Krystal Pollitt, PhD, P.Eng.
Associate Professor of Epidemiology (Environmental Health)Cards
Additional Titles
Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health
Contact Info
Environmental Health Sciences
60 College Street
New Haven, CT 06510
United States
About
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Titles
Associate Professor of Epidemiology (Environmental Health)
Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health
Biography
My research applies exposomic approaches to investigate the influence of environmental factors on disease. Robust, reliable, reproducible, and rigorous analytical and computational techniques are required to operationalise the exposome framework for application in population studies. My work has focused on addressing the technical hurdles of performing systematic and comprehensive measurements of environmental chemicals using high resolution mass spectrometry. My research team has pioneered technologies for exposomics, including a wearable passive sampler (Fresh Air wristband) to assess personal exposure to thousands of contaminants in the environment, including pesticides and phthalates, and software for non-targeted analysis (FluoroMatch) to expand coverage of emerging chemicals in environmental and biological matrices.
Appointments
Environmental Health Sciences
Associate Professor on TermPrimaryChemical and Environmental Engineering
Associate Professor on TermSecondary
Other Departments & Organizations
- All Institutions
- Chemical and Environmental Engineering
- Climate Change and Health
- Environmental Health Sciences
- GEOHealth-MENA program
- Pollitt Lab
- Yale CARES
- Yale Institute for Global Health
- Yale School of Public Health
- Yale Superfund Research Center
- YSPH Global Health Concentration
Education & Training
- Canadian Thoracic Society Post-Doctoral Research Fellow
- University of Toronto (2014)
- PhD
- King's College London, Environmental Toxicology (2012)
- MSc
- University of Toronto, Chemical Engineering (2008)
- BSc
- University of Toronto, Chemical Engineering (2005)
Research
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Overview
My research applies exposomic approaches to investigate the influence of environmental factors on disease. Robust, reliable, reproducible, and rigorous analytical and computational techniques are required to operationalise the exposome framework for application in population studies. My work has focused on addressing the technical hurdles of performing systematic and comprehensive measurements of environmental chemicals using high resolution mass spectrometry. My research team has pioneered technologies for exposomics, including a wearable passive sampler (Fresh Air wristband) to assess personal exposure to thousands of contaminants in the environment, including pesticides and phthalates, and software for non-targeted analysis (FluoroMatch) to expand coverage of emerging chemicals in environmental and biological matrices.
Medical Research Interests
Public Health Interests
ORCID
0000-0001-7332-2228- View Lab Website
Pollitt Lab
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Publications Timeline
Research Interests
Jeremy P. Koelmel
Nicole Deziel, PhD, MHS
Caroline Helen Johnson, PhD
Dong Gao, PhD, MS, BS
Zeyan Liew, PhD, MPH
Jodi Sherman, MD
Environmental Exposure
Air Pollution
Exposome
Mass Spectrometry
Publications
2026
Association of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure with cognitive function in firefighters
Pan X, Pollitt K, Liu S, Armstrong F, Amin B. Association of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure with cognitive function in firefighters. Journal Of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology 2026, 1-11. PMID: 41882280, DOI: 10.1038/s41370-026-00861-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsPerfluoro-n-nonanoic acidPerfluoro-n-heptanoic acidPerfluoro-n-octanoic acidCognitive performancePolyfluoroalkyl substancesLiquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometryChromatography-tandem mass spectrometryPerfluoro-1-octanesulfonatePFAS analytesBayesian kernel machine regressionCognitive healthCognitive functionMass spectrometryNIH Toolbox Cognition BatteryDomain-specific cognitive performanceProcessing speed scoresPreventive health careAssociated with scoresAnalytesQuantile g-computationPerfluoro-n-decanoic acidPolyfluoroalkyl substances exposuresCognitive batteryCognitive domainsKernel machine regressionEvaluating 1,4-Dioxane Exposure in Long Island, New York: Integrating Environmental, Biological, and Metabolomic Measures
Deziel N, Liu S, Johnson N, Berardi D, Clark C, Loughlin C, Sorrentino K, Lin E, Ning X, Warren J, Liew Z, Johnson C, Pollitt K. Evaluating 1,4-Dioxane Exposure in Long Island, New York: Integrating Environmental, Biological, and Metabolomic Measures. Environmental Science And Technology 2026, 60: 9048-9060. PMID: 41824932, DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5c15309.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsMaximum contaminant levelPotential health burdenPersonal care productsBlood samplesDrinking water concentrationsExposure determinantsLong IslandTap waterContamination levelsPaired waterExposure sourcesCare productsWater samplesPersonal care product useWater concentrationTreatment systemResidents of Long IslandMetabolomic profilesMetabolomic impactMetabolomic measurementsMetabolomic analysisWaterWater consumptionExposure dataPotential carcinogensQuantifying PFAS-Omics Burden Scores for Nontargeted Analysis Using Multidimensional Item Response Theory: An Exploratory Analysis of Novel and Legacy PFAS in Cord Blood
Liu S, Chen Y, Feuerstahler L, Koelmel J, Pollitt K, Xu Y, Lanphear B, Yolton K, Chen A, Pennell K, Braun J, Manz K. Quantifying PFAS-Omics Burden Scores for Nontargeted Analysis Using Multidimensional Item Response Theory: An Exploratory Analysis of Novel and Legacy PFAS in Cord Blood. Environmental Science And Technology 2026, 60: 6322-6340. PMID: 41705714, DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5c06490.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsApproaching a 0% False Positive Rate for PFAS Determination Leveraging Only MS1 Data
Schiessel D, Chevallier O, Kummer M, Liu S, Chang P, Pyke J, Klein C, Rodowa A, Ragland J, Godri D, Stelben P, Williams A, Rennie E, Pollitt K, Koelmel J. Approaching a 0% False Positive Rate for PFAS Determination Leveraging Only MS1 Data. Environmental Science And Technology 2026, 60: 5063-5074. PMID: 41612774, DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5c12047.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsLC-HRMS/MSHigh-resolution tandem mass spectrometryLiquid chromatography high-resolution tandem mass spectrometryTandem mass spectrometryPolyfluoroalkyl substancesMS1 dataComplex environmental matricesHomologous seriesMass spectrometryAnalysis of per-Nontargeted strategiesFormula predictionsIdentification coverageEnvironmental matricesFalse positive rateMS1SpectrometryPositive rateMeasuring the exposome: a practical guide for using wearable passive samplers to assess environmental influences
Okeme J, Lin E, Koelmel J, Guo A, Gao D, Pollitt K. Measuring the exposome: a practical guide for using wearable passive samplers to assess environmental influences. Exposome 2026, 6: osag002. DOI: 10.1093/exposome/osag002.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsWearable passive samplersPassive samplersHealth StudyMinimum guidelinesSecondary analysisRemote communitiesVulnerable populationsMeasure exposureExposure to environmental chemicalsQuality assurance measuresExposomeLarge-scale health studiesPersonal exposureComprehensive measureAssurance measuresSampling toolEnvironmental chemicalsCost-effective approachSamplerChemical analysis approachesEnvironmental influencesAnalysis approach
2025
Lipidome changes indicate oxidative stress, inflammation, and specific loss of glycerophosphoserine inflammatory protection in patients with lupus
Koelmel J, Ramos P, Costa K, Godri-Pollitt K, Kamen D, Bowden J. Lipidome changes indicate oxidative stress, inflammation, and specific loss of glycerophosphoserine inflammatory protection in patients with lupus. Journal Of Pharmaceutical And Biomedical Analysis 2025, 270: 117302. PMID: 41389493, DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2025.117302.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsActive lupusComprehensive lipidomic studyLupus patientsLipidomic studiesSystemic lupus erythematosusChronic autoimmune diseaseLipid sub-classesOxidative stressLupus nephritisIndicators of oxidative stressLupus erythematosusAutoimmune diseasesLipidomic changesNon-lupus controlsInflammatory responseLupusPatientsLipid changesPlasma samplesDisease pathogenesisTherapeutic targetInflammation suppressorsBlood plasma samplesComplex etiologyCoenzyme Q10Shedding Light on PFAS Dark Matter Using a Novel GC-HRMS Approach
Koelmel J, Lin E, Chang P, Johnson E, Stelben P, Liu S, Nishida K, Tsugawa H, Lin A, Newton S, Casey J, Nikiforov V, Roberts D, Aksenov A, Okeme J, Metayer C, Vieira V, Manz K, Braun J, Pennell K, Robey N, Bangma J, Strynar M, Townsend T, Bowden J, Pollitt K. Shedding Light on PFAS Dark Matter Using a Novel GC-HRMS Approach. Environmental Science And Technology 2025, 59: 25296-25308. PMID: 41249893, PMCID: PMC12810681, DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5c11712.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsHigh-resolution mass spectrometryPositive chemical ionizationElectron ionizationMass spectrometryLiquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometryGas chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometryFraction of PFASLC-HRMS approachPolyfluoroalkyl substancesChemical ionizationNontargeted workflowsChemical spaceFluorinated compoundsExperimental spectraBiological matricesLC-HRMSAFFF formulationsGC-HRMSIndustrial outfallsAqueous filmMunicipal leachateIonizationSpectrometryCompoundsFloor dustEmerging PFAS in songbird eggs from a Belgian hotspot site
Cappelli F, Groffen T, Buytaert J, Prinsen E, Eens M, Bervoets L, Zhao L, Yin S, Koelmel J, Kummer M, Godri Pollitt K, Covaci A. Emerging PFAS in songbird eggs from a Belgian hotspot site. Environmental Research 2025, 291: 123156. PMID: 41110788, DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2025.123156.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsHigh-resolution mass spectrometryNon-target analysisPolyfluoroalkyl substancesFluorochemical plantPerfluoroalkyl sulfonic acidsBird eggsSulfonic acidLiquid chromatography-mass spectrometryEnvironmental monitoring programmesLegacy polyfluoroalkyl substancesPFAS bioaccumulationChromatography-mass spectrometrySuspect screeningMass spectrometryTargeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometryBiomonitoring toolSemi-quantificationIndustrial activitiesMonitoring programmesLC-MS/MSCompoundsBreeding seasonRisk assessmentHotspot sitesSpectrometryGuidance on minimum information requirements (MIR) from designing to reporting human biomonitoring (HBM)
Zare Jeddi M, Galea K, Ashley-Martin J, Nassif J, Pollock T, Poddalgoda D, Kasiotis K, Machera K, Koch H, López M, Chung M, Kil J, Jones K, Covaci A, Ait Bamai Y, Fernandez M, Kase R, Louro H, Silva M, Santonen T, Katsonouri A, Castaño A, Quirós-Alcalá L, Lin E, Pollitt K, Virgolino A, Scheepers P, Melnyk L, Mustieles V, Cañas Portilla A, Viegas S, von Goetz N, Sepai O, Bird E, Göen T, Fustinoni S, Ghosh M, Dirven H, Kwon J, Carignan C, Mizuno Y, Ito Y, Xia Y, Nakayama S, Makris K, Parsons P, Gonzales M, Bader M, Dusinska M, Menouni A, Duca R, Chbihi K, Jaafari S, Godderis L, van Nieuwenhuyse A, Qureshi A, Ali I, Trindade C, Teixeira J, Bartonova A, Tranfo G, Audouze K, Verpaele S, LaKind J, Mol H, Bessems J, Magagna B, Waras M, Connolly A, Nascarella M, Yang W, Huang P, Lee J, Heussen H, Goksel O, Yunesian M, Yeung L, Souza G, Vekic A, Haynes E, Hopf N. Guidance on minimum information requirements (MIR) from designing to reporting human biomonitoring (HBM). Environment International 2025, 202: 109601. PMID: 40609511, PMCID: PMC12621227, DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2025.109601.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsHuman biomonitoring dataHuman biomonitoringRisk of human exposureMinimum information requirementsBiomarkers of exposureChemical exposure assessmentHuman biomonitoring studiesSources of exposureEffective communication of resultsInformation requirementsProtect public healthHealth professionalsHuman exposureBiomonitoringCommunication of resultsExposure assessmentGeneral populationIntegrating exposomics into biomedicine
Miller G, Bennett L, Balshaw D, Barouki R, Bhutani G, Dolinoy D, Gao P, Jett D, Karagas M, Klánová J, Lein P, Li S, Metz T, Patel C, Pollitt K, Rajasekar A, Sillé F, Thessen A, Thuault-Restituito S, Vermeulen R, Ward-Caviness C, Wright R. Integrating exposomics into biomedicine. Science 2025, 388: 356-358. PMID: 40273259, PMCID: PMC12930644, DOI: 10.1126/science.adr0544.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and Concepts
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
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Activities
activity Environmental factors in placental pathology
01/01/2019 - PresentResearchDetailsToronto, ON, CanadaAbstract/SynopsisThe placenta is an organ that develops during pregnancy. It transfers oxygen and nutrients from the mother to the fetus and allows for the removal of waste products from the fetus. Placental changes during pregnancy are normal and important to a healthy pregnancy. Abnormal changes can occur when the mother is exposed to certain risk factors and toxins, resulting in placental dysfunction. Placental dysfunction often involves changes to the blood vessels of the placenta, leading to reduced oxygen and nutrient exchange between the mother and the fetus. This may not only affect fetal growth and survival, but also long-term health following delivery. This study will screen environmental contaminants in blood samples collected from a prospective cohort of pregnant women. The association between environmental exposures and placental dysfunction will be evaluated.
activity Shunyi Birth Cohort
10/01/2018 - PresentResearchDetailsBeijing, ChinaAbstract/SynopsisPersonal air pollutant exposure assessment of pregnant women
activity VHEMBE Birth Cohort
09/01/2018 - PresentResearchDetailsThohoyandou, LP, South AfricaCollaboratorsAbstract/SynopsisHousehold Air Pollution and Immune Function in South African Children
activity BAPE Study
08/01/2018 - PresentResearchDetailsJinan, Shandong, ChinaAbstract/SynopsisEvaluation of biomarkers of air pollutants exposure in the Chinese aged 60-69
activity Biomass Exposure and Cardiovascular Health in Children
04/01/2018 - PresentResearchDetailsCourtenay, BC, CanadaAbstract/SynopsisThis study is investigating the association between short and intermediate-term exposures to ambient PM2.5 from biomass burning and cardiovascular health in children.
Honors
honor Joan M. Daisey Outstanding Young Scientist Award
10/03/2022International AwardInternational Society of Exposure ScienceDetailsUnited Stateshonor Early Career Research Award
05/01/2021Yale University AwardYale School of Public HealthDetailsUnited States
News & Links
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Media
News
- February 26, 2026Source: Journal of Medical Internet Research
YSPH study finds airborne chemicals from wildfires linger inside homes
- December 24, 2025Source: PNAS Front Matter
Exposome research comes of age
- December 10, 2025Source: Yahoo News
Are aluminum pans safe to cook with? We consulted experts on different types of aluminum cookware
- July 08, 2025Source: Yahoo!Life
The best nontoxic cookware for a healthier kitchen
Get In Touch
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Contacts
Environmental Health Sciences
60 College Street
New Haven, CT 06510
United States
Locations
LEPH
Lab
60 College Street, Fl 5, Rm 510
New Haven, CT 06510