Kristina D Mena
Biographic Data
| ID | 7504804 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Kristina D Mena |
| GIVEN NAMES | Kristina D |
| FAMILY NAME | Mena |
| SIGNATURE | MENA K D |
| AFFILIATIONS | The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston |
| VERIFIED | No |
| TOTAL WORKS | 11 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 0 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 11 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2006 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 0 |
Turning analysis into action
In the 5 years since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the field of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has dramatically expanded with programs implemented across the globe to monitor for SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses of public health concern. However, the best way to use wastewater surveillance data and inform local communities of the utility of wastewater science remains limited and sporadically discussed. Specifically, there is vague guid…
Examining Management and Employees’ Perceptions of Occupational Heat Exposure and the Effectiveness of a Heat Stress Prevention Intervention on Safety and Well-Being among Natural Gas Construction Wor…
To advance construction workers' safety, health, and well-being, both employee involvement and employer management are needed, along with no-cost accessible resources. Additionally, implementing a required routine rest break and comprehensive heat stress education, particularly for older workers, will significantly promote safety and safe work practices in hot environments. Note: in this study, the terms 'worker' and 'employee' are used interchan…
Wastewater pandemic preparedness
Molecular analysis of public wastewater has great potential as a harbinger for community health and health threats. Long-used to monitor the presence of enteric viruses, in particular polio, recent successes of wastewater as a reliable lead indicator for trends in SARS-CoV-2 levels and hospital admissions has generated optimism and emerging evidence that similar science can be applied to other pathogens of pandemic potential (PPPs), especially re…
Informing ASR Treatment Practices in a Florida Aquifer through a Human Health Risk Approach
Aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) can augment water supplies and hydrologic flows under varying climatic conditions. However, imposing drinking water regulations on ASR practices, including pre-treatment before injection into the aquifer, remains arguable. Microbial inactivation data- Escherichia coli , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , poliovirus type 1 and Cryptosporidium parvum -were used in a human health risk assessment to identify how the storage t…
Quantified Activity Patterns for Young Children in Beach Environments Relevant for Exposure to Contaminants
In a study to evaluate beach play activities, 120 children were videotaped to observe and quantify factors that could influence their exposure to contaminants in the beach environment. Children aged 1 to 6 years were followed by researchers with video cameras at beaches (two in Miami, Florida and two in Galveston, Texas) for approximately one hour each. Factors evaluated included time spent in various beach locations, various activities engaged i…
Soil, Hand, and Body Adherence Measures across Four Beach Areas
Skin adherence (SA) of soil affects exposure from soil contaminants through dermal routes via loading on the skin and through ingestion routes through hand to mouth activities. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the relationships between adherence versus child-specific and environmental factors. Two sets of soil-to-skin adherence were evaluated. The first was based on loading on hands following hand presses (Hand SA). The second was ba…
Estimating Health Risks to Children Associated with Recreational Play on Oil Spill-Contaminated Beaches
The human health impact from exposure to contaminated shorelines following an oil spill event has been investigated to some extent. However, the health risks to children have largely been characterized through the use of surveys and extrapolation from adult health outcomes. There is limited information on children's behaviors during beach play requiring assumptions made based on observations from play activities in home settings. The Beach Exposu…
Children Exposure-Related Behavior Patterns and Risk Perception Associated with Recreational Beach Use
The data presented here may prove useful for those evaluating children exposures to a variety of contaminants, chemical, or bacterial in origin. In addition, coastal managers may find the risk perception and general behaviors useful for planning and maintenance of beach areas
Exploring Lived Experiences of Violence and Coping Among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Youth in Kingston, Jamaica
Objectives: This study explored experiences of violence and coping among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth in Kingston, Jamaica. Methods: We conducted three focus groups with LGBT youth (18–29 years old), one with gay men (n = 10); one with transgender women (n = 8); and the third with lesbian and bisexual women (n = 5). Thematic analysis was used to understand lived experiences of violence and coping. Results: Findings revealed…
Risk Assessment for Children Exposed to Beach Sands Impacted by Oil Spill Chemicals
Due to changes in the drilling industry, oil spills are impacting large expanses of coastlines, thereby increasing the potential for people to come in contact with oil spill chemicals. The objective of this manuscript was to evaluate the health risk to children who potentially contact beach sands impacted by oil spill chemicals from the Deepwater Horizon disaster. To identify chemicals of concern, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's…
Evaluating in-home water purification methods for communities in Texas on the border with Mexico
This study evaluated user preferences among three alternative in-home water treatment technologies suitable for households relying on trucked water in El Paso County, Texas, which is on the border with Mexico. The three technologies were: chlorination of household storage tanks, small-scale batch chlorination, and point-of-use ultraviolet disinfection. Fifteen households used each of the three technologies in succession for roughly four weeks eac…
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Evaluating in-home water purification methods for communities in Texas on the border with Mexico
This study evaluated user preferences among three alternative in-home water treatment technologies suitable for households relying on trucked water in El Paso County, Texas, which is on the border with Mexico. The three technologies were: chlorination of household storage tanks, small-scale batch chlorination, and point-of-use ultraviolet disinfection. Fifteen households used each of the three technologies in succession for roughly four weeks eac…
Exploring Lived Experiences of Violence and Coping Among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Youth in Kingston, Jamaica
Objectives: This study explored experiences of violence and coping among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth in Kingston, Jamaica. Methods: We conducted three focus groups with LGBT youth (18–29 years old), one with gay men (n = 10); one with transgender women (n = 8); and the third with lesbian and bisexual women (n = 5). Thematic analysis was used to understand lived experiences of violence and coping. Results: Findings revealed…
Risk Assessment for Children Exposed to Beach Sands Impacted by Oil Spill Chemicals
Due to changes in the drilling industry, oil spills are impacting large expanses of coastlines, thereby increasing the potential for people to come in contact with oil spill chemicals. The objective of this manuscript was to evaluate the health risk to children who potentially contact beach sands impacted by oil spill chemicals from the Deepwater Horizon disaster. To identify chemicals of concern, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's…
Children Exposure-Related Behavior Patterns and Risk Perception Associated with Recreational Beach Use
The data presented here may prove useful for those evaluating children exposures to a variety of contaminants, chemical, or bacterial in origin. In addition, coastal managers may find the risk perception and general behaviors useful for planning and maintenance of beach areas
Soil, Hand, and Body Adherence Measures across Four Beach Areas
Skin adherence (SA) of soil affects exposure from soil contaminants through dermal routes via loading on the skin and through ingestion routes through hand to mouth activities. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the relationships between adherence versus child-specific and environmental factors. Two sets of soil-to-skin adherence were evaluated. The first was based on loading on hands following hand presses (Hand SA). The second was ba…
Estimating Health Risks to Children Associated with Recreational Play on Oil Spill-Contaminated Beaches
The human health impact from exposure to contaminated shorelines following an oil spill event has been investigated to some extent. However, the health risks to children have largely been characterized through the use of surveys and extrapolation from adult health outcomes. There is limited information on children's behaviors during beach play requiring assumptions made based on observations from play activities in home settings. The Beach Exposu…
Quantified Activity Patterns for Young Children in Beach Environments Relevant for Exposure to Contaminants
In a study to evaluate beach play activities, 120 children were videotaped to observe and quantify factors that could influence their exposure to contaminants in the beach environment. Children aged 1 to 6 years were followed by researchers with video cameras at beaches (two in Miami, Florida and two in Galveston, Texas) for approximately one hour each. Factors evaluated included time spent in various beach locations, various activities engaged i…
Wastewater pandemic preparedness
Molecular analysis of public wastewater has great potential as a harbinger for community health and health threats. Long-used to monitor the presence of enteric viruses, in particular polio, recent successes of wastewater as a reliable lead indicator for trends in SARS-CoV-2 levels and hospital admissions has generated optimism and emerging evidence that similar science can be applied to other pathogens of pandemic potential (PPPs), especially re…
Informing ASR Treatment Practices in a Florida Aquifer through a Human Health Risk Approach
Aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) can augment water supplies and hydrologic flows under varying climatic conditions. However, imposing drinking water regulations on ASR practices, including pre-treatment before injection into the aquifer, remains arguable. Microbial inactivation data- Escherichia coli , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , poliovirus type 1 and Cryptosporidium parvum -were used in a human health risk assessment to identify how the storage t…
Examining Management and Employees’ Perceptions of Occupational Heat Exposure and the Effectiveness of a Heat Stress Prevention Intervention on Safety and Well-Being among Natural Gas Construction Wor…
To advance construction workers' safety, health, and well-being, both employee involvement and employer management are needed, along with no-cost accessible resources. Additionally, implementing a required routine rest break and comprehensive heat stress education, particularly for older workers, will significantly promote safety and safe work practices in hot environments. Note: in this study, the terms 'worker' and 'employee' are used interchan…
Turning analysis into action
In the 5 years since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the field of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has dramatically expanded with programs implemented across the globe to monitor for SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses of public health concern. However, the best way to use wastewater surveillance data and inform local communities of the utility of wastewater science remains limited and sporadically discussed. Specifically, there is vague guid…
Environmental Science (8 works) · Medicine (7 works) · Environmental health (6 works) · Biology (5 works) · Geography (5 works) · Ecology (4 works) · Engineering (4 works) · Environmental Justice and Health Disparities (4 works) · Air Quality and Health Impacts (3 works) · Environmental Engineering (3 works)