Air Quality

Asthma

In North Carolina, asthma affects nearly 1 out of 10 people. CPES shares research conducted in the UNC Center for Environmental Health and Susceptibility on air quality and health, with a focus on preventing indoor and outdoor environmental triggers that exacerbate asthma and allergies. We train public health professionals, providing educational tools and communication skill-building activities that help them address environmental triggers with their patients and clients.

Extreme Heat and Air Quality

We educate public health professionals and communities on actions they can take to protect their health during poor air quality events, which can be exacerbated by extreme heat. CPES created a module to inform public health professionals about how extreme heat can exacerbate air pollution. In light of projections for more extreme heat days in response to a changing climate, air pollution will continue to be a relevant environmental health issue in the future.

NC PFAS Testing Network

The NC PFAS Testing (PFAST) Network is a statewide research collaboration focused on improving understanding of exposure to PFAS chemicals across North Carolina, including testing for current PFAS levels in water and air samples. The Network is led by Dr. Jason Surratt (UNC Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering) and comprised of researchers from UNC-Chapel Hill, NC State, Duke, UNC-Wilmington, UNC-Charlotte, ECU, and NC A&T.