Positions

Overview

  • Dr. Zierold is an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences. She received a BS in Chemical Engineering (1994) from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and an MS in Chemical Engineering (1996) from Vanderbilt University. Dr. Zierold earned her PhD in Public Health (specializing in Environmental/Occupational Health Sciences and Epidemiology) form the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2001. After finishing her PhD, Dr. Zierold was an Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Officer with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2001-2003). The EIS is an elite team of doctoral level scientists who work on the frontlines of public health to investigate disease outbreaks, clusters, occupational and environmental hazards, and to respond to natural disasters, emergencies, and public health problems throughout the world. It is a two-year program.

    • Selected Publications

    Academic Article

    Year Title Altmetric
    2020 Health symptoms among adults living near a coal-burning power plant 2020
    2020 A review on fly ash from coal-fired power plants: chemical composition, regulations, and health evidence. 2020
    2020 National secular trends in ambient air volatile organic compound levels and biomarkers of exposure in the United States.  Environmental Research.  182. 2020
    2020 Sex differences in the association between exposure to indoor particulate matter and cognitive control among children (age 6–14 years) living near coal-fired power plants.  Neurotoxicology and Teratology.  78. 2020
    2019 Recruitment strategies and challenges: Lessons learned from a coal ash and children's health study.  Research in Nursing and Health.  42:446-457. 2019
    2019 Respiratory health in adults residing near a coal-burning power plant with coal ash storage facilities: A cross-sectional epidemiological study.  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.  16. 2019
    2019 Seasonal variations, source apportionment, and health risk assessment of heavy metals in pm2.5 in Ningbo, China.  Aerosol and air quality research.  19:2083-2092. 2019
    2019 The search for environmental justice: The story of north Birmingham.  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.  16. 2019
    2018 Elevated Blood Lead Levels by Length of Time From Resettlement to Health Screening in Kentucky Refugee Children.  American Journal of Public Health.  108:270-276. 2018
    2017 Youth doing dangerous tasks: Supervision matters.  American Journal of Industrial Medicine.  60:789-797. 2017
    2017 Health of Children Living Near Coal Ash..  Global Pediatric Health.  4:2333794X17720330. 2017
    2016 Exposure-Reducing Behaviors Among Residents Living Near a Coal Ash Storage Site.  Health Education and Behavior.  43:559-567. 2016
    2016 Communication breakdown: How working teens' perceptions of their supervisors impact safety and injury.  WORK.  54:3-9. 2016
    2016 Safety training for working youth: Methods used versus methods wanted.  WORK.  54:149-157. 2016
    2016 Perceptions of supervision among injured and non-injured teens working in the retail or service industry.  Workplace Health and Safety.  64:152-162. 2016
    2015 Teen worker safety training: Methods used, lessons taught, and time spent.  New Solutions: A Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health Policy.  25:25-41. 2015
    2015 Are healthcare providers asking about environmental exposures? a community-based mixed methods study.  Journal of Environmental and Public Health.  2015. 2015
    2015 Community Views About the Health and Exposure of Children Living Near a Coal Ash Storage Site.  Journal of Community Health.  40:357-363. 2015
    2014 The association between school-to-work programs and school performance.  Journal of Adolescent Health.  54:221-227. 2014
    2012 Attitudes of teenagers towards workplace safety training.  Journal of Community Health.  37:1289-1295. 2012
    2012 Working for mom and dad: Are teens more likely to get injured working in family-owned businesses?.  Journal of Community Health.  37:186-194. 2012
    2011 School-sponsored work programs: A first look at differences in work and injury outcomes of teens enrolled in school-to-work programs compared to other-working teens.  Occupational and Environmental Medicine.  68:818-825. 2011
    2011 Students enrolled in school-sponsored work programs: The effect of multiple jobs on workplace safety and school-based behaviors.  Wisconsin medical journal.  110:171-177. 2011
    2007 Exposure to lead and length of time needed to make homes lead-safe for young children.  American Journal of Public Health.  97:267-270. 2007
    2006 Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Work-Related Injuries among Teenagers.  Journal of Adolescent Health.  39:422-426. 2006
    2006 Severe injury and the need for improved safety training among working teens..  American Journal of Health Behavior.  30:525-532. 2006
    2006 Association of arsenic-contaminated drinking-water with prevalence of skin cancer in Wisconsin's Fox River Valley 2006
    2006 The relationship between work permits, injury, and safety training among working teenagers.  American Journal of Industrial Medicine.  49:360-366. 2006
    2006 Severe injury and the need for improved safety training among working teens.  American Journal of Health Behavior.  30:525-532. 2006
    2005 A comparison of school performance and behaviors among working and nonworking high school students.  Family and Community Health.  28:214-224. 2005
    2004 Summer work and injury among middle school students, aged 10-14 years.  Occupational and Environmental Medicine.  61:518-522. 2004
    2004 Prevalence of chronic diseases in adults exposed to arsenic-contaminated drinking water.  American Journal of Public Health.  94:1936-1937. 2004
    2004 Trends in blood lead levels among children enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children from 1996 to 2000.  American Journal of Public Health.  94:1513-1515. 2004
    2002 Re-hospitalization after diagnosis of diabetes varies by gender and socioeconomic status in urban African-American and Latino young people.  Pediatric Diabetes.  3:16-22. 2002

    Research Overview

  • Dr. Zierold's research involves applying environmental and occupational health and epidemiology methods and concepts to community-based problems. She has worked with many diverse populations in community, clinical, and industrial settings. Dr. Zierold's education and training included quantitative and qualitative research methods, as well as exposure assessment and industrial hygiene techniques; therefore her research utilizes mixed-methods designs when applicable. Dr. Zierold has been principal investigator on grants funded by NIEHS, NIOSH, and foundations.


    Keywords: Air pollution, coal ash, environmental epidemiology, children's environmental health, community-based research, adverse outcomes from exposure to heavy metals, work-related injury in children and adolescents

    • Principal Investigator On

    Teaching Overview

  • Dr. Zierold is the primary course instructor for ENH660 Fundamentals of Air and Water Pollution. She has a strong interest in working with doctoral and masters students. She has chaired or has been a committee member on 16 dissertation and thesis committees for PhD and MS students. She has worked with over 10 MPH students on their practicums or internships.

    • Teaching Activities

    Education And Training

  • Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Science, University of Illinois System : Chicago 2001
  • Master of Science in Chemical Engineering, Vanderbilt University 1996
  • Bachelor of Science or Mathematics in Chemical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute 1994
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Postdoctoral Fellowship 2003

    • Awards And Honors

    Full Name

  • Kristina Zierold