Marty S. Kanarek, Ph.D.

Room 124
502 N. Walnut Street
Madison, WI 53705
608-263-1626
mkanarek@wisc.edu

Emphasis Group:
Human Nutrition

Principal Research Interest:
Epidemiology of environmental exposures; including potential health effects from air, water, pesticides, and other contaminants.

Research Summary:
Past projects have included epidemiology studies of asbestos in drinking water, by-products of drinking water chlorination, nitrates in drinking water, indoor air pollutants, and other environmental health issues.

A nutrition related project is an epidemiologic investigation to evaluate the effects of transplacental exposure to biologically persistent PCBs through maternal contaminated sport fish consumption on reproductive outcomes. The study population of 1,115 women was recruited from women during their first prenatal visits at two Green Bay clinics. During the first prenatal visit, participants were given questionnaires to assess fish consumption, as well as socioeconomic status, medical, occupational, and maternal behavior histories. A sample of maternal blood for PCB analysis was piggybacked during a regularly scheduled blood draw. Live births were assessed for birth size measures (birth weight, crown-heel length, head circumference) as well as gestational age, apgar scores, and major congenital anomalies. The proportion of fetal wastage and stillbirths was also assessed.

Another nutrition related project is examining body burdens in populations of fish consumers that may have higher than average exposure to mercury. Two populations are being studied: Native Americans and fishing guides. Questionnaires will be filled out by population members from both groups. The questionnaires will have questions on demographics, family fish-eating habits, catch source, occupational history, and other relevant questions. Approximately 400 Native Americans and 25 fish guides and family members are being sampled.

Representative Publications:

Kanarek MS, Anderson HA. Environmental epidemiology practitioners: looking to the future october 11, 2006. Ann Epidemiol. 2007 Nov;17(11):911-3.

Kanarek MS. Nanomaterial health effects part 3: conclusion - hazardous issues and the precautionary principle. WMJ. 2007 Feb;106(1):16-9.

McElroy JA, Gangnon RE, Newcomb PA, Kanarek MS, Anderson HA, Brook JV, Trentham-Dietz A, Remington PL. Risk of breast cancer for women living in rural areas from adult exposure to atrazine from well water in Wisconsin. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2007 Mar;17(2):207-14.

Monteon ML, Arcari CM, Remington PL, Kanarek MS, Oemig TV. Tuberculosis cases in Wisconsin: documentation of treatment improvement and completion of treatment, 2000-2002. J Public Health Manag Pract. 2006 May-Jun;12(3):254-61.