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Environmental Epidemiology and Spatial Analysis

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 2955

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Weeberb Joao Réquia

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Center for Environment and Public Health Studies, School of Public Policy and Government, Fundação Getulio Vargas, Brasilia 72125590, Brazil
Interests: spatio-temporal modeling of environmental exposure factors; epidemiological modeling to estimate health effects; decision-making modeling for public health policies

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The interplay between environmental factors and public health is a critical area of research, with far-reaching implications for policy, urban planning, and health equity. This Special Issue will focus on Environmental Epidemiology and Spatial Analysis, highlighting innovative approaches to understanding the spatial dimensions of health and disease.

We invite contributions that explore the associations between environmental exposures, such as air and water pollution, climate change, green spaces, and built environments, and health outcomes across diverse populations. Studies utilizing advanced spatial analysis techniques, geographic information systems (GISs), and spatial modeling to uncover disparities and patterns in environmental health are especially encouraged.

This Special Issue will advance the field by featuring multidisciplinary research that informs actionable strategies to mitigate environmental health risks. Topics of interest include but are not limited to the following:

The spatial distribution of environmental hazards and health outcomes;
Epidemiological studies integrating spatial methods to assess environmental risks;
Socioeconomic and demographic disparities in environmental exposures;
Climate change, extreme weather events, and health impacts;
Methodological advances in spatial epidemiology.

We welcome original research articles, systematic reviews, and methodologically innovative studies that contribute to this rapidly evolving field.

Prof. Dr. Weeberb Joao Réquia
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

environmental epidemiology
spatial analysis
geographic information systems
health disparities
environmental exposures
spatial epidemiology
spatial modeling

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 1704 KB

Open AccessArticle

Socioeconomic Disparities and Risk of Papillary Thyroid Cancer Associated with Environmental Exposure to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Florida

by Laura E. Wild, Nicholas DiStefano, Garrett Forman, Bianca I. Arocha, Ming S. Lee, Peter A. Borowsky, Elizabeth Franzmann, Natasha Solle, Alberto J. Caban-Martinez and Erin Kobetz

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(8), 1290; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22081290 - 18 Aug 2025

Viewed by 751

Abstract

The existing literature suggests that exposure to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) can increase Papillary Thyroid Cancer (PTC) risk by interfering with thyroid hormone signaling, leading to hormonal imbalances that promote carcinogenesis. In addition, significant disparities exist in environmental exposure. However, ecological evidence of these associations has not been established within a statewide database of cancer outcomes. Therefore, this study investigated the relationship between socioeconomic conditions, environmental PFAS exposure, and PTC incidence in Florida using the state’s cancer registry. Data on facilities potentially releasing PFAS and ZIP codes with known PFAS drinking water contamination were retrieved from the EPA’s PFAS Analytic Tool. Proximity to PFAS sites and age-adjusted incidence by patient race/ethnicity were calculated by census tract. Lower socioeconomic status was associated with greater exposure to environmental PFAS. Census tracts with closer proximity to PFAS sites were more likely to have public water systems with PFAS contamination. Lastly, residential proximity to PFAS sites was positively associated with age-adjusted PTC incidence in Non-Hispanic Whites and Hispanics. These results demonstrate disparities in environmental exposure and suggest that exposure to PFAS may be an important factor for PTC risk at the population level and should be considered in the development of public health policies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Epidemiology and Spatial Analysis)

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15 pages, 1341 KB

Open AccessArticle

Racial and Economic Disparities in High-Temperature Exposure in Brazil

by Hosana Gomes da Silva and Weeberb J. Requia

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(2), 200; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22020200 - 30 Jan 2025

Viewed by 1808

Abstract

Primary studies analyzing the distribution of exposure to the consequences of climate change among different vulnerable groups are scarce. This study addresses this gap by investigating racial and economic disparities in high-temperature exposure in Brazil, focusing on the impact on vulnerable subpopulations. We utilized georeferenced temperature data from the Global High-Resolution Estimates of Extreme Heat (GEHE) and population data from the 2010 Census. The disparity analyses included (i) estimating the exposure rate to temperatures exceeding 28 °C, expressed as population-weighted heat exposure (

\bar{P H E}

); (ii) determining the difference in exposure between the most and least exposed groups; and (iii) calculating weighted Gini coefficients. The findings reveal that low-income and black, brown, and indigenous populations are predominantly the most exposed to

\bar{P H E}

exceeding 28 °C. Nationally, the indigenous population is the most exposed racial group, with a

\bar{P H E}

47% higher than that of the white population. Stratified analyses indicate that, despite varying climatic and environmental conditions across regions, the black-brown-indigenous population consistently faces the highest heat exposure in Brazil. Income disparity analyses show that the lowest per capita income groups are the most exposed to high temperatures across the country. The study highlights the impact of climate change on economic inequality and the deepening of within-country inequalities, particularly affecting socioeconomically disadvantaged groups. These findings underscore the urgent need for evidence-informed public policies to address racial and economic disparities in high-temperature exposure, mitigate health risks associated with climate change, and emphasize the importance of context-sensitive analyses for a comprehensive understanding of heat-related risks and public health. Full article