Many chronic diseases are due to a combination of genome and an individual’s lifelong environmental exposure, referred to as their exposome. We are working to create tools to assess the exposome of individuals.
We are commercializing with AUG Signals, AirSENCETM, a wireless-enabled chemical sensors array technology we developed that can measure a range of air pollutants (particles, CO2, CO, NO, NO2, O3). Networks of these devices were first deployed in 2015 to map air pollution across Toronto in conjunction with the Pan Am games in Toronto. Networks are now established in partnership with the cities of Toronto, Oshawa and Mississauga, while internationally devices have been tested in the US, China, the Netherlands and the Philippines.
We are also exploring the use of children’s teeth to assess prenatal and early life exposure to key metals that can enhance or detract from childhood development. We will continue to develop these and other novel tools for assessing exposure at the level of individuals or communities.
Publications
- Shairsingh, K.; J.R. Brook; C. Mihele ; G.J. Evans “Do Spatiotemporal and Spatial Land Use Regression Models Predict the Same Historical Exposure?” Atmos. Environ. 183, 57-68, 2018
- Xu J, N. Hilker, M. Turchet, M-K. Al-Rijleh, R. Tu, A. Wang, F-S. Masoud G. Evans, M Hatzopoulou “ Contrasting the Direct Use of Data from Traffic Radars and Video-Cameras with Traffic Simulation in the Estimation of Road Emissions and PM Hotspot Analysis” Transp Res D Transp. Environ 62, 90-101 (2018)
- Shairsingh, K. C-H. Jeong; J.M. Wang; G.J. Evans “Characterizing the Spatial Variability of Local and Background Concentration Signals for Air Pollution at the Neighbourhood Scale” Atmos. Environ. 183, 57-68, 2018 (IF 3.63)