As America's reliance on cell phones, MP3 players and digital cameras grows, so too do concerns that toxic waste elements in these devices can cause significant environmental and health damage when they are disposed of. In the Oct. 30 issue of Science, UCI researchers Dele Ogunseitan (pictured), Jean-Daniel Saphores and Andrew Shapiro discuss this steadily increasing volume of e-waste and current federal policies for recycling and eliminating hazardous materials like mercury, lead, zinc and cadmium from these devices. They advocate better education programs, increased research efforts and a "cradle to grave" approach to the design, use and disposal of such products.   More »

A new master's program in public health will train future practitioners to help reduce the burden of disease and disability in culturally diverse communities in Southern California and around the world. An initial class of 16 students – who met with Chancellor Michael Drake during their orientation (pictured) – will study with a faculty of renowned researchers while pursuing a two-year degree with an emphasis in environmental health, epidemiology, or sociocultural diversity and health. The master's option is the latest addition to the public health program, which began in 2003 and offers bachelor's degrees through its Department of Population Health and Disease Prevention.   More »

Public health professor Guiyun Yan received a $135,000 Framework grant from the Fogarty International Center to expand global health studies at UC Irvine. The grant is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which is investing $10 billion into health-related research and infrastructure. Yan said the grant will fund fellowship opportunities for UCI students and faculty, support new course development and help establish a global health concentration in the master of public health program. The Fogarty center, the international component of the National Institutes of Health, addresses global health challenges through support of research and training programs. It has been providing Framework grants since 2005.   More »

Oladele A. Ogunseitan, population health and disease prevention professor and chair at UC Irvine, has been selected to the state’s new Green Ribbon Science Panel. The advisory panel was created for California’s Green Chemistry program, an innovative approach to removing or reducing toxic chemicals in products sold in the state. The panel will help direct the Department of Toxic Substances Control to significantly reduce adverse health and environmental impacts of chemicals used in commerce and develop a green chemistry and chemicals policy in California. Ogunseitan, who studies the environmental and human-health effects of industrial pollutants, also directs the Research and Education in Green Materials component of the University of California’s Systemwide Toxic Substances Research & Teaching Program.   More »

UC Irvine has been awarded $1.62 million to lead a University of California program on development of nontoxic alternatives to everyday products, such as electronics, plastics, lighting products, fuels and pesticides. As the Lead Campus for a Green Materials Program, UCI will foster research and graduate-level training at UC campuses and bring together public health, toxicology, materials science, engineering and social science experts to work on innovative approaches to reducing health and environmental hazards associated with materials use in society. Oladele Ogunseitan, professor of public health and social ecology at UCI and international expert on environmental health sciences, will serve as inaugural director. “This program will have great impact on the people of California, because it will draw upon our expertise in these areas and employ it for the health and benefit of society,” he said.   More »