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Brian Leaderer, MPH, PhD

Susan Dwight Bliss Professor Emeritus of Epidemiology (Environmental Health Sciences); Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health; Senior Research Scientist, Yale Center for Perinatal, Pediatric and Environmental Epidemiology, Environmental Health Sciences

Contact Information

Brian Leaderer, MPH, PhD

Office Location

Mailing Address

  • Environmental Health Sciences

    PO Box 208034, 60 College Street

    New Haven, CT 06520-8034

    United States

Yale Center for Perinatal, Pediatric and Environmental Epidemiology (CPPEE)

Related Links

Research Summary

Dr. Leaderer's research interests are assessing exposures to air contaminants and assessing the health impact resulting from those exposures in both controlled human and epidemiological studies. His research is interdisciplinary in nature, typically focusing on indoor air quality issues, its purpose to establish a close link between exposure assessment and health and comfort effects measured in both chambers and in epidemiologic studies.

Within the context of assessing exposures, his work includes developing a theoretical framework for exposure assessment, determining the type and quantity of health related contaminants emitted from sources, assessing environmental concentrations and the factors impacting those concentrations, developing monitoring and modeling techniques and formulating strategies to assess exposures in epidemiologic studies.

Dr. Leaderer is Principal Investigator on an environmental epidemiologic study, an NIH grant, to conduct a double-blind, randomized control, triple cross-over design intervention trial in urban homes of asthmatic children to examine the efficacy of reducing exposure to indoor levels of PM2.5 and NO2 on reducing asthma severity.

Specialized Terms: Exposures to air contaminants; Air quality issues

Extensive Research Description

  • Traffic and Respiratory Health
  • Indoor and Outdoor NO2 and Asthma Severity in Children
  • Asthma Severity in Children and Fine Particle Composition
  • Gene-Environment Interactions in Asthma Development
  • Genetic and Environmental Risk Factors in Asthma Severity
  • The Yale Center for Public Health Preparedness.

Coauthors

Research Interests

Air Pollution; Asthma; Environment and Public Health; Environmental Exposure; Environmental Health; Environmental Pollution; Epidemiology; Public Health; Air Pollution, Indoor

Public Health Interests

Environmental Health; Maternal & Child Health; Pollution

Selected Publications

  • A community-based evaluation of proximity to unconventional oil and gas wells, drinking water contaminants, and health symptoms in Ohio.Elliott EG, Ma X, Leaderer BP, McKay LA, Pedersen CJ, Wang C, Gerber CJ, Wright TJ, Sumner AJ, Brennan M, Silva GS, Warren JL, Plata DL, Deziel NC. A community-based evaluation of proximity to unconventional oil and gas wells, drinking water contaminants, and health symptoms in Ohio. Environmental Research 2018, 167: 550-557 PubMed ID: 30145431, DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2018.08.022.
  • Investigating the Impact of Maternal Residential Mobility on Identifying Critical Windows of Susceptibility to Ambient Air Pollution During Pregnancy.Warren JL, Son JY, Pereira G, Leaderer BP, Bell ML. Investigating the Impact of Maternal Residential Mobility on Identifying Critical Windows of Susceptibility to Ambient Air Pollution During Pregnancy. American Journal Of Epidemiology 2018, 187: 992-1000 PubMed ID: 29053768, PMCID: PMC5928458, DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwx335.
  • Unconventional oil and gas development and risk of childhood leukemia: Assessing the evidence.Elliott EG, Trinh P, Ma X, Leaderer BP, Ward MH, Deziel NC. Unconventional oil and gas development and risk of childhood leukemia: Assessing the evidence. The Science Of The Total Environment 2017, 576: 138-147 PubMed ID: 27783932, PMCID: PMC6457992, DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.10.072.
  • A systematic evaluation of chemicals in hydraulic-fracturing fluids and wastewater for reproductive and developmental toxicity.Elliott EG, Ettinger AS, Leaderer BP, Bracken MB, Deziel NC. A systematic evaluation of chemicals in hydraulic-fracturing fluids and wastewater for reproductive and developmental toxicity. Journal Of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology 2017, 27: 90-99 PubMed ID: 26732376, DOI: 10.1038/jes.2015.81.
  • NIAID, NIEHS, NHLBI, and MCAN Workshop Report: The indoor environment and childhood asthma-implications for home environmental intervention in asthma prevention and management.Gold DR, Adamkiewicz G, Arshad SH, Celedón JC, Chapman MD, Chew GL, Cook DN, Custovic A, Gehring U, Gern JE, Johnson CC, Kennedy S, Koutrakis P, Leaderer B, Mitchell H, Litonjua AA, Mueller GA, O'Connor GT, Ownby D, Phipatanakul W, Persky V, Perzanowski MS, Ramsey CD, Salo PM, Schwaninger JM, Sordillo JE, Spira A, Suglia SF, Togias A, Zeldin DC, Matsui EC. NIAID, NIEHS, NHLBI, and MCAN Workshop Report: The indoor environment and childhood asthma-implications for home environmental intervention in asthma prevention and management. The Journal Of Allergy And Clinical Immunology 2017, 140: 933-949 PubMed ID: 28502823, PMCID: PMC5632590, DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2017.04.024.
  • Indoor microbial communities: Influence on asthma severity in atopic and nonatopic children.Dannemiller KC, Gent JF, Leaderer BP, Peccia J. Indoor microbial communities: Influence on asthma severity in atopic and nonatopic children. The Journal Of Allergy And Clinical Immunology 2016, 138: 76-83.e1 PubMed ID: 26851966, PMCID: PMC5357886, DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2015.11.027.
  • Spatiotemporal calibration and resolution refinement of output from deterministic models.Gilani O, McKay LA, Gregoire TG, Guan Y, Leaderer BP, Holford TR. Spatiotemporal calibration and resolution refinement of output from deterministic models. Statistics In Medicine 2016, 35: 2422-40 PubMed ID: 26790617, DOI: 10.1002/sim.6867.
  • Influence of housing characteristics on bacterial and fungal communities in homes of asthmatic children.Dannemiller KC, Gent JF, Leaderer BP, Peccia J. Influence of housing characteristics on bacterial and fungal communities in homes of asthmatic children. Indoor Air 2016, 26: 179-92 PubMed ID: 25833176, PMCID: PMC4591094, DOI: 10.1111/ina.12205.
  • Household concentrations and personal exposure of PM2.5 among urban residents using different cooking fuels.Li T, Cao S, Fan D, Zhang Y, Wang B, Zhao X, Leaderer BP, Shen G, Zhang Y, Duan X. Household concentrations and personal exposure of PM2.5 among urban residents using different cooking fuels. The Science Of The Total Environment 2016, 548-549: 6-12 PubMed ID: 26799802, PMCID: PMC4760902, DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.01.038.
  • Ambient air pollutant PM10 and risk of preterm birth in Lanzhou, China.Zhao N, Qiu J, Zhang Y, He X, Zhou M, Li M, Xu X, Cui H, Lv L, Lin X, Zhang C, Zhang H, Xu R, Zhu D, Lin R, Yao T, Su J, Dang Y, Han X, Zhang H, Bai H, Chen Y, Tang Z, Wang W, Wang Y, Liu X, Ma B, Liu S, Qiu W, Huang H, Liang J, Chen Q, Jiang M, Ma S, Jin L, Holford T, Leaderer B, Bell ML, Liu Q, Zhang Y. Ambient air pollutant PM10 and risk of preterm birth in Lanzhou, China. Environment International 2015, 76: 71-7 PubMed ID: 25553395, PMCID: PMC4526148, DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2014.12.009.
  • Asthma medication use during pregnancy, wheeze and estimated exposure to ambient nitrogen dioxide.Gent JF, Kezik JM, Hill ME, McKay LA, Holford TR, Leaderer BP, Bracken MB. Asthma medication use during pregnancy, wheeze and estimated exposure to ambient nitrogen dioxide. The European Respiratory Journal 2015, 45: 538-40 PubMed ID: 25537555, PMCID: PMC4331059, DOI: 10.1183/09031936.00161514.
  • Distributions of heavy metals in maternal and cord blood and the association with infant birth weight in China.Hu X, Zheng T, Cheng Y, Holford T, Lin S, Leaderer B, Qiu J, Bassig BA, Shi K, Zhang Y, Niu J, Zhu Y, Li Y, Guo H, Chen Q, Zhang J, Xu S, Jin Y. Distributions of heavy metals in maternal and cord blood and the association with infant birth weight in China. The Journal Of Reproductive Medicine 2015, 60: 21-9 PubMed ID: 25745747, PMCID: PMC4961246.
  • Associations of PM₂.₅ constituents and sources with hospital admissions: analysis of four counties in Connecticut and Massachusetts (USA) for persons ≥ 65 years of age.Bell ML, Ebisu K, Leaderer BP, Gent JF, Lee HJ, Koutrakis P, Wang Y, Dominici F, Peng RD. Associations of PM₂.₅ constituents and sources with hospital admissions: analysis of four counties in Connecticut and Massachusetts (USA) for persons ≥ 65 years of age. Environmental Health Perspectives 2014, 122: 138-44 PubMed ID: 24213019, PMCID: PMC3915260, DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1306656.
  • Household levels of nitrogen dioxide and pediatric asthma severity.Belanger K, Holford TR, Gent JF, Hill ME, Kezik JM, Leaderer BP. Household levels of nitrogen dioxide and pediatric asthma severity. Epidemiology (Cambridge, Mass.) 2013, 24: 320-30 PubMed ID: 23337243, PMCID: PMC3686297, DOI: 10.1097/EDE.0b013e318280e2ac.
  • ESTIMATING DAILY NITROGEN DIOXIDE LEVEL: EXPLORING TRAFFIC EFFECTS.Zhang L, Guan Y, Leaderer BP, Holford TR. ESTIMATING DAILY NITROGEN DIOXIDE LEVEL: EXPLORING TRAFFIC EFFECTS. The Annals Of Applied Statistics 2013, 7 PubMed ID: 24327824, PMCID: PMC3856232, DOI: 10.1214/13-AOAS642.
  • Relationship between birth weight and exposure to airborne fine particulate potassium and titanium during gestation.Bell ML, Belanger K, Ebisu K, Gent JF, Leaderer BP. Relationship between birth weight and exposure to airborne fine particulate potassium and titanium during gestation. Environmental Research 2012, 117: 83-9 PubMed ID: 22705336, PMCID: PMC3418490, DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2012.05.004.
  • Effects of ambient pollen concentrations on frequency and severity of asthma symptoms among asthmatic children.DellaValle CT, Triche EW, Leaderer BP, Bell ML. Effects of ambient pollen concentrations on frequency and severity of asthma symptoms among asthmatic children. Epidemiology (Cambridge, Mass.) 2012, 23: 55-63 PubMed ID: 22082997, PMCID: PMC3246281, DOI: 10.1097/EDE.0b013e31823b66b8.
  • Household mold and dust allergens: exposure, sensitization and childhood asthma morbidity.Gent JF, Kezik JM, Hill ME, Tsai E, Li DW, Leaderer BP. Household mold and dust allergens: exposure, sensitization and childhood asthma morbidity. Environmental Research 2012, 118: 86-93 PubMed ID: 22863552, PMCID: PMC3604733, DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2012.07.005.
  • An environmental epigenetic study of ADRB2 5'-UTR methylation and childhood asthma severity.Fu A, Leaderer BP, Gent JF, Leaderer D, Zhu Y. An environmental epigenetic study of ADRB2 5'-UTR methylation and childhood asthma severity. Clinical And Experimental Allergy : Journal Of The British Society For Allergy And Clinical Immunology 2012, 42: 1575-81 PubMed ID: 22862293, PMCID: PMC3673701, DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2012.04055.x.
  • Association of maternal anemia with increased wheeze and asthma in children.Triche EW, Lundsberg LS, Wickner PG, Belanger K, Leaderer BP, Bracken MB. Association of maternal anemia with increased wheeze and asthma in children. Annals Of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology : Official Publication Of The American College Of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology 2011, 106: 131-139.e1 PubMed ID: 21277514, PMCID: PMC3073499, DOI: 10.1016/j.anai.2010.11.007.
  • Spatial and temporal variability of fine particle composition and source types in five cities of Connecticut and Massachusetts.Lee HJ, Gent JF, Leaderer BP, Koutrakis P. Spatial and temporal variability of fine particle composition and source types in five cities of Connecticut and Massachusetts. The Science Of The Total Environment 2011, 409: 2133-42 PubMed ID: 21429560, PMCID: PMC3269973, DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.02.025.
  • Urban land-use and respiratory symptoms in infants.Ebisu K, Holford TR, Belanger KD, Leaderer BP, Bell ML. Urban land-use and respiratory symptoms in infants. Environmental Research 2011, 111: 677-84 PubMed ID: 21530957, PMCID: PMC3114197, DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2011.04.004.
  • Modeling effects of traffic and landscape characteristics on ambient nitrogen dioxide levels in Connecticut.Skene KJ, Gent JF, McKay LA, Belanger K, Leaderer BP, Holford TR. Modeling effects of traffic and landscape characteristics on ambient nitrogen dioxide levels in Connecticut. Atmospheric Environment (Oxford, England : 1994) 2010, 44: 5156-5164 PubMed ID: 21076636, PMCID: PMC2976574, DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2010.08.058.
  • Prenatal exposure to fine particulate matter and birth weight: variations by particulate constituents and sources.Bell ML, Belanger K, Ebisu K, Gent JF, Lee HJ, Koutrakis P, Leaderer BP. Prenatal exposure to fine particulate matter and birth weight: variations by particulate constituents and sources. Epidemiology (Cambridge, Mass.) 2010, 21: 884-91 PubMed ID: 20811286, PMCID: PMC3055585, DOI: 10.1097/EDE.0b013e3181f2f405.
  • Integrated exposure modeling: a model using GIS and GLM.Holford TR, Ebisu K, McKay LA, Gent JF, Triche EW, Bracken MB, Leaderer BP. Integrated exposure modeling: a model using GIS and GLM. Statistics In Medicine 2010, 29: 116-29 PubMed ID: 19823976, PMCID: PMC3182125, DOI: 10.1002/sim.3732.
  • Household airborne Penicillium associated with peak expiratory flow variability in asthmatic children.Bundy KW, Gent JF, Beckett W, Bracken MB, Belanger K, Triche E, Leaderer BP. Household airborne Penicillium associated with peak expiratory flow variability in asthmatic children. Annals Of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology : Official Publication Of The American College Of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology 2009, 103: 26-30 PubMed ID: 19663123, PMCID: PMC2746059, DOI: 10.1016/S1081-1206(10)60139-1.
  • Symptoms and medication use in children with asthma and traffic-related sources of fine particle pollution.Gent JF, Koutrakis P, Belanger K, Triche E, Holford TR, Bracken MB, Leaderer BP. Symptoms and medication use in children with asthma and traffic-related sources of fine particle pollution. Environmental Health Perspectives 2009, 117: 1168-74 PubMed ID: 19654929, PMCID: PMC2717146, DOI: 10.1289/ehp.0800335.
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