Browsing by Subject "Environmental Health"
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Item Association Between Air Pollution and Daily Mortality in Two Texas Counties(2005-05-01) Espinosa, Isabel Y.; Gratton, Terry; Bae, Sejong; Rene, AntonioEspinosa, Isabel Y., Association of Air Pollution and Daily Mortality in Two Texas Counties. Master of Public Health (Environmental Health), May 2005, 36 pp., 11 tables, 2 illustrations, references, 36 titles. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between ozone and specific daily mortality in two United States counties, Bexar and Tarrant County, Texas. Daily specific mortality, one hour ozone levels, average temperatures, and Air Quality Index values were obtained for both counties. The results from this study suggest that no association is present between air pollution and specific daily mortality in Bexar County. Further statistical analysis is needed to determine if an association is present in Tarrant County as factors inherent in the collected data could be affecting the results. Investigating the association between ozone levels and hospitalization rates may provide a better description of the relationship and should be considered as a future study.Item Association of Leukemia and Other Selected Diseases with Occupational Exposure to Welding(2003-05-01) Mendoza, Hilda OraliaMENDOZA, HILDA ORALIA. ASSOCIATION OF LEUKEMIA AND OTHER SELECTED DISEASES WITH OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO WELDING. Master of Public Health (Epidemiology). May, 2003. Exposure to carcinogens is an established risk factor for cancer development. Welders are chronically exposed to cardinogens. In this study, the relationship between occupational exposure to welding and mortality from leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, melanoma, lung cancer, or myocardial infarcation was examined. Files from ORISEWDS, Comprehensive Epidemiologic Data Resource, U.S. Department of Energy were utilized to develop a working file including 416,686 records from employees of one or more Oak Ridge, nuclear plant facilities. Neither welding exposure length, radiation exposure, nor smoking were included in this study. Results show higher adjusted ratios (OR) for leukemia, lymphoma, and Hodgkin’s disease for employees occupationally exposed to welding as compared to employees on-occupationally exposed to welding. OR’s for lung cancer and myocardial infarction were also higher for welders than non-welders.Item Asthma Mortality and Toxic Release in Texas - An Ecological Study 1980-2001(2004-05-01) Maddipatla, Sreeram; Bayona, ManuelMaddipatla, S., Asthma Mortality and Toxic Release in Texas - An Ecological Study 1980-2001. Master of Public Health (Environmental Health) April 2004, 97 pp., 4 tables, bibliography, 94 titles. There is a lack of literature examining how the spatiotemporal trend of asthma may have impacted different ethnic/racial compositions of Texans. The present study sought to evaluate the geographic-temporal variations in asthma mortality in Texans over a 22-year period, retrospectively, and examine whether the trend of environmental Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) concentrations and their spatiotemporal persistence might place an uneven burden on particular racial groups. The study concentrates on the time period between 1980-2001 and first evaluates geographic excess of asthma mortality in different racial groups at the county level and characterizes the excess burden by spatiotemporal variations. After this assessment, the impact of TRI on asthma mortality over this period of time is analyzed. Based on these two analyses, this would identify which racial/ethnic groups in which Texas regions might have been affected the most by regarding mortality over time, and suggested priority geographic areas for policy intervention. At the end of this study, it could be said that there might be an association between the TRI release and increased asthma mortality in the Black male population.Item Epidemiological Modeling of a Bioterrorism Event in a Noncombat Environment(1999-07-01) Perkins, Christopher J.; Rene, Antonio; Mains, Doug A.; Ramirez, GilbertPerkins, Christopher J., Epidemiological Modeling of a Bioterrorism Event in a Noncombat Environment. Master of Public Health (Biomedical Sciences), July, 1999, 60 pp., 8 tables, 4 illustrations, references, 31 titles. The challenge to government, medical and public health officials is to advocate for American citizens the safest environment possible to live and work. A threat to the safety of all Americans has initiated preparations from national, state, and local jurisdictions in an attempt to counter the probability of biological terrorism. Bioterrorism is not only a threat to humans but also a threat to the nation’s water and food supplies. Epidemiological Modeling of a Bioterrorism Event demonstrates the importance in preparations to reduce the number of casualties and fatalities. Using Epidemiological Modeling of bioterrorism events will aid public health and medical personnel in the planning and initiation of appropriate public health actions and medical therapies should such events occur.Item Factors Associated with Multi-Drug Resistance among Patients with Streptoccus pneumoniae Ear Infections(2004-05-01) Mendoza, Belinda A.; Soto Mas, Francisco; Hsu, Chiehwen Ed; Rene, AntonioMendoza, Belinda A., Factors Associated with Multi-Drug Resistance among Patients with Streptoccus pneumoniae Ear Infections. Master of Public Health (Social and Behavioral Sciences), May 2004, 27 pp., 6 tables, 1 figure, references, 9 titles. Clinical trials play an important role in the development of new medical treatments. The purpose of this study is to describe patients participating in a clinical trial and at analyze the socio-demographic characteristics of patients with susceptible and multi-drug resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae ear infections. At the conclusion of this study, a socio-demographic description of clinical trial participants was obtained and the results were slightly younger than patients with susceptible S. pneumoniae ear infections and were more likely to attend day care.Item Fecal Coliforms in the Rio Grande: A Risk to Human Health(2004-12-01) Tompkins, Erin L.; Vaughan, Thomas; Coggin, Claudia S.Tompkins, Erin L., Fecal Coliforms in the Rio Grande: A Risk to Human Health. Master of Public Health (Environmental Health), December 2004, 45 pages, bibliography, 33 titles. The Rio Grande around Laredo, Texas/Nuevo Laredo, Mexico was designated for primary contact reaction by the EPA. However, monthly sampling over a ten-year period in this section of the river may show otherwise. Fecal contamination of the Rio Grande in this area may be a source of illness to the population. Four sites in Laredo area were tested for fecal coliform density and rate of flow. Rainfall data from the USGS was used for comparisons. The rate of flow of the Rio Grande had an impact on fecal coliform density at one site measured. Rainfall in Laredo had an impact on fecal coliform density at two measured sites, and was a significant predictor of density at these sites as well. A review of the designation for this river segment is recommended. More research is needed to determine the exposed population, and effects of high coliform densities on downstream communities.Item Health Risk Associated with Microbial Contamination in Healthcare Facilities(2007-07-01) Palmer, Eboni D.; Larranaga, Michael; Gratton, Terry; Ramphal, LilyPalmer, Eboni D., Health Risk Associated with Microbial Contamination in Healthcare Facilities. Master of Public Health (Occupational Health Practice), July 2007, 96 pp., 20 tables, 8 illustrations, bibliography, 140 titles. This study developed a model assessing the risk associated with indoor microbial contamination in health care facilities. A semi-quantitative model resulting in numerical scores was used to describe the severity of risk associated with given levels of contamination. The hospital used in this study had problems with water intrusion. There were 99 locations from 3 air handler unit (AHU) service area locations examined. The final results produced a health risk rating for all three AHUs of medium risk. There is an increased risk of adverse health outcomes due to exposure from environmental microbial contamination. Immunocompromised patients and patients with allergies are not protected from the risk of developing a nosocomial infection or allergic reaction. Remediation of the contaminated areas must be performed in order to reduce the risk.Item Lung Cancer Risk Among Workers in Poultry Slaughtering and Processing Plants: A Pilot Study(2008-05-01) Preacely, Nykiconia D.; Ramphal-Naley, Lilly; Cardarelli, Kathryn; Qualls-Hampton, RaquelPreacely, Nykiconia D., Lung Cancer Risk Among Workers in Poultry Slaughtering and Processing Plants: A Pilot Study. Doctor of Public Health (Epidemiology), May 2008, 104 pp., 21 tables, 4 figures, bibliography, 50 titles. Poultry workers are at a great risk of exposure to potentially harmful transmissible agents which can cause cancer in poultry; yet there are few epidemiological studies that examine the association of occupation and illnesses experienced by these workers. Workers in poultry slaughtering and processing plants are well suited to investigate the effects of exposure to poultry oncogenic agents because they have one of the highest human exposure to carcinogenic chemicals formed during the packaging and preparation of poultry. The preparations of poultry via smoking, and frying are additional exposures that release carcinogens which may be involved in lung cancer risk among poultry workers. Union records from several unions belonging to the United Food & Commercial Workers International Union for the years 1949-1989 were used to identify a cohort of workers once employed in poultry slaughtering and processing plants. The current research investigated whether certain occupational exposures were associated with lung cancer mortality among these workers. The research employed a case cohort design that provided individual level occupational and lifestyle data for workers who died with lung cancer between 1990 and 2003 compared to a sub-cohort of individuals randomly sampled from the entire cohort. It is anticipated that by identifying potentially harmful exposures in this industry, future research may focus on developing methods to alleviate them among poultry workers. The results of this study will provide public health professionals and the poultry industry with new information on the occupational exposures not previously explored in relation to lung cancer mortality among poultry slaughtering/processing plant workers.Item Recreational Justice and City Planning(2006-08-01) Romero, Ana; Lurie, SueRomero, Ana. Recreational Justice and City Planning. Master of Public Health (Environmental), August 2006, 70 pp., 14 tables, 3 illustrations, 4 maps, bibliography, 42 titles. Environmental justice has been defined by the unfairly exposure of minorities to hazardous materials, in this study we consider another aspect of environmental justice by analysis de exposure of population to beneficial sources for the environment. Population living around 1 mile from the parks of the cities of Dallas, Plano, Midlothian and McKinney were analyzed base on descriptive statistics, compare of means among and within the city by an analysis of variance, and a distance prediction on demographics characteristic of race/ethnicity, age, economics, and education obtained from the U.S. census of 2000. Plano and Dallas have 98% and 97% population coverage; this resulted in statistical significant differences in all demographics McKinney and Midlothian reported less than 78% of coverage with only education as significant predictor of distance. Recreational justice does not substitute environmental justice; however it should be considered to evaluate this condition.Item Spatial Analysis and Correlation of Air Pollution and COPD Mortality in Texas(2002-05-01) Long, Brian E.; Gratton, Terrance; Coggin, Claudia S.; Atkinson, SamuelLong, Brian E., Spatial Analysis and Correlation of Air Pollution and COPD Mortality in Texas. Master of Public Health (Environmental Health), May 2002, 20 pp., 1 table, 2 figures, references, 8 titles. The goal of this research is to determine if there is an association between levels of air pollution emissions per square mile and the COPD mortality rates in the 254 Texas counties. Correlations were run comparing emissions densities of each county to its respective COPD mortality. The levels of emissions, when compared at the county level to COPD mortality rates show a positive correlation. A year-by-year analysis produced correlation coefficients as high as 0.331 (p [less than] 0.001). Emissions density is associated with increased COPD mortality. The association between air pollution and COPD mortality is higher among the black population than for the non-black population in Texas, and higher for females than males.Item The Population Abundance and Associated Geographic and Demographic Factors of the Dengue Vectors, Aedes Aegypti and Aedes Albopictus in Dallas County, TX, USA(2007-05-01) Stahl, Matthew S.; Lurie, Sue; Lee, Joon-HakStahl, Matthew S., The Population Abundance and Associated Geographic and Demographic factors of the Dengue Vectors Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in Dallas County, TX. Master of Public Health (Environmental Health), May 2007, 40 pp., 7 figures, 2 tables, bibliography, 72 titles. The risk for dengue outbreak was assessed in North Central Texas in 2006 in response to increased case numbers in Texas and Mexican states in 2005. Data were collected from 54 sites in Dallas County, TX using oviposition traps and estimates from U.S. Census and Sourcebook America databases. Higher vegetation and shade displayed more Aedes species; standing water also showed more Aedes albopictus. Lower home values and lower incomes corresponded to more Aedes aegypti; lower household density displayed more Aedes albopictus. Other socio-economic and demographic factors did not have significant association with abundance. The methodology of this study may serve as a model for assessment of dengue vector abundance in other regions.Item The Relationship Between Atrazine Exposure and Breast and Ovarian Cancer Incidence Rates in Texas Agricultural Statistical Districts(2006-05-01) Hull, Kimberly M.; Gratton, Terrance; Johnson, Eric; Bae, SejongHull, Kimberly M., The Relationship Between Atrazine Exposure and Breast and Ovarian Cancer Incidence Rates in Texas Agricultural Statistical Districts. Masters of Public Health (Environmental Health), May 2006, 95pp., 16 tables, 7 illustrations, reference, 74 titles. The herbicide, atrazine, is suspected to cause cancer primarily through drinking water. This ecological study analyzed relationships between potential atrazine exposures and female breast and ovarian cancer incidence rates in Texas Agricultural Statistical Districts. Atrazine exposures are: atrazine usage, rural population, and public water systems. Study results indicate an inverse relationship between four atrazine exposures and breast and ovarian cancer incidence rates (county level). There is a positive relationship between surface water systems and ovarian cancer incidences rates (county level). There also is an inverse relationship between one atrazine usage index and ovarian cancer incidence rates (district level). Study results are similar to other atrazine and cancer studies; correlations prevent statements of causal inference.