Episode 4: The Population Health Crisis of the Growler Jets with Chris Hurley and Dr. Edmund Seto

The noise emitted by Growler jets has profound impacts on human health and all of the ways that they damage health aren’t even known yet. They are a population health crisis. In this episode, community-oriented public health leader and advocate Chris Hurley (she/her) and Associate Professor of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences Dr. Edmund Seto (he/him) share the numerous effects of the jets on our health, especially on our hearts. There’s a lot more to learn about the impact of the jet, and our guests talk about important studies being conducted to discover the widespread effects on communities in Northwest Washington. Understanding these effects is crucial to protecting our health and further presenting Growler jet noise as an issue that must be remedied.

 

Resources:

Citizens of Ebey’s Reserve (COER)

University of Washington Public Health Study Division

Quiet Skies Over San Juan County

The Growler Health Impact Project - The Population Health Initiative Study

If you are interested in learning more about the study or getting involved, you can contact Dr.Edmund Seto at eseto@uw.edu

 

Glossary Terms:

Outlying Field (OLF) - A military airport owned and operated by the United States Navy located two miles southeast of Coupeville, Washington, on Whidbey Island. Also known as Naval Outlying Landing Field Coupeville or NOLF Coupeville. 

Ault Field - The main base portion of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island (NASWI).

Heart disease - A range of conditions that affect the heart, including but not limited to blood vessel disease, irregular heartbeats, disease of the heart muscle, and and heart valve disease.

Hypertension - A common condition in which the long-term force of the blood against the artery walls is high enough that it may eventually cause health problems, such as heart disease. Also known as high blood pressure.

 

Nature sounds recorded in the Olympic National Park (Gordon Hempton, The Sound Tracker, Co-Founder Quiet Parks International)

Hosted by Terra Huey and Caitlin Epstein

Produced by Caitlin Epstein in partnership with the Sound Defense Alliance