Aminata P Kilungo
- Associate Professor of Practice, Public Health
- Member of the Graduate Faculty
- (520) 626-8565
- AHSC, Rm. 4335
- TUCSON, AZ 85724-5163
- paminata@arizona.edu
Biography
My research interest focuses on the intersection of human health, water and the environment, and climate change. My goal is to improve our understanding and tailor appropriate interventions to ensure Global Public Health. I work with different organizations and communities, especially marginalized communities here in Arizona, along the Arizona-Sonora Border, and in Sub-Saharan Africa. My work aims to; build community resilience, and improve community understanding on environmental health, water security and safety; and to explore appropriate tools and technologies to prevent diseases. My long-term goals are to be able to build community capacity and resilience so marginalized communities have access to cleaner environment, safe and clean water to prevent diseases, and sustain livelihood in a healthy and sustainable environment.
Degrees
- Ph.D. Soil, water and environmental science and Microbiology (minor)
- The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States
- Water Quality Monitoring
- B.S. Environmental Science
- The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States
- N/A
Work Experience
- The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (2023 - Ongoing)
- University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (2019 - 2023)
- The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (2016 - 2019)
- Sonora Environmental Research Institute, Inc. (2015 - 2017)
- Xcel Engineering at Fort Huachuca Army Garrison (2014 - 2015)
- Sonora Environmental Research Institute, Inc., (2010 - 2014)
- Sonora Environmental Research Institute, Inc. (2006 - 2008)
Awards
- MEZCOPH Main Campus Teaching Excellence Award
- MEZCOPH, Spring 2022
Interests
Research
My research interest focuses on the intersection of human health, water and the environment so as to improve our understanding, and tailor appropriate interventions to ensure Global Public Health.
Teaching
One Health Global HealthWater, Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH)Public Health in the 21st Century Infectious Diseases, Global Health and Development
Courses
2024-25 Courses
-
Global WaSH
HPS 409 (Spring 2025) -
Infec Diseases Glob Health Dev
HPS 534 (Spring 2025) -
Master's Report
EHS 909 (Spring 2025) -
PH Fundamentals Researchers
BIOS 585 (Spring 2025) -
PH Fundamentals Researchers
EHS 585 (Spring 2025) -
PH Fundamentals Researchers
EPID 585 (Spring 2025) -
PH Fundamentals Researchers
HPS 585 (Spring 2025) -
Thesis
EHS 910 (Spring 2025) -
Master's Report
EHS 909 (Fall 2024) -
OH Approach & Case Studies
EHS 446 (Fall 2024) -
OH Approach & Case Studies
EHS 546 (Fall 2024) -
Public Health in 21st Century
HPS 300 (Fall 2024) -
Thesis
EHS 910 (Fall 2024)
2023-24 Courses
-
Master's Report
EHS 909 (Summer I 2024) -
Global WaSH
HPS 409 (Spring 2024) -
Master's Report
EHS 909 (Spring 2024) -
Master's Report
HPS 909 (Spring 2024) -
Directed Research
GHI 492 (Fall 2023) -
Master's Report
EHS 909 (Fall 2023) -
Master's Report
GHI 909 (Fall 2023) -
Master's Report
HPS 909 (Fall 2023) -
Publ Hlth Preparedness
EHS 489 (Fall 2023) -
Publ Hlth Preparedness
EHS 589 (Fall 2023) -
Public Health in 21st Century
HPS 300 (Fall 2023)
2022-23 Courses
-
Directed Research
GHI 492 (Summer I 2023) -
Master's Report
GHI 909 (Summer I 2023) -
Global WaSH
HPS 409 (Spring 2023) -
Infec Diseases Glob Health Dev
HPS 534 (Spring 2023) -
Master's Report
EHS 909 (Spring 2023) -
PH Fundamentals Researchers
BIOS 585 (Spring 2023) -
PH Fundamentals Researchers
EHS 585 (Spring 2023) -
PH Fundamentals Researchers
EPID 585 (Spring 2023) -
PH Fundamentals Researchers
HPS 585 (Spring 2023) -
Master's Report
EHS 909 (Fall 2022) -
OH Approach & Case Studies
EHS 446 (Fall 2022) -
OH Approach & Case Studies
EHS 546 (Fall 2022) -
Publ Hlth Preparedness
EHS 489 (Fall 2022) -
Publ Hlth Preparedness
EHS 589 (Fall 2022) -
Public Health in 21st Century
HPS 300 (Fall 2022)
2021-22 Courses
-
Global WaSH
HPS 409 (Spring 2022) -
Independent Study
EHS 699 (Spring 2022) -
Infec Diseases Glob Health Dev
HPS 534 (Spring 2022) -
Master's Report
EHS 909 (Spring 2022) -
PH Fundamentals Researchers
BIOS 585 (Spring 2022) -
PH Fundamentals Researchers
EHS 585 (Spring 2022) -
PH Fundamentals Researchers
EPID 585 (Spring 2022) -
PH Fundamentals Researchers
HPS 585 (Spring 2022) -
Directed Research
EHS 492 (Fall 2021) -
Master's Report
HPS 909 (Fall 2021) -
OH Approach & Case Studies
EHS 446 (Fall 2021) -
OH Approach & Case Studies
EHS 546 (Fall 2021) -
Publ Hlth Preparedness
EHS 489 (Fall 2021) -
Publ Hlth Preparedness
EHS 589 (Fall 2021) -
Public Health in 21st Century
HPS 300 (Fall 2021)
2020-21 Courses
-
Global WaSH
HPS 409 (Spring 2021) -
Honors Thesis
HPS 498H (Spring 2021) -
Infec Diseases Glob Health Dev
HPS 534 (Spring 2021) -
Honors Thesis
HPS 498H (Fall 2020) -
OH Approach & Case Studies
EHS 446 (Fall 2020) -
OH Approach & Case Studies
EHS 546 (Fall 2020) -
Public Health in 21st Century
HPS 300 (Fall 2020)
2019-20 Courses
-
Global WaSH
HPS 409 (Spring 2020) -
Honors Thesis
HPS 498H (Spring 2020) -
PH Fundamentals Researchers
BIOS 585 (Spring 2020) -
PH Fundamentals Researchers
EHS 585 (Spring 2020) -
PH Fundamentals Researchers
EPID 585 (Spring 2020) -
PH Fundamentals Researchers
HPS 585 (Spring 2020) -
Honors Thesis
HPS 498H (Fall 2019) -
Independent Study
HPS 499 (Fall 2019) -
Master's Report
HPS 909 (Fall 2019) -
Public Health in 21st Century
HPS 300 (Fall 2019)
2018-19 Courses
-
Global Experienc Public Health
HPS 493C (Summer I 2019) -
Independent Study
HPS 499 (Summer I 2019) -
Global WaSH
HPS 409 (Spring 2019) -
Independent Study
HPS 499 (Spring 2019) -
Infec Diseases Glob Health Dev
HPS 534 (Spring 2019) -
Master's Report
HPS 909 (Spring 2019) -
PH Fundamentals Researchers
BIOS 585 (Spring 2019) -
PH Fundamentals Researchers
EHS 585 (Spring 2019) -
PH Fundamentals Researchers
EPID 585 (Spring 2019) -
Global Health
HPS 433 (Fall 2018) -
Public Health in 21st Century
HPS 300 (Fall 2018)
2017-18 Courses
-
Global Experienc Public Health
HPS 493C (Summer I 2018) -
Independent Study
HPS 499 (Summer I 2018) -
Master's Report
HPS 909 (Summer I 2018) -
Special Topics Public Health
HPS 459 (Summer I 2018) -
Infec Diseases Glob Health Dev
HPS 534 (Spring 2018) -
Preceptorship
HPS 491 (Spring 2018) -
Special Topics Public Health
HPS 459 (Spring 2018) -
Global Health
HPS 433 (Fall 2017) -
Public Health in 21st Century
HPS 300 (Fall 2017)
2016-17 Courses
-
Global Health
CPH 433 (Spring 2017) -
Infec Diseases Glob Health Dev
CPH 534 (Spring 2017)
2015-16 Courses
-
Infec Diseases Glob Health Dev
CPH 534 (Spring 2016)
Scholarly Contributions
Journals/Publications
- Arthur, M., Ramirez, M., McLain, J., Bobergh, V., Rutin, E., & Kilungo, A. P. (2022). The Efficacy of Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) Tests for Detecting Microbial Contamination in Harvested Rainwater Samples. Journal of Environment and Assessment.
- Moses, A., McLain, J., Kilungo, A. P., Root, R., Abrell, L., Buxner, S., & Ramirez, M. (2022). The Socio-demographic Factors that Influence Environmental Perception, Infrastructures, and Gardening Trends. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
- Moses, A., Ramirez-Andreotta, M. D., McLain, J., & Kilungo, A. P. (2022). Assessing the Impact of Rainwater Harvesting Infrastructure and Gardening Trends on Microbial Indicator Organism Presence in Harvested Rainwater and Garden Soils. Journal of Applied Microbiology.
- Moses, A., Ramírez-Andreotta, M. D., McLain, J. E., Cortez, L. I., & Kilungo, A. (2023). Assessing the impact of rainwater harvesting infrastructure and gardening trends on microbial indicator organism presence in harvested rainwater and garden soils. Journal of applied microbiology, 134(6).More infoTo assess the microbial water quality of harvested rainwater infrastructure used to supplement household water uses for homegrown produce.
- Moses, A., Ramírez-Andreotta, M. D., McLain, J. E., Obergh, V., Rutin, E., Sandhaus, S., & Kilungo, A. P. (2023). The efficacy of hydrogen sulfide (HS) tests for detecting microbial contamination in rooftop-harvested rainwater. Environmental monitoring and assessment, 195(11), 1398.More infoAs climate change strains the world's freshwater resources, access to safe and clean water becomes limited. The use of alternative water sources, such as rooftop-harvested rainwater, has become one mechanism to address freshwater scarcity in the American Southwest, particularly when it comes to home gardening. The University of Arizona's Project Harvest, in partnership with the Sonora Environmental Research Institute, Inc., is a multi-year, co-created citizen science project aimed at increasing current understanding of harvested rainwater quality. Citizens in four Arizona, USA, communities (Hayden/Winkelman, Globe/Miami, Dewey-Humboldt, and Tucson) submitted harvested rainwater samples over 3 years. The harvested rainwater samples were then analyzed using IDEXX Colilert® for total coliforms and E. coli and using Hach PathoScreen™ test for sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). This study design allows for the validation of a low-cost, at-home alternative methodology for testing rainwater for bacteria that may indicate fecal contamination. In total, 226 samples were tested using both methodologies, revealing a positive correlation (r=0.245; p
- Joshi, N., Lopus, S., Hannah, C., Ernst, K., Kilungo, A., Opiyo, R., Ngayu, M., Davies, J., & Evans, T. (2022). COVID-19 lockdowns: Employment and business disruptions, water access and hygiene practices in Nairobi's informal settlements. Social science & medicine (1982), 308, 115191.More infoHost to one billion people around the world, informal settlements are especially vulnerable to COVID-19 lockdown measures as they already lack basic services such as water, toilets, and secure housing. Additionally, many residents work in informal labor markets that have been affected by the lockdowns, resulting in further reductions in access to resources, including clean water. This study uses a cross-sectional design (n = 532) to examine the vulnerabilities of households to employment and business disruptions, water access and hygiene practices during the COVID-19 lockdowns between April and June 2020 in three informal settlements in Nairobi, Kenya. We used survey questions from the Household Water Insecurity Experience Scale (HWISE) to investigate the relationship between employment and business disruptions, water access, and hygiene practices (i.e., hand washing, body washing, clothes washing, and being able to use or drink clean water). Of the sampled households, 96% were forced to reduce work hours during the lockdowns, and these households had 92% lower odds of being able to afford water than households who did not experience a work hour reduction (OR = 0.08, p
- Ramirez, M. D., Jones, M., Foley, T., Sandoval, F., Buxner, S. R., Abrell, L. M., Root, R. A., Kilungo, A. P., Mclain, J. E., & Moses, A. (2022). Minding the gap: socio-demographic factors linked to the perception of environmental pollution, water harvesting infrastructure, and gardening characteristics. Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences.
- Rhys, D., Kloster, J., Morales, S., Eckhert, B., Warren-Turner, T., Aseret-Manygoats, T., Ehiri, J., Riggs, S., Kilungo, A. P., & Warholak, T. (2022). Evaluation of Pharmacist-Led Telephonic medication Therapy Management Program in Rural Arizona: Implication for Community Health Practice. Clinical Practice, 12(3)(clinpract12030029), 243-252. doi:doi: 10.3390/clinpract12030029More infoThis study evaluated a pharmacist-led telephonic Medication Therapy Management (MTM) program for rural patients in Arizona with poor access to healthcare services. A pharmacist provided telephonic MTM services to eligible adult patients living in rural Arizona communities with a diagnosis of diabetes and/or hypertension. Data were collected and summarized descriptively for demographic and health conditions, clinical values, and medication-related problems (MRPs) at the initial consultation, and follow-up data collected at 1 and 3 months. A total of 33 patients had baseline and one-month follow-up data, while 15 patients also had three-month follow-up data. At the initial consultation, the following MRPs were identified: medication adherence issues, dose-related concerns, adverse drug events (ADE), high-risk medications, and therapeutic duplications. Recommendations were made for patients to have the influenza, herpes zoster, and pneumonia vaccines; and to initiate a statin, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, angiotensin receptor blocker, beta-blocker, and/or rescue inhaler. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that while pharmacists can identify and make clinical recommendations to patients, the value of these interventions is not fully realized due to recommendations not being implemented and difficulties with patient follow-up, which may have been due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional efforts to address these shortcomings are therefore required.
- Chebet, J. J., Kilungo, A., Alaofè, H., Malebo, H., Katani, S., & Nichter, M. (2020). Local Perceptions, Cultural Beliefs, Practices and Changing Perspectives of Handling Infant Feces: A Case Study in a Rural Geita District, North-Western Tanzania. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(9).More infoWe report on the management of infant feces in a rural village in Geita region, Tanzania. Findings discussed here emerged incidentally from a qualitative study aimed at investigating vulnerability and resilience to health challenges in rural settings. Data was gathered through semi-structured focus group discussions (FDGs) with women ( = 4; 32 participants), men ( = 2; 16 participants), and community leaders ( = 1; 8 participants). All FDGs were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and thematically analyzed using Atlas.ti. Respondents reported feces of a child under the age of six months were considered pure compared to those of older children. Infant feces were seen as transitioning to harmful at the point when the child began to eat solid food, resulting in their stool visually changing in appearance. Caregivers reportedly used soft implements to handle infant feces due to the belief that tools with hard surfaces would physically harm the child. Infant feces were disposed in environments around the house due to the belief that disposal in latrines would prevent developmental milestones and result in other perceived negative health outcomes for the child. Changing views expressed by participants suggest a window of opportunity to implement evidence-based and culturally relevant interventions to encourage the safe disposal of infant feces.
- Root, R. A., Root, R. A., Mclain, J. E., Mclain, J. E., Kilungo, A. P., Kilungo, A. P., Abrell, L. M., Abrell, L. M., Ramirez, M. D., & Ramirez, M. D. (2019). Partnering for action: community monitoring of harvested rainwater in underserved, rural, and urban Arizona communities. Water Resources IMPACT.
- Ramirez, M. D., Abrell, L. M., Kilungo, A. P., Mclain, J. E., & Root, R. A. (2019). Partnering for action: community monitoring of harvested rainwater in underserved, rural, and urban Arizona communities. Water Resources IMPACT.
- Abrell, L., Mclain, J. E., Buxner, S., Kilungo, A., Ramirez-andreotta, M. D., & Davis, L. F. (2018). Increasing Environmental Health Literacy through Contextual Learning in Communities at Risk.. International journal of environmental research and public health, 15(10), 2203. doi:10.3390/ijerph15102203More infoEnvironmental health literacy (EHL) has recently been defined as the continuum of environmental health knowledge and awareness, skills and self-efficacy, and community action. In this study, an interdisciplinary team of university scientists, partnering with local organizations, developed and facilitated EHL trainings with special focus on rainwater harvesting and water contamination, in four communities with known environmental health stressors in Arizona, USA. These participatory trainings incorporated participants' prior environmental health risk knowledge and personal experiences to co-create training content. Mixed methods evaluation was conducted via pre-post participant surveys in all four trainings (n = 53). Participants who did not demonstrate baseline environmental science knowledge pre-training demonstrated significant knowledge increase post-training, and participants who demonstrated low self-efficacy (SE) pre-training demonstrated a significant increase in SE post-training. Participants overall demonstrated a significant increase in specific environmental health skills described post-training. The interdisciplinary facilitator-scientist team also reported multiple benefits, including learning local knowledge that informed further research, and building trust relationships with community members for future collaboration. We propose contextual EHL education as a valuable strategy for increasing EHL in environmental health risk communities, and for building academia-community partnerships for environmental health research and action.
- Davis, L. F., Ramirez-Andreotta, M. D., McLain, J. E., Kilungo, A., Abrell, L., & Buxner, S. (2018). Increasing Environmental Health Literacy through Contextual Learning in Communities at Risk. International journal of environmental research and public health, 15(10).More infoEnvironmental health literacy (EHL) has recently been defined as the continuum of environmental health knowledge and awareness, skills and self-efficacy, and community action. In this study, an interdisciplinary team of university scientists, partnering with local organizations, developed and facilitated EHL trainings with special focus on rainwater harvesting and water contamination, in four communities with known environmental health stressors in Arizona, USA. These participatory trainings incorporated participants' prior environmental health risk knowledge and personal experiences to co-create training content. Mixed methods evaluation was conducted via pre-post participant surveys in all four trainings ( = 53). Participants who did not demonstrate baseline environmental science knowledge pre-training demonstrated significant knowledge increase post-training, and participants who demonstrated low self-efficacy (SE) pre-training demonstrated a significant increase in SE post-training. Participants overall demonstrated a significant increase in specific environmental health skills described post-training. The interdisciplinary facilitator-scientist team also reported multiple benefits, including learning local knowledge that informed further research, and building trust relationships with community members for future collaboration. We propose contextual EHL education as a valuable strategy for increasing EHL in environmental health risk communities, and for building academia-community partnerships for environmental health research and action.
- Kilungo, A., Powers, L., Arnold, N., Whelan, K., Paterson, K., & Young, D. (2018). Evaluation of Well Designs to Improve Access to Safe and Clean Water in Rural Tanzania. International journal of environmental research and public health, 15(1).More infoThe objective of this study was to examine three well designs: drilled wells (20-30 m deep), closed dug wells (>5 m deep), and hand-dug open wells (
- Powers, L. S., Smith, H. D., Kilungo, A. P., Ellis, W. R., McKay, C., Bonnaccorsi, R., & Roveda, J. (2018). In Situ Real-Time Quantification of Microbial Communities: Applications to Cold and Dry Volcanic Habitats. Global Ecology and Conservation, 16. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2018.e00458More infoWe report field tests of an instrument using multi-wavelength excitation and detection of fluorescence capable of detection and discrimination of viable cells, non-viable cells (not metabolically active but not decomposed), and spores in extreme arid environments where low microbial abundances are expected. These new results are presented for cold and dry volcanic habitats worldwide, e.g., the arid core of the Atacama Desert, Mt. Kilimanjaro glacier and Kibo area, Pali Aike caldera, and the western US volcanic and desert soils in Utah, Idaho, Nevada, and California. Our results are comparable to previous studies reported in the literature for the same environments. We find these extreme environments there have a base level of ∼103 - 104 cells/g. This is the lower limit of detectable life on terrestrial soils, as we did not observe any quantities less than this, even though the described instrumentation is capable of such measurements. Samples from more conventional environments show much higher microbial cell densities, ca. 108 cells/g or higher, with this same instrument. This base level of microbial life is nearly equal in all the measurements from the extreme environments both hot and cold, and is likely controlled primarily by the sparse nutrients rather than temperature.
- Sandhaus, S., Ramirez, M. D., Kilungo, A. P., Wolf, A. M., Sandoval, F., & Henriquez, P. (2017). Combating Climate Injustices: An Informal Science and Popular Education Approach to Addressing Environmental Health Disparities.. Pedagogy in Health Promotion: The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.
- Sandhaus, S., Ramirez-andreotta, M. D., Kilungo, A., Wolf, A. M., Sandoval, F., & Henriquez, P. (2018). Combating Climate Injustices: An Informal Science and Popular Education Approach to Addressing Environmental Health Disparities:. Pedagogy in health promotion, 4(4), 260-269. doi:10.1177/2373379917751476More infoAs global warming worsens, addressing environmental health disparities and justice is increasingly important. This necessity is evident in southern metropolitan Tucson, Arizona, an area underserved...
- Wolf, A. M., Sandoval, F., Sandhaus, S., Ramirez-andreotta, M. D., Kilungo, A., & Henriquez, P. (2018). Combating Climate Injustices: An Informal Science and Popular Education Approach to Addressing Environmental Health Disparities.. Pedagogy in health promotion, 4(4), 260-269. doi:10.1177/2373379917751476More infoAs global warming worsens, addressing environmental health disparities and justice is increasingly important. This necessity is evident in southern metropolitan Tucson, Arizona, an area underserved and disproportionately experiencing the effects of climate change. Including underserved groups in problem solving can spur knowledge generation and the building of community capacity to address and mitigate environmental health challenges posed by climate justice. This article describes a community-based project that utilized a peer education framework coupled with citizen science design. Community health workers (promotoras) were trained in environmental health, climate change, and environmental monitoring protocols to then educate and train families about these same subjects. The study goal was to evaluate science and environmental health learning, awareness, and self-efficacy at the promotora and residential levels resulting from intensive 40-hour trainings, peer education via home visits, and environmental monitoring. Pre- and postsurveys were completed by the promotoras and the families they visited. Motivations for participation as well as changes in self-efficacy and knowledge were analyzed. Results revealed that the promotora's motivations were primarily internal and they were concerned with health. Using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test (p =.05), it was observed that for both study groups, knowledge of water and energy conservation statistically increased, as well as self-efficacy for environmental action and scientific learning. This article demonstrates that promotoras are critical in environmental health and climate science peer education. These findings can be used to further develop peer education citizen science projects in underserved communities, ensuring that efforts increase participants' learning, self-efficacy, and enhance social-ecological outcomes.
- Ramirez-andreotta, M. D., Kilungo, A., Wolf, A. M., Vea, L., Spitz, A. H., Ramirez-andreotta, M. D., Ramirez, D. M., Kilungo, A., Estrella-sanchez, R., & Betterton, E. A. (2015). Pollution Prevention through Peer Education: A Community Health Worker and Small and Home-Based Business Initiative on the Arizona-Sonora Border.. International journal of environmental research and public health, 12(9), 11209-26. doi:10.3390/ijerph120911209More infoGovernment-led pollution prevention programs tend to focus on large businesses due to their potential to pollute larger quantities, therefore leaving a gap in programs targeting small and home-based businesses. In light of this gap, we set out to determine if a voluntary, peer education approach led by female, Hispanic community health workers (promotoras) can influence small and home-based businesses to implement pollution prevention strategies on-site. This paper describes a partnership between promotoras from a non-profit organization and researchers from a university working together to reach these businesses in a predominately Hispanic area of Tucson, Arizona. From 2008 to 2011, the promotora-led pollution prevention program reached a total of 640 small and home-based businesses. Program activities include technical trainings for promotoras and businesses, generation of culturally and language appropriate educational materials, and face-to-face peer education via multiple on-site visits. To determine the overall effectiveness of the program, surveys were used to measure best practices implemented on-site, perceptions towards pollution prevention, and overall satisfaction with the industry-specific trainings. This paper demonstrates that promotoras can promote the implementation of pollution prevention best practices by Hispanic small and home-based businesses considered "hard-to-reach" by government-led programs.
- Kilungo, A. P., Carlton-carew, N., & Powers, L. S. (2013). Continuous Real-time Detection of Microbial Contamination in Water using Intrinsic Fluorescence. Journal of Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 2013(01), 1-5. doi:10.4172/2155-6210.s12-002More infoWith the rapid increase in global population, geographically changing drought conditions and the ensuing potential water shortage, water quality has become a major concern. In some extreme cases, such as Arizona, the population may have to switch and use recycled toilet water for potable use in the near future. However, our current monitoring methods for drinking water do not provide fast and reliable results to deal with these challenges. By using intrinsic fluorescence, microbial contamination in water can be monitored in real-time, continuously, without sample collection or contact and at very low concentration. The detection limit of the instrument designed specifically for this purpose and reported here is ~50 bacterial cells/L. By monitoring the fluorescence of cellular components of microorganisms, their concentrations and metabolic states (live, dead, spores) can be determined. These fluorophores include reduced pyridine nucleotides (RPNs), flavins, and cytochromes to distinguish live cells; cytochromes for dead cells; and calcium dipicolinic acid (DPA) for spores. By using this method, a wide range of microorganisms such as bacteria, protozoa, amoebae, fungi and other microorganisms can be detected
Presentations
- Brinks, T., Chukwuonye, G., Lopez, A., Ramirez-Andreotta, M., & Kilungo, A. P. (2023, February). Drinking water as a potential environmental exposure of Helicobacter pylori. Arizona-Sonora Binational Coalition Conference. Virtual: University of Arizona.
- Brinks, T., Simmons, T., Yves, B., Lynch, V., Mohamed, H., & Kilungo, A. P. (2023, November). How Social Determinants of Health Shape Climate Change Resilience and Health Outcomes in Tanzania. COP28. Dubai, United Arab Emirates: United Nations Framework for Climate Change Conventions (UNFCCC).
- Chukwuonye, G. G., Kilungo, A. P., Brinks, T., Ramirez-Andreotta, M., & Lopez, A. (2023, February). Metalloid Concentration in Drinking Water and Public Perception in the Arizona-Mexico Border. Arizona-Sonora Binational Coalition Conference. Virtual: University of Arizona.
- Kilungo, A. P. (2023, June). Closing Statement to the United Nations Framework of Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC). . Bonn SB58 Conference. Bonn, Germany: United Nations Framework of Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC).
- Kilungo, A. P., & Ramirez-Andreotta, M. D. (2022, April). Prevalence of Helicobacter Pylori, Arsenic and Associated Health Outcomes in the Arizona-Sonora Border. Arizona-Sonora Binational Coalition Conference, April 29th, Tucson, AZ.. Arizona-Sonora Binational Coalition Conference. Virtual: MEZCOPH.More infoAssessing drinking water sources to improve our understanding of potential exposures to Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and arsenic and reduce health disparities.
- Joshi, N., Lopus, S., Corrie, H., Ernest, K., Davis, J., Kilungo, A. P., & Evans, T. (2021, October). COVID-19 Lockdowns: Linkage Between Lockdowns Induced Employment Disruption, Water Access and Hygiene Practices, in Informal Settlements in Nairobi. University of Arizona Resilience Symposium. The University of Arizona: University of Arizona.
- Kilungo, A. P. (2021, July). Addressing Human Health through One Health Lens. Arizona Science Teachers Symposium. Tucson, Arizona: N/A.
- Kilungo, A. P., McLain, J., Ramirez-Andreotta, M. D., & Moses, A. (2021, July). Microbial Water Quality in Harvested Systems. City of Tucson, Tucson Water. Tucson, Arizona: City of Tucson.
- Ramirez, M. D., Sandhaus, S., Sandoval, F., Kilungo, A. P., Mclain, J. E., Root, R. A., Abrell, L. M., Buxner, S. R., Kaufmann, D. B., Cortez, I., Theresa, F., Margaret, D., Lisa, O., Palawat, K., Norma, V., Annabelle, G., & Tasnim, A. (2021). Building a transdisciplinary, bilingual community science program to advance environmental health in underserved communities. Citizen Science AssociationCitizen Science Association.
- Rhys, D., Kloster, J., Morales, S., Eckert, B., Turner-Warren, T., Aseret-Manygoats, T., Ehiri, J., Riggs, S., Kilungo, A. P., & Warholak, T. (2021, November). Identification of medication-related problems among rural community-dwelling patients receiving telephonic medication therapy management services. Arizona Department of Health (ADHS) Mariposa Conference. Mariposa, Arizona: Arizona Department of Health (ADHS).
- Kilungo, A. P., Davis, R., & John, I. (2020, July). Tools to Evaluate Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Schools in Dare es Salaam, Tanzania. The 6th International Conference of Public Health 2020: Driving Innovation in Health and Healthcare in the Industrial Revolution 4.0. Bangkok, Thailand (Virtual).
- Ramirez, M. D., Rutin, E. J., Kilungo, A. P., Mclain, J. E., & Moses, A. J. (2020, October). The efficacy of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) tests for detecting microbial contamination in harvested rainwater samples. UNC Water and Health Conference. Chapel Hill, NC (Online): University of North Carolina School of Public Health.
- Kaufmann, D., Villagomez, N., Davis, L., Moses, A., Solis-Leon, J., Sandoval, F., Root, R. A., Kilungo, A. P., Mclain, J. E., Abrell, L. M., & Ramirez, M. D. (2019, March). Project Harvest Be Informed. Grow Smarter. Brown Bag Seminar,. Tucson, AZ: Water Research Resource Center, Villagomez-Marquez N. Davis L, and Kaufmann D,.
- Kaufmann, D., Villagomez, N., Davis, L., Moses, A., Solis-Leon, J., Sandoval, F., Root, R. A., Kilungo, A. P., Mclain, J. E., Abrell, L. M., & Ramirez, M. D. (2019, March). Project Harvest Be Informed. Grow Smarter. Water Research Resource Center Brown Bag Seminar. Tucson, AZ: Water Research Resource Center.
- Root, R. A., Kilungo, A. P., Mclain, J. E., Abrell, L. M., & Ramirez, M. D. (2019, April). Project Harvest: A Co-Created Citizen Science Rainwater Harvesting Program in Rural and Urban Arizona Communities. 2nd Cobre Valley Forum on Water. Globe, Gila County, Arizona..
- Sandoval, F., Ramirez, M. D., Davis, L., Abrell, L. M., Buxner, S. R., Mclain, J. E., Root, R. A., Kilungo, A. P., Kilungo, A. P., Root, R. A., Buxner, S. R., Mclain, J. E., Davis, L., Abrell, L. M., Sandoval, F., Ramirez, M. D., Sandoval, F., Abrell, L. M., Mclain, J. E., , Root, R. A., et al. (2019, March). Effect of environmental monitoring method on participant self-efficacy for science in underrepresented communities. Citizen Science Conference. Raleigh, North Carolina: Citizen Science Association.More infoRamírez-Andreotta, M., L. Davis, S. Buxner, A. Kilungo, R. Root, J. McLain, L. Abrell, and F. Sandoval. Effect of environmental monitoring method on participant self-efficacy for science in underrepresented communities. Citizen Science Conference; Raleigh, North Carolina, March 17, 2019.
- Kilungo, A. P., Mclain, J. E., Ramirez, M. D., Abrell, L. M., & Root, R. (2017, September). Does the dose make the poison: the presence of metal(liods) in harvested rooftop rainwater. 14th Biennial Conference of Science & Management on the Colorado Plateau & Southwest Region.
- Root, R., Mclain, J. E., Kilungo, A. P., Ramirez, M. D., & Abrell, L. M. (2017, September). Survey of contaminants in harvested rainwater from a southern Arizona pilot study. 14th Biennial Conference of Science & Management on the Colorado Plateau & Southwest Region.
- Sandhaus, S., Sandoval, F., Root, R., Kilungo, A. P., Mclain, J. E., Abrell, L. M., & Ramirez, M. D. (2017, September). Community science: public participation in harvested water and soil monitoring. 14th Biennial Conference of Science & Management on the Colorado Plateau & Southwest Region.
- Sandoval, F., Root, R., Abrell, L. M., Ramirez, M. D., Kilungo, A. P., & Mclain, J. E. (2017, September). Teaching harvested rainwater microbiology in Arizona communities: lessons learned. 14th Biennial Conference of Science & Management on the Colorado Plateau & Southwest Region.
Poster Presentations
- Sandoval, F., Ramirez, M. D., Sandhaus, S., Abrell, L. M., Root, R. A., Buxner, S. R., Ochoa, L., Cortez, I., Davis, L., Mclain, J. E., Dewey, M., Kilungo, A. P., Kaufmann, D., Foley, T., Jones, M., Henriquez, P., Henriquez, P., Jones, M., Foley, T., , Kaufmann, D., et al. (2021). Engaging Diverse Communities for Environmental Health Justice. National Science Foundation’s AISL PI meetingNational Science Foundation.
- Flor, S., Kilungo, A. P., Buxner, S. R., Root, R. A., Mclain, J. E., Ramirez, M. D., Palawat, K., Villagomez-Marquez, N., Abrell, L. M., & Sonia, M. (2020, August). What's in your rainwater? Inorganic and organic contaminants measured in roof-harvested rainwater. KEYS Research Internship Showcase. Tucson, Arizona (Virtual): Keep Engaging Youth in Science Internship Program.
- Henson, C., Ramirez, M. D., Sandoval, F., Villagomez-Marquez, N., Root, R. A., Abrell, L. M., Mclain, J. E., Buxner, S. R., Kilungo, A. P., Kilungo, A. P., Buxner, S. R., Mclain, J. E., Abrell, L. M., Root, R. A., Villagomez-Marquez, N., Sandoval, F., Henson, C., Ramirez, M. D., Ramirez, M. D., , Sandoval, F., et al. (2020, October). Per-polyfluoroalkyl substances in roof-harvested rainwater. Emerging Contaminants Summit. Westminster, Colorado (Virtual).
- Kilungo, A. P., Mclain, J. E., Ramirez, M. D., & Moses, A. J. (2020, Fall). Understanding the microbial makeup and risks of alternative water sources in romaine lettuce and cilantro crops. American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Expo. Virtual: APHA - American Public Health Association.
- Moses, A. J., Ramirez, M. D., Sandoval, F., Abrell, L. M., Root, R. A., Buxner, S. R., Obergh, V., Kilungo, A. P., Mclain, J. E., Mclain, J. E., Obergh, V., Kilungo, A. P., Buxner, S. R., Root, R. A., Sandoval, F., Abrell, L. M., Moses, A. J., & Ramirez, M. D. (2020, November). Indicator organism presence in urban and rural Arizona community garden soils watered with harvested rainwater. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meetings. Virtual: Agronomy Societies.
- Ramirez, M. D., Root, R. A., Mclain, J. E., Kilungo, A. P., Buxner, S. R., Abrell, L. M., Villagómez-Márquez, N., Ramirez, M. D., Root, R. A., Mclain, J. E., Kilungo, A. P., Buxner, S. R., Abrell, L. M., & Villagómez-Márquez, N. (2020, March). Emerging contaminants in Roof-harvested Rainwater. Emerging Contaminants Summit. Westminster, CO: Federallabs.
- Villagomez-Marquez, N., Abrell, L. M., Buxner, S. R., Kilungo, A. P., Mclain, J. E., Root, R. A., Flor, S., Ramirez, M. D., & Chorover, J. D. (2020, October). Pesticides detected in roof-harvested rainwater in rural and urban Arizona communities. Emerging Contaminants Summit. Westminster, Colorado (Virtual).
- Samarasinha, R., Wrona, J., Mwambope, G., John, I., & Kilungo, A. P. (2019, April). Understanding Barriers to Improving Access to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WaSH) in Rural Tanzania. Global Health & Innovation Conference.. Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.: Yale University.
- Moses, A., Ramirez, M. D., Sandoval, F., Solis-Leon, J., Abrell, L. M., Root, R. A., Buxner, S. R., Mclain, J. E., Kilungo, A. P., Kilungo, A. P., Mclain, J. E., Buxner, S. R., Root, R. A., Abrell, L. M., Solis-Leon, J., Sandoval, F., Moses, A., & Ramirez, M. D. (2018, March). The volunteer army: a review of ethical concerns in citizen science. Science of the Environment Earth Day Poster Presentation. Tucson, Arizona: University of Arizona Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science.
- Ramirez, M. D., Sandoval, F., Root, R. A., Mclain, J. E., Kilungo, A. P., Buxner, S. R., Abrell, L. M., Montijo, F., & Villagomez-Marquez, N. (2018, March). Investigating emerging organic contaminants in harvested rainwater via co-created citizen science: what is in your rainwater?. Science of the Environment Earth Day Poster Presentation. Tucson, Arizona: University of Arizona Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science.
- Ramirez, M. D., Sandoval, F., Root, R. A., Mclain, J. E., Kilungo, A. P., Buxner, S. R., Abrell, L. M., Moses, A., & Soli-Leon, J. (2018, April). Socio-demographics in Citizen Science: Does Governance Model Matter. SWESx. University of AZ.
- Ramirez, M. D., Sandoval, F., Root, R. A., Mclain, J. E., Kilungo, A. P., Buxner, S. R., Abrell, L. M., Moses, A., & Solis-Leon, J. (2018, March). Socio-demographics in citizen science: does governance model matter?. Science of the Environment Earth Day Poster Presentation. Tucson, Arizona: University of Arizona Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science.
- Ramirez, M. D., Sandoval, F., Root, R. A., Mclain, J. E., Kilungo, A. P., Buxner, S. R., Abrell, L. M., Solis, J., & Moses, A. (2018, April). The Volunteer Army: A Review of Ethical Concerns in Citizen Science.. SWESx. University of Arizona.
- Sandhaus, S., Kaufmann, D., Davis, L., Abrell, L. M., Buxner, S. R., Kilungo, A. P., Mclain, J. E., Ramirez, M. D., Root, R. A., & Sandoval, F. (2018, May). Advancing Informal Environmental Health STEM Learning through Co-Created Citizen Science. Teaching and Learning in the Food-Energy-Water Nexus: Toward a National and Collaborative for Food, Energy and Water Systems (NC-FEW).. Washington, DC.
- Villagómez-Márquez, N., Montijo, F., Abrell, L. M., Buxner, S. R., Kilungo, A. P., Mclain, J. E., Root, R. A., Sandoval, F., & Ramirez, M. D. (2018, April). Investigating emerging organic contaminants in harvested rainwater via Co-Created Citizen Science: What is in your rainwater?. SWESx. The University of Arizona.
- Henriquez, P., Sandoval, F., Wolf, A. M., Kilungo, A. P., Ramirez, M. D., & Sandhaus, S. (2017, March). Evaluating the Motivations, Knowledge, and Efficacy of Participants in Environmental Health Citizen Science Projects. University of Arizona SWESxUniversity of Arizona SWESx.
- Sandhaus, S., Ramirez, M. D., Wolf, A. M., Morales, F., Palmira, H., & Kilungo, A. P. (2016, November). Evaluating the Motivations, Knowledge, and Efficacy of Participants in Environmental Health Citizen Science Projects.. American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America International Annual Meeting.. Phoenix, AZ: American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America.
Reviews
- Kilungo, A. P. (2023. NIH Reviewer - Centers for Oceans and Human Health 4: Impacts of Climate Change on Oceans and Great Lakes .More infoGrant Reviewer, Centers for Oceans and Human Health 4: Impacts of Climate Change on Oceans and Great Lakes
- Kilungo, A. P. (2023. NIH Reviewer - Exploratory Grants for a Climate Change and Health Developmental Center .
- Kilungo, A. P. (2023. PLOS Reviewer - Prioritizing interventions for cholera control in Kenya, 2015-2020.