By Kathryn Stroppel and S. Marie Harvey
Understanding the intricate relationship between our environment and human health has never been more crucial.
More than half of human infectious diseases are impacted by climate change, including rising CO2 and sea levels, and temperature and weather extremes. The world’s population is also confronting the increasing frequency of natural disasters such as wildfires and earthquakes, and human-caused disasters such as war.
According to the World Health Organization, more than 13 million people worldwide die each year due to modifiable environmental conditions, accounting for about 24% of the world’s deaths.
Environmental and occupational health research
Meeting these escalating challenges requires a deeper understanding of the biological and social connections between our environment and human health. Within the College of Health, researchers are working to help create this understanding, including examining the effects of exposure to air and water pollution and other chemical contaminants, the built environment, climate change, and occupational exposures to health and safety hazards.
Collaborating across disciplines and leveraging the university’s diverse strengths, the college established a signature research area in environmental and occupational health.
Over the last five years, faculty have secured more than $16 million in sponsored grants and contracts, supporting nearly 30 research initiatives and a new center, ASPIRE, investigating children’s environmental health.
Funding comes from various sources, including federal agencies such as the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as industry partners, private foundations and non-profit organizations.
These research initiatives align closely with areas outlined in University Strategic Plan 2024–30, which include climate science, clean energy, and integrated health and biotechnology.
College researchers use a multidisciplinary approach and bring together faculty from across the college, including public health, kinesiology, nutrition, and human development and family sciences.
They also provide opportunities for student involvement in discovery, integrate diverse lived experiences, address health disparities and inequities, engage communities locally and globally, and translate evidence-informed policies, programs and practices to communities and stakeholders.
Grant to boost wildfire smoke resiliency
Professors Molly Kile and Perry Hystad will benefit from $736,500 in federal funds to develop resources to boost wildfire smoke resiliency in Oregon. The EPA grant brings together OSU’s public health and engineering experts, as well as Smokewise Ashland, to develop practical smoke plans for schools to help them prepare, react and recover from the impacts of wildfire smoke.
Researchers are on board in improving fishermen’s health and safety
Professor Laurel Kincl and former COH professor Jeong (Jay) Kim explore Dungeness crab fishing vessel design and quantify the impact of the current crab sorting system on injury risk as part of the FLIPP (Fishermen Led Injury Prevention Program) research team. Findings will provide evidence-based design recommendations to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries and fatalities.
Reducing harmful environmental exposures to children
The OSU ASPIRE Center works to improve children’s environmental health Professors Megan McClelland and Molly Kile lead a team supported by more than $3.6 million to develop strategies to accelerate the adoption of evidence-informed policies, programs and practices that can reduce harmful environmental exposures to children.
Vehicle regulations can impact birth outcomes
Nearly $1.5 million supports Professor Perry Hystad in determining the impact of vehicle regulations and local congestion programs on reducing air pollution exposure and impacts on adverse birth outcomes.
Wristbands help researchers identify flame retardant exposures in children
More than $3.3 million in grants, and specially devised wristbands, help researchers explore the effects of flame-retardant exposure on children. This includes examining racial and ethnic disparities in children’s exposure, effects on cognitive and executive functioning skills, and intervention strategies and is led by professors Molly Kile and Shannon Lipscomb. Shannon is associate dean for research and professor of human development and family sciences at OSU-Cascades.
Learn more about College of Health research.