Environmental Sciences and Engineering Research
Simulations show that slowing climate change globally would improve US air quality, save thousands of lives
November 14, 2017 Actions to significantly slow climate change would improve air quality in the United States, avoiding roughly 24,000 premature deaths associated with air pollution in the year 2050.
Nicotine alters gut microbiome differently in women, study finds
November 7, 2017 Studies have shown that women have greater difficulty in quitting smoking than do men, and a new study of mice by researchers at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health explores why that may be the case. Led by Dr. Kun Lu, the study finds that nicotine has a different impact upon the relationship of the brain and gut in women.
Commentary calls for protecting public health by improving resiliency of water services
November 1, 2017 Drs. Jamie Bartram and Jason West are co-authors of a BMJ commentary that urges the public health sector to lobby for investment in resilient infrastructure for water services.
Five new Gillings Innovation Labs awarded
October 5, 2017 Five teams of Gillings School researchers and their collaborators have been awarded new funding for Gillings Innovation Laboratory awards (GILs), beginning this fall. Researchers include Drs. Orlando Coronell, Stephanie Engel, Emily Gower, Stephen Marshall, and Kristen Hassmiller Lich, PhD, and Steven Meshnick. The awards are administered by Research, Innovation and Global Solutions, the Gillings School unit that manages programs funded by the $50 million Gillings gift.
UNC researchers receive $61M grant to identify effective treatments for asthma
October 2, 2017 Dr. Anastasia Ivanova will lead a five-year, $61 million study to identify more effective treatments for asthma attacks and will do so by combining two important tools -- precision medicine and 'big data' analysis. The work is funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
Climate change expected to increase premature deaths from air pollution
July 31, 2017 A new study by Dr. Jason West estimates that future climate change, if left unaddressed, is expected to cause roughly 60,000 deaths globally in the year 2030 and 260,000 deaths in 2100 due to climate change’s effect on global air pollution. The study adds to growing evidence that the overall health effects of a changing climate are likely to be overwhelmingly negative. Photo by Global Panorama.
Paper records recommendations to improve safety of drinking-water wells in NC
July 13, 2017 A new paper by Dr. Jackie MacDonald Gibson offers recommendations that could improve the health of North Carolinians who rely on private drinking-water wells. The paper summarizes recommendations made by the Research Triangle (N.C.) Environmental Health Collaborative at a two-day well-water summit.
Gillings School researchers contribute to Hurricane Matthew recovery
June 22, 2017 An article in Endeavors magazine features environmental sciences and engineering researchers who are studying the impact of fall 2016's Hurricane Matthew on North Carolina counties.
UNC researchers study impact of traffic-related particulate matter upon premature mortality
March 20, 2017 UNC environmental researchers including Dr. William Vizuete have found that previous research may have underestimated premature mortality due to particulate matter from traffic emissions.
Legal marijuana sales creating escalating damage to the environment
February 20, 2017 By 2020, legal marijuana sales in the U.S. will generate more annual revenue than will the National Football League. However, growing the plant has serious repercussions for the environment, according to a new study by Dr. William Vizuete and a U.K. colleague.
