Kristina Walker Whitworth, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Email

kristina.whitworth@bcm.edu

Positions

Associate Professor: Center for Precision Environmental Health; Medicine
Epidemiology and Population Sciences
Baylor College of Medicine

Education

PhD from University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health: 05/2009 - Houston, Texas, United States; Epidemiology

MSPH from Texas A&M University Health Science Center, School of Rural Public Health: 05/2004 - College Station, Texas, United States; Epidemiology

BS from Texas A&M University: 05/2002 - College Station, Texas, United States; Biomedical Science

Professional Interests

Maternal and Child Health
Biomarkers of Exposure
Environmental Epidemiology
Environmental Justice
Health Disparities

Professional Statement

I am Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine and Center for Precision Environmental Health at Baylor College of Medicine and am affiliated with the Program in Population and Environmental Health Disparities. As an environmental epidemiologist, my research focuses on understanding the relation between exposure to environmental toxicants and maternal and child health outcomes, with a particular interest in the use of biomarkers to characterize chemical exposure. My work also seeks to understand the contribution of both chemical and non-chemical stressors to observed racial/ethnic disparities in maternal and child health outcomes.

Websites

Program in Population and Environmental Health Disparities

Selected Publications

Ish J, Symanski E, Whitworth KW. " Exploring Disparities in Maternal Residential Proximity to Unconventional Gas Development in the Barnett Shale in North Texas " Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Jan 23; 16 (3)
Pubmed PMID: 30678025.
Singer AB, Whitworth KW, Haug LS, Sabaredzovic A, Impinen A, Papadopoulou E, Longnecker MP. " Menstrual Cycle Characteristics as Determinants of Plasma Concentrations of Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort (MoBa study). " Environ Int. 2018 Oct ; 166
Pubmed PMID: 29879567.
Rush EL, Singer AB, Longnecker MP, Haug LS, Sabaredzovic A, Symanski E, Whitworth KW. " Oral Contraceptive Use as a Determinant of Plasma Concentrations of Perfluoroalkyl Substances among Women in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort (MoBa) Study " Environ Int. 2018 Mar ; 112
Pubmed PMID: 29274593.
Walker Whitworth K, Kay Marshall A, Symanski E. " Drilling and Production Activity Related to Unconventional Gas Development and Severity of Preterm Birth " Environ Health Perspect. 2018 Mar 20; 126 (3)
Pubmed PMID: 29578659.
Whitworth KW, Marshall AK, Symanski E. " Maternal Residential Proximity to Unconventional Gas Development and Perinatal Outcomes among a Diverse Urban Population in Texas " PLoS One. 2017 Jul 21; 12 (7)
Pubmed PMID: 28732016.
Whitworth KW, Han I, Afshar M, Mei Y, Berens PD, Sharma SV, Symanski E. " Accessing Disadvantaged Pregnant Women in Houston, Texas, and Characterizing Biomarkers of Metal Exposure: A Feasibility Study " Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2017 Apr 29; 14 (5)
Pubmed PMID: 28468266.
Whitworth KW, Haug LS, Sabaredzovic A, Eggesbo M, Longnecker MP. " Brief Report: Plasma Concentrations of Perfluorooctane Sulfonamide and Time-to-Pregnancy among Primiparous Women " Epidemiology. 2016 Sep ; 27 (5)
Pubmed PMID: 27276029.
Whitworth KW, Baird DD, Steiner AZ, Bornman RM, Travlos GS, Wilson RE, Longnecker MP. " Anti-Mullerian Hormone and Lifestyle, Reproductive, and Environmental Factors among Women in Rural South Africa " Epidemiology. 2015 May ; 26 (3)
Pubmed PMID: 25710247.
Whitworth KW, Bornman RM, Archer JI, Kudumu MO, Travlos GS, Wilson RE, Longnecker MP. " Predictors of Plasma DDT and DDE concentrations among Women Exposed to Indoor Residual Spraying for Malaria Control in the South African Study of Women and Babies (SOWB) " Environ Health Perspect. 2014 Jan ; 122 (6)
Pubmed PMID: 24577839.
Whitworth KW, Haug LS, Baird DD, Becher G, Hoppin JA, Skjaerven R, Thomsen C, Eggesbo C, Travlos G, Wilson R, Cupul-Uicab LA, Brantsaeter AL, Longnecker MP. " Perfluorinated Comounds in Relation to Birth Weight in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study " Am J Epidemiol. 2012 Jun ; 175 (12)
Pubmed PMID: 22517810.
Whitworth KW, Haug LS, Baird DD, Becher G, Hoppin JA, Skjaerven R, Thomsen C, Eggesbo M, Travlos G, Wilson R, Longnecker MP. " Perfluorinated Compounds and Subfecundity in Pregnant Women " Epidemiology. 2012 Mar ; 23 (2)
Pubmed PMID: 22081060.
Whitworth KW, Baird DD, Stene LC, Skjaerven R, Longnecker MP. " Fecundability Among Women with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study " Diabetologia. 2011 Mar ; 54 (3)
Pubmed PMID: 21170514.
Whitworth KW, Symanski E, Lai D, Coker AL. " Kriged and Modeled Ambient Air Levels of Benzene in an Urban Environment: an Exposure Assessment Study " Environ Health. 2011 Mar ; (10)
Pubmed PMID: 21418645.
Chen W, Rector AM, Guxens M, Iniguez C, Swartz MD, Symanski E, Ibarluzea J, Ambros A, Estarlich M, Lertxundi A, Riano-Galan I, Sunyer J, Fernandez-Somoano, Chauhan SP, Ish J, Whitworth KW. " Susceptible windows of exposure to fine particulate matter and fetal growth trajectories in the Spanish INMA (INfancia y Medio Ambiente) birth cohort " Environ Res. 2023 Jan 1; 216 (Pt 2) : 114628.
Pubmed PMID: 36279916.
Ish J, Symanski E, Gimeno Ruiz de Porras D, Casas M, Delclos GL, Guxens M, Ibarluzea J, Iniguez C, Lertxundi A, Rebagliato M, Swartz MD, Whitworth KW. " Maternal Occupational Exposures to Chemicals and Cognitive Function " Pediatric Research. 2022 May 16;
Pubmed PMID: 35578010.
Whitworth KW, Rector A, Ish J, SPJ Chauhan, Ibarluzea J, Guxens M, Swartz MD, Symanski E, Iniguez C. " Identifying Sensitive Windows of Exposure to NO2 and Fetal Growth Trajectories in a Spanish Birth Cohort " Epidemiology. 2022 May 1; 33 (3) : 318-324.
Pubmed PMID: 35213509.

Memberships

International Society of Environmental Epidemiology