Kate Applebaum

Associate Professor

Full-time Faculty

School: Milken Institute School of Public Health

Department: Environmental and Occupational Health

Contact:

Email: Kate Applebaum

Office Phone: 202-994-8043

950 New Hampshire Ave. NW, Office: 416 - Floor 4 Washinton DC 20052

Dr. Kate Applebaum conducts research focused on environmental and occupational exposures influencing the risk of chronic diseases and cancer, including cancer of the lung, head and neck, skin, kidney, and brain. She has investigated such exposures as pesticides, heavy metals including arsenic, lead and cadmium, and occupational exposures including silica dust, asbestos, endotoxin, and metalworking fluids. Dr. Applebaum applies advanced epidemiologic methods and strategies and incorporates the use of biomarkers of exposures as well as biological indicators of early stage disease and progression in order to advance our understanding of the etiology of exposure-related diseases.

Dr. Applebaum is actively investigating diseases of the kidney. This includes chronic kidney disease (CKD) among male sugarcane workers in Nicaragua. These agricultural workers lack traditional risk factors for CKD, such as hypertension, obesity, and diabetes, and it is hypothesized that occupational factors are influencing the elevated prevalence of this disease. She is also investigating whether the Hispanic/Latino populations in the U.S. have increased risk of CKD due to environmental and occupational exposures. Additional kidney research includes renal cell carcinoma and CKD among populations of pesticide applicators and autoworkers in the U.S.

Dr. Applebaum has earned research and training awards from the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Institute on Aging. Dr. Applebaum has served on numerous scientific review committees including for the Institute of Medicine, NIOSH, and for a study of Polycythemia vera and environmental exposures in Pennsylvania.

Dr. Applebaum has taught courses in advanced epidemiologic methods, applied regression modeling, and environmental and occupational epidemiology. She has served as an academic advisor and research mentor to students and trainees at the Master’s, doctoral, and post-doctoral level. Dr. Applebaum is the Program Director of the MPH program in Environmental Health Science and Policy at the Milken Institute School of Public Health.

More from Kate Applebaum

PubMed

Education

Bachelor of Arts (Environmental Studies & Public Policy), University of Michigan, 1996

Master of Science in Public Health (Epidemiology & Environmental Health), Emory University, 2000

Doctor of Science (Epidemiology & Environmental Health), Harvard University, 2005

Expertise

Chronic Disease

Epidemiology

Global Environmental Health

Occupational Health

Teaching

PubH 6131 (231) - Quantitative Methods in EOH

PubH 8199 - Epidemiology Methods in Environmental Health

PubH 3132 - Health and Environment

Research

Dr. Applebaum's research addresses environmental and occupational exposures and biological pathways to chronic diseases and cancer.

Publications

Increased All-Cause Mortality Following Occupational Injury: A Comparison of Two States. Boden LI, Asfaw A, Busey A, Tripodis Y, O’Leary PK, Applebaum KM, Stokes AC, Fox MP. Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2022 Dec;79(12):816-823. doi: 10.1136/oemed-2022-108481. Epub 2022 Oct 17.
Mortality following workplace injury: Quantitative bias analysis. Busey A, Asfaw A, Applebaum KM, O'Leary PK, Tripodis Y, Fox M, Stokes AC, Boden LI. Annals of Epidemiology. 2021 Dec;64:155-160. doi: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2021.09.015. Epub 2021 Oct 1.
End-stage renal disease and metalworking fluid exposure. Shrestha D, Picciotto S, LaValley MP, Liu S, Hammond SK, Weiner DE, Eisen EA, Applebaum KM. Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2022 Jan;79(1):24-31. doi: 10.1136/oemed-2020-106715. Epub 2021 Jul 1.
Dyrusia, heat stress, and muscle injury among Nicaraguan sugarcane workers at risk for Mesoamerican Nephropathy. Stallings TL, Riefkohl AR, McCray N, Weiner DE, Kaufman JS, Aschengrau A, Ma Y, LaValley MP, Ramirez-Rubio O, Amador JJ, Lopez-Pilarte D, Laws RL, Winter M, McSorley VE, Brooks DR, Applebaum KM. Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment, & Health. Scand J Work Environ Health 2021 Jul 1;47(5):377-386. doi: 10.5271/sjweh.3963. Epub 2021 May 18.
Persistent organic pollutants and maternal glycemic outcomes in a diverse pregnancy cohort of overweight women. Mehta SS, James-Todd T, Applebaum KM, Bellavia A, Coleman-Phox K, Adler N, Laraia B, Epel E, Parry E, Wang M, Park JS, Zota AR. Environ Res 2021 Feb;193:110551. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110551. Epub 2020 Dec 2.
Associations between sociodemographic characteristics and exposures to PBDEs, OH-PBDEs, PCBs, and PFASs in a diverse, overweight population of pregnant women. Mehta SS, Applebaum KM, James-Todd T, Coleman-Phox K, Adler N, Laraia B, Epel E, Parry E, Wang M, Park J, Zota AR. Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology. 2020 Jan;30(1):42-55. Epub 2019 Sep 23.
Medical Conditions and Modifiable Risk Factors for Myelodysplastic Syndrome: A Systematic Review. Sweeney MR, Applebaum KM, Arem H, Braffett BH, Poynter JN, Robien K. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. Sept 2019;28(9):1502-1517.
Suicide and drug-related mortality following occupational injury. Applebaum KM, Asfaw A, O’Leary PK, Busey A, Tripodis Y, Boden LI. American Journal of Industrial Medicine. Sept 2019;62(9):733-741.
Caregiving intensity and mortality in older women, accounting for time-varying and lagged caregiver status: The Caregiver-Study of Osteoporotic Fractures study. Fredman L, Ranker L, Strunin L, Smith M, Applebaum KM. Gerontologist. 2019 Sep 17;59(5):e461-e469. Epub Jan 12, 2019
Effect of Diabetes and Glycemic Control on Ischemic Stroke Risk in Atrial Fibrillation (AF) Patients: the Anticoagulation and Risk Factors in Atrial Fibrillation (ATRIA) Study. Ashburner JM, Go AS, Chang Y, Fang MC, Fredman L, Applebaum KM, Singer DE. The Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2016 Jan 26;67(3):239-47.
Risk of renal cell carcinoma following exposure to metalworking fluids among autoworkers. Shrestha D, Liu S, Hammond SK, LaValley MP, Weiner DE, Eisen EA, Applebaum KM. Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2016 Oct;73(10):656-62
The Impact of Non-Fatal Workplace Injuries and Illnesses on Mortality. Boden L, O’Leary P, Applebaum KM, Tripodis Y. American Journal of Industrial Medicine. 2016 Dec;59(12):1061-1069
Influence of Competing Risks on Estimating the Expected Benefit of Warfarin Among Atrial Fibrillation Patients not Currently Taking Anticoagulants: the ATRIA Study. Ashburner JM, Go AS, Chang Y, Fang MC, Fredman L, Applebaum KM, Singer DE. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Accepted June 27, 2016. 2017 Jan;65(1):35-41.
An Overview of Occupational Risks from Climate Change. Applebaum KM, Graham J, Gray GM, LaPuma P, McCormick SA, Northcross A, Perry MJ. Current Environmental Health Reports. Current Environ Health Reports. 2016 Mar;3(1):13-22.
Occupational Exposures and Chronic Kidney Disease: Possible associations with endotoxin and ultrafine particles. Sponholtz T, Sandler DS, Parks C, Applebaum KM. American Journal of Industrial Medicine. 2016 Jan;59(1):1-11. Epub online 2015 Nov 17.
The relationship between caregiving and mortality after accounting for time-varying caregiver status and addressing the Healthy Caregiver Hypothesis.
Fredman L, Lyons JG, Cauley JA, Hochberg M, Applebaum KM. The Journals of Gerontology, Series A: Biological Sciences & Medical Sciences. 2015 Sep;70(9):1163-8. Epub 2015 Apr 15.
The influence of prevalent cohort bias in the association between periodontal disease progression and incident coronary heart disease.
Heaton B, Applebaum KM, Rothman KJ, Brooks DR, Heeren T, Dietrich T, Garcia RI.Annals of Epidemiology. 2014 Oct;24(10):741-6. Epub 2014 Jul 30.
Possible pro-carcinogenic association of endotoxin on lung cancer among Shanghai women textile workers. H Checkoway, J I Lundin, S Costello, R Ray, W Li, E A Eisen, G Astrakianakis, N Seixas, K Applebaum, D L Gao, and D B Thomas. British Journal of Cancer advance online publication 12 June 2014; doi: 10.1038/bjc.2014.308
Reproductive factors and risk of lung cancer in female textile workers in Shanghai, China. Gallagher LG, Rosenblatt KA, Ray RM, Li W, Gao DL, Applebaum KM, Checkoway H, Thomas DB. Reproductive factors and risk of lung cancer in female textile workers in Shanghai, China. Cancer Causes Control. 2013 Jul;24(7):1305-14. doi: 10.1007/s10552-013-0208-y. Epub 2013 Apr 13.
Evidence of a paradoxical relationship between endotoxin and lung cancer after accounting for left truncation in a study of Chinese female textile workers
Applebaum KM, Ray RM, Astrakianakis G, Gao DL, Thomas DB, Christiani DC, Lavalley MP, Li W, Checkoway H, Eisen EA. Evidence of a paradoxical relationship between endotoxin and lung cancer after accounting for left truncation in a study of Chinese female textile workers. Occup Environ Med. 2013 Jun 12. [Epub ahead of print]
Occupational asbestos exposure is associated with pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma in men from the greater Boston area
Langevin SM, O'Sullivan MH, Valerio JL, Pawlita M, Applebaum KM, Eliot M, McClean MD, Kelsey KT. Occup Environ Med. 2013 Dec;70(12):858-63. doi: 10.1136/oemed-2013-101528. Epub 2013 Sep 27.
Left truncation, susceptibility, and bias in occupational cohort studies
Applebaum KM, Malloy EJ, Eisen EA. Left truncation, susceptibility, and bias in occupational cohort studies. Epidemiology. 2011 Jul;22(4):599-606. doi: 10.1097/EDE.0b013e31821d0879.
Risk of lung cancer in relation to contiguous windows of endotoxin exposure among female textile workers in Shanghai
Agalliu I, Costello S, Applebaum KM, Ray RM, Astrakianakis G, Gao DL, Thomas DB, Checkoway H, Eisen EA. Risk of lung cancer in relation to contiguous windows of endotoxin exposure among female textile workers in Shanghai.Cancer Causes Control. 2011 Oct;22(10):1397-404. doi: 10.1007/s10552-011-9812-x. Epub 2011 Jul 6.
Reduced lung cancer mortality and exposure to synthetic fluids and biocide in the auto manufacturing industry
Mehta AJ, Malloy EJ, Applebaum KM, Schwartz J, Christiani DC, Eisen EA. Reduced lung cancer mortality and exposure to synthetic fluids and biocide in the auto manufacturing industry. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2010 Nov;36(6):499-508. Epub 2010 Sep 13.
Oral contraceptives: a risk factor for squamous cell carcinoma?
Applebaum KM, Nelson HH, Zens MS, Stukel TA, Spencer SK, Karagas MR. Oral contraceptives: a risk factor for squamous cell carcinoma? J Invest Dermatol. 2009 Dec;129(12):2760-5. doi: 10.1038/jid.2009.168. Epub 2009 Jun 25.
CTLA4 variants, UV-induced tolerance, and risk of non-melanoma skin cancer
Welsh MM, Applebaum KM, Spencer SK, Perry AE, Karagas MR, Nelson HH. CTLA4 variants, UV-induced tolerance, and risk of non-melanoma skin cancer. Cancer Res. 2009 Aug 1;69(15):6158-63. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-09-0415. Epub 2009 Jul 21.
Smoking modifies the relationship between XRCC1 haplotypes and HPV16-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Applebaum KM, McClean MD, Nelson HH, Marsit CJ, Christensen BC, Kelsey KT. Smoking modifies the relationship between XRCC1 haplotypes and HPV16-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Int J Cancer. 2009 Jun 1;124(11):2690-6. doi: 10.1002/ijc.24256.
Human papillomavirus 6 seropositivity is associated with risk of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, independent of tobacco and alcohol use
Furniss CS, McClean MD, Smith JF, Bryan J, Applebaum KM, Nelson HH, Posner MR, Kelsey KT. Human papillomavirus 6 seropositivity is associated with risk of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, independent of tobacco and alcohol use. Ann Oncol. 2009 Mar;20(3):534-41. doi: 10.1093/annonc/mdn643. Epub 2008 Dec 15.
Human papillomavirus-16 modifies the association between fruit consumption and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Meyer MS, Applebaum KM, Furniss CS, Peters ES, Luckett BG, Smith JF, Bryan J, McClean MD, Marsit C, Kelsey KT. Human papillomavirus-16 modifies the association between fruit consumption and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2008 Dec;17(12):3419-26. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-08-0560.
Dairy products, leanness, and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Peters ES, Luckett BG, Applebaum KM, Marsit CJ, McClean MD, Kelsey KT. Dairy products, leanness, and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Head Neck. 2008 Sep;30(9):1193-205. doi: 10.1002/hed.20846.
A role for ultraviolet radiation immunosuppression in non-melanoma skin cancer as evidenced by gene-environment interactions. Carcinogenesis
Welsh MM, Karagas MR, Applebaum KM, Spencer SK, Perry AE, Nelson HH. A role for ultraviolet radiation immunosuppression in non-melanoma skin cancer as evidenced by gene-environment interactions. Carcinogenesis. 2008 Oct;29(10):1950-4. doi: 10.1093/carcin/bgn160. Epub 2008 Jul 18.
Measures of cumulative exposure from a standardized sun exposure history questionnaire: a comparison with histologic assessment of solar skin damage
Karagas MR, Zens MS, Nelson HH, Mabuchi K, Perry AE, Stukel TA, Mott LA, Andrew AS, Applebaum KM, Linet M. Measures of cumulative exposure from a standardized sun exposure history questionnaire: a comparison with histologic assessment of solar skin damage. Am J Epidemiol. 2007 Mar 15;165(6):719-26. Epub 2007 Jan 4.
Reducing healthy worker survivor bias by restricting date of hire in a cohort study of Vermont granite workers
Applebaum KM, Malloy EJ, Eisen EA. Reducing healthy worker survivor bias by restricting date of hire in a cohort study of Vermont granite workers. Occup Environ Med. 2007 Oct;64(10):681-7. Epub 2007 Apr 20.
Polymorphisms in nucleotide excision repair genes, arsenic exposure, and non-melanoma skin cancer in New Hampshire. Environ Health Perspect
Applebaum KM, Karagas MR, Hunter DJ, Catalano PJ, Byler SH, Morris S, Nelson HH. Polymorphisms in nucleotide excision repair genes, arsenic exposure, and non-melanoma skin cancer in New Hampshire. Environ Health Perspect. 2007 Aug;115(8):1231-6.
Squamous cell and basal cell carcinoma of the skin in relation to radiation therapy and potential modification of risk by sun exposure
Karagas MR, Nelson HH, Zens MS, Linet M, Stukel TA, Spencer S, Applebaum KM, Mott L, Mabuchi K. Squamous cell and basal cell carcinoma of the skin in relation to radiation therapy and potential modification of risk by sun exposure. Epidemiology. 2007 Nov;18(6):776-84.
Lack of association of alcohol and tobacco with HPV16-associated head and neck cancer
Applebaum KM, Furniss CS, Zeka A, Posner MR, Smith JF, Bryan J, Eisen EA, Peters ES, McClean MD, Kelsey KT. Lack of association of alcohol and tobacco with HPV16-associated head and neck cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2007 Dec 5;99(23):1801-10. Epub 2007 Nov 27.