Rochester Housing-based Opportunities to Minimize Environmental Exposures (ROC HOME) Study

Study Overview

Between May 2021 and May 2024, the University of Rochester conducted a study (called “ROC HOME”) of contaminants (lead, allergens, and other environmental chemicals) in household dust. The ROC HOME study was funded by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development and included 84 owner-occupant households that participated in the City of Rochester’s Lead Hazard Control grant program.

The goal of the study was to answer the questions:

• Can Lead Hazard Control work reduce exposures to other common contaminants in the home?
• Does providing residents with information and resources help further improve and maintain home health over the longer term?

We visited each home three times and collected dust samples to measure levels of lead, mouse and cockroach allergens, and 45 environmental chemicals found in common household products, furniture, or building materials. We also asked questions about products in the home, cleaning, and other features of the home. We visited each home before, just after, and a few months after Lead Hazard Control work.

Contaminants we measured:

• Lead
• Mouse and cockroach allergens
• Environmental chemicals:
  • flame retardant chemicals
  • pesticides
  • phthalates (chemicals used in plastics, cosmetics, and personal care and cleaning products)
  • fragrance chemicals

Some ROC HOME participants joined a substudy, “Engaging Residents to Sustain Healthier Homes” (ERSHH), that also tested their urine for environmental chemicals.  This substudy was funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.  

The substudy’s goal was to answer the questions:

• Do these chemicals get from the dust into residents’ bodies?
• How does providing participants with information about the chemicals in their home and their urine affect them?

We collected urine samples at the second and third home visits to measure some of the same environmental chemicals that were measured in household dust. We also visited each home one more time and interviewed study participants after they received their study results.

Overall Study Results

COMING SOON – check back later for study results and information about a public meeting!

For some of the contaminants we measured in urine, we can compare ROC HOME data to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). NHANES is a program run by the Centers for Disease Control that tracks the health of adults and children in the United States.

Resources

Visit our Healthy Homes Resources page for additional resources, including a PDF version of the Healthy Homes, Healthy Families guide.

The Detox Me app is a clean lifestyle guide that walks you through simple, research-based tips on how to reduce harmful chemicals where you live and work. Download the free Detox Me app today at www.detoxmeapp.org.

6 Simple Steps to Avoid BPA and Phthalates in Food (tip sheet from Silent Spring Institute)

What You Should Know About Flame Retardant Chemicals (tip sheet from Silent Spring Institute)

Prescriptions for Prevention - Information for New York families to address common environmental health concerns. Developed by the NYS Children’s Environmental Health Centers.

Contact Us

Questions about the study or want to talk to someone about your results?

Reach out to us at 585-301-6815 or rochome@urmc.rochester.edu.

Study Partners

• Silent Spring Institute
• City of Rochester
• National Center for Healthy Housing
• Rochester ENergy Efficiency and Weatherization (RENEW)

Funding Sources

• HUD Healthy Homes Technical Study Project #MAHHU0060-20
• NIH NIEHS R21 Award #1R21ES033750-01
• Supported by a grant from the William and Sheila Konar Foundation (Grant #2104)