Environmental Public Health Commons^™

How Environmental Change Will Impact Mosquito-Borne Diseases, Arsal Khan

Master's Projects and Capstones

Mosquitos, the most lethal species throughout human history, are the most prevalent source of vector-borne diseases and therefore a major global health burden. Mosquito-borne disease incidence is expected to shift with environmental change. These changes can be predicted using species distribution models. With the wide variety of methods used for models, consensus for improving accuracy and comparability is needed. A comparative analysis of three recent modeling approaches revealed that integrating modeling techniques compensates for trade-offs associated with a singular approach. An area that represents a critical gap in our ability to predict mosquito behavior in response to changing climate factors, …

Restorative Streetscapes: Promoting Positive Mental Health Outcomes Through Urban Landscape Design In Winooski, Vermont, Sean R. Fitzsimmons

Landscape Architecture & Regional Planning Studio and Student Research and Creative Activity

The global health burden of mental health disorders is immense. The World Health Organization ranks depression as the single largest contributor to global disability; anxiety disorders alone rank sixth. One in four people will have a diagnosable mental illness in their lifetime and mental health conditions are increasing worldwide, rising 13% in the last decade. The economic implications are also immense, costing the global economy US $1 trillion each year. Mental health is more than the absence of disorders or disabilities, however. It is defined by the WHO as “a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or …

Understanding The Transport And Chemistry Of Indoor Air During Wildfire Smoke Events With Elliott Gall, Elliott T. Gall

PDXPLORES Podcast

Dr. Elliott Gall, Associate Professor in the Mechanical and Materials Engineering Department at Portland State University, studies indoor air quality in order to better understand how to improve building designs to promote health.

Wildfires are increasing in frequency and intensity. So, too, are wildfire smoke events. Smoke from wildfires pose serious health risks. That is why the Environmental Protection Agency recommends individuals remain indoors during smoke events.

In this episode, Professor Gall discusses the importance of understanding the chemistry of wildfire smoke indoors and how smoke is transported into buildings.

Click on the "Download" button to access the audio transcript.

The Effects Of Short-Term Indoor And Personal Exposure To Fine Particulate Matter (Pm2.5) On Cardiovascular Health: A Review, Whitley Cagle

Honors Theses

Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5), a component of air pollution, has known effects on human health. However, there is limited research surrounding the specific cardiovascular impacts associated with these small particles entering into the bloodstream. This literature review aims to make associations between indoor and personal exposures to PM2.5 and cardiovascular health. An online search was conducted to obtain scholarly articles using various key terms, and the articles were filtered through based on specific selection criteria. In the final review, we focused on 37 research articles which discussed PM2.5 and its effects on the human cardiovascular system. Positive associations between PM2.5 …

Determining The Distribution Of Elemental Compounds And Oxidative Potential Across Fine Particulate Matter (Pm2.5) Filters, Allie Michelle Sidwell

Honors Theses

Fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) is a complex mixture of particles and sorbed chemicals that poses serious, adverse effects on human health such as increasing cardiovascular and respiratory morbidity and mortality. There is ongoing research into the impacts of PM_2.5 of differing chemical compositions, sampling location, and the mechanisms for the observed health effects. To conduct these analytical and toxicology studies of PM_2.5, researchers often split filters into sections. This process allows multiple, often destructive, assays to be performed. Our previous research showed chemical composition differences across PM_2.5 filters. The goal of our study was …

Stirring Up The Soil: Best Practices To Mitigate Lead Exposure In Contaminated Soils Within Omaha, Nebraska, Mckenzie Blaine

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day

Cities across the nation in the United States experience problems associated with lead contamination in their urban soils due to industrial pollution. In many instances, the emission of lead particles occurred – unregulated – for several decades. Though there are federal cleanup efforts to help minimize the negative impacts of lead contamination for the public in the United States, the efforts are designated for specified criteria and thus do not reach all areas which need to be remediated. In order to perform proper lead abatement practices, local organizations must take initiative on projects which meet the needs and demands of …

Transmission Risk Of Malaria Via Gas Flares In Africa, Elle Blake

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Gas flaring occurs at oil drilling sites around the world. It is a method to get rid of the extra gas, as well as to release pressure in emergency situations. The pollutants that are contributed to the air through routine gas flaring can be extremely harmful. Chemicals such as sulfur dioxide and methane are burned into the air we breathe (Baker Hughes, 2019). Not only does this have a direct impact on our health, but also on greenhouse gas emissions. The effects on greenhouse gas emissions impact diseases such as Malaria by increasing the temperature of our planet. The purpose …

Monkeypox Virus Hosts And Transmission Routes: A Systematic Review Of A Zoonotic Pathogen, Mary Walker

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Monkeypox virus (MPXV) is an etiological agent of Monkeypox with origins believed to be of Central/West Africa. As a member of the orthopoxvirus family and due to its increasing emergence, it has become a pathogen in need of research. This paper works to find common trends of transmission routes and reservoir hosts in previous publications through a systematic review. Articles found on Web of Science containing the search term “Monkeypox” were sorted based on relevance to the review topics of potential reservoir hosts and transmission routes of Monkeypox virus. Through Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), 1,036 …

The Effect Of A Health Educational Program On Sleep Related Health Outcomes, Swetha Sirigineedi

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Sleep quality has effects on both physical and mental health. Because of this, sleep hygiene is an important health goal. Participation in health programs promoting healthy behaviors has helped people reach their health goals and elicited positive behavior change. Because of this, it was of interest to determine if participation in a virtual, multi-media health education program improved health and wellbeing outcomes of Arkansans. The main objective of this study was to determine the effect of a 20-week behavior and health educational program on the ability of participants to achieve their health goals and improve their health behaviors related to …

The Effectiveness Of Best Management Practices Implemented At Lake Gregory, Crestline, Ca, Devin Darrow

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Water quality deterioration of recreational surface waters from excess pollution inputs is a significant concern for the health of the public and aquatic ecosystem. This study will examine the effectiveness of Best Management Practices (BMPs) in reducing pollution inputs into Lake Gregory, Crestline, CA. The effectiveness of the BMPs was examined by testing for water quality parameters including dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, conductivity, turbidity, nitrate (NO3-), ammonium (NH4+), total coliform, and Escherichia coli on weekly to bi-weekly basis for a period of 1 year. A statistical analysis involving descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, the Efficient Ratios (ER) and Percent Removal Rates …

The Perception Of Technology On Continuous Health And Environmental Monitoring For Professional Drivers, Troy Suwondo

Capstone Experience

Due to the sedentary nature of professional truck driving (among other high-risk behaviors and hazardous exposures) many suffer from acute and chronic health conditions. There are many potential hazards in the professional driving profession. Many of these hazards come from those that transport hazardous materials. Figuring out what health and environmental indicators are important to measure can be a way to minimize hazards. Continuous health monitoring technology may be an option to detect disease and alert professional drivers when vital signs indicate impending health crises. Before this can be implemented, it will be important to evaluate the perception of wearable …

Protest-Related Tear Gas Exposure And Menstrual Function, Emily Kathleen (Steinmetz) Reece

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

During the racial justice protests of 2020 and 2021, crowd control chemical irritants (referred to as “tear gas”) were deployed against protesters, after which there were anecdotal reports of altered menstrual cycles among exposed individuals. There is only one peer reviewed published study on tear gas exposure and menstrual health. This study examined whether tear gas exposure was associated with menstrual cycle outcomes among women attending the 2020-2021 protests. Data from 103 women who attended racial justice protests in 2020 and 2021 were collected through an online questionnaire. Data included protest attendance, acute symptoms of tear gas exposure, whether medical …

Barriers To Public Health In Latino American Indigenous Communities, Wilzave Quiles Guzman

Honors Program Theses and Research Projects

This paper focuses on barriers to public health in Latino American Indigenous communities. Indigenous people throughout the world are at a public health disadvantage due to a lack of clearly defined practices within the decision-making processes to plan, evaluate, and control finances from governmental and non-governmental entities in charge of managing health services. I argue that political, social, and institutional changes are still needed to achieve health equity in Indigenous communities and that these changes should go beyond implementing a universal health care program. I must recognize improvements made by many Latino American countries like Brazil, which prepared a plan …

Powering A Sustainable Electric Vehicle Future, Harmony Ruth, Jordan Brickman

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Electric vehicle sales account for roughly 20% of total sales world wide and are projected to be 80% by 2050. China's electric vehicle market holds a 13.3% market share. China exported 550,000 electric vehicles in 2021. China represents a 54% share of the world's coal consumption as of 2020. Why study China on this issue? China is a major player in the World Economy.

Occupational Fine Particulate Matter Exposure And Its Associated Effects On The Cardiovascular System: A Systematic Review, Jordan Rickwa

Honors Theses

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5), the solid and liquid portion of air pollution under 2.5 microns in diameter, has been shown to cause numerous negative effects on the body. These inhalable particles are often researched for their effects on the respiratory system in outdoor settings, however systemic health impacts have been observed following inhalation of PM2.5 . Additionally, exposures to PM2.5 can occur in occupational settings but are less frequently studied compared to outdoors. This literature review seeks to identify studies that determined associations between inhaled PM2.5 and the resulting cardiovascular effects in occupational settings. We conducted a search of literature …

The Microbial Load On Used Disposable Face Masks: Exploring Sustainable Disinfection Methods, Clara Ray

GS4 Georgia Southern Student Scholarship Symposium

Face masks have become common-place in public settings since the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic, with many people choosing to wear masks in order to mitigate the risk of becoming infected with viral or bacterial infections. Two of the most widely-available types of masks are cloth masks, which may be reused if cleaned properly, and disposable surgical masks. Despite the fact that surgical masks are intended for one-time use, many people chose to store and re-wear them. The purpose of this study was to determine the changes in biological contamination on surgical face masks after daily wear and overnight …

Association Between Smoking And Child Mortality Rate In Georgia Counties., Kingsley A. Kalu, Ho-Jui Tung Dr

GS4 Georgia Southern Student Scholarship Symposium

Association between Smoking and Child Mortality Rate in Georgia Counties.

Background:

Despite the major advances in health care, child mortality is still a major concern in the United States and Georgia included. Studies have shown that smoking (especially secondhand smoke) can cause multiple health problems in children, including mortality.

Objective:

The study objective is to examine the association between smoking and child mortality rate in Georgia counties.

Methods:

This study used data from the 2021 County Health Rankings for Georgia State. The total number of counties analyzed in Georgia was 159. Descriptive statistics and linear regression analyses were conducted to …

Association Of Natural Waterways And Legionella Pneumophila Infection In Eastern Wisconsin: A Case-Control Study, Hannah M. William, Kayla Heslin, Jessica J. F. Kram, Caroline P. Toberna, Dennis J. Baumgardner

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Preliminary research has suggested possible associations between natural waterways and Legionella infection, and we previously explored these associations in eastern Wisconsin using positive L. pneumophila serogroup 1 urine antigen tests (LUAT) as diagnostic. This case-control study was a secondary analysis of home address data from patients who underwent LUAT at a single eastern Wisconsin health system from 2013 to 2017. Only zip codes within the health system’s catchment area that registered ≥ 3 positive cases and ≥ 50 completed tests, as well as geographically adjacent zip codes with ≥ 2 positive cases and ≥ 50 tests, were included. A 1:3 …

Associations Between Residential Greenspace, Socioeconomic Status, And Stroke: A Matched Case-Control Study, Heloise Cheruvalath, Jennifer Homa, Maharaj Singh, Paul Vilar, Amin Kassam, Richard A. Rovin

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: Studies have shown increased residential greenspace is associated with improved outcome following stroke. This study sought to determine if residential greenspace is an independent stroke risk factor.

Methods: A retrospective 1:4 matched case-control study involving 1174 stroke and 4696 control patients over a 3-year period from Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, was conducted. Greenspace was determined using normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) for a 250-meter radius surrounding a subject’s residence. The area deprivation index (ADI) for the census block tract of a subject’s residence was obtained from the Neighborhood Atlas® (University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health). …

Identifying Molecular Markers For Early Detection Of Toxic Cyanobacteria And Dinoflagellate, Shafqat F. Ehsan

Honors Program Theses and Research Projects

Harmful algal Blooms (HABs) develop when algal colonies grow out of control, causing toxicity or injury to humans, fish, shellfish, marine mammals, and birds. Most HABs of public health concern in saltwater generally are caused by eukaryotic dinoflagellates and diatoms. Prokaryotic cyanobacteria are usually responsible for freshwater blooms although they can contribute to saltwater and brackish blooms too. A common monitoring target of both groups is the saxitoxin-encoding genes. Saxitoxin(STX) is responsible for Paralytic shellfish poisoning, a foodborne illness developed from consumption of STX contaminated shellfish. Each cyanobacterial SXT gene cluster contains a set of core genes, common to all …