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Arid environments have unique problems

Strong winds from thunderstorms can kick up walls of dust in the southwest. In addition to the respiratory burden of the particulate matter in the air, in many areas arsenic and other toxic metals are part of the native soil and find their way into the air when dust storms arise.

The mission of the Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center (SWEHSC) is to facilitate and implement innovative research aimed at understanding the mechanisms underlying environmental health science risks and disease among people living in arid environments experiencing climate change.

About our Center

The Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center is a collaborative and interdisciplinary research center, which is actively investigating the health effects of environmental agents and serving as a resource for the community. Welcome message from our Center Director.

Our Research

Our research touches on a wide range of topics that affect the people of the arid southwest. These include:

Pilot Project Funding

The SWEHSC offers Pilot Project grants once per year. To get more information go to the Pilot Projects page. Contact Xinxin Ding, Pilot Project Director for more information.

SWEHSC News

"PFAS" and "Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances" on yellow background

PFAS funding opportunity announcement

Wednesday

Are you a faculty member at the University of Arizona with a collaborative research idea relating to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)?

RII has made $50,000 available to fund three proposals from university faculty for collaborative research related to PFAS. Proposals must involve a partnership between two or more colleges, and the funding is slated to begin in January 2025.

Center member Marc Verhougstraete starts prestigious fellowship in D.C.

Tuesday

Verhougstraete, director of the Rural Health Professions Program at the Arizona Center for Rural Health and co-director for the Environment, Exposure Science and Risk Assessment Center, was placed with the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy in the Water Power Technologies Office in Washington, D.C. He’ll be working to set up a new energy-water resilience program.

Center member Ladd Keith leads the way to combat extreme heat

Oct. 30, 2024

Ladd Keith, an associate professor within the College of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape Architecture, will lead the Heat Resilience Initiative. An initiative that will address the global challenge of extreme heat by focusing on research, education, and outreach.

Latest SWEHSC Research

Significant associations between pesticide exposure and stillbirth risk

July 23, 2024

A recent study conducted by Drs. Melissa Furlong and Paloma Beamer investigated the association between pesticide exposure during pregnancy and the risk of stillbirth. The study, which utilized data from the Arizona Pesticide Use Registry alongside birth certificate data in the state, aimed to assess the impact of various pesticide exposures on stillbirth risk.

A stock image of a glass being filled with tap water

Drinking chlorinated tap water may alter gut bacterial composition

May 23, 2024

A recent study by Drs. Georg Wondrak and Frank Duca explored the effects of drinking chlorinated water on mouse gut microbiota. Their findings revealed a decline in fecal microbiota diversity and notable shifts in fecal bacterial composition. With potential public health implications for humans, these results underscore the need for further research in human subjects.

A stock image of an inhaler and other medicines

SWEHSC researchers’ findings indicate potential asthma treatment

March 20, 2024

In a recent publication involving SWEHSC members Drs. Scott Boitano and Julie Ledford, researchers tested a compound, C781, to see how effective it is as a targeted approach that addresses allergen-induced symptoms in an animal model. C781 was developed through testing on human cells from the air passages that lead to and through the lungs (bronchial tubes) before being tested in mice for allergen-induced asthma. These tests indicate C781 is an effective treatment for allergen-induced asthma-like symptoms in the airway.