About

Lindsay Sansom, PhD, is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental & Occupational Health at the School of Public Health, Texas A&M University. Her research interests include socio-ecological systems, health and nature, community cohesion and resilience, water security, and transboundary cooperation. She holds a PhD in Ecosystem Science and Management from Texas A&M University, an MA in International Relations and Environmental Policy from Boston University, and a BA in International Relations from St. Edwards University. Dr. Sansom's work focuses on understanding the interactions between environmental hazards and public health, including assessing self-rated physical health following exposure to hazards, impacts of hazard exposures on mental health, and risk communication following anthropogenic disasters. Her research also explores transboundary water sharing, risk perceptions among decision-makers, and water conservation behaviors. She is actively involved in research that addresses environmental health challenges, emphasizing community resilience and sustainable water management.

Research topics

• Political Science
• Geography
• Medicine
• Environmental health
• Business
• Nursing
• Psychiatry
• Environmental protection
• Environmental resource management
• Environmental planning
• Medical emergency
• Ecology
• Psychology
• Public relations
• Cartography
• Environmental science
• Law
• Gerontology

Selected publications

• Health Promotion in Public Parks: A Statewide Study in Texas Cities

  Journal of Park and Recreation Administration · 2025-10-28

  article

  City parks can promote health and health equity through many pathways and programs. In this study, we aimed to characterize health promotion efforts in city parks across the state of Texas. We surveyed the state’s 50 largest municipal park systems, asking about: park system metrics (acreage, budget, etc.), facilities, health promotion programs, health promotion partnerships, park equity initiatives, and challenges and barriers to health promotion efforts. Among the 30 cities (60%) that responded, health promotion programs and initiatives were common. These included fitness classes (in 100% of responding park systems), health education programming (66.7%), health fairs, health screenings, and walking/running groups (56.7% each). Programs serving special populations included those for the elderly (97%), for visitors using wheelchairs (86.7%), for low-income visitors (73.3%), and for racial and ethnic minorities (56.7%). Park systems reported a wide range of partnerships with health organizations—nonprofit organizations more commonly than hospitals or health departments. Few park systems engaged health professionals directly, in efforts such as Walk with a Doc. This study confirms that parks promote health through diverse initiatives and partnerships. It also highlights further opportunities for health promotion in parks, including partnerships with health organizations, engagement of health professionals, enhanced emphasis on mental health and nutrition, and outcome evaluation. These findings emphasize the importance of making health promotion a central part of park planning and operations, especially by building partnerships with health professionals and evaluating program outcomes. Park leaders and advocates can use these insights to secure resources and align park programs with broader community health and equity goals.

  PublisherDOI

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

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

  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

• Compounding impacts of hazard exposures on mental health in Houston, TX

  Natural Hazards · 2022 · 15 citations

  • Environmental health
  • Medicine
  • Gerontology
  PublisherDOI

• Got a minute for the future of the Rio Grande? Considering the prospects for a sustainability minute in the wake of the Colorado’s Minute 323

  Water International · 2021 · 4 citations

  Senior authorCorresponding
  • Political Science
  • Environmental planning
  • Environmental resource management

  Despite tensions between Mexico and the United States, the countries continue to develop cooperative strategies to manage shared water resources under the Treaty on the Utilization of Waters of the Colorado and Tijuana Rivers and of the Rio Grande. These strategies include agreements in 2012 and 2017 to advance sustainable management of the Colorado. Unfortunately, these advances have not been mirrored by improvements for the Rio Grande. We consider Minutes 319 and 323, examine the potential for a minute to create similar benefits for the Rio Grande, and offer recommendations to improve stakeholder engagement, binational cooperation and sustainability in that basin.

  PublisherDOI

• Compounding Impacts of Hazard Exposures on Mental Health in Houston, TX

  Research Square · 2021-04-13

  preprintOpen access

  Abstract Purpose Natural and anthropogenic hazards are increasingly becoming commonplace due to climate change and population pressures. The state of Texas is particularly vulnerable to these hazards and is ranked first in the United States due to the immense variety and frequency of large-scale events. While much research has looked at the immediate impacts these incidents have on mental health, little research has addressed the effects of compounding and repeated exposure to hazards. Methods This cross-sectional study (N = 1,224) collected survey data from a representative sample within the Houston Metropolitan Statistical Area. Utilizing the 12 item Short Form Health Survey version 2 a general composite score assessing mental health was compared against the type and frequency of hazard exposures. Results Findings revealed an observed reduction in mental health scores as participants had repeated exposures to major disasters. Further, the only significant result (P < 0.001) in dictating a reduced mental health scores was repeat exposure to hazards even after adjusting for demographic data and socioeconomic variables. Conclusion This research reveals the long-term mental impact hazard exposures can have and underscores the need for target public health interventions and engaged community efforts.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Understanding Risk Communication and Willingness to Follow Emergency Recommendations Following Anthropogenic Disasters

  Environmental Justice · 2020 · 18 citations

  • Political Science
  • Business
  • Environmental health

  Communities in close proximity to petrochemical and industrial pursuits are at particular risk of anthropogenic hazards. It is vital for these communities to have an effective and functioning warning system to receive critical information in a timely manner to prevent negative public health outcomes. There is growing evidence that not all communication strategies produce equal results and that a locally involved strategy that takes into account communal needs and social spheres can fare better than traditional methods. This cross-sectional study collected data from the city of Deer Park, TX, following a petrochemical fire at the Intercontinental Terminals Company that seeped carcinogenic compounds into the neighborhood and initiated several shelter-in-place commands along the Houston Ship Channel. This study ( n = 126) evaluated where individuals received warnings from and what effect this had on their willingness to follow the emergency instructions. Of the sources of emergency communications—radio, social media outlets, outdoor warning sirens, friends and family, or the CodeRED ® system—an increase in willingness to shelter-in-place was only significantly shown when individuals heard from family or friends ( p -value 0.02) and through social media sources ( p -value <0.001). Our findings suggest that cities need to become part of the information sphere before having a disaster. Including residents and participants in educational and outreach efforts poised at improving adherence to health and safety improves overall outcomes, especially in regard to public health measures.

  PublisherDOI

• Transboundary Water Sharing: Risk Perceptions Held by Texas Border Decision Makers

  Texas Water Journal · 2019-10-23 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Despite transboundary water resource management issues being a source of tension between neighboring states, little research has addressed what causes cooperation or conflict between differing governments along borders. For the most part, natural hydrological boundaries do not fall easily within political boundary delineations, so governance structures and management approaches are often very different once political jurisdictions are crossed, underscoring the importance of proper management of transboundary water resources. In order to better understand what drives cooperative or conflictual behavior among transboundary stakeholders, a cross-sectional study was conducted along the Texas-Mexico border. Questionnaires were collected (N=168) from Texas water managers along the southern border on issues related to their Mexican counterparts. The results revealed that a lack of trust for binational counterparts is correlated (p<0.001) with a decrease in willingness to cooperate; likewise, as trust decreased, perceptions of risk increased. This approach can help identify a plausible intervention strategy that could target activities that build trust between individuals on both sides of the border to mitigate individuals’ perceptions of risk. Citation: Sansom L. 2019. Transboundary water sharing: risk perceptions held by Texas border decision makers. Texas Water Journal. 10(1):101-111. Available from: https://doi.org/10.21423/twj.v10i1.7095.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Vulnerable Populations Exposed to Lead-Contaminated Drinking Water within Houston Ship Channel Communities

  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · 2019-08-01 · 16 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Recent events have drawn increased attention to potential lead exposures from contaminated drinking water. Further, homes with older infrastructure are at greatest risk due to the presence of the disinfectant chemical chloramine, which can leach lead from older pipes. There is a growing need to determine the extent of lead leaching especially within vulnerable communities and homes with children. This pilot study collected survey data and performed lead analysis on drinking water in the small community of Manchester in Houston, TX. Manchester is characterized by industrial sites, flooding, and a low socioeconomic population. Surveys and water analyses were completed on randomly selected homes (N = 13) and documented perceptions of participants on their drinking water regarding presence and concentration of lead. Lead was discovered in 30.8% of homes ranging from 0.6 to 2.4 (µg/L), all below the US Environmental Protection Agency action level of 15 ppb, but above the water standard goals. These findings further suggest that contaminated water is a broad issue requiring concerted efforts to ensure the health of US residents.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The effect of local water scarcity and drought on water conservation behaviors

  Environmental Sociology · 2018-09-20 · 43 citations

  article

  This study examines the influence of observed local water scarcity on individual water conservation behaviors. We examine three distinct sets dependent variables measuring water conservation behaviors that require differing levels of individual investment. These variables measure behaviors that require no financial investment (such as shorter showers), minimal financial investment (low-flow fixtures), and larger financial investment (new appliances). We use a multilevel statistical regression to determine if a relationship exists between local levels of drought and individual water conservation behavior. Our primary finding is that individuals who live in counties that experience drought have a higher tendency to make behavioral changes to conserve water and make small financial investments to conserve water. We find no relationship between local water scarcity and larger financial investments to conserve water. Overall, results suggest that individuals’ environmental behaviors may be closely connected to their local environmental context as long as significant financial investment is not required.

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Garett Sansom

  Texas A&M University

  5 shared

• Leanne S. Fawkes

  The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

  4 shared

• Courtney M. Thompson

  Texas A&M University

  4 shared

• Anjali Katare

  Target (United States)

  2 shared

• Kathleen Aarvig

  American Legacy Foundation

  2 shared

• Regina M. Buono

  Rice University

  2 shared

• Elizabeth Boerlin

  Texas A&M University

  2 shared

• Benika Dixon

  Texas A&M Health Science Center

  2 shared