Grant Number:	5U01TW010094-08 Interpret this number
Primary Investigator:	Kumie, Abera
Organization:	Addis Ababa University
Project Title:	Global Environmental and Occupational Health Research and Training for Eastern Africa
Fiscal Year:	2024

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT This application requests renewal of an interdisciplinary mentored research program that will be supported by the linked U2R application (2/2: GEOHealth Hub for Research and Training in Eastern Africa – Ethiopia). Building on successes and lessons from the current program, the linked training and research programs of the Hub will advance research and the translation of locally-relevant findings into action around pressing public health issues related to air pollution exposure and health effects, and occupational exposure to extreme heat. The research and training program will be implemented in collaboration with Addis Ababa University (AAU) in Ethiopia, the Hub institution for the linked application. Spoke institutions are in Kenya (University of Nairobi) and Uganda (Makerere University). The research approach is structured around five aims. In Aim 1, the Hub will continue three activities that were successfully established during the first funding cycle, but that would be significantly enhanced by longitudinal data collection. Specifically, we propose to continue central site monitoring of air quality (fine particulate matter, or PM2.5) using infrastructure established in Cycle 1 in each city; to continue collecting hospital mortality and morbidity records in each city to enable time series studies linking air pollution and health; and to re-evaluate the respiratory health of the children included in the first cycle (the Eastern Africa Children’s Health Study – EACH) to examine the effect of PM2.5 on lung development trajectories. In Aim 2 we will measure personal air pollution exposure in 300 mother-child dyads in each city, supporting modeling of personal exposure in our entire child cohort and to establish a foundation for modeling personal exposure in our entire child cohort and for additional epidemiological studies of air pollution. Aim 3 will carry out a cross-sectional assessment of mothers of a subset of children in the EACH study to examine the effects of air pollution exposure on the respiratory and reproductive health of the woman/child dyad. In Aim 4, we seek to build on the enhanced capabilities and independence of the Hub investigators developed in Cycle 1 to conduct studies designed by each country based on local interest and relevance. In Ethiopia, we will implement a full version of a Cycle 1 pilot study of renal function and chronic kidney disease risk resulting from occupational heat stress. In Uganda we will assess ambulatory blood pressure in the subsample of EACH study children with personal exposure data. In Kenya, we will assess neurocognitive function in EACH study children using both test scores (full cohort) and psychometrics (personal exposure subsample). Aim 5 is to continue impacting policy and regulatory decisions via dissemination of study findings to central stakeholders at the local, national and regional level. This proposal brings together a transdisciplinary team of experts in environmental monitoring, epidemiology, and environmental policy; builds on the partners’ well-established research collaborations; and, promises to generate the evidence needed to support healthier environments and workplaces throughout Eastern Africa and beyond.




Air quality and attributable mortality among city dwellers in Kampala, Uganda: results from 4 years of continuous PM_2.5 concentration monitoring using BAM 1022 reference instrument.
Authors: Atuyambe L.M. , Etajak S. , Walyawula F. , Kasasa S. , Nyabigambo A. , Bazeyo W. , Wipfli H. , Samet J.M. , Berhane K.T. .
Source: Journal Of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology, 2024-06-15 00:00:00.0; , .
EPub date: 2024-06-15 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 38879713
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Fine particulate matter air pollution and health implications for Nairobi, Kenya.
Authors: Oguge O. , Nyamondo J. , Adera N. , Okolla L. , Okoth B. , Anyango S. , Afulo A. , Kumie A. , Samet J. , Berhane K. .
Source: Environmental Epidemiology (philadelphia, Pa.), 2024 Jun; 8(3), p. e307.
EPub date: 2024-04-16 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 38799266
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Climate Change and Human Health in Africa in Relation to Opportunities to Strengthen Mitigating Potential and Adaptive Capacity: Strategies to Inform an African "Brains Trust".
Authors: Wright C.Y. , Kapwata T. , Naidoo N. , Asante K.P. , Arku R.E. , Cissé G. , Simane B. , Atuyambe L. , Berhane K. .
Source: Annals Of Global Health, 2024; 90(1), p. 7.
EPub date: 2024-01-29 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 38312714
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The Health Impacts of Air Pollution in the Context of Changing Climate in Africa: A Narrative Review with Recommendations for Action.
Authors: Atuyambe L.M. , Arku R.E. , Naidoo N. , Kapwata T. , Asante K.P. , Cissé G. , Simane B. , Wright C.Y. , Berhane K. .
Source: Annals Of Global Health, 2024; 90(1), p. 76.
EPub date: 2024-12-05 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 39659482
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Ambient air pollution is associated with vascular disease in Ugandan HIV-positive adolescents.
Authors: Toe S. , Nagy M. , Albar Z. , Yu J. , Sattar A. , Nazzinda R. , Musiime V. , Etajak S. , Walyawula F. , McComsey G.A. , et al. .
Source: Aids (london, England), 2022-05-01 00:00:00.0; 36(6), p. 863-870.
EPub date: 2022-02-07 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 35131961
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Source Apportionment of Fine Organic Particulate Matter (PM_2.5) in Central Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Authors: Tefera W. , Kumie A. , Berhane K. , Gilliland F. , Lai A. , Sricharoenvech P. , Patz J. , Samet J. , Schauer J.J. .
Source: International Journal Of Environmental Research And Public Health, 2021-11-04 00:00:00.0; 18(21), .
EPub date: 2021-11-04 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 34770121
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Fine particulate pollution concentration in Addis Ababa exceeds the WHO guideline value: Results of 3 years of continuous monitoring and health impact assessment.
Authors: Kumie A. , Worku A. , Tazu Z. , Tefera W. , Asfaw A. , Boja G. , Mekashu M. , Siraw D. , Teferra S. , Zacharias K. , et al. .
Source: Environmental Epidemiology (philadelphia, Pa.), 2021 Jun; 5(3), p. e155.
EPub date: 2021-06-07 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 34131616
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The GEOHealth Hub for Eastern Africa: Contributions and Lessons Learned.
Authors: Wipfli H. , Kumie A. , Atuyambe L. , Oguge O. , Rugigana E. , Zacharias K. , Simane B. , Samet J. , Berhane K. .
Source: Geohealth, 2021 Jun; 5(6), p. e2021GH000406.
EPub date: 2021-06-01 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 34179671
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Chemical Characterization and Seasonality of Ambient Particles (PM_2.5) in the City Centre of Addis Ababa.
Authors: Tefera W. , Kumie A. , Berhane K. , Gilliland F. , Lai A. , Sricharoenvech P. , Samet J. , Patz J. , Schauer J.J. .
Source: International Journal Of Environmental Research And Public Health, 2020-09-24 00:00:00.0; 17(19), .
EPub date: 2020-09-24 00:00:00.0.
PMID: 32987918
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Association of Changes in Air Quality With Bronchitic Symptoms in Children in California, 1993-2012.
Authors: Berhane K. , Chang C.C. , McConnell R. , Gauderman W.J. , Avol E. , Rapapport E. , Urman R. , Lurmann F. , Gilliland F. .
Source: Jama, 2016-04-12 00:00:00.0; 315(14), p. 1491-501.
PMID: 27115265
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Occupational Health and Safety in Ethiopia: A review of Situational Analysis and Needs Assessment.
Authors: Kumie A. , Amera T. , Berhane K. , Samet J. , Hundal N. , G/Michael F. , Gilliland F. .
Source: The Ethiopian Journal Of Health Development = Ya'ityopya Tena Lemat Mashet, 2016; 30(1 Spec Iss), p. 17-27.
PMID: 28867918
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Review of Climate Change and Health in Ethiopia: Status and Gap Analysis.
Authors: Simane B. , Beyene H. , Deressa W. , Kumie A. , Berhane K. , Samet J. .
Source: The Ethiopian Journal Of Health Development = Ya'ityopya Tena Lemat Mashet, 2016; 30(1 Spec Iss), p. 28-41.
PMID: 28867919
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Health Effects of Environmental Exposures, Occupational Hazards and Climate Change in Ethiopia: Synthesis of Situational Analysis, Needs Assessment and the Way Forward.
Authors: Berhane K. , Kumie A. , Samet J. .
Source: The Ethiopian Journal Of Health Development = Ya'ityopya Tena Lemat Mashet, 2016; 30(1 Spec Iss), p. 50-56.
PMID: 28867920
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Strengthening the Link between Economic Development, Environment and Public Health.
Authors: Hailemariam D. .
Source: The Ethiopian Journal Of Health Development = Ya'ityopya Tena Lemat Mashet, 2016; 30(1 Spec Iss), p. 1-4.
PMID: 28890629
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Review of Policy, Regulatory, and Organizational Frameworks of Environment and Health in Ethiopia.
Authors: Mitike G. , Motbainor A. , Kumie A. , Samet J. , Wipfli H. .
Source: The Ethiopian Journal Of Health Development = Ya'ityopya Tena Lemat Mashet, 2016; 30(1 Spec Iss), p. 42-49.
PMID: 28890630
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Indoor and Outdoor Air Pollution- related Health Problem in Ethiopia: Review of Related Literature.
Authors: Tefera W. , Asfaw A. , Gilliland F. , Worku A. , Wondimagegn M. , Kumie A. , Samet J. , Berhane K. .
Source: The Ethiopian Journal Of Health Development = Ya'ityopya Tena Lemat Mashet, 2016; 30(1), p. 5-16.
PMID: 28890631
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