Environmental Public Health Commons^™

Association Of Social Vulnerability And Covid-19 Mortality Rates In Texas Between 15 March 2020, And 21 July 2022: An Ecological Analysis, Dennis Ogeto Nyachoti, Nalini Ranjit, Ryan Ramphul, Leah D Whigham, Andrew E Springer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Despite the key role of social vulnerability such as economic disadvantage in health outcomes, research is limited on the impact of social vulnerabilities on COVID-19-related deaths, especially at the state and county level in the USA.

METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional ecologic analysis of COVID-19 mortality by the county-level Minority Health Social Vulnerability Index (MH SVI) and each of its components in Texas. Negative binomial regression (NBR) analyses were used to estimate the association between the composite MH SVI (and its components) and COVID-19 mortality.

RESULTS: A 0.1-unit increase in the overall MH SVI (IRR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.04-1.55; …

Restructuring And Serving Web-Accessible Streamflow Data From The Noaa National Water Model Historic Simulations, J Michael Johnson, David L Blodgett, Keith C Clarke, Jon Pollak

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

In 2016, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration deployed the first iteration of an operational National Water Model (NWM) to forecast the water cycle in the continental United States. With many versions, an hourly, multi-decadal historic simulation is made available to the public. In all released to date, the files containing simulated streamflow contain a snapshot of model conditions across the entire domain for a single timestep which makes accessing time series a technical and resource-intensive challenge. In the most recent release, extracting a complete streamflow time series for a single location requires managing 367,920 files (~16.2 TB). In this …

Helping Frontline Workers In Texas-A Framework For Resource Development, Karima Lalani, Meredith O'Neal, Simone Lee Joannou, Bhanumathi Gopal, Tiffany Champagne-Langabeer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

First responders disproportionately experience occupational stress when compared to the general population, and COVID-19 has exacerbated this stress. The nature of their duties as law enforcement officers, firefighters, and medics exposes them to repeated trauma, increasing their risk of developing a broad array of mental health issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance use disorder (SUD), and compassion fatigue. This paper describes the need for resources for frontline workers and provides a framework for creating and implementing resources. A team of interdisciplinary subject matter experts developed two major resources. The first resource was a 24/7 helpline to support first responders …

Navigating Car Attitudes: An Analysis Of Transportation Habits, Environmental Views, And Demographics, Caroline J. Jordan, Sydney E. Lucero, Anna L. Imrie

Student Publications

Transportation plays a crucial part in the daily lives of people and society worldwide. Our study examined the transportation habits and environmental attitudes of both Gettysburg College students and individuals across the United States. We conducted a comparative analysis using a sample from students on campus and a national sample collected from the crowdsourcing platform, Amazon’s Mechanical Turk. Additionally, we compared our findings with two similar studies completed by an Environmental Studies capstone nine years ago. We calculated each respondent's environmental score to gauge environmental attitudes, derived explicitly from their answers to five of the 24 survey questions. Next, we …

Roadway Characteristics And Car Accident Trends In Gettysburg, Pa, Max Smith, Jake H. Kennell, Russell H. Canova

Student Publications

This study addresses the rising motor vehicle accident and fatality rates in the United States (Moore, 2023). Focusing on the conditions in the Gettysburg Borough in an attempt to answer the following research questions: Are age of driver, weather conditions of car accidents, and traffic volume contributing to accidents in the Gettysburg Borough? What are the roadway characteristics of accident hot spot areas within the Gettysburg Borough? Utilizing Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) crash data from 2018 to 2022 and PennDot Average Annual Daily Traffic data, this study employs a comprehensive approach. Combining GIS analysis and statistical analysis to determine …

Progress Reimagined: A Generation Z Perspective On Belfast In Relation To The Unsdgs., Lucy Love Haman, Rebecca F. Macleod, Emilee E. Ernster, Camryn Moore, Erin Miller, Daron Baltazar, Ricardo Jackson

[Archive] Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

This research explores a contemporary outsider view of Belfast, through the eyes of Generation Z visiting college students, in relation to how three United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are carried out (Good Health and Well-Being, Climate Action, and Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). To learn through firsthand accounts, the researchers utilized ethnographic and phenomenological methods, as interacting with locals to gather community inputs, surveying different groups in the city, Abstract: recording quotes said by citizens and displayed at billboards, and For Peer Review applying personal sensory experiences. It was found that a political deadlock plays a major role in the …

Tobacco, Alcohol And Diet As Mortality Risk Factors: The Secondary Analysis Of The 25-Year Cohort Study, Alina Egorova, Bulat Idrisov, Romany Redman, Stanislav Otstavnov, Sergey Soshnikov

Journal of Health Research

Background: Individual lifestyle risk factors have been linked to increased mortality globally; however, there is limited data on these associations in Russia. A secondary analysis of the Russia Longitudinal Monitoring Survey (RLMS) data was conducted to close this gap.

Methods: The secondary data have been obtained from a nationally-representative annual cohort survey conducted by the Higher School of Economics (HSE). In this original study, for the first time in Russia, we extracted RRs for researched risk factors. Of additional original value, we made a prospective-retrospective cohort based on a representative longitudinal survey and provided the deaths as outcomes for survival …

Bisphenol-A And Phthalate Metabolism In Children With Neurodevelopmental Disorders, T Peter Stein, Margaret D Schluter, Robert A Steer, Xue Ming

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

BACKGROUND: The etiology of autism spectrum (ASD) and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity (ADHD) disorders are multifactorial. Epidemiological studies have shown associations with environmental pollutants, such as plasticizers. This study focused on two of these compounds, the Bisphenol-A (BPA) and Diethylhexyl Phthalate (DEHP). The major pathway for BPA and DEHP excretion is via glucuronidation. Glucuronidation makes insoluble substances more water-soluble allowing for their subsequent elimination in urine.

HYPOTHESIS: Detoxification of these two plasticizers is compromised in children with ASD and ADHD. Consequently, their tissues are more exposed to these two plasticizers.

METHODS: We measured the efficiency of glucuronidation in three groups of children, …

An Evolutionary Pathway For Coping With Emerging Infectious Disease, Scott Lyell Gardner, Daniel R. Brooks, Walter A. Boeger, Eric P. Hoberg

Zea E-Books Collection

Emerging infectious disease (EID) represents an existential threat to humanity. EIDs are increasing in frequency and impact because of climate change and other human activities. We are losing the battle against EIDs because of improper assessment of the risk of EID. This stems from adherence to a failed paradigm of pathogen-host associations that suggests EIDs ought to be both unpredictable and rare. That, in turn, leads to policies suggesting that crisis response is the best we can do. Real-time and phylogenetic assessments show EIDs to be neither rare nor unpredictable—this is the parasite paradox that shows the failures of the …

Neurocognitive Outcomes Of Children Exposed To And Living With Hiv Aged 3–5 Years In Kilifi, Kenya, Esther Chongwo, Catherine Wedderburn, Moses Kachama, Antipa Sigilai, Paul Mwangi, Janet Thoya, Rachel Odhiambo, Katana Ngombo, Charles Newton, Amina Abubakar

Institute for Human Development, East Africa

Introduction: Globally, 1.7 million children are living with HIV, with the majority of them residing in sub-Saharan Africa. Due to reduced rates of vertical transmission of HIV, there is an increasing population of children born to HIV-infected mothers who remain uninfected. There is a growing concern around the development of these children in the antiretroviral therapy era. This study examined the neurocognitive outcomes of children who are HIV-exposed infected (CHEI), HIV-exposed uninfected (CHEU) and HIV-unexposed uninfected (CHUU) and explored the relationship between child neurocognitive outcomes and child's biomedical and caregivers’ psychosocial factors.

Methods: CHEI, CHUU and CHEU aged 3–5 years …

An Examination Of The Relationships Between The Neighborhood Social Environment, Adiposity, And Cardiometabolic Disease Risk In Adolescence: A Cross-Sectional Study, Kara D. Denstel, Robbie A. Beyl, Denise M. Danos, Maura M. Kepper, Amanda E. Staiano, Katherine T. Theall, Tung Sung Tseng, Stephanie T. Broyles

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

Background: Disadvantaged neighborhood environments are a source of chronic stress which undermines optimal adolescent health. This study investigated relationships between the neighborhood social environment, specifically, chronic stress exposures, adiposity, and cardiometabolic disease risk factors among 288 Louisiana adolescents aged 10 to 16 years. Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized baseline data from the Translational Investigation of Growth and Everyday Routines in Kids (TIGER Kids) study. Adolescent data were obtained using self-reported questionnaires (demographics and perceived neighborhood disorder), anthropometry, body imaging, and a blood draw while objective neighborhood data for the concentrated disadvantage index were acquired from the 2016 American Community Survey …

Low-Cost Pm2.5 Sensors Can Help Identify Driving Factors Of Poor Air Quality And Benefit Communities, Tim Keyes, Rea Domingo, Samantha Dynowski, Royal Graves, Martha Klein, Melissa Leonard, John Pilgrim, Alison Sanchirico, Kate Trinkaus

WCBT Faculty Publications

Air quality is critical for public health. Residents rely chiefly on government agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States to establish standards for the measurement of harmful contaminants including ozone, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), and fine particulate matter at or below 2.5 μm. According to the California Air Resources Board [1], “short-term PM2.5 exposure (up to 24-h duration) has been associated with premature mortality, increased hospital admissions for heart or lung causes, acute and chronic bronchitis, asthma attacks, emergency room visits, respiratory symptoms, and restricted activity days”. While public agency resources …

Self-Reported Consumption Of Bottled Water V. Tap Water In Appalachian And Non-Appalachian Kentucky, Jason W. Marion

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Quantitative studies on drinking water perceptions in Appalachia are limited. High-profile water infrastructure failures in the U.S. and Eastern Kentucky, coupled with human-made and natural disasters in the Appalachian Region, have likely impacted opinions regarding tap water.

Purpose: To use existing unexplored data to describe baseline tap water v. bottled water consumption in Kentucky.

Methods: Telephone-based cross-sectional data were obtained from the 2013 Kentucky Health Issues Poll (KHIP) directed by the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. Among many items in KHIP, self-reported consumption of bottled water over tap water, reasons for bottled water use, and demographic data were obtained. …

Analysis Of Climate And Environmental Risk Factors On Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever Incidence In Bogor District, Ririn Arminsih Wulandari, Tria Rahmawati, Al Asyary, Fajar Nugraha

Kesmas

Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) is transmitted through the bites of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes and is still becoming endemic in Bogor District. This quantitative correlation study with an ecological approach aimed to analyze how DHF incidence is influenced by climate factors, population density, Larvae Free Rate (LFR), and the area altitude factor. Secondary data were obtained from the Bogor Regency Health Office; the Central Bureau of Statistics of Bogor District; and the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency. In this study, the spatial analysis method was also used, but only on the area altitude factor. The study’s results showed …

Neurotoxicity And Outcomes From Developmental Lead Exposure: Persistent Or Permanent?, Jay S. Schneider

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Background:

Childhood lead poisoning remains an important public health issue in the United States, as well as elsewhere in the world. Although primary prevention is a major goal and it is critically important to keep children from getting poisoned, it is also important to explore ways to reduce the neurotoxic effects of lead in those children already poisoned. Whether lead-induced neurotoxicity and its related adverse outcomes are viewed as “permanent” or “persistent” may influence the way in which potential remediation efforts are considered for improving outcomes from childhood lead poisoning.

Objectives:

The objective of this commentary was to discuss the …

A Mixed Methods Approach To Understanding The Links Between Mining, Climate Change And Selected Health Outcomes In India, Mary J. Cheruvillil

Dissertations and Theses

Despite ample evidence of the significant role that mining activities play in determining health outcomes, in India there is a dearth of comprehensive health studies that draw linkages between mining and health. The purpose of the following study is to investigate the impact of mining activities on population health in India using three different methods: ecological multivariable regression, exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) and content analysis of government documents using a phenomenological approach. The first aim uses the ecological multivariable regression to examine associations between mining activities and children’s malnutrition outcomes at the district level. Census data, the Demographic Health …

Food Insecurity And Risky Sexual Behaviors Among College Students During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Bertille Assoumou, Jennifer Pharr, Courtney Coughenour

Environmental & Global Health Faculty Research

Background

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and food insecurity are public health concerns in the United States (US) due to their growing prevalence and incidence among young people, and particularly in college students. Studies have reported that college students are at higher risk of STIs due to the high rates of risky sexual behavior (RSB). Most studies report a food insecurity prevalence of more than 30% among college students, which was more than twice the overall national food insecurity rate of 10.5% in 2020. This study aims to assess the relationship between food insecurity and RSB among college students during the …

Indoor Airborne Microbiome And Endotoxin: Meteorological Events And Occupant Characteristics Are Important Determinants, Hesham Amin, Tina Šantl-Temkiv, Christine Cramer, Kai Finster, Francisco Gomez Real, Thorarinn Gislason, Mathias Holm, Christer Janson, Nils Oskar Jögi, Rain Jogi, Andrei Malinovschi, Ian P G Marshall, Lars Modig, Dan Norbäck, Rajesh Shigdel, Torben Sigsgaard, Cecilie Svanes, Hulda Thorarinsdottir, Inge M Wouters, Vivi Schlünssen, Randi J Bertelsen

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Airborne bacteria and endotoxin may affect asthma and allergies. However, there is limited understanding of the environmental determinants that influence them. This study investigated the airborne microbiomes in the homes of 1038 participants from five cities in Northern Europe: Aarhus, Bergen, Reykjavik, Tartu, and Uppsala. Airborne dust particles were sampled with electrostatic dust fall collectors (EDCs) from the participants’ bedrooms. The dust washed from the EDCs’ clothes was used to extract DNA and endotoxin. The DNA extracts were used for quantitative polymerase chain (qPCR) measurement and 16S rRNA gene sequencing, while endotoxin was measured using the kinetic chromogenic limulus amoebocyte …

Environmental Toxins And Their Impact On Neurological Health, Maria Allesandra Elsasser

Master's Projects and Capstones

This paper evaluates the impact of environmental toxins on neurological health from a public health perspective. Employing a comprehensive review of literature across various databases, the study sheds light on the mechanisms through which environmental neurotoxicity influences health, highlighting key correlations between toxin exposure and the onset of neurodegenerative disorders. The research identifies significant gaps in current approaches to managing these risks, particularly concerning policy regulations and public awareness. Based on these findings, strategic recommendations are proposed to address and mitigate the identified challenges, with implications emphasizing the broader benefits for public health.

“Am I Light Enough?”: Mercury Poisoning Due To Skin-Lightening Products, A Policy, And A Culturally Competent Solution, Raven Joyce Redaniel Uayan

Master's Projects and Capstones

Introduction: This paper aims to declare skin-lightening products containing mercury as a public health issue that deserves recognition in health and attention in health policy reforms.

Background and Literature Review: The public health issue analyzed with research and literature review encompasses worldwide mercury poisoning cases, databases of illegal skin-lightening creams, cosmetic safety laws, and policies on online selling platforms. The literature review addresses the existing knowledge regarding mercury in skin-lightening products and identifies the gaps in health policy and awareness surrounding this issue.

Methods: The paper includes many articles analyzing the issue from a global perspective, utilizing …