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Neta G, Martin L, Collman G. Advancing environmental health sciences through implementation science. Environ Health 2022; 21:136. [PMID: 36564832 PMCID: PMC9783984 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-022-00933-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Environmental health sciences have identified and characterized a range of environmental exposures and their associated risk for disease, as well as informed the development of interventions, including recommendations, guidelines, and policies for mitigating exposure. However, these interventions only serve to mitigate exposures and prevent disease if they are effectively disseminated, adopted, implemented, and sustained. MAIN BODY Numerous studies have documented the enormous time lag between research and practice, noting that dissemination and implementation are not passive processes but rely on active and intentional strategies. Implementation science seeks to build the knowledge base for understanding strategies to effectively disseminate and implement evidence and evidence-based interventions, and thus, bridge the research-to-practice gap. CONCLUSION Environmental health researchers are well positioned to advance health promotion and disease prevention by incorporating implementation science into their work. This article describes the rationale for and key components of implementation science and articulates opportunities to build upon existing efforts to advance environmental health supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and National Institutes of Health broadly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gila Neta
- Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD, 20850, USA.
| | - Lindsey Martin
- Division of Extramural Research and Training, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Gwen Collman
- Office of Scientific Coordination, Planning and Evaluation (SCOPE), National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institute of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate Causey
- From the aInstitute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Seattle, WA
| | - Katrin Burkart
- From the aInstitute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Seattle, WA
| | - Gwen Collman
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, RTP, NC
| | - Howard Hu
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Michael Brauer
- From the aInstitute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Seattle, WA
- School of Population and Public Health, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Stephanie J London
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, RTP, NC
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Joubert BR, Berhane K, Chevrier J, Collman G, Eskenazi B, Fobil J, Hoyo C, John CC, Kumie A, Nicol M, Ramsay M, Smith J, Steyn A, Tshala-Katumbay D, McAllister K. Integrating environmental health and genomics research in Africa: challenges and opportunities identified during a Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) Consortium workshop. AAS Open Res 2019; 2:159. [PMID: 32382703 PMCID: PMC7194141 DOI: 10.12688/aasopenres.12983.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Individuals with African ancestry have extensive genomic diversity but have been underrepresented in genomic research. There is also extensive global diversity in the exposome (the totality of human environmental exposures from conception onwards) which should be considered for integrative genomic and environmental health research in Africa. To address current research gaps, we organized a workshop on environmental health research in Africa in conjunction with the H3Africa Consortium and the African Society of Human Genetics meetings in Kigali, Rwanda. The workshop was open to all researchers with an interest in environmental health in Africa and involved presentations from experts within and outside of the Consortium. This workshop highlighted innovative research occurring on the African continent related to environmental health and the interplay between the environment and the human genome. Stories of success, challenges, and collaborative opportunities were discussed through presentations, breakout sessions, poster presentations, and a panel discussion. The workshop informed participants about environmental risk factors that can be incorporated into current or future epidemiology studies and addressed research design considerations, biospecimen collection and storage, biomarkers for measuring chemical exposures, laboratory strategies, and statistical methodologies. Inclusion of environmental exposure measurements with genomic data, including but not limited to H3Africa projects, can offer a strong platform for building gene-environment (G x E) research in Africa. Opportunities to leverage existing resources and add environmental exposure data for ongoing and planned studies were discussed. Future directions include expanding the measurement of both genomic and exposomic risk factors and incorporating sophisticated statistical approaches for analyzing high dimensional G x E data. A better understanding of how environmental and genomic factors interact with nutrition and infection is also needed. Considering that the environment represents many modifiable risk factors, these research findings can inform intervention and prevention efforts towards improving global health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonnie R Joubert
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Kiros Berhane
- Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Gwen Collman
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | | | | | - Chandy C John
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Abera Kumie
- Addis Abada University, Addis Abada, Ethiopia
| | - Mark Nicol
- University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Michèle Ramsay
- Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | | | - Adrie Steyn
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, South Africa
| | | | - Kimberly McAllister
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC, USA
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Gordon T, Balakrishnan K, Dey S, Rajagopalan S, Thornburg J, Thurston G, Agrawal A, Collman G, Guleria R, Limaye S, Salvi S, Kilaru V, Nadadur S. Air pollution health research priorities for India: Perspectives of the Indo-U.S. Communities of Researchers. Environ Int 2018; 119:100-108. [PMID: 29944987 PMCID: PMC6489448 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Revised: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Terry Gordon
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, Tuxedo, NY, 10987, United States of America
| | - Kalpana Balakrishnan
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Public Health, Sri Ramachandra University, Porur, Chennai, 600116, India
| | - Sagnik Dey
- Centre for Atmospheric Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India
| | - Sanjay Rajagopalan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 11100 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106, United States of America
| | | | - George Thurston
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, Tuxedo, NY, 10987, United States of America
| | - Anurag Agrawal
- CSIR Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Delhi University, New Delhi, India
| | - Gwen Collman
- Division of Extramural Research and Training, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, United States of America
| | | | | | | | - Vasu Kilaru
- Office of Research and Development, U.S. E.P.A., Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, United States of America
| | - Srikanth Nadadur
- Division of Extramural Research and Training, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, United States of America.
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Abstract
Environmental health sciences research seeks to elucidate environmental factors that put human health at risk. A primary aim is to develop strategies to prevent or reduce exposures and disease occurrence. Given this primary focus on prevention, environmental health sciences research focuses on the populations most at risk such as communities of color and/or low socioeconomic status. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences research programs incorporate the principles of Community-Based Participatory Research to study health disparities. These programs promote community engagement, culturally appropriate communications with a variety of stakeholders, and consideration of the social determinants of health that interact with environmental factors to increase risk. Multidisciplinary research teams that include social and behavioral scientists are essential to conduct this type of research. This article outlines the history of social and behavioral research funding at National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and offers examples of National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences-funded projects that exemplify the value of social science to the environmental health sciences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Symma Finn
- 1 National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Gwen Collman
- 1 National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, USA
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Sly PD, Neira M, Collman G, Carpenter DO, Landrigan PJ, Van Den Berg M, Barriga FD, Ruchirawat M, Laborde A, Pascale A, Heacock M, Dalmau MT, Suk WA. Networking to advance progress in children's environmental health. The Lancet Global Health 2014; 2:e129-30. [DOI: 10.1016/s2214-109x(14)70004-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Hudson N, Ayoko GA, Collman G, Gallagher E, Dunlop M, Duperouzel D. Long-term assessment of efficacy of permeable pond covers for odour reduction. Bioresour Technol 2008; 99:6409-6418. [PMID: 18248811 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2007.11.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2006] [Revised: 11/21/2007] [Accepted: 11/21/2007] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Three anaerobic ponds used to store and treat piggery wastes were fully covered with permeable materials manufactured from polypropylene geofabric, polyethylene shade cloth and supported straw. The covers were assessed in terms of efficacy in reducing odour emission rates over a 40-month period. Odour samples were collected from the surface of the covers, the surface of the exposed liquor and from the surface of an uncovered (control) pond at one of the piggeries. Relative to the emission rate of the exposed liquor at each pond, the polypropylene, shade cloth and straw covers reduced average emission rates by 76%, 69% and 66%, respectively. At the piggery with an uncovered control pond, the polypropylene covers reduced average odour emission rates by 50% and 41%, respectively. A plausible hypothesis, consistent with likely mechanisms for the odour reduction and the olfactometric method used to quantifying the efficacy of the covers, is offered.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Hudson
- International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, GPO 2434, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia.
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Laden F, Collman G, Iwamoto K, Alberg AJ, Berkowitz GS, Freudenheim JL, Hankinson SE, Helzlsouer KJ, Holford TR, Huang HY, Moysich KB, Tessari JD, Wolff MS, Zheng T, Hunter DJ. 1,1-Dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene and Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Breast Cancer: Combined Analysis of Five U.S. Studies. J Natl Cancer Inst 2001; 93:768-76. [PMID: 11353787 DOI: 10.1093/jnci/93.10.768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Environmental exposure to organochlorines has been examined as a potential risk factor for breast cancer. In 1993, five large U.S. studies of women located mainly in the northeastern United States were funded to evaluate the association of levels of 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl) ethylene (DDE) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in blood plasma or serum with breast cancer risk. We present a combined analysis of these results to increase precision and to maximize statistical power to detect effect modification by other breast cancer risk factors. METHODS We reanalyzed the data from these five studies, consisting of 1400 case patients with breast cancer and 1642 control subjects, by use of a standardized approach to control for confounding and assess effect modification. We calculated pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) by use of the random-effects model. All statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS When we compared women in the fifth quintile of lipid-adjusted values with those in the first quintile, the multivariate pooled OR for breast cancer associated with PCBs was 0.94 (95% CI = 0.73 to 1.21), and that associated with DDE was 0.99 (95% CI = 0.77 to 1.27). Although in the original studies there were suggestions of elevated breast cancer risk associated with PCBs in certain groups of women stratified by parity and lactation, these observations were not evident in the pooled analysis. No statistically significant associations were observed in any other stratified analyses, except for an increased risk with higher levels of PCBs among women in the middle tertile of body mass index (25-29.9 kg/m(2)); however, the risk was statistically nonsignificantly decreased among heavier women. CONCLUSIONS Combined evidence does not support an association of breast cancer risk with plasma/serum concentrations of PCBs or DDE. Exposure to these compounds, as measured in adult women, is unlikely to explain the high rates of breast cancer experienced in the northeastern United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Laden
- Channing Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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Suk WA, Collman G, Damstra T. Human biomonitoring: research goals and needs. Environ Health Perspect 1996. [PMID: 8781368 DOI: 10.2307/3432808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Epidemiological studies have taken advantage of a number of strategies to monitor human populations for mortality, incidence, and exposure to hazardous environmental agents. These studies have been compromised by the lack of individual exposure assessment data that precisely quantified internal dose. As methods improve in analytical chemistry and molecular biology, direct biological monitoring of exposed populations is possible. Biomarkers have been developed and validated in exposed populations that quantify individual exposure, susceptibility, and early markers of health effects and can be used to study relationships between exposures and environmentally induced diseases. This paper provides background on the state of the art of human populations monitoring and, through a series of case studies, provides examples of novel biomarkers of exposure, susceptibility, and effect that highlight new opportunities for biomonitoring. Prevention of human disease due to environmental contaminants can be accomplished by implementing strategies such as those discussed to monitor exposure and early health effects in human populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- W A Suk
- Division of Extramural Research and Training, National Institute of Environment Health Sciences 27709, USA
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Abstract
Epidemiological studies have taken advantage of a number of strategies to monitor human populations for mortality, incidence, and exposure to hazardous environmental agents. These studies have been compromised by the lack of individual exposure assessment data that precisely quantified internal dose. As methods improve in analytical chemistry and molecular biology, direct biological monitoring of exposed populations is possible. Biomarkers have been developed and validated in exposed populations that quantify individual exposure, susceptibility, and early markers of health effects and can be used to study relationships between exposures and environmentally induced diseases. This paper provides background on the state of the art of human populations monitoring and, through a series of case studies, provides examples of novel biomarkers of exposure, susceptibility, and effect that highlight new opportunities for biomonitoring. Prevention of human disease due to environmental contaminants can be accomplished by implementing strategies such as those discussed to monitor exposure and early health effects in human populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- W A Suk
- Division of Extramural Research and Training, National Institute of Environment Health Sciences 27709, USA
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