December 2020

Journal of Environmental Health
Volume 83, Number 5

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About the Cover

To contain the COVID-19 outbreak and mobilize mitigation efforts, public health surveillance relies heavily on individual COVID-19 test results. A shortage of supplies, equipment, facilities, public health professionals, and trained laboratory personnel creates challenges for the detection and management of the outbreak, especially in rural and underserved communities. Clinical testing might not be feasible or cost-effective for monitoring the community spread of COVID-19, especially in rural areas. Robust surveillance approaches with a greater coverage potential are needed for developing effective public health strategies during the current pandemic. Findings from recent studies show that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can be detected in stool samples collected from hospitalized individuals, which has led to a new surveillance approach for testing sewage to detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. This approach offers a tremendous potential for real-time screening of community spread of COVID-19. This issue’s cover highlights a guest commentary, “Sewage Monitoring in Rural Communities: A Powerful Strategy for COVID-19 Surveillance,” that explores the merit, limitations, and challenges of implementing sewage monitoring methods in rural parts of the U.S. to protect public health and inform policy and decision-making.

Table of Contents

Advancement of the Science

  • Sewage Monitoring in Rural Communities: A Powerful Strategy for COVID-19 Surveillance
  • Dust and Noise Exposure While Using a Portable Wood Dust Collector
  • Mold Cleanup Practices Vary by Sociodemographic and Allergy Factors

Advancement of the Practice

  • Direct From AAS: Call to Arms: Don't Just Join, Get Involved!
  • Direct From CDC/Environmental Health Services: Use Resources From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to Strengthen Environmental Health Programs
  • National Environmental Health Science and Protection Accreditation Council (EHAC)-Accredited Programs
  • Direct From ecoAmerica: Ambition, Restoration, and Justice: A Path Forward on Climate Solutions

Advancement of the Practitioner

  • JEH Quiz #3
  • EH Calendar
  • Resource Corner

Your Association

  • President's Message: 2020 in the Rearview Mirror
  • Special Listing
  • Tribute to 2020 JEH Peer Reviewers
  • In Memoriam
  • NEHA 2021 AEC Virtual Series
  • NEHA News
  • DirecTalk: Musings From the 10th Floor: Ikigai

Advertisers Index

  • HealthSpace USA Inc
  • Inspect2GO Environmental Health Software
  • Ozark River Manufacturing Co.
  • QuanTem Laboratories, LLC
  • UL Everclean Services, Inc.