Institute for Health and the Environment, University at Albany

Network of WHO Collaborating Centres for Children’s Environmental Health

The Institute for Health and the Environment at the University at Albany strives to promote interdisciplinary research in a range of areas related to health and the environment. The institute supports many projects to better understand how the environment can affect children’s health, with a focus on environmental exposures that reduce cognitive function and the adverse effects of indoor and outdoor air pollution.

As a hub in an international network for children's environmental health, the Institute for Health and the Environment is:

• Providing WHO with technical support for the development of evidence-based policies appropriate to different local and international needs.
• Supporting global training in environmental health.
• Investigating human disease caused by exposure to environmental chemical pollutants, electromagnetic fields, and ionizing radiation.
• Collecting, collating, and disseminating information, research, and training focused on chemical safety, environmental health and hazards, and non-communicable diseases.

Centre Contact	David O. Carpenter Director, Institute for Health and the Environment; University at Albany dcarpenter@albany.edu
Mail Address	University at Albany 5 University Place Rensselaer, NY 12144
Other Research and Training Locations	New York State Department of Health
Website Link	https://www.albany.edu/ihe/
Collaborators	Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda Health Sciences University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkey Tbilisi State University, Tbilisi, Georgia Kazakhstan School of Public Health, Almaty, Kazakhstan University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia Environmental Health Center, Cluj-Napoca, Romania Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
Chemicals/Exposures Studied	Persistent organic pollutants, volatile organic pollutants, water contamination, air pollution, electronic waste (e-waste), ionizing and non-ionizing radiation
Health or Social Effects Studied	Cancer, cognitive problems, respiratory disease, cardiovascular diseases and hypertension, diabetes
Population(s) Studied	Native American and Alaskan Native populations Residents of: Anniston, Alabama; New York State; Mongolia; Karachi, Pakistan; holy cities in Saudi Arabia; Tbilisi, Georgia; and slum communities in Uganda

Publications

2015

• Neamtiu IA, Bloom MS, Gati G, Goessler W, Surdu S, Pop C, Braeuer S, Fitzgerald EF, Baciu C, Al-Abed SR, Lupsa IR, Anastasiu D, Gurzau ES. 2015. Pregnant women in Timis County, Romania are exposed primarily to low-level (<10 µg/L) arsenic through residential drinking water consumption. Int J Hyg Environ Health 218(4):371-379; doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2015.01.004. [Full Text Neamtiu IA, Bloom MS, Gati G, Goessler W, Surdu S, Pop C, Braeuer S, Fitzgerald EF, Baciu C, Al-Abed SR, Lupsa IR, Anastasiu D, Gurzau ES. 2015. Pregnant women in Timis County, Romania are exposed primarily to low-level (<10 µg/L) arsenic through residential drinking water consumption. Int J Hyg Environ Health 218(4):371-379; doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2015.01.004.]
• Nugmanova A, Patel N, Nurbakhyt A, Akhmetova GM, Kovtunenko N, Trumova Z, McNutt LA. 2015. Universal precautions in Central Asia: the need for multiple strategies in this window of opportunity. J Hosp Infect 89(3):197-201; doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2014.11.011. [Abstract Nugmanova A, Patel N, Nurbakhyt A, Akhmetova GM, Kovtunenko N, Trumova Z, McNutt LA. 2015. Universal precautions in Central Asia: the need for multiple strategies in this window of opportunity. J Hosp Infect 89(3):197-201; doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2014.11.011.]
• Nugmanova ZS, Ussatayeva G, McNutt LA. 2015. Seatbelt and child-restraint use in Kazakhstan: attitudes and behaviours of medical university students. Inj Prev 21(e1):e109-112; doi: 10.1136/injuryprev-2014-041198. [Abstract Nugmanova ZS, Ussatayeva G, McNutt LA. 2015. Seatbelt and child-restraint use in Kazakhstan: attitudes and behaviours of medical university students. Inj Prev 21(e1):e109-112; doi: 10.1136/injuryprev-2014-041198.]

2014

• Aminov Z, Haase R, Olson JR, Pavuk M, Carpenter DO, Anniston Environmental Health Research Consortium. 2014. Racial differences in levels of serum lipids and effects of exposure to persistent organic pollutants on lipid levels in residents of Anniston, Alabama. Environ Int 73:216-223. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2014.07.022. [Abstract Aminov Z, Haase R, Olson JR, Pavuk M, Carpenter DO, Anniston Environmental Health Research Consortium. 2014. Racial differences in levels of serum lipids and effects of exposure to persistent organic pollutants on lipid levels in residents of Anniston, Alabama. Environ Int 73:216-223. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2014.07.022.]
• Bloom MS, Surdu S, Neamtiu IA, Gurzau ES. 2014. Maternal arsenic exposure and birth outcomes: a comprehensive review of the epidemiologic literature focused on drinking water. 217(7):709-719; doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2014.03.004. [Abstract Bloom MS, Surdu S, Neamtiu IA, Gurzau ES. 2014. Maternal arsenic exposure and birth outcomes: a comprehensive review of the epidemiologic literature focused on drinking water. 217(7):709-719; doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2014.03.004.]
• Bloom M, Neamtiu I, Surdu S, Pop C, Lupsa I, Anastasiu D, Fitzgerald E, Gurzau E. 2014. Consumption of low-moderate level arsenic contaminated water does not increase spontaneous pregnancy loss: a case control study. Environ Health 13:81; doi: 10.1186/1476-069X-13-81.
• Chacko A, Carpenter DO, Callaway L, Sly PD. 2014. Early life risk factors for chronic non-respiratory diseases. Eur Resp J 45(1):244-259; doi: 10.1183/09031936.00070214.
• Lu X, Lessner L, Carpenter DO. 2014. Association between hospital discharge rate for female breast cancer and residence in a zip code containing hazardous waste sites. Environ Res 134:375-381; doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2014.07.005.
• Musoke D, Carpenter D, Kasasa S, Bazeyo W, Ssempebwa JC. 2014. Water, sanitation and hygiene status of two urban slums in Uganda: a baseline survey. Environ Health Int 29(4):363-78.
• Nayebare SR, Wilson LR, Carpenter DO, Dziewulski DM, Kannan K. 2014. A review of potable water accessibility and sustainability issues in developing countries – case study of Uganda. Rev Environ Health 29(4):363-378; doi: 10.1515/reveh-2013-0019.

2013

• Aminov Z, Haase RF, Pavuk M, Carpenter DO, Anniston Environmental Health Research Consortium. 2013. Analysis of the effects of exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls and chlorinated pesticides on serum lipid levels in residents of Anniston, Alabama. Environ Health 12:108; doi: 10.1186/1476-069X-12-108.
• Miller PK, Waghiyi V, Welfinger-Smith G, Byrne SC, Kava J, Gologergen J, Eckstein L, Scrudate R, Chiarenzelli J, Carpenter DO, Seguinot-Medina S. 2013. Community-based participatory research projects and policy engagement to protect environmental health on St. Lawrence Island, Alaska. Int J Circumpolar Health; 72:21656; doi: 10.3402/ijch.v72i0.21656.
• Norman RE, Carpenter DO, Scott J, Brune MN, Sly PD. 2013. Environmental exposure: an under-recognized contribution to noncommunicable diseases. Rev Environ Health 28(1):59-65; doi: 10.1515/reveh-2012-0033.
• Smolyaninova LV, Carpenter DO, Dergalev AA, Kulebyakin KY, Boldyrev AA. 2013. Carnosine prevents necrotic and apoptotic death of rat thymocytes via ouabain sensitive Na/K-ATPase. Cell Biochem Funct 31(1):30-35; doi: 10.1002/cbf.2856.

2012

• Hoover E, Cook K, Plain R, Sanchez K, Waghiyi V, Miller P, Dufault R, Sislin C, Carpenter DO. 2012. Indigenous peoples of North America: environmental exposures and reproductive justice. Environ Health Perspect 120(12):1645-1649; doi: 10.1289/ehp.1205422.
• Khwaja HA, Fatmi Z, Malashock D, Aminov Z, Siddique A, Carpenter DO. 2012. Effect of air pollution on daily morbidity in Karachi, Pakistan. J Local Global Health Science 3:1-13; doi: 10.5339/jlghs.2012.3.
• Liu X, Lessner L, Carpenter DO. 2012. Association between residential proximity to fuel-fired power plants and hospitalization rate for respiratory diseases. Environ Health Perspect 120(6): 807–810; doi: 10.1289/ehp.1104146.
• Morse GS, Duncan G, Noonan C, Garroutte E, Santiago-Rivera A, Carpenter DO, Tarbell A. 2012. Journal of Indigenous Research 1(1): Article 6; Available at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/kicjir/vol1/iss1/6.
• Scrudato RJ, Chiarenzelli JR, Miller PK, Alexander CR, Arnason J, Zamzow K, Zweifel K, Gologergen J, Kava J, Waghiyi V, Carpenter DO. 2012. Contaminants at Arctic formerly used defense sites. Journal of Local and Global Health Science; doi: 10.5339/jlghs.2012.2.
• Sly JL and Carpenter DO. 2012. Special vulnerability of children to environmental exposures. Rev Environ Health 27(4):151-157; doi: 10.1515/reveh-2012-0024.

2011

• Boberg E, Lessner L, Carpenter DO. 2011. The role of residence near hazardous waste sites containing benzene in the development of hematologic cancers in upstate New York. 24(4):327-338; doi: 10.2478/s13382-011-0037-8.
• Carpenter DO and Miller PK. 2011. Environmental contamination of the Yupik people of St. Lawrence Island, Alaska. Journal of Indigenous Research 1(1): Article 1; Available at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/kicjir/vol1/iss1/1.
• Goncharov A, Pavuk M, Foushee HR, Carpenter DO, Anniston Environmental Health Research Consortium. 2011. Blood pressure in relation to concentrations of PCB congeners and chlorinated pesticides. Environ Health Perspect 119(3):319-325; doi: 10.1289/ehp.1002830.
• Sergeev AV and Carpenter DO. 2011. Increase in metabolic syndrome-related hospitalizations in relation to environmental sources of persistent organic pollutants. Int J Environ Res Public Health 8(3): 762–776; doi: 10.3390/ijerph8030762.
• Welfinger-Smith, G, Minholz JL, Byrne S, Waghiyi V, Gologergen J, Kava J, Apatiki M, Ungott E, Miller, PK, Arnason JG, Carpenter DO. 2011. Organochlorine and metal contaminants in traditional foods from St. Lawrence Island, Alaska. J Toxicol Environ Health 74(18):1195-1214; doi: 10.1080/15287394.2011.590099.

2010

• Bloom MS, Fitzgerald EF, Kim K, Neamtiu I, Gurzau ES. 2010. Spontaneous pregnancy loss in humans and exposure to arsenic in drinking water. Int J Hyg Environ Health 213(6):401-413; doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2010.09.001.
• Goncharov A, Bloom M, Pavuk M, Birman I, Carpenter DO. 2010. Blood pressure and hypertension in relation to levels of serum polychlorinated biphenyls in residents of Anniston, Alabama.  J Hypertens 28(10):2053-2060; doi: 10.1097/HJH.0b013e32833c5f3e.

2009

• Ma J, Lessner L, Schreiber J, Carpenter DO. 2009. Association between residential proximity to PERC dry cleaning establishments and kidney cancer in New York City. J Environ Public Health; doi: 10.1155/2009/183920.