Area of Research Emphasis (ARE) #7:
Biomarkers & Exposure Assessments
Overview: Much of the research done in environmental health relies upon the ability of scientists to accurately describe and measure human exposures. Whether conducting large-scale epidemiologic studies for general risk factors, investigating specific gene-environment interactions, or evaluating cases of environmental injustice, researchers need to be able to describe and quantify exposures in order to help protect human health. Accurate measurement of exposure levels to air pollutants, neurotoxic chemicals, dietary nutrients, and other environmental risk factors are key to research at the CEEH. One way researchers assess exposure is by developing and using biomarkers. Biomarkers are specific biological traits, such as the level of a certain molecule in the body, which can be used to indicate that an exposure has occurred.
CEEH Connections: There are eight researchers affiliated with the CEEH working in this area of research emphasis. Christopher Simpson, Sally Liu, and David Kalman have developed new environmental markers of wood smoke and biomarkers of smoke exposure, and collaborated with Tim Larson and Jane Koenig to assess health outcomes in children. Richard Fenske and Michael Yost have developed new exposure assessment methods to determine inhalation risks for children living near fields that are sprayed with organophosphate pesticides. Finally, Noah Seixas and Harvey Checkoway are interested in exposure assessment in occupational health and have collaborated with Lianne Sheppard to develop statistical methods for evaluating hearing function among textile workers in China.
ARE Director:
Dr. Richard Fenske, UW Dept. of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences
rfenske@u.washington.edu
206-616-1958