Professional Summary
Prof. Nriagu's research and teaching programs center around three main issues: (i) sources, behavior, fate and effects of metals in the natural and contaminated environments; (ii) environmental justice and disproportionate exposure of communities to environmental pollutants; and (iii) environmental health problems in the developing countries. His work includes applied laboratory and field studies and has led to 30 books (authored/edited) and over 300 published articles. From 2000 to 2008, he was listed as one of the most cited scientists in the fields of Environmental Studies and Ecology (http://researchanalytics.thomsonreuters.com/highlycited/). He was the director of the Environmental Health Program from 1996 to 2006, and has been active in a number of community-based organizations. Before joining the department in 1993, he was a research scientist with Environment Canada, Burlington, Ontario. Prof. Nriagu was the Editor-in-chief of the journal Science of the Total Environment (one of the leading environmental science journals), Editor-in-chief of Encyclopedia of Environmental Health (in five volumes) published in 2011, and the editor of book series published by Wiley-Interscience (New York), Elsevier Science (Amsterdam), and Maralte Publishers (Leiden). In 1987, he was awarded the first ever meritorious Doctor of Science degree by the University of Ibadan (Nigeria). Prof. Nriagu is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. His other awards include Senior Fulbright Fellowship and distinguished Alexander von Humbolt Research Prize.
Education
D.Sc., University of Ibadam (Meritorious), 1987
Ph.D., University of Toronto, 1970
M.S., University of Wisconsin, 1967
B.Sc., University of Ibadan, 1965
Research Interests & Projects
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Prof. Nriagu's research and teaching programs center around three main issues: (i) sources, behavior, fate and effects of metals in the natural and contaminated environments; (ii) environmental justice and disproportionate exposure of communities to environmental pollutants; and (iii) environmental health problems in the developing countries. His work includes applied laboratory and field studies and has led to 28 books (authored/edited) and over 250 published articles. He is listed (http://isihighlycited.com) as one of the most cited scientists in the fields of ... More >> |
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The health risks associated with long-term exposure to arsenic in drinking are still not well understood. Our research deals with the effects of arseninc exposure at elevated (in MIchigan) and high (Nadia Province, West Bengal, India) levels. The primary goal of the Michigan is to assess the effects of exposure to elevated levels of arsenic in drinking water as a risk factor in the development of bladder cancer in the population of the 11 counties of the State. ... More >> |
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This project has developed a multi-media training material (combining text, animation, pictures, and audio-visuals) on indoor air quality and asthma. The modules include the risk factors for asthma, a virtual home showing locations of asthma triggers, resource guide, and a home assessment tool. Questions are included at the end of some modules to test the grasp of material covered. A large report which formed the basis for the multi-media presentation is included as text file. ... More >> |
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The overarching goal of this healthy homes project is to reduce the burdens of asthma and lead poisoning among low-income children in the City of Saginaw. The objectives of the project include (A) use a proactive screening tool developed by the investigators to identify households with the highest hazards for asthma and childhood lead poisoning; (B) screen children in the identified household for asthma and lead poisoning; (C) implement a child-centered, culturally appropriate intervention to reduce symptom days in ... More >> |
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The significance and consequences of co-exposure to lead and Plasmodium have not been well researched. This project deals with lead poisoning as a co-factor for malaria among young children in Nigeria and other African countries where the two morbidities are pandemic. The principal goals include (a) determine the relationships between lead exposure and prevalence of childhood malaria in areas of Nigeria with high rates of Plasmodium infection, and (b) ascertain the confounding roles of iron deficiency and sickle cell ... More >> |
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Environmental parameters including temperature, light and nutrients have been associated with cyanobacterial growth, hazardous algal blooms (HABs) and toxin production in marine and freshwater ecosystems. Our understanding of the influence of other factors, such as trace metals, on the growth of toxic algal species and their toxins production is very limited. This project combines addresses the growing public health concerns about HABs by combining laboratory and field studies in the investigation of the influence of trace metals on the occurrence ... More >> |
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This project explored the feasibility of a new technology for restoring and reclaiming contaminated Great Lakes sediments targeted for long-term storage as a way to isolate the hazard they pose from ongoing ecological damage.... More >> |
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The "South End" neighborhood in Dearborn, one of the most polluted areas of Michigan, serves as an immigrant reception area for a low-income, predominantly Arab American population. The focus of this study is to assess the exposures of the Arab American population, especially in this area, to environmental contaminants in their home and neighborhood. Specific aims of the project include: (I). Create a Community Council, a community action partnership involving representatives of various community based organizations, environmental ... More >> |
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The present proposal aims at characterising the human toxicity effects of aluminium-based products in order to improve the reliability of their life cycle impact assessment (LCIA). The present-project aims to develop a detailed case study, applying present LCIA methods to an Aluminium-based product and identifying LCIA weaknesses that need further improvement. It will subsequently propose a framework and the required steps for methods improvement.... More >> |
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Selected Publications
Search PubMed for publications by Jerome Nriagu >>
Nriagu JO, Martin J, Smith P, Socier D (2012). Residential hazards, high asthma prevalence and multimorbidity among children in Saginaw, Michigan Science of the Total Environment, 416, 53-61.
Halder D, Bhowmick S, Biswas A, Mandal U, Nriagu JO, Guha-Mazumber DN, Chatterjee D, Bhattacharya P (2012). Consumption of brown rice: a potential pathway for arsenic exposure in rural Bengal, India Environmental Science & Technology, 46, 4142-4148.
Smith P, Nriagu JO. (January, 2011). Lead poisoning and asthma among low-income and African American children in Saginaw, Michigan. Environmental Research, 111, 81-86.
Basu N, Nam DH, Kwansaa-Ansah E, Renne EP, Nriagu JO. (April, 2011). Multiple metals exposure in a small-scale artisanal gold mining community. Environmental Research, 3, 463-467.
Nriagu JO (February, 2011). Oil Industry and the Health of Communities in the Niger Delta of Nigeri Encyclopedia of Environmental Health,, 240-250.
Meliker JR, Goovaerts P, Jacquez GM, Nriagu JO. (October, 2010). Incorporating individual-level distributions of exposure error in epidemiologic analyses: an example using arsenic in drinking water and bladder cancer. Annals of Epidemiology, 10, 750-758.
Rivera-Núñez Z, Meliker JR, Linder AM, Nriagu JO (April, 2010). Reliability of spot urine samples in assessing arsenic exposure. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health
Nriagu JO, Afeiche M, Linder A, Arowolo T, Ana G, Sridhar MK, Oloruntoba EO, Obi E, Ebenebe JC, Orisakwe OE, Adesina A (October, 2008). Lead poisoning associated with malaria in children in urban areas of Nigeria International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 5-6, 591-605.
Meliker, J.R., Slotnick, M.J., Avruskin, G.A., Kaufmann, A., Fedewa, S.A., Goovaerts, P., Jacquez, G.M., Nriagu, J.O. (2007). Individual lifetime exposure to inorganic arsenic using a space-time information system. Int4rnational Archives in Occupational and Environvironmental Health, 80(3), 184-197.
Nriagu, J.O., Burt, B., Linder, A., Ismail, A. and S. Woosung (2006). Lead levels in blood and saliva in a low-income population of Detroit, Michigan. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 109-121.
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