Relatively little is known about exposure of nail technicians to semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in nail salons. We collected pre- and post-shift urine samples and silicone wrist bands (SWBs) worn on lapels and wrists from 10 female nail technicians in the Boston area in 2016-17. We analyzed samples for phthalates, phthalate alternatives, and organophosphate esters (OPEs) or their metabolites. Post-shift urine concentrations were generally higher than pre-shift for SVOC metabolites;…
Article: One-Hour Pilot Training to Prevent Workers From Taking Home Workplace Contaminants
Workers can accidentally transport chemical hazards from the workplace to the home, known as “take-home exposures.” Recent take-home lead-poisoning cases highlight the need for effective prevention training. A one-hour take-home prevention training was developed in partnership with a nonprofit. The training was administered and evaluated during two training sessions with twenty-one trainees. The training was composed of a lecture and interactive activities. An illustrated poster was used with different prevention…
Atlanta Researcher Looks To Trees To Help Ease Highway Air Pollution
Plenty of Atlantans spend time on highways, speeding or inching or swerving along. But many people spend a lot of time near the highways, too: at their homes, schools or workplaces. And that’s not great for their health. In addition to greenhouse gases that cause climate change, car and truck emissions have been linked to heart and lung problems. So a Georgia State University public health professor is studying how…
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Article: Heatwave Events and Mortality Outcomes in Memphis, Tennessee: Testing Effect Modification by Socioeconomic Status and Urbanicity
Heatwave studies typically estimate heat-related mortality and morbidity risks at the city level; few have addressed the heterogeneous risks by socioeconomic status (SES) and location within a city. This study aimed to examine the impacts of heatwaves on mortality outcomes in Memphis, Tennessee, a Mid-South metropolitan area top-ranked in morbidity and poverty rates, and to investigate the effects of SES and urbanicity. Mortality data were retrieved from the death records…
Small, wearable air pollution sensors will let workers know what they’re breathing
Every day, millions of workers head to their jobs and breathe any number of airborne chemicals, particles or vapors, all of which may or may not be affecting their health. Measuring these pollution exposures – and making that data meaningful to workers and employers – is both difficult and expensive. Colorado State University engineers and social scientists are working to make such measurements simpler, more affordable and more comprehensive, so…
Senior Fellows 2014 – 2017
The first cohort of JPB Environmental Health Fellows was comprised of nine assistant professors (Faculty Fellows) from academic institutions across the U.S and three research scientists from government agencies (Agency Fellows).
The JPB EH Fellowship By Numbers
The JPB Environmental Health Fellowship Program was developed to create compassionate environmental health leaders who inspire and engage their colleagues, students, institutions, and communities in order to solve complex environmental health problems. In 2014, after a national recruiting campaign the first cohort of 12 scholars (nine from Academic Institutions and three from Federal Agencies) were selected. Together they have implemented interdisciplinary research projects that advance the knowledge on social and…
Wildfire smoke worse for kids’ health than prescribed burns
(Reuters Health) – Children who are exposed to smoke from wildfires may experience a greater health impact than those exposed to smoke from prescribed controlled burns, according to a small study in northern California. “Prescribed burns have been done for thousands of years to maintain the health of the forest, but there is public opposition to them due to the smoke exposure,” said lead study author Dr. Mary Prunicki of…
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JPB Fellows Explore Environmental Public Health at UM
JPB Fellows visited the University of Montana this week as part of a Harvard program to address social and environmental health disparities that disproportionately impact vulnerable communities. “It’s a really unique opportunity for UM to host a diverse group of Fellows who are really working to transform the lives and health of people throughout the nation,” said Senior Fellow Annie Belcourt, who has Blackfeet, Chippewa, Mandan and Hidatsa tribal affiliations.…
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Exposure to artificial light at bedtime linked with weight gain in women
Sleeping with a television or light on in the room may be a risk factor for gaining weight or developing obesity, according to scientists at the National Institutes of Health. The research, which was published online June 10 in JAMA Internal Medicine, is the first to find an association between any exposure to artificial light at night while sleeping and weight gain in women. The results suggest that cutting off lights…
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