Global, Environmental, and Occupational Health
Permanent URI for this communityhttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/10067
Prior to May 2024, previously known as the Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health.
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Item WATER REUSE FOR FOOD PRODUCTION IN THE WEST BANK AND ISRAEL: ASSESSING THE EFFICACY OF HOUSEHOLD GREYWATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS, AND CONSUMER PERCEPTIONS OF REUSE APPLICATIONS(2019) Craddock, Hillary Anne; Sapkota, Amy R; Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Greywater is increasingly reused for agricultural irrigation in the Middle East. However, there is a dearth of data regarding antibiotics, herbicides, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria in household greywater reuse systems. Additionally, there are minimal data assessing consumer perceptions of water reuse practices. To address these gaps, my dissertation aims were to: 1) evaluate the presence of antibiotics and herbicides in greywater and treated effluent; 2) assess the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in greywater and treated effluent; and 3) explore consumer perceptions of water reuse practices in Israel and the West Bank. For Aims 1 and 2, household greywater (n=23), treated effluent (n=23) and pond water (n=12) were collected from four farms in the West Bank from October 2017 to June 2018. The presence of antibiotics and herbicides was quantified using high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, E. coli were enumerated via membrane filtration, and isolates were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility using microbroth dilution. For Aim 3, surveys (n=236) were administered in Eilat, Israel and Bethlehem, West Bank. Statistical analysis included ANOVA, chi-squared, and Fisher’s exact tests. Multiple antibiotics and herbicides were detected in greywater influent. Removal during treatment was variable across compounds. The majority of influent (76.5%) and effluent (70.6%) samples had detectable levels of E. coli. Resistance was most commonly observed against ampicillin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, and cefazolin. Regarding consumer perceptions, >50% of Israeli respondents were willing to serve raw and cooked produce irrigated with reused water. Palestinian respondents were more willing to engage in high-contact uses than Israeli respondents. The successful completion of this research has advanced knowledge regarding 1) the persistence of chemical and microbiological contaminants in treated household greywater that is used for food crop irrigation; and 2) consumer acceptance of water reuse practices. Farmers in the West Bank and around the world are combating decreasing quality and quantity of water and will increasingly rely on consumers willing to purchase produce irrigated with treated wastewater. Future work must ensure that farmers have access to safe and abundant irrigation water, and that consumers can be confident that they are purchasing safe food.Item The Impact of Private Drinking Water Wells and Animal Feeding Operations on the Incidence of Acute Gastroenteritis in Maryland: A Mixed Methods Approach(2019) Murray, Rianna Teresa Frederika; Wilson, Sacoby M; Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)More than 44.5 million people in the United States (approximately 14% of the population) rely on private domestic wells as their primary source of drinking water. The water quality of private wells is not regulated at the state or federal level, leaving homeowners with wells responsible for the safety of their water. Meanwhile, each year, an estimated 48 million people in the U.S. are sickened, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die of gastrointestinal (GI) illnesses caused by microorganisms that are typically transmitted through contaminated food. Given that the potential of private wells as a non-foodborne transmission pathway for these microorganisms is not well understood, my dissertation evaluated these relationships, as well as characterized the quality of private well water in Maryland. My objectives were to: 1.) Investigate the water quality of private wells in Maryland and the effect of animal feeding operations on this water quality using fecal indicator bacteria; 2.) Investigate associations between the prevalence of private wells and the incidence of campylobacteriosis in Maryland at the zip code level using data from the FoodNet active surveillance System; and 3.) Investigate associations between the prevalence of private wells and the incidence of salmonellosis in Maryland at the zip code level using FoodNet data. My findings demonstrated that 43.2% of private wells tested in Maryland did not meet at least one federal health-based drinking water standard. Additionally, my data showed that the prevalence of private wells in Maryland is a risk factor for the incidence of campylobacteriosis and salmonellosis in the coastal counties of the state. The presence of broiler chicken operations in a zip code is also a risk factor for campylobacteriosis and salmonellosis in coastal counties. These findings provide evidence for the strengthening of private well water regulations and for improving education and outreach to private well owners on proper maintenance and testing for their wells.Item IMPACT OF RURALITY, BROILER OPERATIONS, AND COMMUNITY SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS ON THE RISK OF CAMPYLOBACTERIOSIS IN MARYLAND(2013) Zappe Pasturel, Barbara; Sapkota, Amy; Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)The combined impact of community-level environmental and socioeconomic factors on the risk of campylobacteriosis were evaluated. Campylobacter case data (2002-2010, n=3,694) were obtained from the Maryland Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network. Community-level socioeconomic and environmental data were obtained from the 2000 U.S. Census and the 2007 U.S. Census of Agriculture. Data were linked by zip code. Incidence rate ratios were derived by Poisson regressions. A subset of zip code-level characteristics was mapped. In zip codes that were 100% rural, incidence rates of campylobacteriosis were 6 times (IRR=6.18; 95%CI=3.19-11.97) that of urban zip codes. In zip codes with broiler chicken operations, incidence rates were 1.45 times that of zip codes without broilers (IRR=1.45, 95%CI=1.34-1.58). Higher rates were also observed for zip codes that were predominantly white and had high median incomes. Findings suggest that the risk of campylobacteriosis could be significantly influenced by the community and environment where one lives.Item An Assessment of Exposure to Pollution by Recreational Users of The Anacostia Watershed: Project Recreate(2013) Murray, Rianna Teresa; Wilson, Sacoby; Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)The Anacostia River, a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay, is highly contaminated with raw sewage, heavy metals, oil and grease, trash, pathogens, excessive sediments and organic chemicals. Many people use this river on a regular basis for recreational purposes, including kayaking, canoeing, rowing and sport fishing. The contaminants in the river potentially pose threats to human health for recreational users. While there has been some study of the exposure to subsistence fishers in this region there is currently little information available on the risks faced by recreational users. This work gathered pilot data on recreational users with the purpose of assessing any associated exposure risks to contaminants. The high levels of contamination in the Anacostia River and the popularity of recreation makes this an important public health issue. This study is the first to combine an evaluation of risk and risk perception for the recreational population of the Anacostia River.Item Maternal mercury exposure, season of conception and adverse birth outcomes in an urban immigrant community in New York City(2012) Bashore, Cynthia Diana Jennings; Sapkota, Amir; Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Adverse birth outcomes such as preterm birth (PTB: < 37 weeks gestation) and low birthweight (LBW: <2500g) result in severe infant morbidity and mortality. In the United States, there are racial and ethnic differences in the prevalence of preterm birth and low birth weight. The focus of this study is to examine the association between frequency of maternal fish consumption during pregnancy, prenatal mercury exposure, and season of conception with preterm birth and low birth weight in a population of African-American, Caribbean and West Indian women in an urban immigrant community in New York City. The proportion of preterm births and low birth rates in this cohort of women was higher than reported in other studies of African-American and Caribbean births in New York City. There was no association between maternal urinary mercury or infant cord blood concentrations and either LBW or preterm birth. Infants conceived in winter (December, January, February) were at increased odds of low birthweight.Item Environmental Impacts on Fecal Indicator Bacteria in 5 National Park Recreational Water Areas(2012) Raspanti, Greg A.; Sapkota, Amir; Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)The National Park Service oversees 397 park units throughout the 50 states and US territories. Due to the high visitation, protecting the health of visitors is a top priority. Fecal contamination in recreational water can occur as a result of land use practices and weather related factors. The aim of this study is to investigate weather related factors and land use factors that contribute to fecal contamination in five National Park units. Overall, rainfall proved to be highly predictive of subsequent elevations in fecal bacteria. Specifically, same day rainfall and day prior to the sampling day rainfall showed the strongest association with elevated fecal bacteria levels. Seasonal variation of fecal bacteria was generally higher in the summer months. The land use variables were not highly predictive of fecal bacteria levels. The results of this study can be used by park managers to better predict variations in fecal contamination.