RFG1 Research Summaries

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.

Amanda Wilson, PhD, was given an award by the International Society of Exposure Science.

Curriculum on extreme heat and health impacts designed for youth helps educate and inform.

Research on how PFAS impact gene activity.

Ladd Keith, PhD, has been appointed to Arizona Governor Katie Hobb's new Workplace Heat Safety Task Force.

A study by center members on PFAS and how they correspond to epigenetic changes.

Ladd Keith, PhD, will start a new consortium to address extreme heat in Arizona.

There are heroes who put their lives and health on the line to protect others every day. We want those brave and selfless people to be celebrated and protected as much as possible, so it's a huge problem to discover that they're more at risk than we previously knew. Unfortunately, it turns out that firefighters and health care workers have above-average levels of toxic PFAS in their bodies, and we're not sure why, reported the University of Arizona.