Departmental Affiliations
Center & Institute Affiliations
Contact Info
Research Interests
Environmental Health Sciences, industrial hygiene, exposure assessment, pollution, childhood asthma, environmental epidemiology
Experiences & Accomplishments
Dr. Breysse is the Director of the ABET accredited Occupational and Environmental Hygiene Academic Program. He is also the Co-Director Center for Childhood Asthma in the Urban Environment. His research focuses on the evaluation and control of chemical, biological, and physical factors that can impact health or well being. In this context, Dr. Breysse's research concentrates on risk and exposure assessment. Exposure assessment research includes pollutant source characterization, exposure measurement and interpretation, development and use of biomarkers of exposure/dose/effect, and evaluating relationships between sources, exposures, doses and disease.
Dr. Breysse's research currently includes studies of the impact of indoor and outdoor air pollution on respiratory health including childhood asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and respiratory tract infections. He also directs a second secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure assessment laboratory and conducts SHS exposure studies around the world in support of tobacco control policy development. Dr. Breysse is collaborating on complex health and exposure studies around the world including studies in Peru, Nepal, Mongolia, Columbia, and India. In addition, Dr. Breysse collaborates with colleagues in Material Sciences and Engineering on the development of novel sensor technology using organic semiconductors.
Honors & Awards
Safety and Occupational Health Study Section Chair 2007-2008
Meritorious Achievement Award, American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, 2006
Leader People-to People professional exchange in Occupational and Environmental Health in South Africa, 2004
Delta Omega Public Health Honorary Society inductee, 2003
Phi Beta Kappa, 1978
Select Publications
Berman JD, Fann N, Hollingsworth JW, Pinkerton KE, Rom WN, Szema AM, Breysse PN, White RH, Curriero FC. Health Benefits from Large-Scale Ozone Reduction in the United States. Environ Health Perspect. http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1104851 (2012).
Han I, Mihalic JN, Ramos-Bonilla JP, Rule AM, Polyak LM, Peng RD, Geyh AS, Breysse PN. Assessment of Heterogeneity of Metal Composition of Fine Particulate Matter Collected from Eight U.S. Counties using Principal Component Analysis. J Air Waste Manag Assoc. 2012 Jul;62(7):773-82.
Rivera-Mariani FE, Matsui EC, Breysse PN. Performance of the Halogen Immunoassay to Assess Airborne Mouse Allergen-Containing Particles in a Laboratory Animal Facility. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. doi: 10.1038/jes.2012.76 (2012).
Chau E, Galloway JF, Nelson A, Breysse PN, Wirtz D, Searson PC, Sidhaye VK. Effect of Modifying Quantum Dot Surface Charge on Airway Epithelial Cell Uptake In Vitro. Nanotoxicology doi:10.3109/17435390.2012.711862 (2012).
Breysse PN, Delfino RJ, Dominici F, Elder ACP, Frampton MW, Froines JR, Geyh AS, Godleski JJ, Gold DR, Hopke PK, Koutrakis P, Li N, Oberdörster G, Pinkerton KE, Samet JM, Utell MJ, Wexler AS. U.S. EPA Particulate Matter Research Centers: Summary of Research Results for 2005–2011. Air Quality, Atmosphere and Health. Accepted (2012).