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IJERPH
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Research on Environmental Exposure, Pollution, and Epidemiology
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Research on Environmental Exposure, Pollution, and Epidemiology

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 1181

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Megan L. Benka-Coker

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Health Sciences, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA 17325, USA
Interests: epidemiology; environmental health; household air pollution

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Exposure to environmental chemicals, physical agents, and other forms of pollution is associated with a wide range of health impacts. One of the goals of environmental epidemiology is to measure environmental exposure to pollutants and assess the potential health impacts. We invite investigators who are interested in elucidating the role of environmental contaminants or exposure (or mixture) and specific population health outcomes to contribute to the Special Issue. Topics related to environmental exposure to pollutants and vulnerable or marginalized communities are of great interest.  Additionally, we invite researchers to explore any real-world implications of environmental exposure to pollutants and health outcomes that would influence public policy and potentially reduce exposure to the contaminant. New research papers, brief reports, and commentaries are welcome. Potential types of environmental exposure may include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Air pollution;
  • Water;
  • Soil;
  • Food;
  • Metals and synthetic chemicals;
  • Pollutant mixtures.

Dr. Megan L. Benka-Coker
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • environmental exposure
  • pollution
  • epidemiology
  • vulnerable populations
  • public policy

Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

22 pages, 1978 KiB  
Article
A Personalized Intervention to Increase Environmental Health Literacy and Readiness to Change in a Northern Nevada Population: Effects of Environmental Chemical Exposure Report-Back
by Johanna R. Rochester, Carol F. Kwiatkowski, Iva Neveux, Shaun Dabe, Katherine M. Hatcher, Michael Kupec Lathrop, Eric J. Daza, Brenda Eskenazi, Joseph J. Grzymski and Jenna Hua
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(7), 905; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21070905 - 11 Jul 2024
Viewed by 734
Abstract
Background: Interventions are needed to help people reduce exposure to harmful chemicals from everyday products and lifestyle habits. Report-back of individual exposures is a potential pathway to increasing environmental health literacy (EHL) and readiness to reduce exposures. Objectives: Our objective was to determine [...] Read more.
Background: Interventions are needed to help people reduce exposure to harmful chemicals from everyday products and lifestyle habits. Report-back of individual exposures is a potential pathway to increasing environmental health literacy (EHL) and readiness to reduce exposures. Objectives: Our objective was to determine if report-back of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can reduce EDC exposure, increase EHL, and increase readiness to change (i.e., to implement EDC exposure-reduction behaviors). Methods: Participants in the Healthy Nevada Project completed EHL and readiness-to-change surveys before (n = 424) and after (n = 174) a report-back intervention. Participants used mail-in kits to measure urinary biomarkers of EDCs. The report-back of results included urinary levels, information about health effects, sources of exposure, and personalized recommendations to reduce exposure. Results: EHL was generally very high at baseline, especially for questions related to the general pollution. For questions related to chemical exposures, responses varied across several demographics. Statistically reliable improvements in EHL responses were seen after report-back. For readiness to change, 72% were already or planning to change their behaviors. Post-intervention, women increased their readiness (p = 0.053), while men decreased (p = 0.007). When asked what challenges they faced in reducing exposure, 79% cited not knowing what to do. This dropped to 35% after report-back. Participants with higher propylparaben were younger (p = 0.03) and women and participants who rated themselves in better health had higher levels of some phthalates (p = 0.02–0.003 and p = 0.001–0.003, respectively). After report-back, monobutyl phthalate decreased among the 48 participants who had valid urine tests before and after the intervention (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The report-back intervention was successful as evidenced by increased EHL behaviors, increased readiness to change among women, and a decrease in monobutyl phthalate. An EHL questionnaire more sensitive to chemical exposures would help differentiate high and low literacy. Future research will focus on understanding why men decreased their readiness to change and how the intervention can be improved for all participants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Environmental Exposure, Pollution, and Epidemiology)
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