Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology

Two people hug on a bright background of flowers.

Loneliness is a public health issue: Let's tackle it together

Lindsay Kobayashi

In 2023, the US Surgeon General issued a national health advisory on a loneliness epidemic in the US. Michigan Public Health professor Lindsay Kobayashi explains the long-term health consequences of loneliness, what causes it, and how we can heal through community-level interventions.

A fieldworker holds a box of freshly harvested strawberries

Pesticide exposure may be a risk factor for poor sleep health

Astrid Zamora

Nutritional Sciences PhD candidate Astrid Zamora has vivid memories of her Abuela coming home from working in the fields, experiencing intense pain, burning sensations, and trouble breathing. These ailments were the result of long-term exposure to pesticides. Now, an extensive body of research shows that occupational exposure to pesticides is detrimental to human health, including sleep health. Zamora explores two studies she was involved in exploring the links between pesticide exposure and poor sleep health.