Using an interdisciplinary approach, the Exposure, Epidemiology and Risk Program seeks to investigate and mitigate heath risks associated with environmental and occupational hazards and provide scientific evidence for sound environmental and health policies.

Topics the program is investigating include the cognitive and cardiovascular effects of lead exposure, the effects of air pollution on respiratory and cardiovascular health, airborne infection transmission and health effects of bioaerosols, the effects of infectious agents and disinfection by products in drinking water, biomarkers of environmental exposure, genetic susceptibility to environmentally induced malignancies, and acute and chronic musculoskeletal effects of the work and built environment (ergonomics and safety). Faculty members measure and model ambient, indoor, and personal exposures to environmental and workplace contaminants, and develop instruments and methods for characterizing environmental factors such as pollutants. Advanced analytic/statistical methods are used to associate health outcomes with environmental factors.

An important component of the EER Program is training; the program offers both Master’s and Doctoral Degrees. Currently there are 31 Doctoral and 29 Master’s students enrolled.

Collaborative teaching and research are conducted in many countries, including Mexico, Chile, China, Colombia, Cyprus, Greece, Russia, Argentina, Taiwan, Japan, and the Netherlands.