Katarzyna Kordas
Biographic Data
| ID | 5468394 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Katarzyna Kordas |
| GIVEN NAMES | Katarzyna |
| FAMILY NAME | Kordas |
| SIGNATURE | KORDAS K |
| AFFILIATIONS | University at Buffalo, State University of New York |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-9243-5305 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 15 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 2 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 15 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2013 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Envisioning Healthy Soil Futures
Soil health is critical for healthy cities, yet little is known about how communities experience and address soil contamination. Contamination of soils can expose residents to heavy metals, which may have detrimental health effects. This study focuses on Buffalo, NY, using a mixed-methods approach to understand community experiences surrounding soil contaminants, planning, and policy. Findings reveal that spatial patterns of lead contaminants mir…
Ambasada Natury. O znaczeniu porastania i innych relacjach z roślinami
Human–plant interactions are dominated by practices of control, maintenance of order and demarcation of interspecies contact zones. Activities that fall within this paradigm (such as lawn trimming, weed removal, and algae control) are "transparent” activities, more or less unreflective. Although we know more and more about water retention, the role of urban meadows and biodiversity, refraining from mowing grass in public spaces is still met with …
Predicting blood lead in Uruguayan children
Predicting childhood blood lead levels (BLLs) has had mixed success, and it is unclear if individual- or neighborhood-level variables are most predictive. An ensemble machine learning (ML) approach to identify the most relevant predictors of BLL ≥2μg/dL in urban children was implemented. A cross-sectional sample of 603 children (~7 years of age) recruited between 2009–2019 from Montevideo, Uruguay participated in the study. 77 individual- and 32 …
Predicting Low-Level Childhood Lead Exposure in Metro Atlanta Using Ensemble Machine Learning of High-Resolution Raster Cells
Low-level lead exposure in children is a major public health issue. Higher-resolution spatial targeting would significantly improve county and state-wide policies and programs for lead exposure prevention that generally intervene across large geographic areas. We use stack-ensemble machine learning, including an elastic net generalized linear model, gradient-boosted machine, and deep neural network, to predict the number of children with venous b…
Pyrethroid and Chlorpyrifos Pesticide Exposure, General Intellectual Abilities, and Executive Functions of School Children from Montevideo, Uruguay
Children's developing brains are susceptible to pesticides. Less is known about the effect of exposure to chlorpyrifos and pyrethroids on executive functions (EF). We measured urinary 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCPy), a metabolite of chlorpyrifos, and urinary 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA), a general, nonspecific metabolite of pyrethroids in first-grade children from Montevideo, Uruguay ( n = 241, age 80.6 ± 6.4 months, 58.1% boys). EFs were ass…
Food Insecurity and Water Insecurity in Rural Zimbabwe
Background : With millions of people experiencing malnutrition and inadequate water access, FI and WI remain topics of vital importance to global health. Existing unidimensional FI and WI metrics do not all capture similar multidimensional aspects, thus restricting our ability to assess and address food- and water-related issues. Methods : Using the Sanitation, Hygiene and Infant Nutrition Efficacy (SHINE) trial data, our study conceptualizes hou…
Increased Risk of Sub-Clinical Blood Lead Levels in the 20-County Metro Atlanta, Georgia Area—A Laboratory Surveillance-Based Study
Lead (Pb) is a naturally occurring, highly toxic metal that has adverse effects on children across a range of exposure levels. Limited screening programs leave many children at risk for chronic low-level lead exposure and there is little understanding of what factors may be used to identify children at risk. We characterize the distribution of blood lead levels (BLLs) in children aged 0-72 months and their associations with sociodemographic and a…
Effect of an equipment-behavior change intervention on handwashing behavior among primary school children in Kenya
Our combined equipment-behavior intervention increased availability of handwashing materials and improved the compliance with handwashing after using the toilet, but handwashing with soap was still rare. Equipment durability must be improved for deployment in schools at scale. American Economic Association's Registry for Randomized Controlled Trials; Trial Registry Number (TRN): AEARCTR-0000662; Date of Registry: April 14, 2015
Lead Exposure in Low and Middle-Income Countries
Lead exposure is a legacy issue that continues to affect vulnerable population groups globally, but particularly in low and middle-income countries (LMICS). We take a multi-disciplinary approach to examine the patterns of lead exposure in these countries, discuss the underlying injustices and socio-political causes, and the economic costs that are associated with exposure. We conclude with some lessons we drew from our discussion of lead across t…
Association of Low Lead Levels with Behavioral Problems and Executive Function Deficits in Schoolers from Montevideo, Uruguay
The negative effect of lead exposure on children's intelligence is well-documented. Less is known about the impact of lead on the use of executive functions to self-regulate behavior. We measured blood lead level (BLL) in a sample of first grade children from Montevideo, Uruguay (n = 206, age 6.7 ± 0.5 years, 59.7% boys). Behavior was assessed with teacher versions of the Conners Rating Scale (CRS) and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive F…
Companion Animals and Child/Adolescent Development
Childhood and adolescence are important developmental phases which influence health and well-being across the life span. Social relationships are fundamental to child and adolescent development; yet studies have been limited to children’s relationships with other humans. This paper provides an evidence review for the potential associations between pet ownership and emotional; behavioural; cognitive; educational and social developmental outcomes. …
Association between maternal education and objectively measured physical activity and sedentary time in adolescents
BACKGROUND: Investigating socioeconomic variation in physical activity (PA) and sedentary time is important as it may represent a pathway by which socioeconomic position (SEP) leads to ill health. Findings on the association between children's SEP and objectively assessed PA and/or sedentary time are mixed, and few studies have included international samples. OBJECTIVE: Examine the associations between maternal education and adolescent's objectiv…
Associations between women's autonomy and child nutritional status
Around the world, many women continue to experience low levels of autonomy. Recent literature has reported that the health consequences of low maternal autonomy extend beyond mothers and translate into health consequences for their children, and may be an important causal factor in child malnutrition. This review summarises the current knowledge of the relationship between maternal autonomy and children's nutritional status (defined as any measur…
Objectively measured physical activity and sedentary time in youth
BACKGROUND: Physical activity and sedentary behaviour in youth have been reported to vary by sex, age, weight status and country. However, supporting data are often self-reported and/or do not encompass a wide range of ages or geographical locations. This study aimed to describe objectively-measured physical activity and sedentary time patterns in youth. METHODS: The International Children's Accelerometry Database (ICAD) consists of ActiGraph acc…
The Relationship Among Depression, Parenting Stress, and Partner Support in Low-Income Women From Montevideo, Uruguay
We investigated the prevalence and predictors of depression in low-income mothers (n = 99) of young children from Uruguay. We administered the Beck Depression Scale (BDI) and the Parenting Stress Index (PSI), and asked who is responsible for the main tasks of parenting and household care. We found a high prevalence of moderate-to-severe depression (BDI >19 points, 31.3%), with women with t scores > 90 on the PSI being seven times more likely to e…
Association between maternal education and objectively measured physical activity and sedentary time in adolescents
BACKGROUND: Investigating socioeconomic variation in physical activity (PA) and sedentary time is important as it may represent a pathway by which socioeconomic position (SEP) leads to ill health. Findings on the association between children's SEP and objectively assessed PA and/or sedentary time are mixed, and few studies have included international samples. OBJECTIVE: Examine the associations between maternal education and adolescent's objectiv…
The Relationship Among Depression, Parenting Stress, and Partner Support in Low-Income Women From Montevideo, Uruguay
We investigated the prevalence and predictors of depression in low-income mothers (n = 99) of young children from Uruguay. We administered the Beck Depression Scale (BDI) and the Parenting Stress Index (PSI), and asked who is responsible for the main tasks of parenting and household care. We found a high prevalence of moderate-to-severe depression (BDI >19 points, 31.3%), with women with t scores > 90 on the PSI being seven times more likely to e…
Associations between women's autonomy and child nutritional status
Around the world, many women continue to experience low levels of autonomy. Recent literature has reported that the health consequences of low maternal autonomy extend beyond mothers and translate into health consequences for their children, and may be an important causal factor in child malnutrition. This review summarises the current knowledge of the relationship between maternal autonomy and children's nutritional status (defined as any measur…
Objectively measured physical activity and sedentary time in youth
BACKGROUND: Physical activity and sedentary behaviour in youth have been reported to vary by sex, age, weight status and country. However, supporting data are often self-reported and/or do not encompass a wide range of ages or geographical locations. This study aimed to describe objectively-measured physical activity and sedentary time patterns in youth. METHODS: The International Children's Accelerometry Database (ICAD) consists of ActiGraph acc…
Association between maternal education and objectively measured physical activity and sedentary time in adolescents
BACKGROUND: Investigating socioeconomic variation in physical activity (PA) and sedentary time is important as it may represent a pathway by which socioeconomic position (SEP) leads to ill health. Findings on the association between children's SEP and objectively assessed PA and/or sedentary time are mixed, and few studies have included international samples. OBJECTIVE: Examine the associations between maternal education and adolescent's objectiv…
Companion Animals and Child/Adolescent Development
Childhood and adolescence are important developmental phases which influence health and well-being across the life span. Social relationships are fundamental to child and adolescent development; yet studies have been limited to children’s relationships with other humans. This paper provides an evidence review for the potential associations between pet ownership and emotional; behavioural; cognitive; educational and social developmental outcomes. …
Lead Exposure in Low and Middle-Income Countries
Lead exposure is a legacy issue that continues to affect vulnerable population groups globally, but particularly in low and middle-income countries (LMICS). We take a multi-disciplinary approach to examine the patterns of lead exposure in these countries, discuss the underlying injustices and socio-political causes, and the economic costs that are associated with exposure. We conclude with some lessons we drew from our discussion of lead across t…
Association of Low Lead Levels with Behavioral Problems and Executive Function Deficits in Schoolers from Montevideo, Uruguay
The negative effect of lead exposure on children's intelligence is well-documented. Less is known about the impact of lead on the use of executive functions to self-regulate behavior. We measured blood lead level (BLL) in a sample of first grade children from Montevideo, Uruguay (n = 206, age 6.7 ± 0.5 years, 59.7% boys). Behavior was assessed with teacher versions of the Conners Rating Scale (CRS) and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive F…
Effect of an equipment-behavior change intervention on handwashing behavior among primary school children in Kenya
Our combined equipment-behavior intervention increased availability of handwashing materials and improved the compliance with handwashing after using the toilet, but handwashing with soap was still rare. Equipment durability must be improved for deployment in schools at scale. American Economic Association's Registry for Randomized Controlled Trials; Trial Registry Number (TRN): AEARCTR-0000662; Date of Registry: April 14, 2015
Food Insecurity and Water Insecurity in Rural Zimbabwe
Background : With millions of people experiencing malnutrition and inadequate water access, FI and WI remain topics of vital importance to global health. Existing unidimensional FI and WI metrics do not all capture similar multidimensional aspects, thus restricting our ability to assess and address food- and water-related issues. Methods : Using the Sanitation, Hygiene and Infant Nutrition Efficacy (SHINE) trial data, our study conceptualizes hou…
Increased Risk of Sub-Clinical Blood Lead Levels in the 20-County Metro Atlanta, Georgia Area—A Laboratory Surveillance-Based Study
Lead (Pb) is a naturally occurring, highly toxic metal that has adverse effects on children across a range of exposure levels. Limited screening programs leave many children at risk for chronic low-level lead exposure and there is little understanding of what factors may be used to identify children at risk. We characterize the distribution of blood lead levels (BLLs) in children aged 0-72 months and their associations with sociodemographic and a…
Predicting Low-Level Childhood Lead Exposure in Metro Atlanta Using Ensemble Machine Learning of High-Resolution Raster Cells
Low-level lead exposure in children is a major public health issue. Higher-resolution spatial targeting would significantly improve county and state-wide policies and programs for lead exposure prevention that generally intervene across large geographic areas. We use stack-ensemble machine learning, including an elastic net generalized linear model, gradient-boosted machine, and deep neural network, to predict the number of children with venous b…
Pyrethroid and Chlorpyrifos Pesticide Exposure, General Intellectual Abilities, and Executive Functions of School Children from Montevideo, Uruguay
Children's developing brains are susceptible to pesticides. Less is known about the effect of exposure to chlorpyrifos and pyrethroids on executive functions (EF). We measured urinary 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCPy), a metabolite of chlorpyrifos, and urinary 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA), a general, nonspecific metabolite of pyrethroids in first-grade children from Montevideo, Uruguay ( n = 241, age 80.6 ± 6.4 months, 58.1% boys). EFs were ass…
Ambasada Natury. O znaczeniu porastania i innych relacjach z roślinami
Human–plant interactions are dominated by practices of control, maintenance of order and demarcation of interspecies contact zones. Activities that fall within this paradigm (such as lawn trimming, weed removal, and algae control) are "transparent” activities, more or less unreflective. Although we know more and more about water retention, the role of urban meadows and biodiversity, refraining from mowing grass in public spaces is still met with …
Predicting blood lead in Uruguayan children
Predicting childhood blood lead levels (BLLs) has had mixed success, and it is unclear if individual- or neighborhood-level variables are most predictive. An ensemble machine learning (ML) approach to identify the most relevant predictors of BLL ≥2μg/dL in urban children was implemented. A cross-sectional sample of 603 children (~7 years of age) recruited between 2009–2019 from Montevideo, Uruguay participated in the study. 77 individual- and 32 …
Envisioning Healthy Soil Futures
Soil health is critical for healthy cities, yet little is known about how communities experience and address soil contamination. Contamination of soils can expose residents to heavy metals, which may have detrimental health effects. This study focuses on Buffalo, NY, using a mixed-methods approach to understand community experiences surrounding soil contaminants, planning, and policy. Findings reveal that spatial patterns of lead contaminants mir…
Medicine (10 works) · Environmental health (7 works) · Geography (5 works) · Heavy Metal Exposure and Toxicity (5 works) · Demography (4 works) · Demography (4 works) · Environmental Justice and Health Disparities (4 works) · Lead exposure (4 works) · Psychology (4 works) · Biology (3 works)