Center-Affiliated Research Projects
FILIPPELLI
Filippelli's research group focuses on environmental exposure to human toxicants.
A number of human-related compounds are present at high levels in cities, including
the neurotoxins lead and mercury. Each have their own unique sources, legacies on
the landscape, and exposure pathways to humans. Fillippell's group uses earth science
monitoring tools coupled with advanced laboratory geochemical techniques and epidemiological
to assess the courses, pathways, and main exposure mechanisms to humans. Ultimately,
the goal of this research is to identify the most important components of these
exposure pathways and reduce or eliminate them.
Left panels—Lower shows the spatial distribution of soil lead (colored fields)
in Marion County, along with the incidences of blood lead poisoning (blue dots),
revealing the spatial correlation between soil lead and lead poisoning (Filippelli
et al., 2005). Upper shows seasonal variations in blood lead levels measured for
Indianapolis children (circles) versus the seasonal trend predicted using a model
of soil dust exposure—revealing that soil lead is being redistributed during dry
months, and annually re-exposing children, and thus providing a mechanism to explain
the spatial correlation in the lower panel (Laidlaw et al., 2005). Right panel shows
the distribution of soil mercury values in central Indiana (warm colors=higher values),
revealing local point sources for mercury emissions from large coal-burning power
plants; this analysis was coupled with river mercury values to predict exposure
risks to anglers in central Indiana (Hatcher and Filippelli, in press, Water, Air
& Soil Pollution)
JOHNSON
Using NASA Data and Models to Improve Heat Watch Warning for Decision Support
The purpose of this project is to develop vulnerability models for a number of U.S.
cities to be utilized during episodes of extreme heat. The developed models include
satellite-based measurements using a multi-sensor fusion technique and combining
this information with socio-economic measurements from the U.S. Census Bureau. This
information will be utilized by emergency planners to develop mitigation strategies
and to direct resources during active heat waves.
ZOLLINGER
Impact of Demographic Characteristics on Attitudes about Clean Air Policies
The purpose of this project is to evaluate the impact of demographic characteristics
(age, gender, urban/rural residence) on individuals' support for second hand smoke
workplace policies. We are utilizing survey data previously collected by the Indiana
Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Agency (ITPC) using the Adult Tobacco Survey.
Determining Factors that Influence Graduates' Decision to Practice in an Urban or
Rural Area
This study will use the results of the Graduate Exit Survey administered to individuals
completing IU School of Medicine residency and fellowship programs. The primary
purpose of the study is to better understand the role of demographic characteristics
and other factors on graduates' decision on where they plan to practice medicine.
WIEHE
Pearl Grlz: Space-time analysis of adolescent health-risk behavior (NICHD/NIAID
K23HD057130-01A2 and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Physician Faculty Scholars Program;
PI: Wiehe)
The Pearl Grlz study aims to examine the dynamic context, or the changing physical
and social environments, as it relates to health-risk behaviors of adolescent young
women by (a) employing global position satellite (GPS)-enabled cell phones to continuously
track their movements for four one-week periods over the course of a year, and (b)
using qualitative techniques to identify important contextual constructs to health-risk
behaviors. Learning more about environmental correlates of adolescent health-risk
may aid in developing individually-tailored interventions using mobile devices and
inform policy-relevant interventions to promote health among young women. The next
phase of this work will be to recruit and follow girls longitudinally over an 18-month
period to understand more specifically the space-time relationship between where
an adolescent chooses to spend time and her behaviors and how this relationship
might evolve over time.
Disparities in sexually transmitted infections among young women: Role of individual-
and community-level exposures to incarceration and crime (NIAID/NICHD R21AI084060-01;
PI: Wiehe)
Using incarceration and clinical data linked at the individual level over a ten-year
period, we will investigate the association between incarceration, crime, and risk
of STI. Specifically, we will address how and why differences exist by age, area
of exposure, and incarceration agency, and over time. Most importantly, we will
evaluate how differences in exposure to individual and community incarceration and
crime may contribute to STI disparities by race.