Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Changes In Student Behaviors And Policy Opinion Regarding E-Cigarettes At A Kentucky University From 2014 To 2018, Jason W. Marion, Alina Strand, Elliott Baldridge

EKU Faculty and Staff Scholarship

The behaviors and opinions regarding e-cigarette use and campus policies prohibiting vaping vary greatly among college students nationally. Kentucky is one of the four U.S. states with the highest tobacco use prevalence, and characterizing e-cigarette use, trends and policy opinions among Kentucky undergraduates may inform interventions. To characterize population-level differences in e-cigarette-related behaviors and policy opinions among undergraduates from 2014 to 2018, results from two cross-sectional surveys (2014 and 2018) from a public regional university in south-central Kentucky were analyzed. Students from randomly selected undergraduate general studies courses completed a 5-minute in-class survey. Data were obtained from 514 and 519 …

An Assessment Of Disinfection-Related Water Chemistry At Public Pools And Spas In Louisville, Kentucky, Thomas Gerding, Tim Wilder, Jason W. Marion

EKU Faculty and Staff Scholarship

The growth in the number of pools to more than 7.4 million in the U.S. has been accompanied by a rise in recreational water illnesses (RWIs). Effective pool management, though, can mitigate RWI risks. Inadequate management presumably occurs more frequently where training is less formalized and/or pool operation is a minor aspect of the job of the responsible pool manager(s). During summer 2018, weekly evaluations were performed at public venues in Louisville, Kentucky. Disinfectant levels and other items were monitored and compared with venue-specific (pool or spa) criteria. Among 1,312 venue surveys, 1,173 (89.4%) met criteria and 139 (10.6%) did …

"Pliable And Easily Shaped": History, Harms, And Regulations Of Plastic In The United States, Krista Decima Smithers

Online Theses and Dissertations

The majority of plastic exists in a linear economy, wherein a product is developed with raw materials, used, and then discarded. Because there are many applications for plastic in today’s society unparalleled by alternative materials, removing all or most plastic use from daily life in the United States is unrealistic. Nevertheless, eliminating single-use plastics and improving recycling are reasonably attainable goals.

This thesis offers a detailed discussion of the origins of plastic, including its discovery, initial applications, and growth in the United States. Against this backdrop, this thesis then examines how various nonhuman animal species and ecosystems have been negatively …

It's About Communities: The Commitment To Promoting A Culturally Competent Environmental Health Workforce, Clint Pinion Jr., Leslie D. Mitchell, Jason W. Marion

EKU Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Environmental health and public health are profoundly local. The Association of Environmental Health Academic Programs (AEHAP) firmly agrees and for this reason, it is important to have local environmental health experts who know the pulse of their communities. AEHAP believes in supporting the advanced scientific education of environmental health in these communities through people from these communities. Accordingly, AEHAP has sought to promote and support accredited environmental health programs among a diverse cross-section of the U.S. higher education landscape. AEHAP’s students are diverse in many ways, including socioeconomically, racially, ethnically, and culturally. The value of this approach enhances the overall …

Environmental Health Makes A Strong Entry Into The Global One Health Framework In Jamaica, Jason W. Marion, Henroy Scarlett, Priscilla Oliver

EKU Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Globally, the environmental health discipline is rapidly being recognized as a critical science-based discipline needed for protecting human, animal, and ecological health. Such recognition and tremendous excitement were achieved as over 400 academicians and practitioners convened in October 2017 at the beautiful seaside Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa in Montego Bay, Jamaica, for the largest and first environmental health conference of its kind on One Health to occur worldwide.

Assessment Of Temperature And Ultraviolet Radiation Effects On Sunburn At An Inland U.S. Beach: A Cohort Study, Jason W. Marion, Jiyoung Lee, James Rosenblum, Timothy J. Buckley

EKU Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Background

Increases in outdoor temperature may lead to increases in sunburn, outdoor exposure, and skin cancer in human populations.

Objective

This study aimed to quantify sunburn incidence and risk for Ohio beachgoers exposed to varying outdoor conditions.

Methods

Sunburn incidence data were obtained through a prospective cohort study at East Fork Lake (Cincinnati, Ohio, USA). Recruitment occurred over 26 weekend days. Beach interviews and follow-up telephone interviews obtained exposure and health information. New sunburns were self-reported 8–9 days post-enrollment. Survey data were paired with ultraviolet radiation (UVR) index and temperature data for statistical analysis.

Results

Among 947 beachgoers, new sunburns …

Indoor Air Quality In Schools, Clint Pinion Jr.

EKU Faculty and Staff Scholarship

An indoor air quality study was conducted on a ‘net-zero energy’ school using a TSI Velocicalc Model 9555-p with probe model 982, passive radon monitors, visual inspection protocol, and an indoor environmental quality survey of school faculty and staff. Average indoor temperature, relative humidity, and carbon dioxide levels in several areas within the school were not within IAQ guidelines. Three rooms on the school’s grounds had radon levels exceeding the action level. Recommended solutions included installing return and supply air ducts in hallways and relative humidity and temperature monitors in classrooms with high-pitched ceilings.

Trends In The Environmental Health Job Market For New Graduates, Jason W. Marion, Timothy J. Murphy Phd, Anne Marie Zimeri Phd

EKU Faculty and Staff Scholarship

The question of whether the job market can support future graduates of environmental health programs remains an important and difficult question for environmental health programs, current and prospective students, parents, and other stakeholders. Our previous report using 2014 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics demonstrated anticipated growth and higher than average pay in the profession through at least 2022 for baccalaureate degree holders (Marion & Sinde, 2015). Growth in the profession does not necessarily translate into job availability if the market is saturated with job candidates. While university programs produce graduates, local health departments (LHDs) have suffered tremendous …

Students Can Be Important Link Between Academia And Practice, Jason W. Marion, Charles D. Treser

EKU Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Editor’s Note: In an effort to promote the growth of the environmental health profession and the academic programs that fuel that growth, NEHA has teamed up with the Association of Environmental Health Academic Programs (AEHAP) to publish two columns a year in the Journal. AEHAP’s mission is to support environmental health education to ensure the optimal health of people and the environment. The organization works hand in hand with the National Environmental Health Science and Protection Accreditation Council (EHAC) to accredit, market, and promote EHAC-accredited environmental health degree programs. AEHAP focuses on increasing the environmental health workforce, supporting students and …

Associations Among Human-Associated Fecal Contamination, Microcystis Aeruginosa, And Microcystin At Lake Erie Beaches, Cheonghoon Lee, Jason Marion, Melissa Cheung, Jiyoung Lee

EKU Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Lake Erie beaches exhibit impaired water quality due to fecal contamination and cyanobacterial blooms, though few studies address potential relationships between these two public health hazards. Using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), Microcystis aeruginosa was monitored in conjunction with a human-associated fecal marker (Bacteroides fragilis group; g-Bfra), microcystin, and water quality parameters at two beaches to evaluate their potential associations. During the summer of 2010, water samples were collected 32 times from both Euclid and Villa Angela beaches. The phycocyanin intergenic spacer (PC-IGS) and the microcystin-producing (mcyA) gene in M. aeruginosa were quantified with qPCR. PC-IGS and mcyA were …

The Role Of Occupational Therapy In Primary Care, Priti Patel

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

The Capstone Project is focused on communicating, influencing and educating other health care professionals regarding the role of occupational therapy in the future model of primary care delivery initiated by the adoption of the Affordable Care Act and the Triple Aim Initiative. Currently, primary care, the largest health care platform in United States, is not inclusive of occupational therapy services. Occupational therapists have the scope, knowledge and understanding to be part of the redesigned team model of primary care. Educating those currently working in primary care about adding occupational therapy services can have a significant impact on the profession of …

Developing An International Competence-Based Curriculum For Environmental Health, R. Steven Konkel, Maurice Brennan, Tony Lewis

Environmental Health Science Faculty and Staff Research

In 1998, the International Federation of Environmental Health (IEFH) commissioned the International Faculty Forum (IFF) of environmental health educators to develop an international curriculum for environmental health. In commissioning such a curriculum, IFEH implicitly recognised and sought to address the ongoing issues of professional identity, status and the transportability of qualifications for Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs). A draft model for an international curriculum based on competence was proposed by Brennan, Konkel and Lewis and developed and supported by IFF members when they met in May 2008 in Brisbane, Australia. Development of the model and its underpinning concepts of 'environmental healthiness' …

Strategic Planning For Environmental Stewardship At Eastern Kentucky University, Steven Konkel, Robert S. Weise, Alan Banks, Danita Lasage, Joseph Beck, James Street, Charles L. Elliott, Barbara Szubinska, Robert B. Frederick, Melinda S. Wilder, Robert Huston, Rebecca Jones, Alice L. Jones, Kyle Moon

Environmental Health Science Faculty and Staff Research

The 2006-2010 Strategic Plan for Eastern Kentucky University, under Strategic Direction 5.4, mandates the formulation of a plan to guide the University toward greater environmental stewardship. The creation and implementation of that plan is the charge of the Eastern Committee on Responsible Environmental Stewardship (ECRES), which was formed in September of 2005. On October 27th, 2006, ECRES hosted a Strategic Planning Workshop. This workshop brought together a wide range of participants, including elected officials, college and university representatives, and interested citizens. The result was a broad consensus in the identification of environmental goals and objectives toward which EKU should strive.

Energy Efficiency, R. Steven Konkel

Environmental Health Science Faculty and Staff Research

Using energy efficiently can reduce the cost of heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning, which account for a significant part of the overall cost of housing. Energy costs recur month-to-month and are hard to reduce after a home has been designed and built. The development of an energy-efficient home or building must be thought through using a systems approach

Musculoskeletal Injuries Associated With Selected University Staff And Faculty In An Office Environment, R. Steven Konkel, Thomas F. Fisher, Carolyn Harvey

Environmental Health Science Faculty and Staff Research

A research team with backgrounds in occupational therapy, rehabilitation, policy and rulemaking, and prevention programs affecting occupational health and safety designed, validated, and analyzed an ergonomics survey of university staff and faculty. The purpose of the study was to validate identified risk factors from the literature contributing to work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMDs) in an office setting within a university setting. The study was also designed to determine differences between faculty and staff in the university setting and their exposure to physical risk factors to WRMDs. The results suggest faculty have their keyboard in awkward positions more frequently than staff, and …

Environmental Planning, R. Steven Konkel

Environmental Health Science Faculty and Staff Research

Our understanding of the importance of healthy ecosystems and the impact of people on the natural and the built environment continues to grow. The need for stewardship to preserve, protect, and enhance the natural environment and promote healthy populations is increasingly seen as a universal responsibility of environmental health and safety (EHS) professionals.

Strategic Plan, Steve Konkel, Joe E. Beck, Eric Barker

Environmental Health Science Faculty and Staff Research

The Kentucky Association of Counties (KACo) strategic effort was organized under the aegis of Robert Arnold, the Executive Director of KACo. Strategic Focus, a strategic planning and facilitation organization, was selected to facilitate the meetings and provide consultation regarding development of the plan.

The Landscape Of Reason: A Scheme For Representing Arguments Concerning Environmental, Health And Safety Effects Of Chemical Weapons Disposal In The Us, R. Steven Konkel, Edward Liebow, Judith A. Bradbury, Kristi M. Branch, Judith Heerwagen, Jenniffer Leyson

Environmental Health Science Faculty and Staff Research

To reduce the risk of environmental contamination and honor an international treaty, chemical weapons stored at eight locales around the US are slated for destruction. Incineration is the main choice of a National Research Council committee directed by Congress to weigh the hazards of alternative destruction technologies, but many citizens' groups remain unconvinced. The US Army, which must dispose of the dangerous chemicals, faces decisions about the choice of destruction technologies, as well as more specific questions concerning protection of environment, safety and public health once the technology choices are made. Based on more than 200 individual interviews and 40 …

Using Joint Fact-Finding To Resolve Disputes Over Cleanup Of Hazardous Waste Sites, R. Steven Konkel

Environmental Health Science Faculty and Staff Research

This research demonstrates how and why joint fact-finding works to break impasses in negotiations and overcome obstacles to the cleanup of hazardous waste sites. Superfund cleanup negotiations often involve multiple-party, multi-issue disputes. Disputes often arise over identification of the responsible parties, allocation of cost and liability, definition and interpretation of cleanup standards, and development of a viable settlement structure. In 1988, Marks and Susskind identified disagreements over the accuracy and validity of data as critical barriers to cleanup of Superfund and other hazardous waste sites. Disputes over data have led to delays, costly supplemental studies, and site fragmentation into multiple …

A Baseline Case: The Woburn Wells G And H Superfund Site, Steven Konkel

Environmental Health Science Faculty and Staff Research

This section profiles the types of disputes which arose at the Woburn Wells G and H Superfund site in Woburn, Mass. The Woburn Wells G and H case serves as a baseline because it demonstrates how obstacles cause delays and impasses. This section contains an overview of what has transpired since the discovery of contaminants in two of the town municipal wells, Well G and H.

Resolving Superfund Disputes Using Mediation, R. Steven Konkel

Environmental Health Science Faculty and Staff Research

Superfund clean-up disputes are difficult to resolve because they involve multiple issues in addition to multiple parties. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and waste generator negotiators often disagree about how to interpret technical or scientific information. Examples of difficult issues include company shares of the clean-up cost, potential threat to groundwater, and what environmental standards apply to clean-up; "how clean is clean" is not at all well understood. Industry typically focuses on fairness of the allocation of cost and liability and the cost and responsibility for clean-up.

Risk Management In The United States: Three Case Studies Dioxin Emissions And Trash-To-Energy Plants In New York City, R. Steven Konkel

Environmental Health Science Faculty and Staff Research

New York City, the largest US municipality with a population of 12 million, presently generates 28,000 tons of garbage per day. Its main disposal facility Fresh Kills-is expected to be the only one of four presently operating landfills still in in use in 1987, and to be filled to capacity be 2001. Institutional, economic, and environmental obstacles severely restrict landfill options within the city, and ocean disposal of municipal solid waste is not considered feasible. In short, continued reliance on landfills to absorb the City's enormous volume of municipal waste is no longer considered viable.

Overviews Of Selected Business Sectors In The Alaska Economy, Steven Konkel

Environmental Health Science Faculty and Staff Research

No abstract provided.

Socioeconomic Data Requirements For Environmental Assessment: Coal Gasification And Liquefaction Projects, Steven Konkel

Environmental Health Science Faculty and Staff Research

Environmental and socioeconomic monitoring are key aspects in the planning, construction, and operation of evolving coal conversion technologies.