Department of Population Health Sciences

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Browsing Department of Population Health Sciences by Department "Geography"

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    Environmental health disparities in the Central Appalachian region of the United States
    Krometis, Leigh-Anne H.; Gohlke, Julia M.; Kolivras, Korine N.; Satterwhite, Emily M.; Marmagas, Susan West; Marr, Linsey C. (De Gruyter, 2017-09-26)
    Health disparities that cannot be fully explained by socio-behavioral factors persist in the Central Appalachian region of the United States. A review of available studies of environmental impacts on Appalachian health and analysis of recent public data indicates that while disparities exist, most studies of local environmental quality focus on the preservation of nonhuman biodiversity rather than on effects on human health. The limited public health studies available focus primarily on the impacts of coal mining and do not measure personal exposure, constraining the ability to identify causal relationships between environmental conditions and public health. Future efforts must engage community members in examining all potential sources of environmental health disparities to identify effective potential interventions.
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    Maternal proximity to Central Appalachia surface mining and birth outcomes
    Buttling, Lauren G.; McKnight, Molly Xi; Kolivras, Korine N.; Ranganathan, Shyam; Gohlke, Julia M. (Wolters Kluwer Health, 2021-02)
    Maternal residency in Central Appalachia counties with coal production has been previously associated with increased rates of low birth weight (LBW). To refine the relationship between surface mining and birth outcomes, this study employs finer spatiotemporal estimates of exposure.

    Methods

    We developed characterizations of annual surface mining boundaries in Central Appalachia between 1986 and 2015 using Landsat data. Maternal address on birth records was geocoded and assigned amount of surface mining within a 5 km radius of residence (street-level). Births were also assigned the amount of surface mining within residential ZIP code tabulation area (ZCTA). Associations between exposure to active mining during gestation year and birth weight, LBW, preterm birth (PTB), and term low birth weight (tLBW) were determined, adjusting for outcome rates before active mining and available covariates.

    Results

    The percent of land actively mined within a 5 km buffer of residence (or ZCTA) was negatively associated with birth weight (5 km: β = -14.07 g; 95% confidence interval [CI] = -19.35, -8.79, P = 1.79 × 10-7; ZCTA: β = -9.93 g; 95% CI = -12.54, -7.33, P = 7.94 × 10-14). We also found positive associations between PTB and active mining within 5 km (odds ratio [OR] = 1.06; 95% CI = 1.03, 1.09, P = 1.43 × 10-4) and within ZCTA (OR = 1.04; 95% CI = 1.03, 1.06, P = 9.21 × 10-8). Positive relationships were also found between amount of active mining within 5 km or ZIP code of residence and LBW and tLBW outcomes.

    Conclusions

    Maternal residency near active surface mining during gestation may increase risk of PTB and LBW.