Impact of Air Pollution Exposure on Metabolic Outcomes for California Residents
Jason Su, Associate Researcher
Public Health
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The purpose of this proposed research is to investigate the impact of air pollution exposure on metabolic outcomes, specifically focusing on Type 2 diabetes patients in California. The study aims to address the
existing gaps in the literature by conducting large population-based studies at the state level with high spatiotemporal resolutions.
The specific objectives of the research are as follows:
1. Conduct a systematic literature review to explore the impacts of air pollution, including criteria pollutants and air toxics, on metabolic health endpoints for Type 2 diabetes patients.
2. Extend the existing California Air Resources Board (CARB) contracts to generate daily air pollution surfaces for nitrogen dioxide (NO2), particulate matter of ≤2.5 microns (PM2.5), and ozone (O3) for an
extended period from 1990 to 2021, covering the entire state of California.
3. Develop concentration-response functions for individual pollutants and simultaneous exposures to multiple pollutants using the newly developed air pollution surfaces.
4. Analyze the health outcomes related to air pollution exposure, including the incidence of diabetes and medication use, diabetes-related emergency department visits and hospitalizations, and diabetes mortality. The analysis will utilize California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) data, Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) data, and California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Vital Records data.
5. Assess the economic impact of the identified health impacts by developing monetized values such as cost of illness and willingness to pay, along with associated uncertainties.
The rationale behind this research is to fill the gaps in knowledge regarding the relationship between air pollution exposure and metabolic outcomes for Type 2 diabetes patients. By utilizing high-resolution air pollution data and large-scale health outcome datasets, the study aims to provide valuable insights into the effects of air pollution on diabetes-related health endpoints in California. The research will contribute to understanding the temporal changes in exposure and risk for adverse health outcomes, evaluating the benefits of air pollution reduction, identifying areas where air quality improvements are needed, and targeting interventions for the most affected communities or groups.
Role: The student will participate in scientific computing and health outcome analysis through R language, and draft papers for publication.
The student’s key learning outcomes will include increased proficiency in scientific computing with R, improved understanding of the impact of environmental factors on Type-2 diabetes and improved skills in drafting papers for scientific publication.
Qualifications: Required skills include strong writing skills, familiar with scientific computing in R and demonstrate an interest in studying the impacts of environment on health.
Day-to-day supervisor for this project: Eahsan Shahriary, Post-Doc
Hours: 9-11 hrs
Off-Campus Research Site: We would meet weekly for an hour over Zoom
Related website: https://publichealth.berkeley.edu/people/jason-su/
Related website: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=64EdGIQAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate