Environment & Public Health
As our environment and global communities change, human health and well-being faces new challenges. Arizona Environment identifies and explores solutions to the complex issues that span public health and the environment.
Arizona Environment researchers investigate more than just climate change’s effects on the planet; we zero in on the effects on humans and human health. We tackle major public health issues such as heat waves and water and food contamination as they relate to a changing climate. Our researchers track climate change impacts on the spread of mosquitoes and vector-borne diseases, allergens, airborne pathogens, air quality and asthma, mental health and illnesses related to heat. Whether contaminants or diseases are in the air, soil or water, our environmental and public health scientists are finding solutions here at UArizona.
Research Spotlights in Environment & Public Health
Erika Austhof
Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Austhof examines the role of scientist–public health stakeholder collaboratives in addressing the public health impacts of climate-sensitive hazards.
Read moreKacey Ernst
Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Ernst’s research addresses the environmental determinants of vector-borne disease transmission and control, primarily dengue and malaria.
Read moreHeidi Brown
Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Brown uses spatial epidemiology to understand disease spread, with a focus on the health impacts of climate and other environmental stressors and how to message and adapt to climate change.
Read moreMónica Ramírez-Andreotta
Soil, Water, and Environmental Science
Ramírez-Andreotta is engaged in building citizen science programs to increase public participation in environmental health research, developing low-cost environmental monitoring tools to improve exposure estimates, and designing risk communication and data report-back strategies to improve environmental health literacy.
Read moreIan Pepper
Water and Energy Sustainable Technology Center
Pepper and others at the WEST Center are using municipal wastewater to monitor the incidence and spread of the novel coronavirus across the U.S. and help determine if interventions are successfully reducing transmission.
Read moreBrian Mayer
School of Sociology
Mayer's research includes the role of community activism and participation in the identification and management of potential environmental health risks.
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ALEC provides critical data for public health decision making and water sustainability with their analyses of environmental contaminants such as lead, arsenic, TCE, and PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances).
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BIO5 aims to harness the collaborative power of five main disciplines—agriculture, engineering, medicine, pharmacy, and science—to find bold solutions to address major challenges in the biosciences, biomedicine and biotechnology affecting humanity today.
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BBCS is a cross-campus initiative that addresses the interdisciplinary scientific and societal grand challenges associated with developing and implementing the emerging transitions needed to mitigate and adapt to climate change. It draws on campus strengths in conservation, human health biodiversity, and societal well-being.
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CIEHR is a Center of Excellence on Environmental Health Disparities Research whose goal of is to partner with rural and urban indigenous communities to build capacity to measure and determine the contribution of environmental exposures to health inequities. It supports efforts to address these threats, including research translation and policy development, and employs a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach.
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The Dean Carter Binational Center supports binational research in the environmental sciences aimed at improving public health in Mexico and the U.S.-Mexico Border, particularly by solving problems at contaminated sites and developing assessment and remediation methodologies that are broadly applicable.
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ESRAC provides expertise to industry, the community, and researchers in the areas of human exposure science and risk assessment of environmental hazards to workers and communities (chemical, biological and physical), with an emphasis on healthcare-acquired infections.
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The NPC conducts interdisciplinary research leading to the discovery and development of useful natural products from plants and micro-organisms.
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SWEHSC is composed of scientists from multiple colleges and departments across the University who address environmental health problems associated with the Southwest and investigate the health effects of environmental agents
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The mission of the Superfund Research Program is to advance science and apply the biomedical and environmental research conducted by the program for the improvement of human health and the environment.
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The WEST Center is a world renowned venue focused on advanced treatment and detection of emerging microbial and chemical contaminants in municipal wastes and reclaimed water, alternative energy and related technologies.
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The WRRC promotes understanding of critical state and regional water management and policy issues through research, community outreach, and public education.
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