By Scout Nelson
Bruce Alexander, a professor and division head at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health (SPH), has received a seed grant to expand research on how air pollution and pesticide exposure affect the respiratory health of farming communities. The funding was awarded through the University of Minnesota's Center for Global Health and Social Responsibility (CGHSR) to support a new international research project.
The study builds on previous research conducted in Northern Thailand, where scientists examined the health effects of environmental exposures among agricultural workers. Earlier findings indicated that lower air pollution levels were associated with fewer respiratory symptoms and improved quality of life among farmers.
The expanded project will include entire farming households, allowing researchers to evaluate how exposure to air pollution and agricultural chemicals varies among family members. The goal is to gain a broader understanding of environmental health risks facing agricultural communities.
Northern Thailand provides an ideal setting for the research because seasonal crop burning creates recurring periods of poor air quality. Researchers will study how simultaneous exposure to air pollution and pesticides affects respiratory health and use the findings to inform health policies and prevention strategies.
Alexander, who also heads SPH's Division of Environmental Health, focuses his research on occupational and environmental health. His work examines the links between environmental exposures, respiratory disease, cancer risk, agricultural health, and broader One Health initiatives.
The project is a collaboration between the University of Minnesota's Center for Global Health and Social Responsibility and Chiang Mai University's Research Institute for Health Sciences. Alexander is leading the effort alongside principal investigator Dr. Surat Hongsibsong, with support from University of Minnesota researchers Jesse Berman and Christine Wendt.
Photo Credit: university-of-minnesota
Categories: Minnesota, Crops, Rural Lifestyle, Sustainable Agriculture