Departmental Affiliations
Lesliam Quirós-Alcalá, PhD, MSc, applies exposure science and environmental epidemiology to study chemical exposures’ health effects in underrepresented populations.
Contact Info
615 N. Wolfe Street, Room E6616
Baltimore
Maryland
21205
US
Research Interests
Antimicrobials;
Asthma;
Biomarkers/Biomonitoring;
Children's environmental health;
Consumer products;
Endocrine disruptors;
Environmental epidemiology;
Environmental exposures;
Environmental phenols;
Exposure assessment;
Flame retardants;
Latino health;
Minority health;
Obesity;
Occupational epidemiology;
Occupational health/ Industrial Hygiene;
Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology;
Pesticides;
Phthalates;
Respiratory disease;
Vulnerable populations;
Women's health;
Experiences & Accomplishments
Education
PhD
University of California, Berkeley
2010
MSc
Texas A&M University
2001
BSc
Texas A&M University
2000
Overview
As an exposure scientist and environmental epidemiologist, I seek to conduct novel translational exposure science research to better understand exposure-response relationships. The ultimate goal of my research is to inform the development of public health policies and practices, and identify potential interventions to reduce environmental exposures and improve health. My research focuses on characterizing environmental exposures to endocrine disrupting agents and examining their potential health effects on highly vulnerable, low-income and minority populations underrepresented and understudied in public health research, including occupational populations, pregnant women and women of reproductive age, and children. To this end, I have examined determinants of exposure and health outcomes associated with chemicals in personal care products, cleaning agents, pesticides, and flame retardants; and validated biomarkers of exposure. My research also seeks to integrate qualitative research methods to design and implement culturally-appropriate interventions to reduce environmental health disparities among Latino, African American, and other minority populations.
In collaboration with colleagues from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the University of Texas Dell Medical School, I am currently investigating the role of environmental exposures on asthma morbidity among inner-city children. Other projects I'm currently engaged in include assessing occupational exposures among hairdressers, examining the impacts of environmental agents on male hormones, and assessing environmental exposures in a U.S.-based Central American population. I am also a Co-Investigator for the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Data Analysis Center at Johns Hopkins. I have experience working in children’s environmental health research, occupational health, science communication, and working with underrepresented and understudied communities.
I welcome the opportunity to establish new collaborations and to work with talented undergraduates, graduate students, and postdocs.
In collaboration with colleagues from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the University of Texas Dell Medical School, I am currently investigating the role of environmental exposures on asthma morbidity among inner-city children. Other projects I'm currently engaged in include assessing occupational exposures among hairdressers, examining the impacts of environmental agents on male hormones, and assessing environmental exposures in a U.S.-based Central American population. I am also a Co-Investigator for the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Data Analysis Center at Johns Hopkins. I have experience working in children’s environmental health research, occupational health, science communication, and working with underrepresented and understudied communities.
I welcome the opportunity to establish new collaborations and to work with talented undergraduates, graduate students, and postdocs.
Honors & Awards
2019: International Society of Exposure Science Joan M. Daisey Outstanding Young Scientist Award
2018: Delta Omega Honorary Society Inductee
2017: NHLBI K01 Career Development Award
2016: Health Equity Leadership Institute Fellowship; UMD Center for Health Equity and the Collaborative Center for Health Equity at the University of Wisconsin
2016: National Institutes of Minority Health Disparities Health Disparities Summer Research Institute Fellowship
2015-16: Stamp Service-Learning Teaching Fellowship; University of Maryland
2014: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science and Technology Fellowship Finalist
2013: AAAS & Society for the Advancement of Chicano and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) Summer Leadership Institute Fellowship; Stanford University
2011-13: Passport Foundation, Postdoctoral Grant
2012-13: Environmental Health News Science Communication Fellowship
2012: Environmental Endocrine Disruptors Gordon Research Conference Travel Award
2012: SACNAS Conference Travel Award
2012, 2010, 2009:International Society of Exposure Science (ISES) Conference Travel Award
2011: UC San Francisco Reach the Decision Makers Science Policy Fellowship
2009: International Society of Exposure Science Poster Competition, 2nd Place
2009,2007: Preston Scholarship for focusing on research that impacts environmental and children’s health , School of Public Health, UC Berkeley
2008: American Public Health Association (APHA) Environment Section Poster Award, 1st Place
2008, 2007: William Griffiths School of Public Health Alumni Scholarship, UC Berkeley
2007: Institute for Mexico and the United States Dissertation Research Dissertation Grant, UC Berkeley
2007: Center for Latino Policy Research Doctoral Grant, UC Berkeley
2007: School of Public Health Grossman Alumni Scholarship, UC Berkeley
2005-08: Environmental Protection Agency Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Doctoral Fellowship
2005: Center for Occupational and Environmental Health Student Award
2005: Dr. Robert T. Legge Award for academic excellence in the field of Industrial Hygiene
2003-05: UC Berkeley Opportunity Award Pre-doctoral Fellowship
2018: Delta Omega Honorary Society Inductee
2017: NHLBI K01 Career Development Award
2016: Health Equity Leadership Institute Fellowship; UMD Center for Health Equity and the Collaborative Center for Health Equity at the University of Wisconsin
2016: National Institutes of Minority Health Disparities Health Disparities Summer Research Institute Fellowship
2015-16: Stamp Service-Learning Teaching Fellowship; University of Maryland
2014: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science and Technology Fellowship Finalist
2013: AAAS & Society for the Advancement of Chicano and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) Summer Leadership Institute Fellowship; Stanford University
2011-13: Passport Foundation, Postdoctoral Grant
2012-13: Environmental Health News Science Communication Fellowship
2012: Environmental Endocrine Disruptors Gordon Research Conference Travel Award
2012: SACNAS Conference Travel Award
2012, 2010, 2009:International Society of Exposure Science (ISES) Conference Travel Award
2011: UC San Francisco Reach the Decision Makers Science Policy Fellowship
2009: International Society of Exposure Science Poster Competition, 2nd Place
2009,2007: Preston Scholarship for focusing on research that impacts environmental and children’s health , School of Public Health, UC Berkeley
2008: American Public Health Association (APHA) Environment Section Poster Award, 1st Place
2008, 2007: William Griffiths School of Public Health Alumni Scholarship, UC Berkeley
2007: Institute for Mexico and the United States Dissertation Research Dissertation Grant, UC Berkeley
2007: Center for Latino Policy Research Doctoral Grant, UC Berkeley
2007: School of Public Health Grossman Alumni Scholarship, UC Berkeley
2005-08: Environmental Protection Agency Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Doctoral Fellowship
2005: Center for Occupational and Environmental Health Student Award
2005: Dr. Robert T. Legge Award for academic excellence in the field of Industrial Hygiene
2003-05: UC Berkeley Opportunity Award Pre-doctoral Fellowship
Select Publications
Select Publications
- Quirós-Alcalá L, Hansel NN, McCormack MC, and Matsui EC. Exposure to bisphenols and asthma morbidity among low-income urban children with asthma. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. July 2020. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2020.05.031
- Boyle M.*#, Buckley JP, and Quirós-Alcalá L*. Associations between urinary organophosphate ester metabolites and measures of adiposity among U.S. children and adults: NHANES 2013-2014. Environment International, 2019; 127:754-763; doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.03.055. (*Shared first-authorship; # Student)
- Buckley J.P., Quirós-Alcalá L., Teitelbaum S.L., Calafat A.M., Wolff M.S., and Engel S.M. Associations of prenatal environmental phenol and phthalate biomarkers with respiratory and allergic diseases among children aged 6 and 7 years. Environment International, 2018. 115:79-88.
- Bradman A.*, Quiros-Alcala L.*, Castorina R., Aguilar Schall R., Camacho J., Holland N.T., Barr D.B., and Eskenazi B. Effect of Organic Diet Intervention on Pesticide Exposures in Young Children Living in Low-Income Urban and Agricultural Communities. Environ Health Perspect, 2015. 123(10): p. 1086-93. (*Shared first-authorship)
- Quiros-Alcala L., Bradman A., Nishioka M., Harnly M.E., Hubbard A., McKone T.E., Ferber J., and Eskenazi B. Pesticides in house dust from urban and farmworker households in California: an observational measurement study. Environ Health, 2011. 10: p. 19.
Projects
Antimicrobial Agents and Asthma Morbidity Among African American Children with Asthma
INnovations to Generate Estimates of children's Soil/dust inTake (INGEST)