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The study purpose was to determine associations between proximity to grocery stores and Early Care and Education programs’ (i.e., ECEs) classroom nutrition practices and barriers, by ECE context (Head Start, community-based childcare [CBC], and family child care homes [FCCHs]). A statewide cross-sectional survey was implemented in Oklahoma ECEs. Directors reported classroom nutrition practices with the Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment tool, and barriers to implementation. Locations of 457 grocery stores statewide were determined by in-person audit. Geocoded ECEs were considered within a “low proximity” area if no grocery stores were available within a 0.25-mile radius for urban, or 10-mile radius for rural, ECEs. From November 2019 to February 2020, 54 Head Starts, 159 CBCs, and 160 FCCHs participated. 31.0 % were considered as low proximity. Head Starts demonstrated the highest classroom nutrition scores for mealtime practices, and nutrition education and policy. While proximity to grocery stores was not related to classroom nutrition practices for any ECE context (p > 0.05), FCCHs located within a low proximity area reported barriers to implementing those practices more often compared to FCCHs in an area within accessible proximity of grocery store. Thus, proximity to grocery stores was related to barriers in FCCHs only; those provider’s experiences and perceptions may be most susceptible to influence of the community nutrition environment, compared to other ECE contexts. Contrary to studies in residential areas and schools, nutrition environments were not related to nutrition practices in ECEs. ECEs may serve as protective micro-environments supporting health for children residing in nearby low-access communities.

Background: Natural gas drilling may pose multiple health risks, including congenital anomalies, through air pollutant emissions and contaminated water. Two recent studies have evaluated the relationship between natural gas activity and congenital anomalies, with both observing a positive relationship. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate whether residence near natural gas wells is associated with critical congenital heart defects (CCHD), neural tube defects (NTD), and oral clefts in Oklahoma, the third highest natural gas producing state in the US. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study among singleton births in Oklahoma (n = 476,600) to evaluate natural gas activity and congenital anomalies. We calculated an inverse distance-squared weighted (IDW) score based on the number of actively producing wells within a two-mile radius of the maternal residence during the month of delivery. We used modified Poisson regression with robust error variance to estimate prevalence proportion ratios (PPR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between tertiles of natural gas activity (compared to no wells) and CCHD, NTD, and oral clefts adjusted for maternal education. Results: We observed an increased, though imprecise, prevalence of NTDs among children with natural gas activity compared to children with no wells (2nd tertile PPR: 1.34, 95% CI: 0.93, 1.93; 3rd tertile PPR: 1.20, 95% CI: 0.82, 1.75). We observed no association with CCHD or oral clefts overall. Specific CCHDs of common truncus, transposition of the great arteries, pulmonary valve atresia and stenosis, tricuspid valve atresia and stenosis, interrupted aortic arch, and total anomalous pulmonary venous connection were increased among those living in areas with natural gas activity compared to those living in areas without activity, though not statistically significant. Discussion: Our results were similar to previous studies for NTDs and specific CCHDs. Future directions include evaluating the association between specific phases of the drilling process and congenital anomalies to better refine the relevant exposure period. Keywords: Natural gas wells, Congenital anomalies, Air pollution

Environmental factors can affect human health throughout the lifespan. Reliable and accurate data are needed to understand and establish relationships between environmental factors and health outcomes. In this article, spatiotemporal data (across time and space) on environmental concentrations were compiled in a database for the State of Oklahoma, United States. Data were collected from local, state, and federal government agencies, and organized into a metadata document, which includes spatial extent (information on the area covered), attributes (i.e., variables such as chemical concentration), and temporal extent (time period) of the dataset, among others. Data have been cataloged for concentrations found in water (n = 53 files), air (n = 15 files), land (n = 7 files), and industry (n = 3 files). Data also included physical characteristics (i.e., data on location, geology, and features of waterways, watersheds, and lakes, among others, n = 31 files) and administrative datasets (i.e., data on location and distribution of county boundaries and tribal statistical areas and reservations for federally recognized tribes in Oklahoma, n = 4 files). The main result is a collection of a wide range of spatially-resolved concentration data. This spatiotemporal database will assist in future epidemiologic investigations and assessment of the geographic and temporal distribution of environmental exposures in Oklahoma. Keywords: Environmental concentrations, Geographic information systems, Oklahoma, Spatiotemporal distribution