SWEHSC Research Summaries

Climate change poses a major threat to agricultural populations by driving up global temperatures and intensifying extreme heat events. Previous studies in the U.S. demonstrated that agricultural workers experience disproportionately high rates of heat-related illness, exhibiting a heat-related mortality rate nearly 20 times greater than that of other workers.

The International Society of Exposure Science (ISES) and the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology (ISEE) held their joint conference from August 17-20, 2025, in Atlanta, Georgia. ISES and ISEE provide opportunities for career development, exchanges of innovative research and ideas, and networking opportunities for exposure scientists and environmental epidemiologists worldwide. This conference featured a women’s networking event, multiple symposia showcasing research, poster sessions, and flash talks to encourage conversation and collaboration.

Auto repair shops employ approximately 1% of the U.S. labor force. Workers in this industry are routinely exposed to volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are gases emitted from certain solids or liquids found in many products and processes. Exposure to VOCs is often associated with irreversible health effects, including asthma, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and cognitive and neurological symptoms. Despite these risks, VOC exposure studies are quite sparse.

Working with members of the Hopi Tribe, this project recruited 76 households throughout Hopi lands and conducted chemical analyses to assess arsenic levels in various water sources at two different time points. The team also administered questionnaires for a more comprehensive understanding of participants’ usual food intake.

This summer, the Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center (SWEHSC) Community Engagement Core (CEC) hosted four summer programs and facilitated one designed to introduce students from middle school through community college to environmental health, research, grant writing, and professional development. Each program offers a unique hands-on experience designed to encourage students to enter STEM and environmental health areas of study at four-year universities. Below are highlights from each of the summer programs, showcasing their activities, projects, photos, and meaningful memories from the students.