Dr. Kristen Rappazzo is a research epidemiologist with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Her work focuses on investigating potential links between and environmental exposures and health outcomes, including birth defects, preterm birth, and mortality. 

Characterizing, accounting for, and documenting the cumulative health benefits of ecological restoration and community revitalization remains a key challenge for environmental and social sciences. Exposure to greenspace or improved local environments is generally well-associated with multiple health endpoints, but how those area improvements—such as neighborhood greening projects or removal of beneficial use impairments—convey positive impacts and what barriers exist to individuals receiving them is not well characterized. 

Dr Rappazzo will discuss ongoing work attempting to ascertain the benefits to human health from improvement activities, the pathways by which those are achieved, and barriers that prevent people from accessing them. 

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this presentation are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of the US Environmental Protection Agency.

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This event is part of a seminar series presented by the UT One Health Initiative which explores global health challenges and how solutions may be achieved with a One Health approach. Join us via Zoom the last Thursday of the month from 12-1pm Eastern. More info at onehealth.tennessee.edu/seminars.