Research Publications (Food Safety)

The Flint, Michigan, water crisis, which unfolded as a consequence of the State of Michigan’s decision to switch to using the Flint River as the city’s drinking water source, presented multiple alarming health risks to the public.

Cannabis-infused “edibles” are a popular means of cannabis use, and the variety of edible food products available to consumers continues to grow. Although there has been much discussion on dose standardization, childproof packaging, and the prevention of overconsumption, the important topic of food safety has received less attention.

To investigate a shigellosis outbreak in Genesee County, Michigan (including the City of Flint), and Saginaw County, Michigan, in 2016 and address community concerns about the role of the Flint water system.

Objectives. To evaluate how lowering the blood lead level (BLL) intervention threshold affects childhood lead testing policy.

Leafy greens, including romaine lettuce, are frequently the cause of foodborne disease outbreaks. Indeed, as the current outbreaks of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in the United States and Canada attributable to romaine lettuce highlight,1–3 mitigating the infectious disease risks associated with these foods continues to challenge growers, producers, and public health. In this issue of AJPH, Astill et al. (p.

From May to November most romaine lettuce shipments in the United States come from California’s Central Coast region, whereas from December to April most come from the Yuma, Arizona, region. During 2017–2018, the 3 outbreaks of Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157:H7 in US romaine lettuce all occurred at the tail end of a region’s production season.

Objectives. To assess the prevalence of and the demographic factors for elevated blood lead level (EBLL; ≥ 5 µg/dL) at resettlement among newly admitted refugee children.

Objectives. To compare blood lead levels (BLLs) among children residing in public and private housing in New York City and examine the implications for lead identification and remediation policies.

Driving to Lowndes County, Alabama, I am always conscious of my water consumption, as bathroom stops are few and far between. I am also mindful not to ask to use the restrooms in the homes I am visiting, in the event they are malfunctioning. This is life in rural Alabama, where toilets gurgle and indicate failing septic systems, which is often followed by potential overflowing into the home. The overflow can come in through the toilet, tub, or sink.

The US military utilizes a number of vaccines as strategic medical countermeasures, mandating immunizations in personnel against common infectious diseases, as well as special immunizations against rare and weaponized agents.1 Important among the former are the vaccines against hepatitis A and B, which the military requires of all military accessions into service.

For at least 20 years, the majority of California children with elevated blood lead levels have grown up unaware of this burden.

After the Las Vegas mass shooting in October, a Nevada official set up a GoFundMe page to help pay the medical bills of survivors. GoFundMe has a medical fundraising category with disease-specific sample pages and staff assistance to “make sure you tell a compelling story.” This is unacceptable in the wealthiest country in history.

Objectives. To estimate potential impacts of California Assembly Bill (AB) 1316: a requirement for universal screening and insurance coverage for child blood lead testing.

The toxicity of lead and its effects on child neurodevelopment have been well documented for decades.1 The dramatic decrease in average blood lead levels in the United States over the past several decades is an undeniable public health achievement.

Objectives. To examine elevated blood lead levels (EBLLs) in refugee children by postrelocation duration with control for several covariates.

Objectives. To assess the relationships between childhood lead exposure and 3 domains of later adolescent health: mental, physical, and behavioral.

We are accustomed to thinking of lead as yesterday’s problem, whether it is from the past use of lead in gasoline, paint, or pipes. In most of the world, however, the use of lead is largely unregulated, and most countries still manufacture lead paint and other lead-containing products. Few people realize that both lead mining and the production of recycled lead are growing. Most of the lead produced is now going into making lead batteries.

Objectives. To present the first update on the epidemiology of US foodborne correctional institution outbreaks in 20 years.

Objectives. To highlight contextual factors tied to increased blood lead level (BLL) risk following the lead-in-water contamination in Flint, Michigan.

, Volume 106, Issue 12, Page e6-e6, December 2016.

, Volume 106, Issue 11, Page 2049-2056, November 2016.