Environmental Public Health Commons^™

Optimising Non-Cycloplegic Screening Strategies For Early Detection Of Pre-Myopia And Myopia In Young Children, Síofra Harrington, Michael Moore, James Loughman, Ian Flitcroft, Veronica O'Dwyer

Articles

Purpose: Early detection of myopia is essential to delay its onset and progression. Pre-myopia, defined by an inadequate hyperopic reserve, increases myopia risk in childhood. However, effective screening methods remain limited. This study aimed to develop practical non-cycloplegic screening methods for pre-myopia and myopia in 6- to 7-year-olds to support earlier interventions.

Methods: This cross-sectional study of 621 Irish schoolchildren (mean age: 7.12 ± 0.45 years; 51.8% boys) assessed uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA). Cycloplegic spherical equivalent refraction (SER) classified refractive status (myopia: SER ≤ −0.50D; pre-myopia: SER > −0.50 ≤ 0.75D). Pre- and post-cycloplegic SER were measured using the Welch …

Mapping Disparities: Spatial And Socioeconomic Analysis Of Medical Apartheid Regions In Spartanburg County, Anthony G. Tarulli

Student Scholarship

Medical Apartheid Regions (MARs) are a widely underesearched topic that are heavily prominent in the southeastern United States, specifically rural areas (Brînzac et al. 2023). Due to the historical implementation of redlining (Egede et al., 2023) and structural racism (Miller & Vasan, 2021) in the development of the southern United States, a reclassification of medical deserts needed to occur to truly assess the implications of a lack of healthcare acces.

Frontier Healthscapes: Competing Narratives Of Disease, Environment, And Wellbeing In Early Minnesota, Aidan Reynolds

Geography Honors Projects

Across settler societies, health narratives were shaped by evolving tensions between lay and expert knowledge, frameworks of disease causation, and perceptions of the environment as both a source of health and a threat. In the decades following Euro-American settlement (1860-1900), Minnesota became a focal point for these debates, with its landscape fostering complex and competing narratives on health, wellbeing, and disease. This paper explores how public health discourse developed in Minnesota through the perspectives of institutions, the public, and economic interests. Combining environmental history with critical discourse analysis of archival materials, this study examines shifts within the Minnesota State Board …

Kansas City Health Department – Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program – Quality Improvement, Hanh Pham

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

This capstone manuscript evaluates the Kansas City Health Department's Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program’s effectiveness. Through comprehensive data analysis of grant utilization, return-on-interest (ROI) and participant satisfaction evaluation, the project will provide actionable recommendations for improving sustainable long-term outcomes in lead poisoning prevention.

Enhancing Safety In Healthcare Construction: A Comprehensive Training Program On Managing Construction Dust, Melissa Nalath

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

In healthcare settings, construction activity poses significant risks due to the formation and release of construction dust containing allergens, pathogens, and toxic substances. This culminating project will develop a comprehensive training course for contractors to mitigate these risks while ensuring the safety of patients, employees, and construction workers. The training programs will raise awareness of the health risks associated with construction dust and educate contractors on proper dust handling techniques and ensure compliance with relevant regulations. Key elements such as containment, ventilation, and proper personal protective equipment (PPE) use will be emphasized. The program will also underscore the potential for …

Carbon Footprint Of Inhaled Anesthetics – Do The Risks Outweigh The Benefits?, Liam Kerrick, Joseph Moschella

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Global warming presents many challenges to the healthcare system. Not only does the increasing global temperature have detrimental health effects itself, but the healthcare sector is also a huge contributor to global warming. One big contributor to global warming is the use of inhaled anesthetics, which possess global warming potentials up to 2,000 times greater than carbon dioxide. Recent proposals, such as a prospective ban of desflurane in 2026 by the European Commission, demonstrate the need to reevaluate many of the common practices within anesthesiology. This review looks to investigate the environmental impact, cost, and clinical efficacy of various anesthetic …

Is Increased Screen Time Associated With A Higher Prevalence Of Myopia In Elementary-Aged Children Globally?​, Katerina Kasatkin, Sree Gowri Sudharshan, Lakumi Dias, Adira Brenner, Emily Reilly, Maikel Mansour

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: The onset of myopia in children has emerged as a significant public health concern, especially with increased screen time and reduced outdoor activity following the COVID-19 pandemic. The global prevalence of myopia is expected to rise significantly, with children being particularly vulnerable. Various studies have explored how screen time, near-work activities, and outdoor exposure influence the increasing prevalence of myopia in pediatric populations worldwide.

Hypothesis: This paper aims to evaluate whether increased screen time, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic, is associated with a higher prevalence of myopia in young children, providing a more robust understanding of this relationship across …

Chemical Exposures In Utero: Phthalates And Congenital Heart Defects, Demi Poulathas

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are the most common type of birth defect. Approximately 80% of CHDs have unknown causes, and phthalates may play a contributing role. Phthalates are ubiquitous environmental chemicals used as plasticizers in a wide range of products, including cosmetics and electronic devices. After entering the body, phthalates bind to the progesterone receptor, which is necessary for fetal development. While multiple studies have explored environmental factors in CHD development, few have examined the effects of phthalates on CHDs in humans. Methods: A literature review was conducted to investigate the relationship between parental occupational phthalate exposure and the …

Impact Of Water Quality On The Nutritional And Phytochemical Properties Of Culinary Herbs, Genesis Arroyo

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Water quality significantly affected food safety, especially since contaminated water impacted crop growth and the nutrient composition of foods. Nitrates occur naturally in vegetables. However, when introduced into the food supply through water contamination, excessive levels disrupted the natural physiological processes of vegetables and other agricultural plants. These excessive levels eventually led to nutrient imbalances, decreased phytochemical concentrations, and potential health risks such as the formation of carcinogenic N-nitroso compounds in humans. This study evaluated the effects of nitrates on the nutritional outcomes of food crops, focusing on commonly used culinary herbs. While synthesizing findings from relevant peer-reviewed articles, I …

Community Voices, Climate Action Choices: Working Towards A Resilient Monterey County, Lesley A. Solano Alonso

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Vulnerable communities in Monterey County face disproportionate environmental and health impacts due to climate change, yet many residents remain unaware of the tools and resources available to support local action. This capstone project was implemented in partnership with Ecology Action (EA) and the Resilient Central Coast (RCC) campaign to increase awareness and engagement with the RCC platform. Serving diverse communities across Monterey County, the project included bilingual outreach efforts, community tabling, educational presentations, and a climate action survey. Over 650 residents were engaged directly, resulting in 99 new household sign-ups on the RCC website, a major milestone for the agency. …

Small But Mighty: Strengthening The Value Of Local Pocket Parks, Makana Sm Higa

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

In Monterey County, youth obesity rates are climbing at an alarming rate. Ventana Wildlife Society, and Wellness Through Nature program seek to help lower these rates. Ventana looks to achieve this through outdoor education and family trips with migrant farm working families in the cities of Soledad and Salinas. These trips attempt to increase environmental stewardship and improve community health. The project aims to evaluate the effectiveness and community engagement in regards to pocket parks. The parks visited were Bataan Memorial Park, Harden Neighborhood Park, Cesar Chavez Park, Joe Ledesma Park and San Antonio Park. The research seeks to increase …

The Impact Of Environmental Deficiencies On Maternal Health Outcomes, Zahra Wallizadeh, Emiyah Bullock, Antoinette Jones, Katarina Rusinak

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

This study examines the environmental factors contributing to adverse maternal health outcomes in New Jersey, with particular focus on their disproportionate impact on minority women. Analysis of data from PubMed, Policy Map, NIH, CDC, EPA, and the New Jersey Department of Health reveals that women living in low-income areas face significant environmental challenges, including food deserts, air pollution, unsafe living conditions, inadequate infrastructure, and limited transportation options. These environmental determinants exacerbate maternal stress and contribute to complications such as preterm birth and hypertension. Black women are nearly three times more vulnerable to these adverse outcomes compared to white women, highlighting …

Toxicity And Biodegradability Of Novel Boronium Vs Conventional Ammonium-Based Antimicrobial Compounds In Wastewater Treatment Systems, Noor Shalan

Honors Theses

Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are highly effective as disinfectants, herbicides, and pesticides; thus, overuse causes elevated levels of residual toxicity in domestic and industrial wastewater. QACs can be toxic to essential bacteria breaking down pollutants in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and can remain untreated in effluent, harming the environment, and contributing to antibiotic resistance, posing risks to human health. Novel boronium-based antimicrobial compounds have demonstrated efficacy in eliminating bacteria, fungi, and viruses. If the boronium compounds exhibit lower residual toxicity, they could offer a promising alternative to QACs. Because these compounds are still in development, their potential toxicity to the …

Refractive Error And Axial Length (Real) Study: Feasibility Of A Population Study In The United States, Sarah E. Singh Dr, Lisa A. Ostrin, Kristen Kerber Dr, Concepcion Cayle, Celia Gong Dr, Lal Barsha Dr, Ian Flitcroft, Síofra Harrington, James Loughman, Kathryn Saunders Prof, Fuensanta Vera-Diaz Dr

Articles

Myopia is the most common eye disease and a leading cause of blindness. A contemporary, large, and ethnically and geographically diverse study of ocular biometry and refractive error in children in the United States is needed to help better describe differences between myopic and nonmyopic eyes.

This is an initial cross-sectional report from the Refractive Error and Axial Length Growth Curve Study that includes ocular component data as a function of age, gender, and geographic location. This feasibility report will inform a planned larger longitudinal ocular growth study in children in the United States.

Cross-sectional data on children, ages 3 …

Local Systems Change: Applied Research Methods For Sustainable Communities, Taylor Barrett Hill

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

Assessing The Relationship Between The Incidence Of Campylobacteriosis And Ecological Risk Factors In Tennessee, Emmanuel Angmorteh Mensah

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Campylobacteriosis although is the leading causes of bacterial diarrheal illnesses, have not gained prominent awareness and there are gaps in the understanding of transmission routes for sporadic, non-outbreak cases and their risk factors at the communal level to humans. This study, therefore, aimed to identify the campylobacteriosis risk factors and risk perception from the existing literature in the United States, determine the incidence and ecological risk factors for campylobacteriosis zip code level in Tennessee, and to perform spatiotemporal analysis of campylobacteriosis incidence cases in Tennessee.

Method: To achieve the first aim, a scoping review was conducted to synthesize …

Reducing Extreme Heat Impacts On Health In Pregnant Women And Infants: A Community Based Intervention In Kilifi, Kenya, Adelaide Lusambili, Fiona Scorgie, Martha Oguna, Matthew Chersich, Stanley Luchters, Giorgia Gon, Veronique Filippi, Sari Kovats, Kevin Mccawley, Jeremy Hess

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

High ambient temperatures affect maternal and newborn health outcomes and wellbeing. The Climate Heat and Maternal and Neonatal Health in Africa (CHAMNHA) consortium conducted formative qualitative research in rural Kilifi, Kenya, to examine perceptions of heat risks among women, household members and community stakeholders. An intervention was co-designed together with community members. This paper presents the development, implementation, and evaluation of a behavior-change intervention aimed at reducing the burden of heat on maternal and newborn health. The intervention used Digital Audio-Visual (DAV) storytelling (encompassing short videos and a set of photographs) and facilitated group discussions. Intervention groups included pregnant and …

Racial Disparity And Environmental Influences On Perinatal Health In Jefferson County, Kentucky., Felicia A Pugh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Severe maternal morbidity (SMM) risk has tripled over the past 30 years. Adverse infant birth outcomes in the U.S. have also increased with substantial Black-White disparities. Objectives: This work compares the frequency of adverse maternal and infant birth outcomes by maternal race (Black vs White) and examines associations between maternal ambient heavy metal exposures and birth outcomes in Jefferson County, Kentucky, 2017-2022. Methods: Jefferson County inpatient hospital delivery and birth certificate records of self-identified Black or White birthing parents were used. Incidence of SMM, stillbirth, preterm birth (PTB), and small for gestational age (SGA) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) …

Assessing Healthcare Students’ Self-Efficacy In Disaster Response: A Cross-Sectional Analysis, Aydın Şenol, Abdülkerim Adıyaman, Canan Birimoglu Okuyan

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Assessing healthcare students’ self-efficacy in disaster response is crucial for preparing them to effectively manage real-world disaster situations. This study aimed to assess the self-efficacy status of healthcare students in disaster response.

Methods: The data for this cross-sectional analysis were gathered from 498 healthcare students between November 18, 2023, and February 14, 2024, using an individual diagnostic form and the disaster-response self-efficacy (DRSE) scale. This scale is used to assess an individual’s self-efficacy in responding effectively to disasters, including on-site rescue competency, disaster psychological nursing competency, disaster role quality, and adaptation competency.

Results: The mean age …

From The Ground Up: Community-Based Participatory Research Reclaiming The Science Of Lead, Juan Manuel Rubio, Bavisha Kaylan, Anthony Diaz, Patricia Flores, Maya Cheav, David C. Bañuelas, Ashley Green, Annika Hjelmstad, Ariane Jong-Levinger, Tim Schütz, Maya Carrasquillo, Alana M. W. Lebron, Jun Wu

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

For decades, the dominant approach to lead poisoning has been to focus on homes affected by lead paint and to treat children who are already suffering from lead poisoning. This individualizing approach developed in the context of the defunding and deregulation of government agencies in the 1980s. In recent years, however, community–academic partnerships have reframed lead as an environmental issue produced by the development of the lead industry in the twentieth century and connected to overlapping histories of exploitation, discrimination, and inaction. These community-based projects have contributed to shifting research agendas (by emphasizing historical analysis and the study of the …

Devastating "Dana" Floods In Valencia: Insights On Resilience, Challenges, And Strategies Addressing Future Disasters, Jose M. Martin-Moreno, Eva Garcia-Lopez, Mariano Guerrero-Fernandez, Jose L. Alfonso-Sanchez, Paul Barach

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND:

The unprecedented DANA floods that struck Valencia, Spain on October 29, 2024, caused catastrophic human, economic, and ecological damages, resulting in 223 fatalities, the displacement of 15,000 residents, and long-term health and environmental consequences and incurred financial losses estimated over 50 billion euros. Vulnerabilities in urban planning, ambiguous command and control oversight, delayed warnings, and insufficient preparedness underscored systemic gaps in the flood preparedness and management.

ANALYSIS AND POLICY OPTIONS:

Urgent actions, including stricter urban zoning laws, implementing comprehensive early warning systems, and fostering community-based disaster preparedness are needed to mitigate future risks. A One Health approach that addresses …

The Havcr1-Centric Host Factor Network Drives Zika Virus Vertical Transmission, Wenzhe Yu, Jun Tao, Hongmin Cao, Wanshan Zheng, Beiang Zhang, Yue Zhang, Peiqun Xu, Yiwei Zhang, Xuan Liu, Yinan Wang, Han Cai, Gang Liu, Fan Liu, Haibin Wang, Haiyan Zhao, Indira U Mysorekar, Xiaoqian Hu, Bin Cao

Center on Aging Staff Publications

Zika virus (ZIKV) vertical transmission results in devastating congenital malformations and pregnancy complications; however, the specific receptor and host factors facilitating ZIKV maternal-fetal transmission remain elusive. Here, we employ a genome-wide CRISPR screening and identify multiple placenta-intrinsic factors modulating ZIKV infection. Our study unveils that hepatitis A virus cellular receptor 1 (HAVCR1) serves as a primary receptor governing ZIKV entry in placental trophoblasts. The GATA3-HAVCR1 axis regulates heterogeneous cell tropism in the placenta. Notably, placenta-specific Havcr1 deletion in mice significantly impairs ZIKV transplacental transmission and associated adverse pregnancy outcomes. Mechanistically, the immunoglobulin variable-like domain of HAVCR1 binds to ZIKV via …

Opening The Outdoors: Experiences Of Black, Indigenous, And People Of Color (Bipoc) Adults In Outdoor Occupations To Support Mental Health, Jasmine Reynoso, Amy Lyons-Brown

Spring 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

This mixed methods study explores the experiences of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) adults in exploring and engaging in outdoor occupations to support mental health. Through 15 survey responses and 2 semi-structured interviews, data was collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics and reflective thematic analysis. The findings revealed three overarching themes: Barriers to Outdoor Occupations, Facilitators to Encourage Participation, and Personally Experienced Benefits. Participants explained how outdoor activities contribute to improved mental health, emotional regulation, and a sense of holistic well-being. By addressing the gap in research on nature-based occupations within BIPOC communities, this study highlights the need …

The Importance Of Well-Being For College Students, Benjamin Williamson, Dr. Mary Jan Greer, Phd, Otr

Spring 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

Provided education on well-being, enabled independence, and improved quality of life, specifically for college students in this setting.

Advocate for Sustainable Programs:

Advocated for more programs to address the needs of college students and integrated all 8 dimensions of wellness into their current lifestyle

Support Academic Advancement:

Addressed college students' needs for overcoming occupational adversities which affects the longevity and academic success of college students

Motivate College Students:

Provided accessible and occupation-based resources that supported participating college students in independently improving their occupational roles

Advance Holistic Based Strategies:

Incorporated holistic based strategies that apply to each occupational role affecting participating …

I Worked In A Building That Was Not Accessible And That's Too Bad, Aaron Donaldson

Toyon: Multilingual Literary Magazine

No abstract provided.

How To Kill A Human: Creating An Immersive Learning Game, Théo Caldwell, Nathan Bonnell

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Annual Conference

How to Kill a Human is an experiment in teaching through gameplay. The environmental crisis facing the planet, though denied by many, is a collection of well-documented historical environmental catastrophes. The purpose of this project was to design a method of relating the impacts of environmental systems on human health, highlighting the dangers of ill planned human tampering, by presenting hypothetical environmental catastrophes and then relating them to documented historical disasters. In pursuit of this goal, we designed a semi-collaborative game for three to six players with a suggested age rating of 10+, ideal for teaching individuals of middle school …

Association Between Arsenic And Other Heavy Metal Exposures Through Drinking Water And Food With Lung Function And Respiratory Symptoms: A Cross-Sectional Study, Sofia I. Chapela Lara, Seth O'Neal Md, Mph For The Cysticercosis Working Group In Peru

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Annual Conference

Impaired lung function is a major health concern, particularly in children, as it increases the risk of chronic respiratory diseases and long-term morbidity. Environmental exposure to heavy metals (HMs) such as arsenic, lead, cadmium, and manganese has been associated with reduced lung function and respiratory symptoms. However, findings vary by exposure context and population, with limited research in pediatric populations and few studies evaluating the combined effects of multiple HMs. These exposures disproportionally affect marginalized rural communities, especially in low and middle-income countries with mining activities. This cross-sectional study investigated the association between exposure to As and other HMs through …

Prenatal Exposure To Pm2.5 Concentration And Risk Of Preterm Birth In New Mexico; A Seasonal Pattern And Spatio-Temporal Modeling., Onyedikachi J. Okeke

Mathematics & Statistics ETDs

This study investigates the association between prenatal PM2.5 exposure and preterm birth risk in New Mexico (2014–2021). Using descriptive statistics, time series models, and spatial analyses, findings show an average preterm birth rate of 14.87 per 1,000 live births, with moderate correlation (r = 0.727) between PM2.5 levels and very preterm births. While traditional models revealed no significant global effect, spatial methods such as Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) and Multiscale GWR uncovered strong spatial heterogeneity. PM2.5 effects varied by county (coefficients: -0.00154 to 0.00150), with clustering evident in 2018–2019 (Moran’s I = 0.155–0.174). Results highlight the limitations of global models …

74 - Age And Seasonal Blood Pressure Variation In People Experiencing Homelessness In Hampton Roads, Luke Ekdahl, Katherine Schaffer, Joshua Edwards, Kean Feyzeau

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Intro: For older community members experiencing homelessness, both their housing status and age are associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Lack of consistent protection from outdoor temperatures are hypothesized to affect variation in blood pressure seasonally. In this study, we sought to compare older (55+) and younger (under 55) individuals in this cohort and identify within-group associations between blood pressure (BP) and mean daily temperature (MDT) as affected by season.

Methods: 301 patients from two student-run free clinics met BP inclusion criteria. MDT was sourced from the Global Historical Climatology Network daily dataset. Interquartile range method for outlier detection limited visits …

Understanding Barriers To Fresh Produce Consumption In Detroit, Riley Ann Macdonald, Kalyyanee Ganesh Nanaaware, Jeff Lu, Derek Zahnleuter, Heather Sun, Sara Naessig, Aminah Bharadia, Eric A. Mcgrath

Medical Student Research Symposium

Title: Understanding Barriers to Fresh Produce Consumption in Detroit

Abstract:

Background Information:

Detroit has barriers to fresh produce consumption and poor health outcomes related to diet, which necessitate further study. We aim to investigate these barriers by understanding current consumption practices of fresh produce, and provide evidence for future solutions to combat these barriers.

Methods:

Surveys were distributed at two urban garden locations (Wayne State University School of Medicine Medical Student Garden and Wayne Pediatrics Garden) in Midtown, Detroit, to patrons (n=34) receiving fresh produce between March-October 2024. Surveys screened for demographics, transportation, what produce patrons took, if they …