended recipients or used for secondary purposes. Across both sites, respondents strongly endorsed participating in decisions about what data are collected and how they are used. Qualitative findings echoed a “necessary risk” perspective—participants expressed privacy concerns but described willingness to share information for public health protection when governance limits, safeguards, and reciprocity were credible. Four primary themes emerged from the focus group data: 1) Participants understand the basics of disease surveillance, 2) Support for information sharing is driven by wanting to help others, 3) Individuals do not feel comfortable sharing information that could identify them, and 4) Personal experience with injustice and discrimination reduces willingness to share information. </sec> <sec> <title>CONCLUSIONS</title> Underrepresented Hispanic communities expressed conditional support for public health surveillance, including identifiable data use when perceived as necessary for community protection. Trust appears to depend less on blanket data minimization than on transparent, enforceable governance: clear purpose limitation, protections against non-health uses of data, and mechanisms for community involvement and feedback. </sec>

  PublisherDOI

• Association Between Tobacco Smoke Exposure and Cadmium Biomarkers in the US Population: NHANES 2015–2020

  Biological Trace Element Research · 2026-04-18

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Spatial Distribution of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Soil and Potential Human Health Risks within a Confirmed Cancer Cluster in the Greater Fifth Ward, Houston, Texas

  Exposure and Health · 2026-02-19

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  The study assessed the occurrence, spatial distribution, and potential human health risks of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) within the Greater Fifth Ward, a residential area located in Northeast Houston. From July to November 2021, a complete canvas was done within the defined geographic boundary to collect surface soil samples from participants’ private yards. Using standard extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry methods, the levels of x PAHs in each sample were quantified and used to calculate pyrogenic indices and evaluate PAH source apportionment. This information was used to calculate cancer risks based on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) Regional Screening Levels (RSLs) for residential soils. Of the 103 soil samples, at least 1 of the 16 EPA priority pollutant PAHs were detected in each sample. The total concentration of the 7 carcinogenic PAHs ranged from 9.9 to 40,290 ng/g (mean = 402 ng/g, standard deviation = 28,490). The RSLs showed that 7 of the 103 soil samples exceeded the U.S. EPA’s most conservative screening levels of 1.0 × 10− 6 and had values within the target range for remedial actions, however, only one of those sites was considered actionable. Findings from this study highlight the need for site-specific risk assessments in environmental justice communities with known legacy contaminants. The current PAH concentrations are likely lower than historical values due to remediation in nearby areas, as well as PAH volatilization, photooxidation, and microbial degradation. Additional research is needed to explore remediation strategies and direct links to human health.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Cohesive Cities and Resilient Cities: Are they the Same?

  Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness · 2025-01-01 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• MyEcoReporter: a prototype for artificial intelligence-facilitated pollution reporting

  Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology · 2025-01-20

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Justice for Joppa: A Framework for Community-Engaged Research on Air Quality and Health

  Environmental Justice · 2025-04-23 · 1 citations

  article

  Due to historical racial segregation, people of color are disproportionately exposed to particulate matter (PM) air pollution. Joppa, a historic Freedman’s town and predominantly African American and Hispanic community in Dallas, Texas, is surrounded by multiple air pollution sources. Using a community-based participatory research approach, the Joppa Environmental Health Project was formed in 2020 with the primary objective of determining community perceptions of air quality in Joppa and assessing general health status through a co-developed household survey. A Community Steering Committee (CSC) led numerous engagement events and organized block captains to administer a household survey from May to October 2022. Additionally, neighborhood-level fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) concentration data from three local air monitors were publicly accessible from the SharedAirDFW network. A high neighborhood survey response rate (51%) revealed that the majority of respondents (62%) rated the air quality in Joppa as poor or very poor. 83% of respondents reported that air pollution in Joppa had made them or their family members sick. 40% of participants reported they avoid exercising outdoors and opening their windows due to concern about air pollution. A high percentage of survey respondents had been diagnosed with lifetime asthma (18%). Air monitoring data indicated potentially elevated levels of PM 2.5 in Joppa. Overall, the application of this framework facilitated robust community engagement and resident-led research to address a critical neighborhood concern. Subsequently, an asphalt batch plant voluntarily relocated operations in June of 2023. The CSC organized a new group known as Justice for Joppa/Justicia para Joppa to sustain the environmental justice momentum created by this work that will target local zoning and land use policies.

  PublisherDOI

• Exploring viable buyout pathways for enhanced health in Galena Park, TX

  Sustainable Environment · 2025-02-25 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  = 130) was conducted, focusing on the factors influencing willingness to participate in buyout programs. The study found that residents living near Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) facilities and in flood-prone areas are significantly more likely to consider buyouts (Odds Ratio = 3.416, P-Value <0.001), even after adjustments for various factors. This finding is pivotal, as it narrows the focus to a specific geographic region, which not only bears the brunt of adverse health impacts but also presents an opportunity for targeted interventions. The introduction of green space solutions in these high-risk zones also emerges as a feasible improvement strategy, offering potential health benefits to the community. This research sheds light on the nuances of implementing buyout programs in environmentally burdened communities, providing valuable insights for policymakers and urban planners seeking to enhance public health outcomes.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Using L. minor and C. elegans to assess the ecotoxicity of real-life contaminated soil samples and their remediation by clay- and carbon-based sorbents

  Environmental Pollution · 2024-03-11 · 7 citations

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Assessing Self-Rated Physical Health Scores Following Repeat Exposure to Anthropogenic and Natural Hazards in Houston, TX

  Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness · 2024-01-01

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  BACKGROUND: Research connects health outcomes to hazard exposures but often neglects the nature of the exposure or repeated events. METHODS: We undertook a cross-sectional study (N = 1,094) from a representative sample in the Houston Metropolitan Statistical Area (HMSA). Respondents were recruited using Qualtrics panels, targeting individuals reflecting the population of the HMSA. Physical composite scores (PCS) were calculated using the SF-12v2. RESULTS: Among the hazards (hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes, chemical spills, industrial fires), only chemical spills showed a dose-response: physical health scores declined significantly with repeated exposures. This decline persisted after multiple linear regression. Covariates including sex, race, age, education, and chemical exposure affected PCS, but chemical spill exposure remained the most significant, negatively affecting PCS even after adjusting for other factors (coef =-2.24, 95% CI, -3.33 to -1.15). CONCLUSION: Grasping the effects of hazards, especially repeated ones, can guide emergency management in mitigation, recovery, and preparedness efforts.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Using the 12-item short-form health survey (SF-12) to evaluate self-rated health in an environmental justice community

  Archives of Public Health · 2024-10-18 · 6 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  The Greater Fifth Ward (GFW) is a Northeast Houston, Texas, neighborhood with a legacy of industrial contamination and a confirmed cancer cluster. To understand self-rated health in the GFW, community-based participatory research (CBPR), was used to promote the inclusion of all partners. CBPR involves the community during each stage of the research process from design to research dissemination. A complete census was conducted, and 114 surveys were obtained in the environmental justice (EJ) community from July to November 2021. EJ communities shoulder an unfair burden of environmental exposures, pollution, and poor built environments. Mental and physical health were measured using the validated 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12v2). We posited that the Black or African American (Black/AA) community would have lower mental composite scores (MCS) and physical composite scores (PCS) compared to the nation and their White counterparts. The MCS and PCS were calculated and compared against the national mean. Overall, participants had higher MCS and lower PCS than the national mean. Black/AA males and females had lower MCS compared to their White counterparts. White females had the lowest PCS among all respondents, significantly lower than the national average. MCS was lower among those who lived in the neighborhood longer. Burdens from pollution may impact residents' health and perceived health. Targeted interventions or programs that improve mental or physical health would benefit this community and other inequitably burdened neighborhoods.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Jennifer A. Horney

  University of Delaware

  17 shared

• Leanne S. Fawkes

  The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

  13 shared

• Galen Newman

  12 shared

• Thomas J. McDonald

  Texas A&M Health Science Center

  11 shared

• Katie R. Kirsch

  Texas A&M University

  9 shared

• Jaimie Hicks Masterson

  Texas A&M University

  8 shared

• Michelle A. Meyer

  Colorado State University

  7 shared

• Shannon Van Zandt

  Texas A&M University

  6 shared

Education

• DrPH, School of Public Health

  Texas A&M University