Faculty labs

Environmental and Occupational Health

Our faculty conduct novel, impactful, interdisciplinary research locally, nationally and internationally. Below are links to Environmental and Occupational Health faculty labs that highlight ongoing projects and research opportunities.

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Environmental Exposure and Biomarker Lab

Environmental Exposure and Biomarker Lab

The Environmental Exposure and Biomarker Lab measures metal concentrations in environmental and biological samples in order to determine personal exposure to contaminants. We also examine molecular biomarkers that may be generated by exposure to environmental contaminants.

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Environmental Health Literacy and Translation Lab

Environmental Health Literacy and Translation Lab

The Environmental Health Literacy and Translation Lab evaluates the role of environmental health literacy in helping communities better frame and respond to environmental health hazards. Current projects incorporate disaster research, asthma and air pollution, and Indigenous environmental health.

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Methylmercury Lab

Methylmercury Lab

The Methylmercury Lab carries out research related to methylmercury cycling and exposure. Their goal is to mitigate methylmercury exposure among vulnerable populations. They use a multidisciplinary framework, including environmental monitoring, risk assessment, and epidemiologic studies, to fully understand the dynamics of methylmercury exposure.

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Occupational Ergonomics and Biomechanics Laboratory

Occupational Ergonomics and Biomechanics Laboratory

The Occupational Ergonomics and Biomechanics Laboratory uses a variety of bioinstrumentation to characterize work-related physical exposures and investigate their relationships with adverse health outcomes with an ultimate goal of promoting health and well-being at workplaces. We conduct both laboratory and field-based research studies to investigate underlying musculoskeletal injury mechanism in various work environment from computer work to heavy equipment operation.

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Occupational Safety and Health Laboratory

Occupational Safety and Health Laboratory

The Occupational Safety and Health Laboratory uses a variety of tools and methods to investigate workplace hazards and environmental pollutants on safety and health outcomes in working populations and communities. They conduct a broad range of research in the commercial fishing industry, masonry workers, and the timber industry.

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Spatial Health Laboratory

Spatial Health Laboratory

The Spatial Health Laboratory carries out diverse research related to health and place.

Given the spatially correlated nature of environmental and social health determinants, we use a multidisciplinary framework to fully understand how place influences health. The goal of this research is to inform policies and practices to create healthy communities and individuals.

Recent publications

(This is not an exhaustive list. We are still rebuilding our database of faculty publications. Visit individual faculty profiles for more extensive lists of their publications.)

2025

Jenson, T.E., Lin, P.I., James, P., Hystad, P., Diez-Roux, A.V., Coull, B.A., Besser, L.M., Suel, E., Weuve, J., Pescador Jimenez, M.  (2025)  Street-view greenspace distribution across racial/ethnic, neighborhood income, and individual education subgroups  Environmental Epidemiology  9
Foster, S. A., Kile, M. L., Hystad, P., Diamond, M. L., Mandhane, P. J., Moraes, T. J., Pei, J., Scott, J. A., Simons, E., Subbarao, P., Takaro, T. K., Tamana, S. K., Turvey, S. E., Brook, J. R.  (2025)  Organophosphate ester flame retardants and plasticizers in house dust and Child Behavior Checklist outcomes: A nested study in the Canadian CHILD Birth Cohort  Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology  
Slavik, C.E., Chapman, D.A., Cleland, S.E., Hystad, P., Peters, E.  (2025)  Association between wildfire smoke exposure and parents’ adoption of protective behaviours: Exploring the role of objective and subjective smoke exposure  Environmental Challenges  21
Burkart, K., Wozniak, S., Anenberg, S., Pereda, A., Gilbertson, N., Ashbaugh, C., Goldberg, D., Hystad, P., Kerr, G.H., McLaughlin, S.A., Mohegh, A., Brauer, M.  (2025)  Global, regional and national estimates of the burden of childhood asthma attributable to NO2 exposure for 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2023: a Global Burden of Disease study 2023  eClinicalMedicine  90
Castillo, E., Khanna, S., Vogel, T., Herbstman, J., Rohlman, D.  (2025)  Not whether but how: the ethics and Language of reporting back individual results  Environmental Health  24
Lise, F., Garcia, F.L., Shattell, M., Kincl, L.  (2025)  Occupational Health Risks at Truck Stops: Evaluating Service Gaps and Safety Needs for Long-Haul Drivers  Safety  11(3)
Logie, C.H., Leggett, R., Sivan, O., MacKenzie, F., Okumu, M., Loutet, M.G., Odong Lukone, S., Kisubi, N., Gittings, L., Otika, L., Lukwago, M., Dorea, C., Hystad, P., Kyambadde, P.  (2025)  Extreme weather events and refugee youths’ experiences of physical health in a Ugandan humanitarian setting: qualitative insights  International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being  20(1)
Williams, B., Amram, O., Larkin, A., Duncan, G.E., Avery, A.R., Hystad, P.  (2025)  Investigating Links Between Urban Residential Streetscapes and Physical Activity Using Deep Learning of Google Street View Imagery Applied to the Washington State Twin Registry  Journal of Physical Activity and Health  22
Mowrer, C., Larkin, A., Roscoe, C., Grady, S. T., Peters, J. L., Haggerty, B., Hystad, P., Bozigar, M.  (2025)  Systematic measurement and machine learning-based profile characterization of community noise in a medium-large city in the United States  Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology  
Merculief, A., McClelland, M., Foster, S., Geldhof, J., Lipscomb, S., Anderson, K., Kile, M. L.  (2025)  Socioeconomic and racial-ethnic disparities in flame retardant exposure and executive function skills in preschool children  Environmental Health  24