A new Fact sheet on pregnancy and heat is now available.
Epidemiological Studies
Health studies are used to establish guidelines for air quality standards, including those recommended by OEHHA and established by the California Air Resources Board. Health studies include epidemiology studies, which examine real-life exposures in human populations, and how they relate to the incidence or prevalence of disease. Together with controlled human exposure studies and toxicology studies, they form the scientific basis for our air quality standard recommendations.
OEHHA has conducted a number of epidemiological studies on the health effects of particulate matter in California, and continues work on a number of studies looking at other widespread air pollutants identified in the Clean Air Act. These studies join other studies done in California, nationally, or internationally that examine the health impacts of air pollution exposure. In addition, OEHHA conducts studies on the health effects of exposure to vehicular traffic, which is an important source of criteria and toxic air pollutants, and heat exposure, which is predicted to increase with the progression of climate change.
Our work at OEHHA has focused on a number of areas based on two legislative mandates:
1) the ascertainment of exposures most strongly linked to disease (Health and Safety Codes 425, 39606), and
2) the identification of subpopulations most vulnerable to their impacts (e.g. young children, the elderly, low socioeconomic status individuals) (Senate Bill 25, Escutia; chaptered 1999).
Topics of Study
Epidemiology News
Higher rates of preterm birth, low birth weight and stillbirth are linked to increased heat, ozone and fine particulate matter, according to a meta-analysis released today and co-authored by...
Evaluation of over four months of Porter Ranch neighborhood air sample data posted for peak levels of benzene, a toxic chemical in natural gas. Summary of expert input reguarding health measures...
Questions and answers about the SoCalGas leak at the Aliso Canyon Underground Storage Field near the Porter Ranch Community.
A study by the California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment suggests heat exposure may lead to a greater risk of infant mortality.
The study is the first to consider the effects on people of long-term exposure to ultrafine particles and analyzed data from more than 100,000 middle-aged women whose health status was followed from...
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24792413Study is among the first to link long-term exposure to fine particle air pollution, also known as PM2.5, to elevated levels of the reactive protein CRP.
Several studies have shown links between exposure to air pollution or traffic and low birth weight, premature birth and birth defects. Researchers examining health-care data on nearly 5,000 pregnant...
Scientists from OEHHA and UC published a study that found that fine particles emitted by motor vehicles and other sources may increase deaths from heart and lung ailments in California.
Even in an area with good regional air quality, air pollution from nearby traffic may pose a health risk.