Research Summary

Christine Parks, Ph.D., is a staff scientist in the Epidemiology Branch at NIEHS and is a Co-Investigator for the Agricultural Health Study. The study focuses on the potential health effects of pesticides and other farming exposures in licensed pesticide applicators and their spouses. Parks specializes in the environmental causes of systemic autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, and risk factors for Herpes Zoster (Shingles). Her work in the Agricultural Health Study and other cohorts has addressed the role of pesticides and other occupational exposures to silica, metals, organic dusts and livestock, and non-ionizing UV radiation. Her research also examines factors that may contribute to the development of autoantibodies, to help understand the natural history of autoimmunity and how it contributes to health and disease. Parks received her B.A. in biology from Reed College, and her M.S.P.H. and Ph.D. in epidemiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Studies

• The Agricultural Health Study

  The Agricultural Health Study was developed to learn about possible health effects of pesticides in a cohort of licensed pesticide applicators and spouses.

Selected Publications

1. Parks CG, Hofmann JN, Beane Freeman LE, Sandler DP. 2021. Agricultural Pesticides and Shingles Risk in a Prospective Cohort of Licensed Pesticide Applicators. Environ Health Perspect 129(7):77005. [Abstract Parks CG, Hofmann JN, Beane Freeman LE, Sandler DP. 2021. Agricultural Pesticides and Shingles Risk in a Prospective Cohort of Licensed Pesticide Applicators. Environ Health Perspect 129(7):77005.]
2. Shearer JJ, Sandler DP, Andreotti G, Murata K, Shrestha S, Parks CG, Liu D, Alavanja MC, Landgren O, Beane Freeman LE, Hofmann JN. 2021. Pesticide use and kidney function among farmers in the Biomarkers of Exposure and Effect in Agriculture study. Environ Res. 199:111276. [Abstract Shearer JJ, Sandler DP, Andreotti G, Murata K, Shrestha S, Parks CG, Liu D, Alavanja MC, Landgren O, Beane Freeman LE, Hofmann JN. 2021. Pesticide use and kidney function among farmers in the Biomarkers of Exposure and Effect in Agriculture study. Environ Res. 199:111276.]
3. Parks CG, Wilkerson J, Rose KM, Faiq A, Noroozi Farhadi P, Long CS, Bayat N, Brunner HI, Goldberg B, McGrath JA, Miller FW, Rider LG. Association of ultraviolet radiation exposure with dermatomyositis in a national myositis patient registry. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2020;72(11):1636-1644. doi:10.1002/acr.24059. [Abstract Parks CG, Wilkerson J, Rose KM, Faiq A, Noroozi Farhadi P, Long CS, Bayat N, Brunner HI, Goldberg B, McGrath JA, Miller FW, Rider LG. Association of ultraviolet radiation exposure with dermatomyositis in a national myositis patient registry. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2020;72(11):1636-1644. doi:10.1002/acr.24059.]
4. Meier HCS, Sandler DP, Simonsick EM, Weng NP, Parks CG. Sex differences in the association between antinuclear antibody positivity with diabetes and multimorbidity in older adults: Results from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. Exp Gerontol. 2020;135:110906. doi:10.1016/j.exger.2020.110906. [Abstract Meier HCS, Sandler DP, Simonsick EM, Weng NP, Parks CG. Sex differences in the association between antinuclear antibody positivity with diabetes and multimorbidity in older adults: Results from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. Exp Gerontol. 2020;135:110906. doi:10.1016/j.exger.2020.110906.]
5. Meier HCS, Miller FW, Dinse GE, Weinberg CR, Cho CC, Parks CG. Helicobacter pylori seropositivity is associated with antinuclear antibodies in US adults, NHANES 1999-2000. Epidemiol Infect. 2020;148:e20. Published 2020 Feb 5. doi:10.1017/S0950268820000126. [Abstract Meier HCS, Miller FW, Dinse GE, Weinberg CR, Cho CC, Parks CG. Helicobacter pylori seropositivity is associated with antinuclear antibodies in US adults, NHANES 1999-2000. Epidemiol Infect. 2020;148:e20. Published 2020 Feb 5. doi:10.1017/S0950268820000126.]
6. Dinse GE, Parks CG, Weinberg CR, Co CA, Wilkerson J, Zeldin DC, Chan EKL, Miller FW. Increasing Prevalence of Antinuclear Antibodies in the United States. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2020;72(6):1026-1035. doi:10.1002/art.41214. [Abstract Dinse GE, Parks CG, Weinberg CR, Co CA, Wilkerson J, Zeldin DC, Chan EKL, Miller FW. Increasing Prevalence of Antinuclear Antibodies in the United States. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2020;72(6):1026-1035. doi:10.1002/art.41214.]
7. Parks CG, Santos ASE, Lerro CC, DellaValle CT, Ward MH, Alavanja MC, Berndt SI, Beane Freeman LE, Sandler DP, Hofmann JN. Lifetime pesticide use and antinuclear antibodies in male farmers from the Agricultural Health Study. Front Immunol. 2019;10:1476. Published 2019 Jul 11. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2019.01476. [Abstract Parks CG, Santos ASE, Lerro CC, DellaValle CT, Ward MH, Alavanja MC, Berndt SI, Beane Freeman LE, Sandler DP, Hofmann JN. Lifetime pesticide use and antinuclear antibodies in male farmers from the Agricultural Health Study. Front Immunol. 2019;10:1476. Published 2019 Jul 11. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2019.01476.]
8. Parks CG, Meyer A, Beane Freeman LE, Hofmann JN, Sandler DP. 2019. Farming tasks and the development of rheumatoid arthritis in the agricultural health study. Occup Environ Med. 76(4):243-249. [Abstract Parks CG, Meyer A, Beane Freeman LE, Hofmann JN, Sandler DP. 2019. Farming tasks and the development of rheumatoid arthritis in the agricultural health study. Occup Environ Med. 76(4):243-249.]
9. Parks CG, D'Aloisio AA, Sandler DP. 2018. Childhood Residential and Agricultural Pesticide Exposures in Relation to Adult-Onset Rheumatoid Arthritis in Women. American Journal of Epidemiology 187(2):214-223. [Abstract Parks CG, D'Aloisio AA, Sandler DP. 2018. Childhood Residential and Agricultural Pesticide Exposures in Relation to Adult-Onset Rheumatoid Arthritis in Women. American Journal of Epidemiology 187(2):214-223.]
10. Meyer A, Sandler DP, Beane Freeman LE, Hofmann JN, Parks CG. Pesticide Exposure and Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis among Licensed Male Pesticide Applicators in the Agricultural Health Study. Environ Health Perspect. 2017 Jul 14;125(7):077010. doi: 10.1289/EHP1013. PMID: 28718769; PMCID: PMC5744649. [Abstract Meyer A, Sandler DP, Beane Freeman LE, Hofmann JN, Parks CG. Pesticide Exposure and Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis among Licensed Male Pesticide Applicators in the Agricultural Health Study. Environ Health Perspect. 2017 Jul 14;125(7):077010. doi: 10.1289/EHP1013. PMID: 28718769; PMCID: PMC5744649.]
11. Parks CG, Hoppin JA, De Roos AJ, Costenbader KH, Alavanja MC, Sandler DP. Rheumatoid Arthritis in Agricultural Health Study Spouses: Associations with Pesticides and Other Farm Exposures. Environmental Health Perspectives 124(11):1728-34, 2016. [Abstract Parks CG, Hoppin JA, De Roos AJ, Costenbader KH, Alavanja MC, Sandler DP. Rheumatoid Arthritis in Agricultural Health Study Spouses: Associations with Pesticides and Other Farm Exposures. Environmental Health Perspectives 124(11):1728-34, 2016.]
12. Parks CG, D'Aloisio AA, Sandler DP. Early Life Factors Associated with Adult-Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Women. Frontiers in Immunology 7:103, 2016. [Abstract Parks CG, D'Aloisio AA, Sandler DP. Early Life Factors Associated with Adult-Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Women. Frontiers in Immunology 7:103, 2016.]
13. Meier HC, Sandler DP Simonsick EM, Parks CG. Association between Vitamin D Deficiency and Antinuclear Antibodies in Middle-Aged and Older U.S. Adults. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention 25(12):1559-63, 2016. [Abstract Meier HC, Sandler DP Simonsick EM, Parks CG. Association between Vitamin D Deficiency and Antinuclear Antibodies in Middle-Aged and Older U.S. Adults. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention 25(12):1559-63, 2016.]
14. Parks CG, De Roos AJ. Pesticides, chemical and industrial exposures in relation to systemic lupus erythematosus. Lupus 2014 23(6):527-536. [Abstract Parks CG, De Roos AJ. Pesticides, chemical and industrial exposures in relation to systemic lupus erythematosus. Lupus 2014 23(6):527-536.]
15. Parks CG, Miller FW, Satoh M, Chan EK, Andrushchenko Z, Birnbaum LS, Jusko TA, Kissling GE, Patel MD, Rose KM, Weinberg C, Zeldin DC, Sandler DP. Reproductive and hormonal risk factors for antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in a representative sample of U.S. women. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention 23(11):2492-502, 2014. [Abstract Parks CG, Miller FW, Satoh M, Chan EK, Andrushchenko Z, Birnbaum LS, Jusko TA, Kissling GE, Patel MD, Rose KM, Weinberg C, Zeldin DC, Sandler DP. Reproductive and hormonal risk factors for antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in a representative sample of U.S. women. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention 23(11):2492-502, 2014.]
16. Parks CG, D'Aloisio AA, DeRoo LA, Huiber K, Rider LG, Miller FW, Sandler DP. Childhood socioeconomic factors and perinatal characteristics influence development of rheumatoid arthritis in adulthood. Ann Rheum Dis 2013; 72:350-356. E-pub 2012 May 12. PMID: 22586176. PMCID: PMC5029277 [Abstract Parks CG, D'Aloisio AA, DeRoo LA, Huiber K, Rider LG, Miller FW, Sandler DP. Childhood socioeconomic factors and perinatal characteristics influence development of rheumatoid arthritis in adulthood. Ann Rheum Dis 2013; 72:350-356. E-pub 2012 May 12. PMID: 22586176. PMCID: PMC5029277]
17. Parks CG, Walitt BT, Pettinger M, Chen JC, de Roos AJ, Hunt J, Sarto G, Howard BV. Insecticide use and risk of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study. Arthritis Care & Research 63(2):184-94, 2011. [Abstract Parks CG, Walitt BT, Pettinger M, Chen JC, de Roos AJ, Hunt J, Sarto G, Howard BV. Insecticide use and risk of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study. Arthritis Care & Research 63(2):184-94, 2011.]
18. Parks C, Cooper G, Dooley M, Park M, Treadwell E, Gilkeson G. Childhood agricultural and adult occupational exposures to organic dusts in a population-based case-control study of systemic lupus erythematosus. Lupus 17:711-9, 2008.
19. Parks CG, Cooper GS, Nylander-French L, Sanderson WR, Dement JM, Cohen PL, Dooley MA, Treadwell EL, St. Clair EW, Gilkeson GS, Hoppin JA, Savitz DA. Occupation exposure to crystalline silica and risk of systemic lupus erythematosus: a population-based, case-control study in the southeastern United States. Arthritis Rheum 46:1840-1850, 2002. [Abstract Parks CG, Cooper GS, Nylander-French L, Sanderson WR, Dement JM, Cohen PL, Dooley MA, Treadwell EL, St. Clair EW, Gilkeson GS, Hoppin JA, Savitz DA. Occupation exposure to crystalline silica and risk of systemic lupus erythematosus: a population-based, case-control study in the southeastern United States. Arthritis Rheum 46:1840-1850, 2002.]