Professor Michael Bates, PhD
Co-Director, STEER Program

Dr. Bates is Adjunct Professor of Epidemiology in the School of Public Health, but based in the Division of Environmental Health Sciences. Dr Bates had a background in chemistry and toxicology before obtaining his PhD in epidemiology at Berkeley. His research focus is on the health effects of occupational and environmental exposures to chemicals. Dr Bates is Principal Investigator of a NIEHS-funded epidemiologic study being carried out in New Zealand. This study is investigating whether long-term, low-level exposures to hydrogen sulfide gas in the Rotorua geothermal area cause any health effects. With Prof Katharine Hammond he is working on an epidemiologic study in the Bay Area of whether exposures to n-hexane solvent in parts cleaners cause persistent neurological or reproductive effects, and with Prof Kirk Smith he is investigating whether exposure to indoor cooking smoke is a risk factor for tuberculosis or cataract in studies in India and Nepal.

Other areas of research interest of Dr Bates include health effects of organochlorine compounds, such as dioxins and PCBs; whether dental amalgam fillings, which contain mercury, cause any health effects; cancer risks in fire fighters, and cancer risks associated with ingestion of arsenic in drinking water.

Faculty Website

Research Scientist, Dr. Amanda Northcross
Co-Director, STEER Program

Dr. Northcross works with both Dr. Kathie Hammond and Dr. Kirk Smith. Her research is focused on measuring exposures to airborne contaminants. With Dr. Smith she works to quantify exposures to wood smoke from inefficient cookstoves as a part of a longitudinal cookstove intervention study in the rural highlands of Guatemala. The Smith research group is also developing a low cost particle monitor with a measurable concentration range that will be functional both in the United States as well as in homes using solid fuel for cooking which have orders of magnitude higher concentrations. With Prof. Hammond, Dr. Northcross’ work is focused on the chemical analysis of airborne particles. She is working to develop a method to measure reactive oxidative species in particles, which are hypothesized to be one of the key actors in the mechanism of injury for airborne particles from many sources including cigarette smoke, diesel smoke and wood smoke to name a few.

A STEER intern will gain experience using aerosol measurement instruments and will assist with chemical analysis of airborne samples.

Gayle Cepparo, MA

Gayle Cepparo, Project Coordinator
Center for Occupational and Environmental Health
School of Public Health, #7360
University of California
50 University Hall, Room 745
2199 Addison St.
Berkeley, CA 94720-7360
Tel: 510-642-0571
Fax: 510-642-5815
Email: gcepparo@berkeley.edu