Whole-body vibration contributes to ag workers’ back pain

Back pain is often tied to agriculture work. Pushing, pulling, and lifting are the oft-cited culprits, but silently hiding behind these usual suspects may be the chief instigator: vibration. A recently released study from the University of Iowa examines levels of whole-body vibration (WBV) absorbed during operation of agriculture vehicles. The innovative analysis suggests that over the course of lifetime exposure, WBV may be devastating for particular growers. (Ag Web) Published November 28, 2018

Expert to speak on impact of children’s exposures to environmental chemicals

David C. Bellinger, PhD, with the Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, will speak on "How to think about (and characterize) the population impact of children's exposures to environmental chemicals" on Friday, Dec. 7 at 10:45 a.m. in 2117 MERF. Published November 15, 2018

Study examines how water access and sanitation affect birth outcomes

Spending more time per day fetching water increased Indian women's risk of delivering a low birth weight baby, according to a study by CPH researchers. The study examines the complex relationships between water and sanitation access and social conditions on birth outcomes among women in India. (Multiple sources) Published November 8, 2018

CHEEC accepting seed grant applications for environmental research

The University of Iowa Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination (CHEEC) is currently accepting applications for its FY2019 Seed Grant Program. CHEEC supports environmental health research relating to environmental toxins. Its mission is "to determine the levels of environmental contamination which can be specifically associated with human health effects." Proposals must be submitted by 5 p.m. Jan. 25.  Published November 1, 2018

Video: Studying farm machinery vibration and back pain

Back pain is a common issue, especially among farmers who spend long days operating machinery. By understanding the effects of machinery vibration, CPH associate professor Nathan Fethke and his research team can help farmers avoid costly long-term back injuries. Published November 1, 2018

NIH awards UI team $2 million grant

A team from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine and the College of Public Health won a three-year, $2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health for a project to deliver gene editing tools to hard-to-reach cells in the airway. The grant was one of the first to be funded by NIH's new Somatic Cell Genome Editing program. (Daily Iowan) Published October 26, 2018

Machine vibrations may contribute to farmers’ back pain

A new study from the University of Iowa has found that vibrations from farm machinery may lead to increasing back pain for farmers and other agricultural workers. "We want it to not be just part of the job. We want (back pain) to be something farmers are thinking about early in their careers so they do what they can to protect themselves," said Nathan Fethke, lead investigator on the study and CPH associate professor. (The Gazette) Published October 25, 2018

IPRC presents data at opioid conference in Waterloo

Rep. Rod Blum recently held a conference with state Rep. Sandy Salmon and Chris Hoffman, executive director of Pathways Behavioral Services, to discuss opioid addiction and its effect on Iowa. According to a presentation from Ann Saba from the University of Iowa's Injury Prevention Research Center, opioid prescriptions are higher in rural counties than in urban ones. (Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier) Published October 25, 2018

Farmers share stories to increase safety

The Telling the Story Project gathers farmers' stories of injuries and close calls to start conversations about agricultural safety. "It gets people talking comfortably about safety. They stop being afraid to talk about something, even if it's a mistake that they may have made, an error in judgment or a lack of awareness," says Stephanie Leonard, an occupational safety manager with the Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health. (U.S.News) Published October 25, 2018

Study looks at impact of water, sanitation, and social conditions on birth outcomes in India

A new study by researchers in the UI College of Public Health examines the complex relationships between water and sanitation access and social conditions on birth outcomes among women in India. Globally, preterm birth and low infant birth weight are leading causes of maternal and child illnesses and death. In low-income countries, the challenges women face to meet their basic water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) needs may be a major contributor to adverse health outcomes. Published October 19, 2018