Dr Shamshad Karatela
Honorary Senior Research Fellow
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Researcher biography
Dr Shamshad Karatela is an environmental epidemiologist and a public health researcher. From being a molecular microbiologist, she further developed her skills in public health, environmental epidemiology, exposure science, bio-monitoring, infectious diseases, microbiome and intellectual disability. She has also developed skills in program monitoring and evaluation, survey design, curricula development/training, supervision, management and data analysis. Her particular research interest focuses on understanding the long-term impacts of developmental exposures (from gestation, early life, into adolescence) to environmental chemicals/pollutants/contaminants.
Journal Articles
Tang, Nu, He, Yannan, Karatela, Shamshad, Zhong, Jinjing, Zeng, Xiaoling, Lu, Qinggui, Zhao, Feng and Cai, Li (2025). Association between erythrocyte polyunsaturated fatty acids and gestational diabetes mellitus in Chinese pregnant women. European Journal of Nutrition, 64 (2) 87, 2. doi: 10.1007/s00394-025-03603-2
Karatela, Shamshad, Popovic, Igor, Sobhani, Zahra, Kumar, Shiv Basant, Palanisami, Thava, Lin, Li-Zi and Paul, Gunther (2025). Rubber Crumb Infill in Synthetic Turf and Health Outcomes: A Review of the Literature on Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Metalloids. Epidemiologia, 6 (1) 4, 4. doi: 10.3390/epidemiologia6010004
Khan, Asaduzzaman, Thomas, George, Karatela, Shamshad, Morawska, Alina and Werner-Seidler, Aliza (2024). Intense and problematic social media use and sleep difficulties of adolescents in 40 countries. Journal of Adolescence, 96 (5), 1116-1125. doi: 10.1002/jad.12321
Ou, Xiao-Xuan, Wang, Xin, Zhan, Xiao-Ling, Shen, Shu-Li, Karatela, Shamshad, Jing, Jin, Cai, Li, Liu, Ru-Qing, Lin, Li-Zi and Dong, Guang-Hui (2024). The associations of secondhand smoke exposure with neurodevelopmental disorders and critical time window identification: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Science of the Total Environment, 913 169649, 169649. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169649
Vinayagam, Ritwika, Tanner, Christopher, Harley, David, Karatela, Shamshad and Brooker, Katie (2024). Correction to: “My Autism is Linked with Everything”: at the Crossroads of Autism and Diabetes (Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, (2023), 10.1007/s10803-023-06033-3). Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 54 (7), 2787-2787. doi: 10.1007/s10803-024-06431-1
Khaliq, Asif, Shah Syed, Abdul Rehman, Holmes-Stahlman, River, Tahir, Muhammad Fawad, Karatela, Shamshad and Lassi, Zohra S. (2023). Assessing the relationship of recommended diarrhea case management practices with the nutritional status of children aged between 0 to 59.9 months. Health Open Research, 5 34, 1-21. doi: 10.12688/healthopenres.13366.1
Zhan, Xiao-Ling, Pan, Ning, Karatela, Shamshad, Shi, Lei, Wang, Xin, Liu, Zhao-Yan, Jing, Jin, Li, Xiu-Hong, Cai, Li and Lin, Li-Zi (2023). Infant feeding practices and autism spectrum disorder in US children aged 2-5 years: the national survey of children's health (NSCH) 2016-2020. International Breastfeeding Journal, 18 (1) 41, 1-12. doi: 10.1186/s13006-023-00580-2
Vinayagam, Ritwika, Tanner, Christopher, Harley, David, Karatella, Shamshad and Brooker, Katie (2023). “My autism is linked with everything”: at the crossroads of autism and diabetes. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 54 (8), 3122-3132. doi: 10.1007/s10803-023-06033-3
Chen, Yu-Jing, Lin, Li-Zi, Liu, Zhao-Yan, Wang, Xin, Karatela, Shamshad, Wang, Yu-Xuan, Peng, Shan-Shan, Jiang, Bi-Bo, Li, Xiao-Xu, Liu, Nan, Jing, Jin and Cai, Li (2023). Association between maternal gestational diabetes and allergic diseases in offspring: a birth cohort study. World Journal of Pediatrics, 19 (10), 972-982. doi: 10.1007/s12519-023-00710-0
Khaliq, Asif, Holmes-Stahlman, River, Ali, Danish, Karatela, Shamshad and Lassi, Zohra S. (2023). Assessment of determinants of paediatric diarrhoea case management adherence in Pakistan. Life, 13 (3) 677, 1-12. doi: 10.3390/life13030677
Pan, Wenting, Karatela, Shamshad, Lu, Qinggui, Xie, Luqin, Wu, Shengchi, Jing, Jin and Cai, Li (2023). Association of diet quality during pregnancy with maternal glucose metabolism in Chinese women. The British Journal of Nutrition, 130 (6) PII S0007114523000107, 958-965. doi: 10.1017/s0007114523000107
Karatela, Shamshad, Ward, Neil I., Paterson, Janis and Zeng, Irene Suilan (2022). Environmental Influences on the Behavioural and Emotional Outcomes of Children: A Network Analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19 (14) 8479, 8479. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19148479
Karatela, Shamshad, Caruana, Samantha and Paul, Gunther (2022). Prevalence of respiratory disease in the population of Queensland communities in proximity to coal mines and coal mining activities. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 9 (7), 3014-3022. doi: 10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20221776
Singh, Vishal, Cortes-Ramirez, Javier, Toms, Leisa-Maree, Sooriyagoda, Thilakshika and Karatela, Shamshad (2022). Effects of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers on Hormonal and Reproductive Health in E-Waste-Exposed Population: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19 (13) 7820, 7820. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19137820
Chen, Yujing, Lin, Lizi, Hong, Bin, Karatela, Shamshad, Pan, Wenting, Wu, Shengchi, Tang, Nu, Wang, Yuxuan, Jing, Jin and Cai, Li (2022). Association of allergic symptoms in the first 2 years of life with sleep outcomes among Chinese toddlers. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 9 791369, 791369. doi: 10.3389/fped.2021.791369
Halloran, Jessica, McDermott, Brett, Ewais, Tatjana, Begun, Jakob, Karatela, Shamshad, D'Emden, Helen, Corias, Christian and Denny, Simon (2021). The psychosocial burden of inflammatory bowel disease in adolescents and young adults. Internal Medicine Journal, 51 (12) imj.15034, 2027-2033. doi: 10.1111/imj.15034
Wan, En-Tzu, Darssan, Darsy, Karatela, Shamshad, Reid, Simon A. and Osborne, Nicholas John (2021). Association of pesticides and kidney function among adults in the US population 2001–2010. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18 (19) 10249, 1-9. doi: 10.3390/ijerph181910249
Borg, Danielle, Rae, Kym, Fiveash, Corrine, Schagen, Johanna, James-McAlpine, Janelle, Friedlander, Frances, Thurston, Claire, Oliveri, Maria, Harmey, Theresa, Cavanagh, Erika, Edwards, Christopher, Fontanarosa, Davide, Perkins, Tony, de Zubicaray, Greig, Moritz, Karen, Kumar, Sailesh, Clifton, Vicki, Queensland Family Cohort Research Collaborative, Hamilton-Williams, Emma and Bora, Samudragupta (2021). Queensland Family Cohort: a study protocol. BMJ Open, 11 (6) e044463, 1-13. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-044463
Karatela, Shamshad, Coomarasamy, Christin, Paterson, Janis and Ward, Neil I. (2020). Exposure to toenail heavy metals and child behavior problems in nine-year-old children: a cross-sectional study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17 (11) 4120, 1-12. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17114120
Karatela, Shamshad, Coomarasamy, Christin, Paterson, Janis and Ward, Neil I. (2019). Household smoking status and heavy metal concentrations in toenails of children. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16 (20) 3871, 3871. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16203871
Karatela, Shamshad, Ward, Neil and Paterson, Janis (2019). Mercury exposure in mother-children pairs in a seafood eating population: body burden and related factors. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16 (12) 2238, 2238. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16122238
Karatela, Shamshad, Ward, Neil I, Zeng, Irene Suilan and Paterson, Janis (2018). Status and interrelationship of toenail elements in Pacific children. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology, 46, 10-16. doi: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2017.11.004
Karatela, Shamshad, Paterson, Janis and Ward, Neil I. (2017). Domain specific effects of postnatal toenail methylmercury exposure on child behaviour. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology, 41, 10-15. doi: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2017.01.003
Kopacz, D., Traxler, M. P. and Karatela, Shamshad (2016). A Chart Review Comparison of Rates of Abnormal Vitamin D Results in New Zealand and United States Mental Health Samples. Mental Health in Family Medicine, 12, 260-267.
Karatela, Shamshad and Ward, NI (2016). Trace elements and human obesity: An overview. Manipal Journal of Nursing and Health Science, 2 (2), 50-59.
Karatela, Shamshad, Paterson, Janis, Schluter, Philip J. and Anstiss, Richard (2011). Methylmercury exposure through seafood diet and health in New Zealand: Are seafood eating communities at a greater risk?. Australasian Epidemiologist, 18 (1), 21-25.
Oliver-Africano, P., Dickens, S., Ahmed, Z., Bouras, N., Cooray, S., Deb, S., Knapp, M., Hare, M., Meade, M., Reece, B., Bhaumik, S., Harley, D., Piachaud, J., Regan, A., Thomas, D. A., Karatela, S., Rao, B., Dzendrowskyj, T., Lenôtre, L., Watson, J. and Tyrer, P. (2010). Overcoming the barriers experienced in conducting a medication trial in adults with aggressive challenging behaviour and intellectual disabilities. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 54 (1), 17-25. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2788.2009.01195.x
Tyrer, P., Oliver-Africano, P., Romeo, R., Knapp, M., Dickens, S., Bouras, N., Ahmed, Z., Cooray, S., Deb, S., Murphy, D., Hare, M., Meade, M., Reece, B., Kramo, K., Bhaumik, S., Harley, D., Regan, A., Thomas, D., Rao, B., Karatela, S., Lenotre, L., Watson, J., Soni, A., Crawford, M., Eliahoo, J. and North, B. (2009). Neuroleptics in the treatment of aggressive challenging behaviour for people with intellectual disabilities: A randomised controlled trial (NACHBID). Health Technology Assessment, 13 (21), i-73. doi: 10.3310/hta13210
Tyrer, Peter, Oliver-Africano, Patricia C., Ahmed, Zed, Bouras, Nick, Cooray, Sherva, Deb, Shoumitro, Murphy, Declan, Hare, Monica, Meade, Michael, Reece, Ben, Kramo, Kofi, Bhaumik, Sabyasachi, Harley, David, Regan, Adrienne, Thomas, David, Rao, Bharti, North, Bernard, Eliahoo, Joseph, Karatela, Shamshad, Soni, Anju and Crawford, Mike (2008). Risperidone, haloperidol, and placebo in the treatment of aggressive challenging behaviour in patients with intellectual disability: a randomised controlled trial. The Lancet, 371 (9606), 57-63. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(08)60072-0
Karatela S., Purdie D.M., Green A.C., Webb P.M. and Whiteman D.C. (2006). Repeatability of self-reported information for population-based studies of cancer. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 7 (2), 303-308.
Conference Papers
Osborne, Nicholas, Reid, Simon, Karatela, Shamshad, Assefa, Yibeltal and Wan, En-Tzu Grace (2021). Corrigendum to: 228 Relationship of pesticide exposure with kidney function in NHANES: lessons from low level chronic exposure. IEA World Congress of Epidemiology 2021, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 3-6 September 2021. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyab214
Osborne, Nicholas, Reid, Simon, Karatela, Shamshad, Assefa, Yibeltal and Wan, En-Tzu Grace (2021). Relationship of pesticide exposure with kidney function in NHANES: lessons from low level chronic exposure. IEA World Congress of Epidemiology 2021, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 3-6 September 2021. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyab168.517
Newspaper Article
Pojani, Dorina and Karatela, Shamshad (2022, 11 02). How many trees equal a human life? The Fifth Estate
Research Report
Brooker, Katie, Harley, David, Bradshaw, Pia, Karatela, Shamshad and Vinayagam, Ritwika (2020). Religious Freedom Bills: Second Exposure Drafts: submission by Queensland Centre for Intellectual and Developmental Disability. Canberra, ACT, Australia: Australian Government, Attorney-General's Department.