News

Spatial Health Lab

Global study finds air pollution major risk for cardiovascular disease regardless of country income

From low-income countries to high-income countries, long-term exposure to fine particulate outdoor air pollution is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease and death, a new Oregon State University study found. But even small reductions in air pollution levels can result in a reduction of disease risk. Read full press release.

Dr. Andrew Larkin transitions to Assistant Professor, Senior Research

Dr. Larkin joined the College of Public Health and Human Sciences as an Assistant Professor, Senior Research starting April 2019.  His research focuses on the intersection of environmental health and data science.  He is leading several new research areas in the Spatial Health Lab, including the use of Twitter data to better understand how we use urban green space and what this means for our health, and the application of deep learning methods applied to street view images to predict perceptions and environmental exposures.

NO2 model used to predict global impact of traffic pollution on pediatric asthma

Our global model of NO2 was used to estimate the number of new pediatric asthma cases associated with traffic air pollution. Globally, 4.0 million (95% CI: 1·8–5·2) new pediatric asthma cases could be attributable to NO2 pollution annually; 64% of these occur in urban centres.

Mary Willis wins best presentation at CARTEEH

At the February 2019 Transportation, Air quality and Health Symposium organized by the Center for Advancing Research in Transportation Emissions, Energy and Health (CARTEEH), Mary Willis won best presentation for her research “Cumulative Impact of Traffic-related Air Pollution Regulations on Term Birth Weight”.

Sigride Jenniska Asseko and Kwadwo Boakeye win best poster and ignite presentation awards

Five Spatial Health Lab members attended the 30th Annual Cascadia Symposium on Environmental, Occupational and Public Health Blaine, Washington last week. They shared experiences and research with colleagues from US and Canadian universities in the Pacific Northwest. Kwadwo Boakye won an award for his ignite talk entitled “Time-Activity Patterns and Built Environment Exposure: Is Residential Address Enough?” and Sigride Asseko for her poster entitled “Challenges of Monitoring Air Quality in Sub-Saharan Africa: A case Study in Libreville and Franceville in Gabon”.

Dr. Perry Hystad presents at the opening of the Utrecht Exposome Hub

Spring 2018 Utrecht University launched their exposome hub to examine the totality of environmental exposures from conception onwards. Dr. Hystad was an invited speaker on “Characterizing the External Exposome”.