Predictors of indoor radon levels in the Midwest United States.
Carrion-Matta A, Lawrence J, Kang CM, Wolfson JM, Li L, Vieira CLZ, Schwartz J, Demokritou P, Koutrakis P.
J Air Waste Manag Assoc. 2021 Sep 23. 1-14. PMID: 34233125
Professor
Petros Koutrakis
Overview
Dr. Koutrakis' research activities focus on the development of human exposure measurement techniques and the investigation of sources, transport, and the fate of air pollutants. In collaboration with his colleagues in the Environmental Chemistry Laboratory, he has developed ambient particle concentrators and high volume samplers that can be used to conduct human and animal inhalation studies. He has also developed a personal ozone monitor, a continuous fine particle measurement technique and several other sampling methods for a variety of gaseous and particulate air pollutants. These novel techniques have been used extensively by air pollution scientists and human exposure assessors in United States and worldwide.
Dr. Koutrakis has conducted a number of comprehensive air pollution studies in the United States, Canada, Spain, Chile, Kuwait, Cyprus and Greece that investigate the extent of human exposures to gaseous and particulate air pollutants. Other research interests include the assessment of particulate matter exposures and their effects on the cardiac and pulmonary health.
Dr. Koutrakis is the Head of the Exposure, Epidemiology and Risk Program and the Director of the EPA/Harvard University Center for Ambient Particle Health Effects.
Dr. Koutrakis is a member national and international committees and the past Technical Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association. He has published over 170 peer reviewed papers in the areas of air quality, exposure and health effects assessment and instrumentation.
Bibliography
Associations between solar and geomagnetic activity and peripheral white blood cells in the Normative Aging Study.
Tracy SM, Vieira CLZ, Garshick E, Wang VA, Alahmad B, Eid R, Schwartz J, Schiff JE, Vokonas P, Koutrakis P.
Environ Res. 2021 Sep 17. 204(Pt B):112066. PMID: 34537201
Prenatal exposure to wildfire-related air pollution and birth defects in Brazil.
Requia WJ, Kill E, Papatheodorou S, Koutrakis P, Schwartz JD.
J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2021 Sep 09. PMID: 34504295
Effect of School Integrated Pest Management or Classroom Air Filter Purifiers on Asthma Symptoms in Students With Active Asthma: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
Phipatanakul W, Koutrakis P, Coull BA, Petty CR, Gaffin JM, Sheehan WJ, Lai PS, Bartnikas LM, Kang CM, Wolfson JM, Samnaliev M, Cunningham A, Baxi SN, Permaul P, Hauptman M, Trivedi M, Louisias M, Liang L, Thorne PS, Metwali N, Adamkiewicz G, Israel E, Baccarelli AA, Gold DR.
JAMA. 2021 09 07. 326(9):839-850. PMID: 34547084
Short-term exposure to PM2.5 components and renal health: Findings from the Veterans Affairs Normative Aging Study.
Gao X, Koutrakis P, Coull B, Lin X, Vokonas P, Schwartz J, Baccarelli AA.
J Hazard Mater. 2021 Oct 15. 420:126557. PMID: 34252666
Metabolomic signatures of the short-term exposure to air pollution and temperature.
Nassan FL, Kelly RS, Koutrakis P, Vokonas PS, Lasky-Su JA, Schwartz JD.
Environ Res. 2021 10. 201:111553. PMID: 34171372
The impact of solar activity on ambient ultrafine particle concentrations: An analysis based on 19-year measurements in Boston, USA.
Zilli Vieira CL, Koutrakis P.
Environ Res. 2021 10. 201:111532. PMID: 34166658
A spatiotemporal ensemble model to predict gross beta particulate radioactivity across the contiguous United States.
Li L, Blomberg AJ, Lawrence J, Réquia WJ, Wei Y, Liu M, Peralta AA, Koutrakis P.
Environ Int. 2021 11. 156:106643. PMID: 34020300
Predicting Monthly Community-Level Domestic Radon Concentrations in the Greater Boston Area with an Ensemble Learning Model.
Li L, Blomberg AJ, Stern RA, Kang CM, Papatheodorou S, Wei Y, Liu M, Peralta AA, Vieira CLZ, Koutrakis P.
Environ Sci Technol. 2021 05 18. 55(10):7157-7166. PMID: 33939421
Sources of indoor PM2.5 gross a and ß activities measured in 340 homes.
Matthaios VN, Liu M, Li L, Kang CM, Vieira CLZ, Gold DR, Koutrakis P.
Environ Res. 2021 06. 197:111114. PMID: 33812873
News
Long-term exposure to permissible concentrations of air pollution linked with increased mortality risk
Exposure to low concentrations of air pollution, even at levels permitted under federal regulations, may be causing tens of thousands of early deaths each year among elderly people and other vulnerable groups in the U.S., according to a…
Even low levels of air pollution can harm hearts, lungs in elderly
Long-term exposure to low levels of air pollution—even levels below national standards—can increase the risk of several serious cardiac and respiratory conditions in elderly adults, according to a new study.
Fracking associated with elevated radiation levels at nearby sites
The energy production process commonly known as fracking is associated with increased levels of airborne radioactive particles in areas downwind of fracking sites, according to new research led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The study…
In Africa and Middle East, researchers examine links between environment and health
November 8, 2018 – Dust storms in Kuwait. Tourism in Tunisia. Air pollution in Uganda. Three different countries facing three different challenges. A common thread? Harvard T.H. Chan School researchers are working in each setting to understand how…
Nationwide study of U.S. seniors strengthens link between air pollution and premature death
For immediate release: Wednesday, June 28, 2017 Boston, MA – A new study of 60 million Americans—about 97% of people age 65 and older in the United States—shows that long-term exposure to airborne fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and…
