News

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

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

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.  

A new study led by AirUCI faculty Jim Randerson and his team has found that the severity of California’s wildfires has rapidly increased over the last several decades as a result of human-driven climate change, resulting in accelerated tree losses during more intense wildfires. “When fire moves over a forest’s floor, often the tree canopy will survive and, in some situations, thrive from fire effects on nutrient cycling,” said Jim. “The new research suggests more fire is jumping into the tree crowns, causing more damage and tree mortality.”  Read the article