Research InterestsEngineering research in public and environmental health is, by definition, an interdisciplinary effort. I hold appointments in the Engines and Energy Conversion Laboratory (Dept. of Mechanical Engineering), the Colorado School of Public Health, the School of Biomedical Engineering, and the Cell and Molecular Biology Program. Funding for my research comes from the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control, the Environmental Protection Agency, and from various industries and philanthropic organizations.Exposure Assessment and BiologyThe risk of disease from environmental and occupational contaminants is closely related to exposure. However, there are often large gaps between the related fields of epidemiology, toxicology, and risk assessment. These gaps impede progress towards understanding and mitigating the adverse affects of air pollution. Consequently, one of my goals is to connect these fields though inter-disciplinary research at the forefront of exposure science and cell biology.Combustion, Energy, and HealthCombustion-related air pollution, a byproduct from our national and global energy-demand, is inflicting a major burden on the health of our population and planet. The current regulatory framework for air pollution control operates under the assumption that ‘less is more’ concerning particulate matter emissions from combustion sources (engines, power plants, fires, etc.). While this assumption has served us well in the past, there is a growing awareness that simple emissions reductions in particulate matter air pollution may not translate directly to improved health. Consequently, my focus is not to engineer the emissions out of combustion processes, but instead to engineer the health effects out of the emissions. Recent research in this area involves the development of an improved model of the human lung in vitro and exposure of human lung cells to aerosol emissions from external combustion sources (i.e. cookstove fires) and internal combustion engines (diesel and biodisel).Active ProjectsHuman Exposure to Engineered NanoparticlesEngineering an In Vitro Lung Model for Air Pollutant Deposition and Toxicology Lung Deposition Sampler for Inhalable Aerosol A High-Flow Personal Sampler for Inhalable Aerosol Personal, Spatiotemporal Exposure Assessment Cookstove Design for Improved Global Health Biodiesel Emissions and Health Effects |
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John Volckens |