The Role of Understanding, Trust, and Access in Public Engagement with Environmental Activities and Decision Making: A Qualitative Study with Water Quality Practitioners.

Advancing environmental health literacy in support of environmental management requires inclusive science communication, especially with environmental justice communities. In order to understand experiences of environmental practitioners in the realm of science communication, the Center for Oceans and Human Health and Climate Change Interactions at the University of South Carolina conducted two studies on science communication and research translation with the center's researchers and partners. This qualitative case study follows up with a select group of environmental practitioners on emergent themes from the initial work. It explores the specific topics of understanding, trust, and access and how those can become barriers or facilitators of public engagement with environmental activities and decision making. The authors conducted seven in-depth qualitative interviews with center partners whose work focuses on environmental water quality and impacts on human and environmental health. Key results indicate that the public may have limited understanding of scientific processes, establishing trust takes time, and access should be incorporated into the design of programs and activities to ensure broader reach. Findings from this research are relevant to other partner-engaged work and environmental management initiatives and provide insights on experiences, practices, and actions for equitable and effective stakeholder engagement and collaborative partnerships.

"You Gotta Choose Your Words Carefully": Findings from Interviews with Environmental Health Scientists about Their Research Translation Perceptions and Training Needs.

Scientists are trained to communicate research in a technical manner but often lack the skills to communicate scientific findings to the general public. Effective communication and research translation are increasingly important competencies for researchers and have broader benefits to scientists and society. The aim of the study was to assess the perceptions, experiences, and training needs relative to science communication and research translation of project investigators associated with the Center for Oceans and Human Health and Climate Change Interactions at the University of South Carolina. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with the Center's investigators. Interview transcripts were coded and analyzed for emergent themes related to science communication and research translation. Investigator descriptions of their research varied in length, and researchers mentioned multiple target audiences. Most investigators preferred in-person and written communication channels and felt "comfortable" communicating uncertain findings to the public despite no formal science communication training. Investigators suggested training focused on plain language development for target communities, assessment of audience needs, and formatting research findings for various groups. Working with multiple target audiences that have preferred communication channels necessitates a comprehensive approach to science communication training to enhance two-way communication between scientists and stakeholders.

Exogenous PP2A inhibitor exacerbates the progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease via NOX2-dependent activation of miR21.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an emerging global pandemic. Though significant progress has been made in unraveling the pathophysiology of the disease, the role of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) and its subsequent inhibition by environmental and genetic factors in NAFLD pathophysiology remains unclear. The present report tests the hypothesis that an exogenous PP2A inhibitor leads to hepatic inflammation and fibrogenesis via an NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2)-dependent pathway in NAFLD. Results showed that microcystin (MC) administration, a potent PP2A inhibitor found in environmental exposure, led to an exacerbation of NAFLD pathology with increased CD68 immunoreactivity, the release of proinflammatory cytokines, and stellate cell activation, a process that was attenuated in mice that lacked the p47phox gene and miR21 knockout mice. Mechanistically, leptin-primed immortalized Kupffer cells (a mimicked model for an NAFLD condition) treated with apocynin or nitrone spin trap 5,5 dimethyl-1- pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) had significantly decreased CD68 and decreased miR21 and α-smooth muscle actin levels, suggesting the role of NOX2-dependent reactive oxygen species in miR21-induced Kupffer cell activation and stellate cell pathology. Furthermore, NOX2-dependent peroxynitrite generation was primarily responsible for cellular events observed following MC exposure since incubation with phenylboronic acid attenuated miR21 levels, Kupffer cell activation, and inflammatory cytokine release. Furthermore, blocking of the AKT pathway attenuated PP2A inhibitor-induced NOX2 activation and miR21 upregulation. Taken together, we show that PP2A may have protective roles, and its inhibition exacerbates NAFLD pathology via activating NOX2-dependent peroxynitrite generation, thus increasing miR21-induced pathology.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Protein phosphatase 2A inhibition causes nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) progression via NADPH oxidase 2. In addition to a novel emchanism of action, we describe a new tool to describe NASH histopathology.

Spatial clustering patterns of child weight status in a southeastern US county.

Youth obesity is a major public health concern due to associated physical, social, and psychological health consequences. While rates and disparities of youth obesity levels are known, less research has explored spatial clustering patterns, associated correlates of spatial clustering, comparing patterns in urban and rural areas. Therefore, this study 1) examined spatial clustering of youth weight status, 2) investigated sociodemographic correlates of spatial clustering patterns, and 3) explored spatial patterns by level of urbanization. This study occurred in a southeastern US county (pop:474,266) in 2013. Trained physical education teachers collected height and weight for all 3rd-5th grade youth (n = 13,469) and schools provided youth demographic attributes. BMI z-scores were calculated using standard procedures. Global Moran's Index and Anselin's Local Moran's I (LISA) were used detect global and local spatial clustering, respectively. To examine correlates of spatial clustering, BMI z-score residuals from a series of four linear regression models were spatially analyzed, mapped, and compared. SAS 9.4 and GeoDA were used for analyses; ArcGIS was used for mapping. Significant, positive global clustering (Index = 0.04,p < 0.001) was detected. LISA results showed that about 4.7% (n = 635) and 7.9% (n = 1058) of the sample were identified as high and low obesity localized spatial clusters (p < 0.01), respectively. Individual and neighborhood sociodemographic characteristics accounted for the majority of spatial clustering and differential patterns were observed by level of urbanization. Identifying geographic areas that contain significant spatial clusters is a powerful tool for understanding the location of and exploring contributing factors to youth obesity.

Green and lean: Is neighborhood park and playground availability associated with youth obesity? Variations by gender, socioeconomic status, and race/ethnicity.

Parks and park features are important for promoting physical activity and healthy weight, especially for low-income and racial/ethnic minority youth who have disproportionately high obesity rates. This study 1) examined associations between neighborhood park and playground availability and youth obesity, and 2) assessed whether these associations were moderated by youth race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status (SES). In 2013, objectively measured height and weight were collected for all 3rd-5th grade youth (n=13.469) in a southeastern US county to determine body mass index (BMI) percentiles. Enumeration and audits of the county's parks (n=103) were concurrently conducted. Neighborhood park and playground availability were calculated as the number of each facility within or intersecting each youth's Census block group. Multilevel linear regression models were utilized to examine study objectives. For boys, no main effects were detected; however, SES moderated associations such that higher park availability was associated with lower BMI percentile for low-SES youth but higher BMI percentile for high-SES youth. For girls, the number of parks and playgrounds were significantly associated with lower BMI (b=-2.2, b=-1.1, p<0.05, respectively) and race/ethnicity and SES moderated associations between playground availability and BMI percentile. Higher playground availability was associated with lower BMI percentile for White and high-SES girls but higher BMI percentile for African American and low-SES girls. Considerable variation was detected in associations between park and playground availability and youth obesity by SES and race/ethnicity, highlighting the importance of studying the intersection of these characteristics when exploring associations between built environment features and obesity.

A content analysis of Internet resources about the risks of seafood consumption.

Seafood consumption is a main source of human exposure to certain environmental contaminants. Therefore, it is valuable to assess the online health risk messages focused on this topic, as people in the US are increasingly accessing the Internet for health-related information. Previous research indicates that online health information tends to be written at a reading level that is more advanced than ability of the general population. The purpose of this research was to examine the content and readability of Internet resources targeted toward consumers in the US regarding the health risks from consumption of contaminated seafood. Sources for analysis were gathered through a targeted search of state and national government websites, as well as through a Google search. The overall mean readability level was Grade 9.21, which is slightly above the average reading level of US adults. Future research should evaluate the accuracy of the health risk messages, as well as consumer perceptions of risk.

Scale effects in food environment research: Implications from assessing socioeconomic dimensions of supermarket accessibility in an eight-county region of South Carolina.

Choice of neighborhood scale affects associations between environmental attributes and health-related outcomes. This phenomenon, a part of the modifiable areal unit problem, has been described fully in geography but not as it relates to food environment research. Using two administrative-based geographic boundaries (census tracts and block groups), supermarket geographic measures (density, cumulative opportunity and distance to nearest) were created to examine differences by scale and associations between three common U.S. Census-based socioeconomic status (SES) characteristics (median household income, percentage of population living below poverty and percentage of population with at least a high school education) and a summary neighborhood SES z-score in an eight-county region of South Carolina. General linear mixed-models were used. Overall, both supermarket density and cumulative opportunity were higher when using census tract boundaries compared to block groups. In analytic models, higher median household income was significantly associated with lower neighborhood supermarket density and lower cumulative opportunity using either the census tract or block group boundaries, and neighborhood poverty was positively associated with supermarket density and cumulative opportunity. Both median household income and percent high school education were positively associated with distance to nearest supermarket using either boundary definition, whereas neighborhood poverty had an inverse association. Findings from this study support the premise that supermarket measures can differ by choice of geographic scale and can influence associations between measures. Researchers should consider the most appropriate geographic scale carefully when conducting food environment studies.

Perceptions of the Neighborhood Environment and Children's Afterschool Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity.

Previous research suggests the neighborhood environment may be an important influence on children's physical activity (PA) behaviors; however, findings are inconsistent. The purpose of this study was to further understand the relationship between perceptions of the neighborhood environment and children's afterschool moderate-to-vigorous PA. Utilizing a structural equation modeling technique, we tested a conceptual model linking parent and child perceptions of the neighborhood environment, parent support for PA, and child outdoor PA with children's afterschool moderate-to vigorous PA. We found that child perception of the neighborhood environment and outdoor PA were positively associated with afterschool moderate-to-vigorous PA. In addition, parent support for PA positively influenced children's outdoor PA. The neighborhood environment and outdoor activity appear to play an influential role on children's afterschool PA behaviors.

A qualitative exploration of fishing and fish consumption in the Gullah/Geechee culture.

The Gullah/Geechee (G/G) heritage is rooted in a culture largely dependent on fish and seafood as a primary food source. Research suggests that African-American (AA) fishers in the Southeastern US consume larger amounts of fish, potentially exposing them to higher environmental contaminant levels. This in-depth study was conducted to explore G/G and AA Sea Island attitudes, perceptions, and cultural beliefs about fishing in one urban and two rural South Carolina coastal counties. Results indicated that study participants in rural counties had slightly different perspectives of fishing (e.g. fishing as an essential dietary supplement) than in urban counties where fishing was viewed more as relaxation. Major misperceptions existed in all counties between fish consumption advisories related to pollution versus harvesting restrictions associated with fishing regulations. Providing clear, culturally tailored health messages regarding fish advisories will promote more informed choices about fish consumption that will minimize potential exposures to environmental pollutants.

Associations between exposure to cadmium, lead, mercury and mixtures and women's infertility and long-term amenorrhea.

BACKGROUND: Cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg) have been shown to exhibit endocrine disrupting properties. Their effects on women's reproductive health, however, remain elusive. Here, we investigated associations between blood concentrations of Pb, Cd, Hg, and their mixture and infertility and long-term amenorrhea in women aged 20-49 years using the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013-2018 cross-sectional survey. METHODS: A total of 1,990 women were included for the analysis of infertility and 1,919 women for long-term amenorrhea. The methods of log-transformation and use of quartiles were used to analyze blood heavy metal concentrations. Statistical differences in the covariates between the outcome groups were evaluated using a chi-squared test for categorical variables and a t-test for continuous variables. Multiple logistic regression models were used to examine the associations. RESULTS: The blood concentrations of Pb and heavy metal mixtures were significantly higher in ever-infertile women than pregnant women, but the concentrations of Cd and Hg were comparable. After full adjustment, multiple logistic regression analyses revealed a significant and dose-dependent positive association between blood Pb concentrations and women's historical infertility, a negative association between Cd and women's long-term amenorrhea, and no associations between Hg and heavy metal mixture and women's infertility or long-term amenorrhea. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that exposure to heavy metals exhibit differential associations with history of infertility and amenorrhea, and Pb may adversely impact women's reproduction and heighten the risks of infertility and long-term amenorrhea.

Associations of built food environment with body mass index and waist circumference among youth with diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Youth with diabetes are at increased risk for obesity and cardiovascular disease complications. However, less is known about the influence of built food environment on health outcomes in this population. The aim of this study was to explore the associations of accessibility and availability of supermarkets and fast food outlets with Body Mass Index (BMI) z-score and waist circumference among youth with diabetes. METHODS: Information on residential location and adiposity measures (BMI z-score and waist circumference) for 845 youths with diabetes residing in South Carolina was obtained from the South Carolina site of the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth study. Food outlets data obtained from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control and InfoUSA were merged based on names and addresses of the outlets. The comprehensive data on franchised supermarket and fast food outlets was then used to construct three accessibility and availability measures around each youth's residence. RESULTS: Increased number and density of chain supermarkets around residence location were associated with lower BMI z-score and waist circumference among youth with diabetes. For instance, for a female child of 10 years of age with height of 54.2 inches and weight of 70.4 pounds, lower supermarket density around residence location was associated with about 2.8-3.2 pounds higher weight, when compared to female child of same age, height and weight with highest supermarket density around residence location. Similarly, lower supermarket density around residence location was associated with a 3.5-3.7 centimeter higher waist circumference, when compared to residence location with the highest supermarket density. The associations of number and density of chain fast food outlets with adiposity measures, however, were not significant. No significant associations were observed between distance to the nearest supermarket and adiposity measures. However, contrary to our expectation, increased distance to the nearest fast food outlet was associated with higher BMI z-score, but not with waist circumference. CONCLUSIONS: Food environments conducive to healthy eating may significantly influence health behaviors and outcomes. Efforts to increase the availability of supermarkets providing options/selections for health-promoting foods may significantly improve the dietary intake and reduce adiposity among youth with diabetes.

Neighborhood level risk factors for type 1 diabetes in youth: the SEARCH case-control study.

BACKGROUND: European ecologic studies suggest higher socioeconomic status is associated with higher incidence of type 1 diabetes. Using data from a case-control study of diabetes among racially/ethnically diverse youth in the United States (U.S.), we aimed to evaluate the independent impact of neighborhood characteristics on type 1 diabetes risk. Data were available for 507 youth with type 1 diabetes and 208 healthy controls aged 10-22 years recruited in South Carolina and Colorado in 2003-2006. Home addresses were used to identify Census tracts of residence. Neighborhood-level variables were obtained from 2000 U.S. Census. Multivariate generalized linear mixed models were applied. RESULTS: Controlling for individual risk factors (age, gender, race/ethnicity, infant feeding, birth weight, maternal age, number of household residents, parental education, income, state), higher neighborhood household income (p = 0.005), proportion of population in managerial jobs (p = 0.02), with at least high school education (p = 0.005), working outside the county (p = 0.04) and vehicle ownership (p = 0.03) were each independently associated with increased odds of type 1 diabetes. Conversely, higher percent minority population (p = 0.0003), income from social security (p = 0.002), proportion of crowded households (0.0497) and poverty (p = 0.008) were associated with a decreased odds. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that neighborhood characteristics related to greater affluence, occupation, and education are associated with higher type 1 diabetes risk. Further research is needed to understand mechanisms underlying the influence of neighborhood context.

Participatory and Spatial Analyses of Environmental Justice Communities' Concerns about a Proposed Storm Surge and Flood Protection Seawall.

In response to increasing threats from sea-level rise and storm surge, the City of Charleston, South Carolina, and the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) propose constructing a seawall around the Charleston peninsula. The proposed seawall will terminate close to lower wealth, predominantly minority communities. These communities are identified as environmental justice (EJ) communities due to their history of inequitable burdens of industrial and urban pollution and proximity to highways and US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated Superfund sites. The present study documents community concerns and opinions related to the proposed seawall, existing flooding problems, and other issues. The project was guided by knowledge co-production and participant-observation approaches and included interviews with community members, collection of locality-specific data, GIS mapping to visualize key issues, development of an ArcGIS Story Map, and participation in public meetings. Community concerns are reported in the voices of community members and fell into eight major themes: community connections, drainage, impacts of road infrastructure, displacement, increasing vulnerability, sense of exclusion and isolation, mistrust of government, and civic engagement. Community members were significantly engaged in the study and are the owners of the results. As one of the first US East Coast cities pursuing major structural adaptation for flooding, Charleston is likely to become a model for other cities considering waterfront protection measures. We demonstrate the importance of meaningful engagement to ensure that climate adaptation will benefit all, including marginalized communities, and have as few unintended negative consequences as possible. Bringing more people to the table and creating vibrant, long-term partnerships between academic institutions and community-based organizations that include robust links to governmental organizations should be among the first steps in building inclusive, equitable, and climate resilient cities.

A Summary of One Research Team's Contributions to Understanding Physical Activity Behavior in Children and Youth.

Schools are well-positioned to provide physical activity opportunities to help youth achieve the recommended 60 or more daily minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. The Children's Physical Activity Research Group (CPARG) at the University of South Carolina has focused on understanding physical activity in school-aged youth for 30+ years. The purpose of this article was to critically review (CPARG) contributions to the field in school settings and school-age youth. We reviewed 127 published CPARG articles from six research projects conducted between 1993-2019. The review was guided by questions in five categories: measurement of physical activity and its determinants, characteristics of physical activity behavior, correlates/determinants of physical activity, physical activity interventions, and race/ethnicity and physical activity. Results were summarized by question and synthesized across categories. CPARG contributions included assessing physical activity levels, patterns, forms, and contexts; identifying and measuring physical activity correlates/determinants; and conducting school-based physical activity interventions. Identifying multiple domains of physical activity determinants enables researchers and practitioners to select/design age-appropriate, valid, and reliable instruments to assess determinants. Focusing on determinants enables them to create effective physical activity interventions, environments, programs, and policies in schools. These efforts must address race/ethnicity differences, ensuring that measurement instruments and intervention strategies are culturally appropriate.

Prior exposure to microcystin alters host gut resistome and is associated with dysregulated immune homeostasis in translatable mouse models.

A strong association between exposure to the common harmful algal bloom toxin microcystin and the altered host gut microbiome has been shown. We tested the hypothesis that prior exposure to the cyanotoxin microcystin-LR may alter the host resistome. We show that the mice exposed to microcystin-LR had an altered microbiome signature that harbored antibiotic resistance genes. Host resistome genotypes such as mefA, msrD, mel, ant6, and tet40 increased in diversity and relative abundance following microcystin-LR exposure. Interestingly, the increased abundance of these genes was traced to resistance to common antibiotics such as tetracycline, macrolides, glycopeptide, and aminoglycosides, crucial for modern-day treatment of several diseases. Increased abundance of these genes was positively associated with increased expression of PD1, a T-cell homeostasis marker, and pleiotropic inflammatory cytokine IL-6 with a concomitant negative association with immunosurveillance markers IL-7 and TLR2. Microcystin-LR exposure also caused decreased TLR2, TLR4, and REG3G expressions, increased immunosenescence, and higher systemic levels of IL-6 in both wild-type and humanized mice. In conclusion, the results show a first-ever characterization of the host resistome following microcystin-LR exposure and its connection to host immune status and antimicrobial resistance that can be crucial to understand treatment options with antibiotics in microcystin-exposed subjects in clinical settings.

A Strategic Framework for Community Engagement in Oceans and Human Health.

Over the past two decades, scientific research on the connections between the health and resilience of marine ecosystems, and human health, well-being, and community prosperity has expanded and evolved into a distinct "metadiscipline" known as Oceans and Human Health (OHH), recognized by the scientific community as well as policy makers. OHH goals are diverse, and seek to improve public health outcomes, promote sustainable use of aquatic systems and resources, and strengthen community resilience. OHH research has historically included some level of community outreach and partner involvement; however, the increasing disruption of aquatic environments and urgency of public health impacts calls for a more systematic approach to effectively identify and engage with community partners to achieve project goals and outcomes. Herein, we present a strategic framework developed collaboratively by community engagement personnel from the four recently established U.S. Centers for Oceans and Human Health (COHH). This framework supports researchers in defining levels of community engagement and in aligning partners, purpose, activities, and approaches intentionally in their community engagement efforts. Specifically, we describe: (1) a framework for a range of outreach and engagement approaches; (2) the need for identifying partners, purpose, activities, and approaches; and (3) the importance of making intentional alignment among them. Misalignment across these dimensions may lead to wasting time or resources, eroding public trust, or failing to achieve intended outcomes. We illustrate the framework with examples from current COHH case studies, and conclude with future directions for strategic community engagement in OHH and other environmental health contexts.

Groundwater uranium and cancer incidence in South Carolina.

OBJECTIVE: This ecologic study tested the hypothesis that census tracts with elevated groundwater uranium and more frequent groundwater use have increased cancer incidence. METHODS: Data sources included: incident total, leukemia, prostate, breast, colorectal, lung, kidney, and bladder cancers (1996-2005, SC Central Cancer Registry); demographic and groundwater use (1990 US Census); and groundwater uranium concentrations (n = 4,600, from existing federal and state databases). Kriging was used to predict average uranium concentrations within tracts. The relationship between uranium and standardized cancer incidence ratios was modeled among tracts with substantial groundwater use via linear or semiparametric regression, with and without stratification by the proportion of African Americans in each area. RESULTS: A total of 134,685 cancer cases were evaluated. Tracts with ≥50% groundwater use and uranium concentrations in the upper quartile had increased risks for colorectal, breast, kidney, prostate, and total cancer compared to referent tracts. Some of these relationships were more likely to be observed among tracts populated primarily by African Americans. CONCLUSION: SC regions with elevated groundwater uranium and more groundwater use may have an increased incidence of certain cancers, although additional research is needed since the design precluded adjustment for race or other predictive factors at the individual level.

Facility Attractiveness and Social Vulnerability Impacts on Spatial Accessibility to Opioid Treatment Programs in South Carolina.

Opioid dependence and opioid-related mortality have been increasing in recent years in the United States. Available and accessible treatments may result in a reduction of opioid-related mortality. This work describes the geographic variation of spatial accessibility to opioid treatment programs (OTPs) and identifies areas with poor access to care in South Carolina. The study develops a new index of access that builds on the two-step floating catchment area (2SFCA) method, and has three dimensions: a facility attractiveness index, defined by services rendered incorporated into the Huff Model; a facility catchment area, defined as a function of facility attractiveness to account for variable catchment size; and a Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) to account for nonspatial factors that mitigate or compound the impacts of spatial access to care. Results of the study indicate a significant variation in access to OTPs statewide. Spatial access to OTPs is low across the entire state except for in a limited number of metropolitan areas. The majority of the population with low access (85%) live in areas with a moderate-to-high levels of social vulnerability. This research provides more realistic estimates of access to care and aims to assist policymakers in better targeting disadvantaged areas for OTP program expansion and resource allocation.

The role of the built environment, food prices and neighborhood poverty in fruit and vegetable consumption: An instrumental variable analysis of the moving to opportunity experiment.

The food environment has been associated with fruit and vegetable consumption, however many studies utilize cross-sectional research designs. This study examined 3,473 participants in the Moving to Opportunity experiment, who were randomized into groups that affected where they lived. The relationship between the built environment, food prices and neighborhood poverty, assessed over four to seven years, on fruit or vegetable consumption was examined using instrumental variable analysis. Higher food prices and neighborhood poverty were associated with lower fruit or vegetable consumption. Policies and programs that address food prices should be implemented and evaluated for their effects on fruit and vegetable consumption.

Walkability indices and children's walking behavior in rural vs. urban areas.

PURPOSE: This study described associations between selected walk indices (WI) and walking and physical activity behaviors in rural and urban children. FINDINGS: WI were higher in urban environments, yet children from rural areas walked for transportation more than children from urban areas. There was a negative correlation between National WI scores and walking for transportation in urban areas, and between the Frank WI scores and walking for exercise in rural areas. CONCLUSIONS: Indices of walkability are not associated with objectively measured physical activity or self-reported walking behavior in children living in rural and urban settings.