Air Pollution

2014 – 2018 PROJECTS

Assistant Professor Christina Fuller started the study “Environmental Health Interactions: Examining The Effect of Air Pollution, Stress and Socioeconomics on Cardiovascular Health”. Professor Fuller examined the relationship between air quality and stress among a Boston Puerto Rican population, whom are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Professor Fuller work helps to understand the disparities affecting cardiovascular health.

Associate Professor Hector A. Olvera at University of Texas at El Paso launched the “Life Stress, Particulate Matter, and Inflammatory Reactivity Study” to determine how childhood adversity induces an amplified inflammatory response to air pollution exposures. In parallel, Dr. Olvera also worked at increasing youths’ awareness of the vulnerabilities of low socio economic status communities. Particularly, he aimed to empower youth by engaging them in the translation and dissemination of science.

Professor Annie Belcourt also started the study “Community-Defined Monitoring, Impact Assessment, And Engagement Associated with Refinery Source Exposure: Swinomish Partnership To Promote Environmental Public Health Science.” This project created local capacity in the Swinomish Nation to monitor, detect, and map exposures and health effects from toxic air pollutants. The Swinomish Nation homelands houses two refineries that release large quantities of toxic air pollutants. This project also promoted public health dissemination methods for rapid response to future accidental releases.

See also: Housing, Environmental Health and Stress + Resilience