Browsing by Author "Rajaee, Mozhgon"

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    Dataset of mercury levels found in cosmetic skin lightening products from Michigan and North Carolina
    (2022-09) Rajaee, Mozhgon; Bassene, Atoysha; Hsu-Kim, Heileen; Jin, Zehao
    Ethnic and racial minority populations are at a greater risk of using skin lightening products due to influences from colorism. Elevated levels of mercury in cosmetic skin lightening products have been documented throughout the US despite being banned. Because levels in North Carolina and Southeast Michigan are unknown, skin lightening products were collected from ethnic retailers between February 2019 to February 2020 in neighborhoods with minority ethnic enclaves. Two samples of each product were collected and analyzed for total mercury. Forty-five (n=45) skin lightening products were collected. Most samples (n=38) contained mercury levels that were below the detection limit (0.02 ppm), but two samples containing levels of 5,950 and 2,400 ppm, were well above the US Food and Drug Administration permissible level of 1 ppm. The two samples were from Mexico and purchased from a North Carolina Latin American supermarket.
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    Estrogen in Water Supply: An Assessment of the Presence of Estrogenic Compounds in Drinking Water and Associated Human Health Risks
    Torres, Hayley; Rajaee, Mozhgon
    Estrogenic-containing or mimicking compounds in surface or drinking water is of particular interest when seeking answers to whether or not the present levels are adverse. An increase in the use of synthetic estrogen, estrogen mimicking compounds, and endocrine disrupting chemicals such as in pharmaceuticals and pesticides creates a rising concern for human health (Conley et al., 2017). For the purpose of this research, naturally occurring estrogenic compounds are ignored. As society uses more synthetically produced materials containing possible endocrine disrupting estrogenic compounds, a growing risk of negative consequences can result for aquatic life and evidently human health. Investigating the trends in change and sources of the issue allows for a deeper understanding of potential sources of the problem. Although drinking water treatment is substantial, the detectable estrogenic levels that may be present can pose harm such as reproductive problems and cancer (Conley et al., 2017). Current literature lacks the connection between well-established, detected estrogenic levels in water and if these levels pose concern. Determining that the current levels are worrisome by intertwining the research, poses a promise towards increasing reasoning for further research regarding the detected levels in water in order to control and decrease further effects. Compiling the information creates an incentive to argue for change to occur to combat the growing problem of the rise in estrogen such as facilitating more public awareness, increasing research, and proposing extensive use of successful water treatment techniques.
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    Health care coverage and unemployment in the Bemidji Area: A profile on American Indians and Alaska Natives
    Maudrie, Tara; Rajaee, Mozhgon
    Health insurance greatly increases a person’s ability to care for, and prevent many chronic diseases. The lack of health insurance can cause individuals to delay or avoid medical attention which can lead to uncontrolled health conditions such as type 2 diabetes or hypertension which can cause further deterioration of health. Unemployment can also affect an individual’s ability to obtain health insurance as well as lead to other behaviors, such as poor nutrition, that could have negative health consequences. By examining the ACS data regarding employment and health insurance valuable associations between these two variables can be made at the population level. There are very few AI/AN statistics regarding health insurance and employment in the Great Lakes region. These two factors can greatly affect various aspects of physical, mental, and emotional health. The data used was from the American Community Survey (ACS), a supplement to the census, the data specifically used were from 2011-2015. Overall the ACS data showed what was expected, that AI/AN had higher unemployment rates and higher uninsured rates when compared to white Americans. Wisconsin, the only one of the three states that did not expand Medicaid, surprisingly had higher insurance rates than Minnesota. Further exploration of literature showed that both Wisconsin and Minnesota have additional public health programs to provide insurance for up to 200% of the federal poverty level. Although these programs have decreased uninsured rates, large disparities exist between white Americans and AI/AN. Further work needs to be done to eliminate these disparities, possibly minority specific public health insurance programs could be introduced to decrease these gaps. The Indian Health Service could possibly expand their insurance program to be more widely accepted at general primary care physicians to encourage more AI/AN to enroll. Another possible solution is creating more urban tribal centers that accept IHS insurance.
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    Literature review of epidemiological studies examining the relationship between calcium and lead levels
    (2021) Rajaee, Mozhgon; Dubovitskiy, Ernest; Brown, Victoria C.
    Lead has adverse effects on health, society, and the economy. Lead exposure results in increased blood lead levels and storage in bones. Calcium and lead are competitively absorbed and as such calcium can be used to mitigate the body lead burden. Twenty-eight quantitative research studies were reviewed that examined lead exposure (in blood, bone, or breastmilk) and calcium intake or serum calcium to evaluate the efficacy and safety of fortifying potable water supplies with calcium to mitigate lead absorption or resorption. Eighteen of the studies reported a significant inverse relationship between biomarker lead levels and calcium intake or serum calcium. The relationship was most evident with high calcium intake, suggesting a dose-dependent relationship. An intervention with calcium-fortified water could offer an accessible source of supplemental calcium to help meet the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) and mitigate lead absorption. A concentration of 60 mg-Ca/L can supply 22.0 and 16.3% of a 1,000 mg-Ca RDA for men and women, respectively, at the recommended daily water intake.