Assessing Wildfire Impact on Diffusive Flux of Parent and Alkylated PAHs: A Pilot Study of Soil-Air Chemical Movement before, during, and after Wildfires.

The global wildfire risk is predicted to rise due to contributing factors of historical fire management strategies and increases in extreme weather conditions. Thus, there is a need to better understand contaminant movement and human exposure to wildfire smoke. Vapor-phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are elevated during wildfires, but little is known about how these chemicals move during and after wildfire events for exposure risk assessment.

Wildfire Smoke Exposure During Pregnancy: Consensus-Building to Co-Create a Community-Engaged Study.

Relative to other Oregon counties, Klamath County experiences worse air quality due to wildfire smoke, as well as elevated rates of infant mortality and low birthweight. Klamath County Public Health (KCPH) raised concerns that wildfire smoke is a contributor to poor infant health. Thus, we built a multidisciplinary team and designed a community-engaged research (CEnR) project to capture community and individual-level exposure to wildfire smoke contaminants, alongside perinatal health outcomes.

Impact of chlorpyrifos exposure on lung function in Egyptian adolescent agriculture workers.

Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is a widely used organophosphate insecticide that has been linked to detrimental health effects that range from neurological impacts to respiratory disease. The objective of this study was to assess respiratory symptoms associated with CPF exposure throughout the application season. Urine samples were collected from Egyptian adolescent applicators ( = 206) and non-applicators ( = 72) to assess 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCPy), a biomarker for CPF exposure, along with spirometry measures to determine lung ventilatory function.

Organophosphorus pesticide exposure from house dust and parent-reported child behavior in Latino children from an orchard community.

Background: Organophosphorus pesticide (OP) exposure is known to have adverse effects on the nervous system. Children from agricultural communities are at risk of exposure to these chemicals from their indoor environments that can lead to neurological and developmental problems, including changes in behavior.

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate whether the take-home pathway exposure is associated with behavioral and emotional problems in Latino Orchid Community children.

PM Is Insufficient to Explain Personal PAH Exposure.

To understand how chemical exposure can impact health, researchers need tools that capture the complexities of personal chemical exposure. In practice, fine particulate matter (PM) air quality index (AQI) data from outdoor stationary monitors and Hazard Mapping System (HMS) smoke density data from satellites are often used as proxies for personal chemical exposure, but do not capture total chemical exposure. Silicone wristbands can quantify more individualized exposure data than stationary air monitors or smoke satellites.

Expanding the access of wearable silicone wristbands in community-engaged research through best practices in data analysis and integration.

Wearable silicone wristbands are a rapidly growing exposure assessment technology that offer researchers the ability to study previously inaccessible cohorts and have the potential to provide a more comprehensive picture of chemical exposure within diverse communities. However, there are no established best practices for analyzing the data within a study or across multiple studies, thereby limiting impact and access of these data for larger meta-analyses. We utilize data from three studies, from over 600 wristbands worn by participants in New York City and Eugene, Oregon, to present a first-of-its-kind manuscript detailing wristband data properties.

Chemical contaminant exposures assessed using silicone wristbands among fuel station attendants, taxi drivers and commercial motorcycle riders in Kampala, Uganda.

There are concerns over traffic-related air pollution in Uganda's capital, Kampala. Individuals in the transportation sector are hypothesized to be at greater risk for exposure to volatile organic compounds, given their proximity to vehicle exhaust. Silicone wristbands are a wearable technology that passively sample individuals' chemical exposures.

Expanding the access of wearable silicone wristbands in community-engaged research through best practices in data analysis and integration.

Wearable silicone wristbands are a rapidly growing exposure assessment technology that offer researchers the ability to study previously inaccessible cohorts and have the potential to provide a more comprehensive picture of chemical exposure within diverse communities. However, there are no established best practices for analyzing the data within a study or across multiple studies, thereby limiting impact and access of these data for larger meta-analyses. We utilize data from three studies, from over 600 wristbands worn by participants in New York City and Eugene, Oregon, to present a first-of-its-kind manuscript detailing wristband data properties.

Integrating participant feedback and concerns to improve community and individual level chemical exposure assessment reports.

Background: As exposure assessment has shifted towards community-engaged research there has been an increasing trend towards reporting results to participants. Reports aim to increase environmental health literacy, but this can be challenging due to the many unknowns regarding chemical exposure and human health effects. This includes when reports encompass a wide-range of chemicals, limited reference or health standards exist for those chemicals, and/or incompatibility of data generated from exposure assessment tools with published reference values (e.

Applying the Worker Well-Being Framework to Identify Factors that Impact Turnover Among Long-Haul Truck Drivers.

Background: Drivers in the long-haul trucking industry have chronic health conditions, engage in unhealthy behaviors, and leave the industry at high rates. Previous work has not considered the health and safety outcomes resulting from the conditions of work in the trucking industry and their role in turnover. The goal of this study was to understand the expectations of an incoming workforce, explore how work conditions impact their well-being, and identify strategies for retention.

Diffusive fluxes of persistent organic pollutants between Arctic atmosphere, surface waters and sediments.

Arctic communities are disproportionately exposed to pollutants from sources including global atmospheric transport and formerly used defense sites (FUDS). The effects of climate change and increasing development in the Arctic have the potential to exacerbate this problem. Yupik People of Sivuqaq, or St Lawrence Island, Alaska are one such community with documented exposures to pollutants from FUDS, and their traditional lipid-rich foods such as blubber and rendered oils of marine mammals.

Development of Shortened Enrichment Methods for Detection of Typhimurium Spiked in Milk.

Rapid and accurate testing of pathogenic in dairy products could reduce the risk of exposure to the bacterial pathogens for consumers. This study aimed to reduce the assessment time needed for enteric bacteria recovery and quantification in food using the natural growth properties of Typhimurium ( Typhimurium) in cow's milk and efficiently using rapid PCR methods. Over 5 h of 37 °C enrichment, culture and PCR methods measured increases in the non-heat-treated Typhimurium concentration at similar rates, with an average increase of 2.

Safety Measures, Pesticide Concerns and Resources Utilized among Young Adult Workers: A Brief Report.

Introduction: Resources on pesticide information are widely available; however, little is known about the concerns young agricultural workers have about pesticides, whether they use existing resources to find information about pesticides, and how these resources influence safety behaviors such as personal protective equipment (PPE) use.

Objectives: To examine demographic characteristics, safety measures, concerns about pesticide use and resources for pesticide information.

Methods: Young agricultural workers were recruited through three collegiate agricultural programs and completed an online questionnaire related to pesticide safety and use.

Determinants of exposure to endocrine disruptors following hurricane Harvey.

Hurricane Harvey was a category four storm that induced catastrophic flooding in the Houston metropolitan area. Following the hurricane there was increased concern regarding chemical exposures due to damage caused by flood waters and emergency excess emissions from industrial facilities. This study utilized personal passive samplers in the form of silicone wristbands in Houston, TX to both assess chemical exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) immediately after the hurricane and determine participant characteristics associated with higher concentrations of exposure.

Interventions to Reduce Pesticide Exposure from the Agricultural Sector in Africa: A Workshop Report.

Despite the fact that several cases of unsafe pesticide use among farmers in different parts of Africa have been documented, there is limited evidence regarding which specific interventions are effective in reducing pesticide exposure and associated risks to human health and ecology. The overall goal of the African Pesticide Intervention Project (APsent) study is to better understand ongoing research and public health activities related to interventions in Africa through the implementation of suitable target-specific situations or use contexts. A systematic review of the scientific literature on pesticide intervention studies with a focus on Africa was conducted.

Wildfire Impact on Indoor and Outdoor PAH Air Quality.

Air quality impacts from wildfires are poorly understood, particularly indoors. As frequencies increase, it is important to optimize methodologies to understand and reduce chemical exposures from wildfires. Public health recommendations use air quality estimates from outdoor stationary air monitors, discounting indoor air conditions, and do not consider chemicals in the vapor phase, known to elicit adverse effects.

Impact of acute temperature and air pollution exposures on adult lung function: A panel study of asthmatics.

Background: Individuals with respiratory conditions, such as asthma, are particularly susceptible to adverse health effects associated with higher levels of ambient air pollution and temperature. This study evaluates whether hourly levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and dry bulb globe temperature (DBGT) are associated with the lung function of adult participants with asthma.

Associating Increased Chemical Exposure to Hurricane Harvey in a Longitudinal Panel Using Silicone Wristbands.

Hurricane Harvey was associated with flood-related damage to chemical plants and oil refineries, and the flooding of hazardous waste sites, including 13 Superfund sites. As clean-up efforts began, concerns were raised regarding the human health impact of possible increased chemical exposure resulting from the hurricane and subsequent flooding. Personal sampling devices in the form of silicone wristbands were deployed to a longitudinal panel of individuals (n = 99) within 45 days of the hurricane and again one year later in the Houston metropolitan area.