Jack Caravanos

Clinical Professor of Environmental Public Health Sciences in the Department of Global and Environmental Health

Professional overview

For Dr. Jack Caravanos, life in the field ranges from jumping onto a motorcycle and navigating the jungles of Madre de Dios in the Peruvian Amazon studying toxic substances to traveling to remotes areas in Zambia, Indonesia, and Bolivia studying lead and other toxic wastes. By cooperating with local governments, his work provides safe, healthy, and evidence-based solutions for pollution problems in low- and middle-income countries.

In partnership with Pure Earth, an international non-profit organization, Dr. Caravanos is studying the impact of gold extraction with mercury in Peru and Indonesia. Since miners are in danger of mercury poisoning, his research team is planning interventions that teach safer techniques for gold extraction. In Kabwe, Zambia - a mining town with exposure to lead - his research will provide methods to institute safer mining practices and policy recommendations to improve environmental remediation laws.

Dr. Caravanos teaches Environmental Health for graduate students and Environmental Health in a Global World for undergraduate students. He also provides opportunities for student researchers in his ongoing projects, including in Indonesia (mercury) and Ghana (e-waste).

To learn more about Dr. Caravanos and his work, visit his website.

Education

BS, Health Science, Hunter College, New York, NY

MS, Environmental Health Engineering, New York University, New York, NY

DrPH, Environmental Health, Columbia University, New York, NY

Honors and awards

Presidential Award for Excellence in Community Service, Hunter College (2013)

Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching, Hunter College (2006)

Areas of research and study

Artisanal Gold Mining

Dissemination and Implementation of Evidence-based Programs

Environmental Public Health Services

Global Health

Lead poisoning

Publications

Publications

Blood lead levels in mexico and pediatric burden of disease implications

Blood lead levels in Mexico and pediatric burden of disease implications

Case 2: Hurricane Sandy: training to improve response and recovery

Comparison of burden of disease from toxic waste sites with other recognized public health threats in India, Indonesia and the Philippines

The pediatric burden of disease from lead exposure at toxic waste sites in low and middle income countries

Approaches to systematic assessment of environmental exposures posed at hazardous waste sites in the developing world: The Toxic Sites Identification Program

Assessing levels of lead contamination in soil and predicating pediatric blood lead levels in Tema, Ghana

Burden of disease from toxic waste sites in India, Indonesia, and the Philippines in 2010

Childhood blood lead reductions following removal of leaded ceramic glazes in artisanal pottery production: a success story

Exploratory health assessment of chemical exposures at an e-waste recycling and scrapyard facility in Accra, Ghana

Rapid assessment of environmental health risks posed by mining operations in low- and middle-income countries: Selected case studies

The burden of disease from pediatric lead exposure at hazardous waste sites in 7 Asian countries

Cost effectiveness and health impact of remediation of highly polluted sites in the developing world

An innovative approach to interdisciplinary occupational safety and health education

Assessing the exposure risks and potential health effects from chemical contamination at an electronic and electrical recycling and waste site in Accra, Ghana

Contaminacion por metales en suelos de la ciudad de Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico

Garcia, G., Vargas, ., Rubio Andrade, M., Rosales Gonzalez, M., Goytia Acevedo, R., Garcia, G., Arenas, J., Meza Velazquez, R., & Caravanos, J. (n.d.).

Publication year

2007

Journal title

Revista Chapingo Serie Zonas Aridas

A survey of spatially distributed exterior dust lead loadings in New York City

An exterior and interior leaded dust deposition survey in New York City: Results of a 2-year study

Distribution of lead in urban roadway grit and its association with elevated steel structures

Long term exterior dust lead loadings in New York City

A multihazard, multistrategy approach to home remediation: Results of a pilot study

Prevalence and predictors of residential health hazards: A pilot study

Asbestos abatement response actions under AHERA

Training requirements of the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA)

Development of an interactive inter-state community hospital based regional tumor registry.