Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40189568›Full record

ArticleEnvironmental health : a global access science source2025

Environmental contamination associated with biofuel production involving pesticide-coated seed corn as feedstock: a survey of community environmental and health impacts.

Kelli C Gribben, Kylie Johnson, Pierce Greenberg, Ruth Mencia, Jabeen Taiba, Kristina W Kintziger, Kaleb Michaud, Eleanor Rogan, Terra Uhing, Jesse E Bell

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Environmental health : a global access science source, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Kelli C GribbenDepartment of Environmental, Agricultural and Occupational Health, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA. kelli.gribben@unmc.edu.
Kylie JohnsonDepartment of Environmental, Agricultural and Occupational Health, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA.
Pierce GreenbergDepartment of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA.
Ruth MenciaDepartment of Health Promotion, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA.
Jabeen TaibaDepartment of Environmental, Agricultural and Occupational Health, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA.
Kristina W KintzigerDepartment of Environmental, Agricultural and Occupational Health, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA.
Kaleb MichaudDepartment of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA.
Eleanor RoganDepartment of Environmental, Agricultural and Occupational Health, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA.
Terra UhingThree Rivers Public Health Department, Fremont, NE, 68025, USA.
Jesse E BellDepartment of Environmental, Agricultural and Occupational Health, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundA United States ethanol company used pesticide-coated seed corn for fuel ethanol production, resulting in highly contaminated byproducts. Improper storage and disposal of the waste led to widespread environmental contamination. Detectable levels of neonicotinoids have been found in soil, water, and air samples, raising questions about the potential impacts to the environment and human health. The study objective was to evaluate the community's perceived physical and mental health impacts and needs resulting from the contamination linked to bioenergy production by a single company.

methodsA 54-question survey was administered to households located within a 10-mile radius of the facility. Respondents could complete the paper survey and return it by mail or electronically. The general topics were household members' awareness, concerns, and perceptions of environmental and health impacts. Quantitative data were presented as frequencies and percentages, while qualitative data were grouped into themes based on keywords and summarized as counts.

resultsA total of 459 respondents completed the survey, a 38% response rate. The average household size was 2.7 (SD = 1.4). Responding households were primarily single-family homes (89%) that were owned (85%), and were long-time residents (mean = 18.4 years, SD = 15.5). A total of 36% of households included children aged 18 or younger. Respondents were concerned about contaminants affecting water (82%), soil (79%), and air (72%) quality. Most respondents (74%) felt some or a lot of stress related to potentially compromised health; however, 51% did not believe they had health symptoms resulting from the contamination. The most common self-reported symptoms among primary respondents were sinus (n = 17), respiratory (n = 22), cognitive/neurological symptoms (n = 15), and allergies (n = 17). Depression and anxiety were the primary mental health symptoms reported with 31 mentions. The top community need was wanting the environment cleaned-up, including proper removal of waste and land restoration.

conclusionsThis study evaluated community-level perceived impacts of environmental contamination directly related to an ethanol plant's improper handling of production waste containing pesticides. Findings can support immediate actions by state officials and community leaders and serve as a baseline for future health and environmental monitoring.

Indexed as

BiofuelsEnvironmental ExposurePesticidesZea maysAdolescentAdultAgedChildFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedSeedsSurveys and QuestionnairesUnited StatesYoung AdultBiofuelsPesticidesCommunity surveyEnvironmental contaminationHuman healthNeonicotinoids

Identifiers

PMID40189568
PMCPMC11974023

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.