Zoe Koestel - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Zoe Koestel
Scientific Reports, 2021
The eastern paralysis tick, Ixodes holocyclus is one of two ticks that cause potentially fatal ti... more The eastern paralysis tick, Ixodes holocyclus is one of two ticks that cause potentially fatal tick paralysis in Australia, and yet information on the full extent of its present or potential future spatial distribution is not known. Occurrence data for this tick species collected over the past two decades, and gridded environmental variables at 1 km2 resolution representing climate conditions, were used to derive correlative ecological niche models to predict the current and future potential distribution. Several hundreds of candidate models were constructed with varying combinations of model parameters, and the best-fitting model was chosen based on statistical significance, omission rate, and Akaike Information Criterion (AICc). The best-fitting model matches the currently known distribution but also extends through most of the coastal areas in the south, and up to the Kimbolton peninsula in Western Australia in the north. Highly suitable areas are present around south of Perth, e...
Science of The Total Environment, 2017
Introduction: Bisphenol A (BPA) is an organic endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) that modifies t... more Introduction: Bisphenol A (BPA) is an organic endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) that modifies the activity of hormones, leading to adverse health effects. BPA is a stabilizer of polyvinyl chloride-one of the most common synthetic plastic polymers, used in the production of common products, including packaging materials, plastic bottles, toys, and thermal paper; it is also used to synthetize the epoxy resins, a component of food cans. Hence, consumption of canned products-the source of BPA exposure-increases BPA concentration in human body and may increase the risk of several lifestyle diseases and hormonal, metabolic, and fertility disorders. Objectives: To evaluate the regularity of consumption of canned products among young women living in the city of Gdansk (Poland). Patients and methods: 277 women filled a food frequency questionnaire to determine consumption of alimentary products which, according to published research, may be contaminated with BPA Results: Products with high BPA content (>100 ng/g) were consumed at least once a week by 7% of respondents, while these with moderate (10-100 ng/g) and low (<10 ng/g) content of BPA by 33% and 60%, respectively. Conclusions: Young women regularly consume canned products, mostly with low or moderate BPA content. However, persistent exposure, even at low doses, may trigger adverse health effects. Thus, it is crucial to conduct further research on the effects of this EDC on human health and reconsider tolerable daily intake, if such a safe dose of BPA exposure exists. Simultaneously, it would be advisable to find safer materials for food packaging, free from EDC.
PLOS ONE, 2021
Unexpected questing activity of ticks was noted during the winter months of January and February ... more Unexpected questing activity of ticks was noted during the winter months of January and February in the Central Midwestern states of Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. From nine geographically distinct locations, four species of ticks were collected using the flagging method, of which the lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum, was most abundant, followed by the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis, the Gulf coast tick, Amblyomma maculatum, and the Black legged tick, Ixodes scapularis. More A. americanum nymphs were caught questing than male or female adults. The winter activity of these medically important ticks in this region poses concern for public health and offers an insight into future tick activity in light of ongoing climate change. More studies on the seasonality of these tick species, and how different climate parameters affect their seasonal activity in this region are warranted and would be expected to benefit for both human and veterinary medicine.
Scientific Reports, 2021
The eastern paralysis tick, Ixodes holocyclus is one of two ticks that cause potentially fatal ti... more The eastern paralysis tick, Ixodes holocyclus is one of two ticks that cause potentially fatal tick paralysis in Australia, and yet information on the full extent of its present or potential future spatial distribution is not known. Occurrence data for this tick species collected over the past two decades, and gridded environmental variables at 1 km2 resolution representing climate conditions, were used to derive correlative ecological niche models to predict the current and future potential distribution. Several hundreds of candidate models were constructed with varying combinations of model parameters, and the best-fitting model was chosen based on statistical significance, omission rate, and Akaike Information Criterion (AICc). The best-fitting model matches the currently known distribution but also extends through most of the coastal areas in the south, and up to the Kimbolton peninsula in Western Australia in the north. Highly suitable areas are present around south of Perth, e...
Science of The Total Environment, 2017
Introduction: Bisphenol A (BPA) is an organic endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) that modifies t... more Introduction: Bisphenol A (BPA) is an organic endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) that modifies the activity of hormones, leading to adverse health effects. BPA is a stabilizer of polyvinyl chloride-one of the most common synthetic plastic polymers, used in the production of common products, including packaging materials, plastic bottles, toys, and thermal paper; it is also used to synthetize the epoxy resins, a component of food cans. Hence, consumption of canned products-the source of BPA exposure-increases BPA concentration in human body and may increase the risk of several lifestyle diseases and hormonal, metabolic, and fertility disorders. Objectives: To evaluate the regularity of consumption of canned products among young women living in the city of Gdansk (Poland). Patients and methods: 277 women filled a food frequency questionnaire to determine consumption of alimentary products which, according to published research, may be contaminated with BPA Results: Products with high BPA content (>100 ng/g) were consumed at least once a week by 7% of respondents, while these with moderate (10-100 ng/g) and low (<10 ng/g) content of BPA by 33% and 60%, respectively. Conclusions: Young women regularly consume canned products, mostly with low or moderate BPA content. However, persistent exposure, even at low doses, may trigger adverse health effects. Thus, it is crucial to conduct further research on the effects of this EDC on human health and reconsider tolerable daily intake, if such a safe dose of BPA exposure exists. Simultaneously, it would be advisable to find safer materials for food packaging, free from EDC.
PLOS ONE, 2021
Unexpected questing activity of ticks was noted during the winter months of January and February ... more Unexpected questing activity of ticks was noted during the winter months of January and February in the Central Midwestern states of Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. From nine geographically distinct locations, four species of ticks were collected using the flagging method, of which the lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum, was most abundant, followed by the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis, the Gulf coast tick, Amblyomma maculatum, and the Black legged tick, Ixodes scapularis. More A. americanum nymphs were caught questing than male or female adults. The winter activity of these medically important ticks in this region poses concern for public health and offers an insight into future tick activity in light of ongoing climate change. More studies on the seasonality of these tick species, and how different climate parameters affect their seasonal activity in this region are warranted and would be expected to benefit for both human and veterinary medicine.