|
Dear Maricela,
The Center has been buzzing with study visits the last few months since we secured funding from the National Institutes of Health, NIHS, for the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program. ECHO combines observational and intervention research to answer big questions about how influences on early human development—even before conception—affect us throughout our lives and across generations.
This July we celebrated the recruitment of over 400 new study participants by the Center's ECHO Research team. Connecting with the community, doing the outreach needed to sustain and build on our research is no easy task. It requires the perseverance, dedication and finesse of a great research team.
In recognition of the ECHO team's success, the Center hosted the ECHO 400 Milestone Celebration.
| |
ECHO STUDY MILESTONE CELEBRATION | |
|
We also had the opportunity to share information about our work directly with Dr. Ana Navas-Acien, the new Chair of the Columbia University Environmental Health Science Department who visited with us. After her interactions with all Center staff she stated, ... "the Center is an EHS jewel, thank you for sharing information about your work with me..."
Dr. Julie Herbstman's, CCCEH Director acknowledged the team's work with these kind words,
"Just wanted to thank you all again for a really fun event today and for all the information you shared with Ana during her "walk around". I continue to be so inspired by your dedication, commitment to the study, and energy to give back and support the study participants and community. I feel so lucky to be working with such an amazing team. Very happy we had the chance to celebrate a bit today--looking forward to the next milestone! "
Thank you Dr. Herbstman and Dr. Navas-Acien!
| |
|
A Celebration for
Frederica P. Perera, MPH, DrPH, PhD
Professor of Environmental Health Sciences and
Director, Translational Research Program, Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health
| |
|
On Monday, June 24th, we celebrated the career of Dr. Frederica, (Ricky) Perera. In her congratulatory statements, Mailman School of Public Health's Dean Fried said, "She stands as one of the most distinguished alumni of the Columbia University School of Public Health." Dr. Perera has been affiliated with Columbia’s School of Public Health since 1981 and founded the Center for Children's Environmental Health in 1998. In her first publication, in 1982, Dr. Perera introduced the concept of molecular epidemiology and helped move a new discipline forward.
Dr. Perera has published in reputable journals such as The Lancet, New England Journal of Science, Environmental Perspectives, JAMA, Journal of American Medical Association, and many others. Her research has been cited over 22,940 times. As a result of her contributions, it is no surprise she was recently recognized among the top 100 female scientists in the world.
As a scientist, Ricky has navigated through several paths. She initially focused on molecular epidemiological cancer research and later applied this method to study children’s exposure to air pollution and other toxins as early as in utero. The 20+ year cohort maintained by the Center has shed light on several adverse health outcomes among children including low birth weight, respiratory conditions, including asthma, endocrine disruption, obesity, neurodevelopment, and behavioral outcomes.
As a visionary, she has known that it is critical to communicate the Center's research findings to the public and our legislative leaders. Throughout her career, she has written opinion pieces and testified before Congress. Now as the Center’s Director of Translational Research, she is dedicating her efforts to disseminating children’s environmental health and justice (CEHJ) research and developing scientific models to demonstrate the potential for change and improving CEHJ. Dr. Julie Herbstman, Director of CCCEH, shared the following words about Ricky, "She has always been a few steps ahead, she’s flipping our scientific findings to the positive…which politician doesn’t like a positive spin?”
Her work on pollution and climate focuses on translating the science to policies that protect children's health and advance environmental and climate justice. To this point, Peggy Shephard, Director of WE ACT for Environmental Justice, longtime CCCEH partner, and a member of President Biden’s Environmental Justice Advisory Council Member, reminded us all -"...when you see a hybrid or electric bus here in NYC, thank Ricky- her research on PAH, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons from fossil fuel emissions made this change a reality.”
We thank you, and cheers to you Ricky!
| |
|
We recently celebrated our friend and colleague Boris Cortés on the June newsletter for passing his registered nurse licensing exam and serving as an inspiration.
Boris has worked at the Center for over 17 years as the point person in charge of biospecimen and tissue collection. During this time, his contribution to the Center’s research and Columbia’s Environmental Health Science Department research has been noteworthy.
It was his availability and work ethic that helped collect thousands of samples which would serve as the evidence needed to document the environmental pollutants and toxic chemicals affecting children’s environmental health. From the unpredictability of collecting placenta samples after our study participants gave birth to the planned early morning home visits to collect the first urine sample of the day- Boris was there, ready to go.
At the Center, we, his friends and colleagues have always benefitted from his kindness, words of support and wisdom. He has always been there for fellow staff as they managed challenging times. We often call him “Doctor” or “Dr. Boris” honoring his calling and his commitment to healing. (He is a medical doctor in the Dominican Republic).
Boris has never stopped contributing to the community as he has served as tutor, mentor and guide to other immigrants interested in pursuing medical careers here in the United States. As a member of the New York Dominican Medical Association, he has received multiple awards and recognition for his service to the community.
Even as Boris prepares to move on in his career, he conducted one last training for CCCEH staff in art of placenta collection. Boris showed staff how to cut snippets of the placenta and place them into the test tube to take accurate samples. Staff were very excited to learn how to take placenta samples from the master. Thank you Boris for sharing your expertise once again!
We are proud to have worked with Boris and with mixed emotions, we are overjoyed that he will be starting his new nursing career at Lincoln Hospital and sad that we will not share in his company every day as we have for so many years.
BEST WISHES & "ADELANTE"!
| |
|
The Role of Community Conversation in Improving Air Quality
Collaboration between academic researchers and environmental justice organizations is key to mitigating emissions.
By Sarah Derouin
August 1, 2024
(Co-authors in EJ/academic partnership include Dr. Frederica Perera, Katy Coomes, and Kathleen Lau, CCCEH Team)
| |
|
Transportation is a leading contributor to emissions and is a focus for climate policies. Traffic-related air pollution disproportionately affects environmental justice (EJ) communities, but health impact assessments rarely center EJ issues or prioritize the concerns of EJ communities.
One explanation for the lack of focus on EJ communities is that both policymakers and academia have often failed to engage these communities. In this paper, academic researchers collaborate with seven EJ organizations in the northeastern US, working with collaboration advisors and facilitators, to design and evaluate potential transportation emissions reduction scenarios using air quality and health benefits modeling tools.
READ MORE
Full Publication Community Science
| | |
|
ECHO Study Finds Link Between Phthalate Exposure and Preterm Birth, Estimates Potential Costs
Leonardo Trasande, Morgan E Nelson, Akram Alshawabkeh, Emily S Barrett, Jessie P Buckley, Dana Dabelea, Anne L Dunlop, Julie B Herbstman, John D Meeker, Mrudula Naidu, Craig Newschaffer, Amy M Padula, Megan E Romano, Douglas M Ruden, Sheela Sathyanarayana, Susan L Schantz, Anne P Starling, Ghassan B Hamra
| |
|
Phthalates are widely used chemicals found in some consumer products, and previous research has linked phthalate exposure to preterm birth.
When the researchers grouped mothers based on the amount of DEHP metabolites (substances produced when the body breaks down DEHP) found in their urine, they found that the 10 percent with the highest levels had a 50 percent higher chance of giving birth before the 37th week of pregnancy compared to the 10 percent with the lowest levels.
Researchers estimated that the number of premature births in the U.S. that could be linked to phthalate exposure in 2018 was between 24,000 and 120,000, potentially costing between $1.6 billion and $8.1 billion in medical expenses over the lifetime of the children.
Read Full Press Release
| | |
|
ECHO Study Investigates Relationship Between Phthalate Exposure and High Blood Pressure, Related Complications During Pregnancy
John D. Meeker a, Kristen L. McArthur, Jennifer J. Adibi, Akram N. Alshawabkeh, Emily S. Barrett, Sara G. Brubaker, Jose F. Cordero, Dana Dabelea, Anne L. Dunlop, Julie B. Herbstman, Linda G. Kahn, Catherine J. Karr, Shilpi Mehta-Lee, Thomas G. O’Connor, Sheela Sathyanarayana, Leonardo Trasande, Jordan R. Kuiper
| |
|
The researchers evaluated phthalate exposure by measuring urine levels of certain metabolites, which are small molecules the body makes when it breaks down foods, drugs, chemicals, or its own tissues (for example, fat or muscle tissue).
This study found that higher levels of these metabolites were associated with a higher risk of developing preeclampsia, eclampsia, and/or ongoing high blood pressure during pregnancy.
Read Full Press Release
| | |
|
CCCEH
Summer Practicum Students & Interns
| |
Arsenic and Rice Practicum Study Team | |
|
Mufei Guo is a candidate at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health,
Environmental Health Sciences Department, certificate on Molecular
Epidemiology
| |
Chia-Yi (Julia) Lin is an MPH candidate at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, focusing on Molecular Epidemiology. | |
Zihan (William) Zhao is an MPH candidate at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, specializing in Epidemiology with a certificate in Biostatistics. | |
Emmy Sale is a rising senior at the Bronx High School of Science. She worked on the arsenic and baby rice products study and community outreach. | |
Lela Tu will enter her senior year at Midwood High School in Brooklyn, NY this fall. She worked on community outreach, crafting educational handouts and supporting the arsenic & baby rice products study. | |
Justin Taveras is a rising sophomore at Cornell University's College of Human Ecology, pursuing a major in Human Development with a pre-medical focus. As a CCCEH & NYP Summer Youth Experience Intern he worked on community outreach, communication projects and the arsenic and baby rice products study. | |
Grace Camarrata is a PrIMER trainee working alongside Dr. Julie Herbstman on projects related to the ethical report back of research results to study participants. | |
Emme Weisenfeld is in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at Columbia Mailman School of Public Health with a track in Toxicology. She will working alongside Dr. Julie Herbstman to generate individualized growth pamphlets for participants. | |
Manuela Montoya is a pioneering first-generation college student and is a student at Hunter college doing a major in psychology with a minor in sociology and public health. She is a PrIMER program trainee. Currently working with the study in Guanajuato, Mexico on arsenic and fluoride contamination in water with Dr. Marcela Tamayo-Ortiz. | |
Lela Tu, CCCEH Summer High School Intern talks about pesticide safety. | |
|
CCCEH is happy to partner with Seniors AIM High at the Armory
program, is a collaboration between The Armory Foundation
and the Columbia University Medical Center, AIM Clinic, Office of Academic & Community Partnerships and New York Presbyterian. They provide free fitness opportunities for older adults ages 60 and over from Washington Heights-Inwood, Harlem, and the South Bronx.
Instructors from The Armory lead 60-minute fitness sessions. The fitness session is followed by health conversations. Topics include diabetes, vaccines, falls, hypertension, and now how Seniors can help reduce exposure to environmental toxins and pollutants. to protect children, themselves, their families and friends.
This summer at the Haven Plaza CCCEH intern, Lela Tu, and Maricela Ureño, CCCEH staff discussed Pesticide Safety. On average over 110 seniors have attend each of the sessions. Topics include Fruits & Vegetables with Lower pesticide residue, NYC DOH & the NYC Attorney General's Office information on illegal and extremely toxic pesticides sold on NYC streets and Integrated Pest Management. See handouts below.
Seniors were asked to share pesticide safety handouts and information with family and friends. Recognizing the power of grandparents and Seniors, we also asked them to help register voters. They expediently responded to the call and depleted the voter registration cards and QR code handouts for on line registration.
| |
A big thank you to all the participating Seniors, Fitness Instructors, Phyllis Spencer & Francyna Evins, Zakia Haywood, the Armory Seniors AIM High Program, Naomi Alcantara, Community Service Programs Office of Academic and Community Partnerships and Magnolia Jimenez, NY Center of Excellence for Taub Research on Alzheimer's and the Aging Brain, Department of Neurology Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons. | |
Identifying Popular Children's Rice-Based Products | |
|
This summer, Emmy Sale, Justin Taveras and Lela Tu walked throughout Washington Heights and the South Bronx collecting baby rice products as part of the Arsenic and Baby Rice Products study led by Emmy Sale. The interns visited different supermarkets and community stores. Baby products with rice ranged from infant formula to puffs.
As they walked to different markets they dropped in at local pediatric clinics and the public library to way to secure locations for the interns, Lela and Justin to conduct their educational sessions in the community.
Stay tuned for the study findings and more.
| |
Presentations at Pediatric Clinics | |
On Monday the 22nd of July interns Grace Camarrata and Justin Taveras visited Pediatrics 2000 at 135 Haven Ave to inform parents about Pesticide Safety and Air Pollution. Thank you to Pediatrics 2000 for helping our interns engage with the community! | |
Left to Right: Dr. Ronald Glabonjat, interns Manuela Montoya, Grace Cammarata, Justin Taveras, Emmy Sale, and Practicum Students Mufei Guo and Chia Yi Lin. | Thank you to Ronald Glabonjat for the tour and Kathrin Schilling, PhD, Assistant Professor of Environmental Health Sciences, Metals Lab Director for coordinating the visit for our CCCEH Summer Interns. | |
|
The interns visited the EHS Metals lab and received a tour by Ronald Glabonjat, PhD, Assistant Professor of Environmental Health Sciences. Dr. Glabonjat described the lab equipment and ongoing projects. This introduction exposed all interns to the laboratory component of scientific research and the many steps and process that occur in the lab to understand how metals may impact health.
MPH Practicum students, Chi-Yi Lin, and Mufei Guo learned about work that was done at the lab to produce the Arsenic and Rice Study findings. They are now involved in developing the report back documents for the study participants.
Interns Justin Taveras and Emmy Sale worked on the Arsenic and Baby Rice Products study.
| | |
Report Back Team Meetings | |
Arsenic & Rice Team preparing for the meeting. | |
Community Outreach and Baby Rice Products & Arsenic Team bonding. | | |
CCCEH held weekly report-back meetings with their interns and practicum students to understand the ongoing work and provide supportive feedback. | Bottom Right around table: Emme Weisenfeld, Emmy Sale, Justin Taveras, Chia-Yi (Julia) Lin,Mufei Guo Anabel Cole, Dr. Marcela Tamayo y Oritz, Manuela Montoya, Zihan (William) Zhao, not in picture but present Dr. Julie Herbstman, Lela Tu & Maricela Ureño | | |
|
Julie Herbstman, PhD
Director, Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health
Frederica P. Perera, DrPH, PhD
Director of Translational Research and Founding Director
Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health
Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health
mailman.columbia.edu/ccceh
| | | | |
