The SWAN Multi-Pollutant Study (MPS) was initiated in 2016 to examine health effects of multiple environmental chemical exposures, including perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), metals, phenols, phthalates, and organophosphate pesticide among midlife women. Funded through two R01 grants by the National Institute of Environmental Health and Sciences (NIEHS), the SWAN MPS specifically investigates 1) obesity, type-2 diabetes and related metabolic endpoints (R01 ES026578); and 2) reproductive health including sex steroid hormones, age at menopause and ovarian aging (R01 ES026964).

The goal of this project is to understand the environment’s role in the development of Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias (ADRD). Specifically, we aim to (1) conduct a biologic hypothesis-based approach to test the associations of chronic exposure to lead and cadmium with incident ADRD; (2) conduct a data-driven environment-wide association study to systematically evaluate a wide-range of environmental toxicants with incident ADRD; and (3) develop and validate an exposome-based risk prediction model for ADRD using machine learning methods. This project is funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA, R01 AG070897).

As the aging population grows, the need to better understand the causes of age-related pathological changes is required. The major goals of this project are to understand how long-term exposures to environmental toxicants (lead, cadmium and air pollution) affect age-related pathological changes, namely, depressed cardiac function, age-related eye disease, and hearing loss, and to identify genetic and dietary factors that impact susceptibility to such pollutants in an aging population. This project is funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS, K01 ES016587).

Feminine care products, such as menstrual pads and tampons, are used widely by women worldwide. These products are intended for use on vaginal and vulvar tissues, which are more permeable than exposed skin and therefore have higher uptake and are potentially more vulnerable to exposure to toxic chemicals. Potential chemical exposure, especially of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), through use of feminine care products has been a public health concern. Although there is considerable concern and fear regarding toxic VOC exposure from menstrual pads and tampons, little is known about potential exposure risks of VOC through use of feminine care products.

"Environmental Cadmium and Influenza-related Mortality in NHANES: An Environment-Infectious Disease Interaction Study with Implications for Strategies for Reducing COVID-19-related Morbidity and Mortality"

The goal of this study is to examine the association of cadmium burden with mortality related to influenza or pneumonia in U.S. adults which can have implications for identifying modifiable environmental risk factors (e.g., cadmium) predisposing individuals with COVID-19.

We are exposed to multi-pollutants and pollution mixtures in real life, but what is the risk from multi-pollutants? Although the importance of multi-pollutant concepts is well recognized, most epidemiologic studies are still based on individual pollutants and little is known about statistical approaches to examine multi-pollutants and to integrate risks from multi-pollutants. We propose Environmental Risk Score (ERS) as a new tool to examine the risk of exposure to multi-pollutants in epidemiologic research.