In a January 14th interview on LAist, the Pasadena PBS station, AirUCI faculty Mike Kleinman is asked about the safety of the air after the firestorm that devastated large regions in the Los Angeles area. The article provides information about how to protect yourself and children from toxins in the air, made worse by the dry weather conditions. An extensive list of precautions is provided. " Even though the ambient air, the outside air, is relatively clean, the air inside the home may be worse," Mike said. " Don't take your outer clothing that you wore into the fire zone and then wash it with the family laundry, because whatever toxic chemicals are there are going to be spread around." Read the article
News
Here's the latest news from AirUCI — our events, our people, our science.
2025
Tuesday, January 14, 2025
AirUCI faculty Jun Wu is quoted in a January 14th article in Time Magazine on the best ways to protect yourself from wildfire smoke and ash. Toxic particles from burned buildings, burned chemicals, burned cars, etc. are an urgent threat to many areas in Los Angeles County after the deadly firestorm last week and residents are urged to wear N-95 masks. In addition to this threat, Jun advises that residents avoid turning on your fireplace, burning a candle, or frying food during the wildfire crisis. All can release chemicals and contribute to air pollution. "If you’re sweeping up ash inside your home, mist it with water first, and then use a damp cloth or mop to clean surfaces," Jun says. Bag it up before throwing it away, and avoid vacuums unless they have a HEPA filter. Jun offers more steps to protect yourself from these toxins. Read the article
Read more from AirUCI alum Scott Epstein,air quality assessment manager at AQMD
Friday, January 10, 2025
On January 10th, AirUCI Associate Specialist Shair Masri was interviewed on Capital and Main about the firestorm decimating whole neighborhoods in Los Angeles. His 2022 study linked rising PM2.5 levels in California to wildfires and, to a lesser extent, heat waves. His study found that the number of census tracts in California which experienced major wildfires nearly doubled from 2000 to 2020. Shahir spoke about climate change, air quality, and more. Read the article.
2024
Monday, December 16, 2024
In an article on Yahoo Lifestyle, AirUCI research specialist Shahir Masri is quoted on the EPA's ban on perchloroethylene,commonly known as PERC. Widely used in dry cleaning and other industries, PERC is associated with kidney, liver and testicular cancers among other ailments. Shahir offers options for minimizing exposure to PERC, including proper ventilation and airing of dry cleaned clothes, VOC rated air filters, and testing your water supply. Read the article
Monday, December 16, 2024
UCI's AAAR Student Chapter, sponsored by AirUCI, has elected their officers for the 2024-2025 school year. They are:Lena Gerritz - President, Anna Kapp - Vice President, Kate Nguyen - Secretary, Colleen Miller - Treasurer, Lurui Niu - Social Events Chair, Caitlyn Cruz - Social Media Chair, Berenice Rojas - Undergraduate Liaison, Jack Ryan - Professional Development Chair. Please see our upcoming events for the next meetings of the AAAR group.
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
AirUCI faculty Andrea De Vizcaya Ruiz was asked for comments on an article in TheKitchn.com about the risks to lung health associated with quartz countertops. These are human-made engineered stone countertops formed by combining about 90% ground quartz (a natural hard mineral) with 8 to 10% resins, polymers, and pigments. “Workers who perform countertop fabrication, including cutting, drilling, and grinding, generate crushed materials or dust that is small enough to get into the deep airways, causing irreversible lung damage,” says Andrea De Vizcaya Ruiz. Read the article
Tuesday, December 3, 2024
AirUCI faculty Jun Wu and her and team have published their recent study which found that a cohort of mothers in Southern California who were exposed to higher temperature during the postpartum period was associated with an increased risk for postpartum depression. Exposure to extreme heat has been shown to impact mental health, but there are few studies into the relationship between high-temperature exposure and mental health among pregnant women and no past study explored its impact on postpartum maternal mental health. "Our finding builds upon our team's previous work connecting long-term exposure to air pollution and the increased risk for PPD," says Jun. Read the article
Friday, November 22, 2024
In a November 22nd article in Newsweek, AirUCI faculty Jim Smith is quoted on recent AirUCI studies showing that tiny brake and tire particles have substatial effects on human health. "Some studies have shown that brake particles have a similar effect on lung inflammation as diesel and wood combustion particles," said Jim. "Given their rising dominance, potential health impacts and implications on environmental justice, it's imperative that we control the emissions of these particles at the source," he said. These studies have prompted Mercedes Benz to revolutionize how cars brake, changes that would have sustainability and health benefits if introduced into production. Read the article
Friday, November 22, 2024
AirUCI faculty Sarah Finkeldei has been named one of the American Nuclear Society’s inaugural 40 under 40 list. The honor recognizes Sarah’s contributions to nuclear energy research and education outreach. Read the article
Thursday, November 14, 2024
A November 14th article in Medical Express profiled a new study led by AirUCI faculty Jun Wu and AirUCI grad student Anqi Jiao. Their research found that exposure to fine particulate matter during pregnancy significantly increases the odds of spontaneous preterm birth, a major threat to maternal and fetal health. They collaborated with researchers at Kaiser Permanente in Southern California and other institutions to publish their findings in JAMA Network Open which adds evidence that low-income communities are most affected. Read the artcile.
