Exposome

People face a range of exposures across their lives. Rollins researchers are studying the ways in which those environmental and socioeconomic factors impact human health and what they mean for people now and in the future.

"What we really focus on are the key measurements we can use to better understand and evaluate the history of exposure and how the biochemical changes that occur might predispose us to illnesses like cancer and heart disease."

Douglas Walker, PhD, Associate Professor of Environmental Health

Environmental Exposures and Maternal and Child Health

What impact do microplastics, forever chemicals, and other environmental exposures have on pregnancy, fertility, and infant health? Rollins researchers are working to find out.

Exposing the Exposome

Study Finds Using Everyday Products During Pregnancy Can Affect Newborn’s Metabolism, Brain Development

Photo of a pregnant belly with hands covering the stomach

Study Investigates PFAS Exposures and Birth Outcomes in Pregnant African American Women

Our Experts at the Forefront

"One piece that has been missing, as we move more toward this idea of the exposome, is that it isn’t any one specific chemical, exposure or social factor that leads to disease in individuals. It's really a combination of them."

Carmen Marsit, PhD

Executive Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Research Strategy

"The problem with PFAS is that, unlike many other organic or nonorganic pollutants like pesticides or insecticides, PFAS persist in the environment because they break down very slowly, both in the environment and the human body."

Donghai Liang, PhD

Associate Professor of Environmental Health

Our Experts in the Media

The Macro Impacts of Microplastics

Global Health NOW

Experts Call for Increased Action Against Concerning Toxins Lurking in Water Supply

The Cool Down

Residents Await Blood Tests Results to Measure Chemical Exposure

Atlanta News First

Collaborative Research at Work

HERCULES Exposome Research Center

HERCULES is one of about 20 centers across the country dedicated to supporting all aspects of environmental health research at their home institutions and to developing collaborations with researchers across the country.

Explore HERCULES' Research Activities