The UNLV School of Public Health took a big step toward addressing critical environmental health issues with the opening of a new Environmental and Occupational Health (EOH) laboratory. The university showcased the lab during National Public Health Week, which focuses this year on preparedness and public health threats, with a ceremony and tour featuring remarks from U.S. Senator Harry Reid, UNLV President David B. Ashley and representatives from the UNLV School of Public Health.
The EOH lab was funded through a $500,000 appropriation from the U.S. Department of Energy, with the assistance of Senator Reid, and provides needed infrastructure for studying the effect of environmental contaminants on people and wildlife in Southern Nevada. Under the direction of Shawn Gerstenberger, associate professor and chair of the department of environmental and occupational health, the EOH lab will build on existing research underway in the UNLV School of Public Health and improve its ability to attract competitive grants.
"Thanks to Senator Reid's efforts, the new laboratory will enable us to promote the health of Nevadans by monitoring the environment in our state to assure prompt identification and removal of hazardous substances," says Dr. Mary Guinan, founding dean of the UNLV School of Public Health. "This lab showcases the tremendous work of our relatively young school and is an indication that we're well on our way to becoming a national leader in environmental health research."
Lead poisoning is a very serious health risk for children under six and has been a major focus of public health researchers. Lead-contaminated paint is commonly found in and around homes constructed prior to 1978; more than 147,000 homes built prior to this date exist in Clark County. Research already conducted by the UNLV School of Public Health has led to the removal of lead-tainted candy from store shelves in Southern Nevada and to a comprehensive childhood lead poisoning prevention program for Nevada through a partnership with the Southern Nevada Health District.
Other research planned for the new lab includes the monitoring of fish in Lake Mead and Ash Meadows for chemical concentrations to assist government agencies in issuing fish consumption advisories; examining water quality and pollutants of our water supply, including the impact of invasive species such as Quagga mussels in Lake Mead; and monitoring environmental contaminants in displaced wildlife that indicate potential threats to human health.
The lab will also improve the ability of local researchers to partner with regional and national entities to track contaminant exposures, build registries, conduct surveys and develop long-term studies on human and wildlife. For example, the UNLV School of Public Health plans to develop a standard protocol for screening imported candies for lead. This protocol will assist in the creation of a national registry to assist the U.S. Food and Drug Administration with the removal of lead-tainted candy from store shelves.
The UNLV School of Public Health was founded in 2004 with a goal to improve quality of life and eliminate health disparities by providing quality education, research and service. More information can be found online at http://publichealth.unlv.edu/.
