Biography
I have extensive experience in inhalation exposure studies and in the generation of test aerosols for inhalation studies and in the collection and analysis of contaminant aerosols and gases for organic constituents, including carbonyls and polycyclic organic compounds and for trace metals. My laboratory has an extensive history of performing whole body and nose-only exposure studies under field and laboratory conditions to examine effects of short term and chronic exposures to inhaled contaminants on immunological function and cardiopulmonary disease progression. Our findings have identified, in addition to adverse effects on cardiac physiology, significant evidence of tissue inflammation and oxidative stress including evidence of lipid peroxidation and free radical generation in arteries that correlate with development of atherosclerotic plaques. As part of the UCI Extension program I have, in the past, organized and conducted training programs in occupational and environmental health for firefighters, nurses and police. I co-chaired a National Research Council committee to evaluate our national preparedness for protecting US land and naval forces from chemical and biological weapons attacks, including efficacy of detection, PPE and decontamination systems. I have also served on EPA CASAC panels for PM, NO2 and CO, was a co-author of the WHO indoor air quality guidelines for CO (now in draft), and I am a member of the Scientific Review Pane for Toxic Substances which advises the California EPA and serve as a member of the Board of Scientific Counselors for the US EPA.
Research Interests
Inhalation toxicology, oxidative stress and cardiopulmonary diseases.
Current Projects/Studies
My current research uses a well-understood model of cardiovascular disease, the apoE-/- mouse to study the role of inhaled contaminants including cigarette smoke, wildfire smoke, ‘vaping’ and ambient particles on the development of atherosclerosis and on changes in heart rate, heart rate variability, arrhythmias and blood pressure. Our findings have clearly indicated that the ultrafine fraction of ambient particulate matter which is highly enriched in organic constituents might be better able to promote atherosclerotic changes in arteries than larger ambient particles. To test hypotheses about the role of organic constituent we, in collaboration with colleagues at USC, developed a method to expose mice under field conditions to ambient particles from which the organic fraction was removed using a thermal denuding device in parallel with mice exposed to untreated ambient particles or purified air. These studies showed that removing the organics reduced the ability of the particles to generate free radicals and also to significantly reduce the rate of development of atherosclerotic plaque in the mice exposed to denuded particles compared to those exposed to un-denuded particles.
Education
M.S., Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, Biochemistry
OTH, New York University
Honors and Awards
NY State Regents Scholarship; UCI Committee of 1000 Award
