Natalie Exum, PhD

Assistant Professor @JohnsHopkinsSPH @JohnsHopkinsEHE, bridging the gap between public health and sanitary engineering. Mother to 4. Lots of poop talk.

[Natalie Exum, PhD @NatalieGExum]

Proud to be working at @JohnsHopkinsSPH to protect our drinking water!

[Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health @JohnsHopkinsSPH]

Across the U.S., water systems are under threat. Aging infrastructure is being stressed by climate change. To better understand where we can apply #PublicHealth resources, @JohnsHopkinsSPH scientists are studying what’s going on in the pipes—and what’s coming out of our faucets.

[Natalie Exum, PhD @NatalieGExum]

The Navajo Nation is also 60x less likely to have piped water than most Americans.

“And it’s very expensive for our people to haul their own, and they have to ration, which has had a direct impact on the health of the Navajo Nation.”

[Amesh Adalja @AmeshAA]

“RSV hospitalization rates among Indigenous infants and toddlers are up to 10 times higher than the rate in the general population.” https://t.co/0PtVQftbp1

[Natalie Exum, PhD @NatalieGExum]

I have too many friends with cancer.

Cancer-preventing vaccines are why we need to continue to fund science.

[Science Magazine @ScienceMagazine]

A new generation of cancer-preventing vaccines could wipe out tumors before they form.

Learn more on #WorldCancerResearchDay: https://t.co/JgCcDWRUuR @NewsfromScience

[Natalie Exum, PhD @NatalieGExum]

@NezForAZ I can attest that your work was pivotal in delivering clean water to residents through water points installed at Chapter houses. https://t.co/5myyun8W5C. Thank you.

[Johns Hopkins University @JohnsHopkins]

To help meet a federal mandate to replace lead service lines, Johns Hopkins researchers and community groups are working together to engage Baltimore residents. Their efforts are driving progress toward safer water and healthier communities. https://t.co/oF3etav6QV

[Natalie Exum, PhD @NatalieGExum]

@j_g_allen A great thread that I will now be referencing in my work with hospitals in Maryland managing their water systems for Legionella.

[Natalie Exum, PhD @NatalieGExum]

Staying hopeful the EPA will uphold this rule that gives cities and towns a 10-year deadline to replace all of their lead pipes https://t.co/3Ou6vid9Ea

[Outbreak News Today @bactiman63]

The #NYC Health Department is currently investigating a community cluster of #Legionnaires' disease in Central #Harlem (ZIP codes 10027, 10030, 10035, 10037, and 10039).

As of August 8, there are:
83 confirmed cases
3 deaths
21 currently hospitalized
#NewYork #legionella

[Natalie Exum, PhD @NatalieGExum]

We actually don't have good evidence to back this up: "In lower-income neighborhoods, buildings are more likely to have plumbing systems and cooling towers that aren’t maintained as well, leading to a higher incidence of Legionella bacteria" https://t.co/YEGxXmYOF6

[Helen Branswell 🇨🇦 @HelenBranswell]

The NYC #Legionnaires outbreak has grown to 22 cases, with 1 death. Cases have been reported in Central Harlem (ZIP codes 10027, 10030, 10035, 10037 & 10039) & bordering communities. Sounds like cooling towers (multiple?) may be the source??? https://t.co/EYukkBjJkg

[Texas Tribune @TexasTribune]

A group representing High Plains region farmers has launched a campaign to make buyers aware of synthetic fibers’ impact on the environment and health. https://t.co/I5TkUa0jyj

[Joseph Allen @j_g_allen]

Lots of low probability events happening. Suggest maybe they’re no longer low probability events…

[Natalie Exum, PhD @NatalieGExum]

Baltimoreans, please limit your water use.

[BaltimoreDPW @BaltimoreDPW]

We’re asking everyone to pitch in and help save water. 💧

Liberty Reservoir, one of our main drinking water sources, is much lower than normal because we’ve had so little rain. That puts extra strain on our whole water system.

https://t.co/3XHyQZqXLP

[Natalie Exum, PhD @NatalieGExum]

This "electrical outage" shut down the entire track from New York to DC today. I just watched @RepJeffries detrain in Baltimore Penn Station to probably take a cab to DC.

We need America's infrastructure to work and that includes the train system in the NE corridor.

[Amtrak Northeast @AmtrakNECAlerts]

Itinerary Change: Due to an ongoing electrical systems outage between Baltimore (BAL) and Washington (WAS), Acela 2155 is canceled between Baltimore and Washington. Customers will be accommodated on MARC Commuter Trains into Washington. For additional info, please text 268725 or call 1-800-USA-RAIL. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.

[Natalie Exum, PhD @NatalieGExum]

Get the word out to your friends in LA.

[Andrew Whelton 🔥💧❄️🌪 @TheWheltonGroup]

A real shame.

In Los Angeles, the #EatonFire and #PalisadesFire soil areas are toxic, and the debris removal operations (BY DESIGN) do not include ANY soil sampling to check contractors. Nothing!

We’ve learned a lot from past wildfires. One major lesson, up to 30% of home sites will still have contaminated soil after contractors do their 6 inch soil scraping. Because of testing after other fires, we know this.

If the federal government won’t pay to confirm the contractor don’t make the soil safe, well, it’s up to the state to step in and protect its citizens.

But we’re hearing a lot of crickets.

I’d recommend all of those fire impacted property owners conduct sampling.

If you buy a property in the impacted area you probably need to test as well. You may not be able to trust the last property owner cleaned-up fully.

Buckle up for when contamination is found. There will be clearly defined liability. Government officials could prevent a catastrophe by taking action now.

[Natalie Exum, PhD @NatalieGExum]

@TheWheltonGroup Oh my! Lots of learning coming out of this account right now. Safe travels!

[Natalie Exum, PhD @NatalieGExum]

@rawleng @Makerere @ProfNawangwe @MakSPH @CeshCentre @AREF_Africa @CityMoveProject Many congrats for your accomplishment Dr. Ndejjo!

[Natalie Exum, PhD @NatalieGExum]

This is the same story across many cities in America right now. No one knows were the lead lines are!

[Alison Young @alisonannyoung]

My first article for @Hou_Landing : Despite today’s EPA deadline, water utilities don’t know whether hundreds of thousands of homes across Houston, the state of Texas and the US get their drinking water through lead pipes. We found … 1/ https://t.co/3x3vXPvLVt

[Natalie Exum, PhD @NatalieGExum]

All hands on deck are needed in Baltimore. 98% of our service lines are unknown in our old, industrial city https://t.co/rjWrh9BXmO

[Tolly Taylor @TollyTaylor]

#ICYMI: “There needs to be zero lead in this water.”
@NatalieGExum, @MarkConway4th, @HealthyHousing knocked on doors in Baltimore’s Pen Lucy neighborhood Friday to tell people to check their pipes for lead.
One of those addresses was a daycare.
MORE: https://t.co/5y5S9zzD6k

[Natalie Exum, PhD @NatalieGExum]

This historic rule to replace all lead service lines in America is now final. https://t.co/PuDSCCwzj1

[Natalie Exum, PhD @NatalieGExum]

A privilege to meet community members with @panagis21 and share critical information about lead service lines. Public health in action! @JHHEATCorps

[Tolly Taylor @TollyTaylor]

#ICYMI: “There needs to be zero lead in this water.”
@NatalieGExum, @MarkConway4th, @HealthyHousing knocked on doors in Baltimore’s Pen Lucy neighborhood Friday to tell people to check their pipes for lead.
One of those addresses was a daycare.
MORE: https://t.co/5y5S9zzD6k