Michelle L. Bell, PhD
Cards
Additional Titles
Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health
Contact Info
School of the Environment
195 Prospect Street
New Haven, CT 06511
United States
About
Titles
Mary E. Pinchot Professor at the School of the Environment and Professor of Environmental Health
Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health
Biography
Dr. Michelle Bell is the Mary E. Pinchot Professor of Environmental Health at the Yale University School of the Environment, with secondary appointments at the Yale School of Public Health, Environmental Health Sciences Division; the Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs; and the Yale School of Engineering and Applied Science, Environmental Engineering Program. Her research investigates how human health is affected by atmospheric systems, including air pollution and weather. Other research interests include the health impacts of climate change and environmental justice. Much of this work is based in epidemiology, biostatistics, and environmental engineering. The research is designed to be policy-relevant and contribute to well-informed decision-making to better protect human health and benefit society. She is the recipient of the Prince Albert II de Monaco / Institut Pasteur Award, the Rosenblith New Investigator Award, and the NIH Outstanding New Environmental Scientist (ONES) Award. Dr. Bell holds degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (B.S. in Environmental Engineering), Stanford University (M.S. in Environmental Engineering), University of Edinburgh (M.Sc. in Philosophy), and Johns Hopkins University (M.S.E. in Environmental Management and Economics and Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering). She was elected to the National Academy of Medicine.
Appointments
School of the Environment
ProfessorPrimaryChemical and Environmental Engineering
ProfessorSecondaryEnvironmental Health Sciences
ProfessorSecondary
Other Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- MSc
- University of Edinburgh, Philosophy (2020)
- PhD
- Johns Hopkins University, Environmental Engineering (2002)
- MS
- Johns Hopkins University, Environmental Management and Economics (1999)
- MS
- Stanford University, Environmental Engineering (1994)
- BS
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Environmental Engineering (1992)
Research
Overview
Medical Research Interests
Public Health Interests
ORCID
0000-0002-3965-1359- View Lab Website
Michelle Bell's Research Team
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Publications Timeline
Research Interests
Nicole Deziel, PhD, MHS
Brian Leaderer, MPH, PhD
Kevin Sheth, MD
Thomas M. Gill, MD
Yiqun Ma
Kai Chen, PhD
Environmental Health
Publications
2025
Temporal trends in the association between temperature and firearm mortality
Choi H, Heo S, Bell M. Temporal trends in the association between temperature and firearm mortality. Environmental Research 2025, 275: 121384. PMID: 40081650, DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2025.121384.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsFirearm mortalityPublic health initiativesLow socioeconomic statusConditional logistic regressionFirearm mortality dataFirearm death ratesHealth inequalitiesMortality trendsAttributable fractionHealth initiativesCase-crossoverMortality dataSocioeconomic statusRacial/ethnic groupsTargeted interventionsBlack/African AmericanStratified analysisVulnerable populationsLogistic regressionWhite populationHealth impactsDeath rateFirearm deathsRace/ethnicityTemporal trendsEvaluating the environmental justice dimensions of odor in Denver, Colorado
deSouza P, Rees A, Oscilowicz E, Lawlor B, Obermann W, Dickinson K, McKenzie L, Magzamen S, Miller S, Bell M. Evaluating the environmental justice dimensions of odor in Denver, Colorado. Journal Of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology 2025, 1-10. PMID: 39984671, DOI: 10.1038/s41370-025-00760-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCensus block groupsDepartment of Public HealthSocioeconomic dataLocation of facilitiesAmerican Community SurveyEnvironmental justice challengesEnvironmental justice dimensionsBlock groupJustice challengesWorkplace disparitiesCommunity SurveyIntensity categoriesPublic healthDisparitiesJustice dimensionsExposure disparitiesShape disparityImpactOur studyComplaintsCensusThemesDisruption to test scores after hurricanes in the United States
Meltzer G, Anderson G, Xie X, Casey J, Schwartz J, Bell M, Van Horne Y, Fox J, Kioumourtzoglou M, Parks R. Disruption to test scores after hurricanes in the United States. Environmental Research Health 2025, 3: 025003. PMID: 40034829, PMCID: PMC11874716, DOI: 10.1088/2752-5309/adb32b.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsReading/language artsTest scoresLong-term test scoresEducational attainmentSocioeconomically disadvantaged studentsStandardized test scoresMiddle school studentsHierarchical linear modelingBayesian hierarchical linear modelDisadvantaged studentsAcademic achievementMath scoresEducational performanceSchool yearSchool studentsTime-varying covariatesCollege-educated adultsGrade cohortsTropical cyclone exposureHurricane exposureVulnerable populationsUnited StatesStudentsHigher scoresDisaster preparednessGaps in U.S. livestock data are a barrier to effective environmental and disease management
Muenich R, Aryal S, Ashworth A, Bell M, Boudreau M, Cunningham S, Flynn K, Hamilton K, Liu T, Mashtare M, Nelson N, Rashid B, Saha A, Schaffer-Smith D, Showalter C, Tchamdja A, Thompson J. Gaps in U.S. livestock data are a barrier to effective environmental and disease management. Environmental Research Letters 2025, 20: 031001. PMID: 39944271, PMCID: PMC11811603, DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/adb050.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCoarse spatiotemporal scalesHuman health concernsSignificant data gapsGreenhouse gas emissionsLivestock dataPollution mitigationAir pollutionLocal scaleMonitoring disease outbreaksWaste emissionsZoonotic disease outbreaksNational scaleSpatiotemporal scalesData gapsGas emissionsLivestock operationsAquifer depletionDisease outbreaksLivestockPollutionRemote-sensingData availabilityResistance genesNational Agricultural Statistics ServiceFood systemsExtreme Heat and Hospitalization Among Older Persons With Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias
Delaney S, Stegmuller A, Mork D, Mock L, Bell M, Gill T, Braun D, Zanobetti A. Extreme Heat and Hospitalization Among Older Persons With Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias. JAMA Internal Medicine 2025, 185 PMID: 39899291, PMCID: PMC11791774, DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2024.7719.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCase-crossover designOdds ratioPopulation-based cohort studyMedicare fee-for-serviceBurden of Alzheimer's diseaseConditional logistic regressionFee-for-serviceOR point estimatesRisk of hospitalizationADRDOlder PersonsOlder adultsMain OutcomesPopulation subgroupsWhite beneficiariesDiagnosis codesCohort studyEffect estimatesHealth burdenLogistic regressionCounseling patientsCumulative ORAlzheimer's diseaseIncreased hospitalizationOutdoor heatHeterogeneous associations between short-term ambient ozone exposure and morbidities from infants to seniors: A nationwide case-crossover study in South Korea
Ahn S, Kang C, Oh J, Yun H, Ahn S, Kim A, Kwon D, Park J, Jang H, Kim E, Bell M, Kim H, Lee W. Heterogeneous associations between short-term ambient ozone exposure and morbidities from infants to seniors: A nationwide case-crossover study in South Korea. Journal Of Hazardous Materials Advances 2025, 17: 100531. DOI: 10.1016/j.hazadv.2024.100531.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsED admissionMental disordersWarm-season ozoneTargeted public health policiesCase-crossover designNational Health Insurance databaseCase-crossover studyMiddle-aged populationPublic health policiesIndividuals aged 0Health Insurance DatabaseED admission dataHealth policyExcess riskRespiratory diseaseAmbient ozoneAmbient ozone exposureShort-term ozoneEmergency departmentAdmission dataAdmission costsInsurance DatabaseAged 0Heterogeneous associationsAdult ageUrgency of Climate Change through the lens of COVID-19 Pandemic: the case of heat-related mortality
Batibeniz F, Seneviratne S, Jha S, Ribeiro A, Gutierrez L, Raible C, Armstrong B, Bell M, Lavigne E, Gasparrini A, Guo Y, Hashizume M, Masselot P, Pereira da Silva S, Royé D, Sera F, Tong S, Urban A, Vicedo-Cabrera A. Urgency of Climate Change through the lens of COVID-19 Pandemic: the case of heat-related mortality. 2025 DOI: 10.5194/egusphere-egu24-8234.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGlobal warming levelsClimate changeWarming levelsHeat-related mortalityIntegrate climate changeHeat-related deathsGlobal warmingLevels of global warmingAdaptation measuresClimateNorth American citiesLevels of COVID-19 mortalityCOVID-19 mortalityWarmingPublic health discourseUrgency of climate changeGlobal health concernHealth concernAmerican citiesCityRapid climate action is needed: comparing heat vs. COVID-19-related mortality
Batibeniz F, Seneviratne S, Jha S, Ribeiro A, Suarez Gutierrez L, Raible C, Malhotra A, Armstrong B, Bell M, Lavigne E, Gasparrini A, Guo Y, Hashizume M, Masselot P, da Silva S, Royé D, Sera F, Tong S, Urban A, Vicedo-Cabrera A. Rapid climate action is needed: comparing heat vs. COVID-19-related mortality. Scientific Reports 2025, 15: 1002. PMID: 39762298, PMCID: PMC11704295, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-82788-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and Concepts
2024
Temperature, violent crime, climate change, and vulnerability factors in 44 United States cities
Heo S, Choi H, Berman J, Bell M. Temperature, violent crime, climate change, and vulnerability factors in 44 United States cities. Environment International 2024, 195: 109246. PMID: 39742829, PMCID: PMC11786129, DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.109246.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsViolent crimeAssociated with violent crimeHigh crime ratesUnited States citiesClimate change strategiesCrime ratesCrimeHousing unitsStates citiesCity-levelUS statesViolenceUrban greenspaceCityClimate changeChange strategiesEnvironmental characteristicsComplex impactPsychological theoriesTemperature anomaliesVulnerability factorsProgram dataDaily temperature anomaliesHistorical temperature recordsGreenspacePM2.5 and hospitalizations through the emergency department in people with disabilities: a nationwide case-crossover study in South Korea
Park J, Kim A, Bell M, Al-Aly Z, Ahn S, Kim S, Kwon D, Kang C, Oh J, Kim H, Lee W. PM2.5 and hospitalizations through the emergency department in people with disabilities: a nationwide case-crossover study in South Korea. The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific 2024, 53: 101256. PMID: 39720665, PMCID: PMC11667189, DOI: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2024.101256.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsED admissionImpacts of PM<sub>2.5</sub>Emergency departmentRisk estimatesBrain lesion disordersClaim-based dataKorean National Health Insurance databaseNational Health Insurance databaseCase-crossover designCase-crossover studyHealth Insurance DatabaseTargeted action plansOdds ratioInsurance DatabaseMental disabilitiesDisabilityGenitourinary diseasesAdmission casesAdmissionIntellectual disabilityAction planHospitalPeopleDepartmentRisk
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
activity Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC)
Advisory BoardsMemberDetailsU.S. Environmental Protection AgencyThe Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) provides independent advice to the EPA Administrator on the technical bases for EPA's National Ambient Air Quality Standards.06/22/2021 - Presenthonor National Academy of Medicine
National AwardDetails12/01/2020United Statesactivity Landslides and mental health
ResearchDetails01/01/2018 - PresentJakarta, Indonesiaactivity Air pollution, temperature, and health
ResearchDetails01/01/2016 - PresentSeoul, South Koreaactivity Pollution - Heat-Related Mortality in Latin American Cities
ResearchDetails01/01/2008 - PresentSão Paulo, SP, Brazil; Santiago, Santiago Metropolitan Region, Chile; Mexico City, CDMX, MexicoAbstract/SynopsisProfessor Bell investigates how weather is associated with heat in Latin America, and in particular how heat-related mortality may differ by socio-economic status (SES). The project also examines the effects of air pollution on mortality, whether these relationships differ by SES, and looking at air pollution and weather together. The work is based on three cities: Santiago, Chile, Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Mexico City, Mexico.
News
News
- September 24, 2024
Long-term exposure to wildfire smoke associated with higher risk of death
- August 21, 2024
Wildfires: what you need to know to stay safe
- May 16, 2024
Yale Climate Experts Speak Out About Climate Change
- October 18, 2023Source: CT Public
Summer wildfires drove up asthma cases in NYC emergency rooms. What does that mean for CT?
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School of the Environment
195 Prospect Street
New Haven, CT 06511
United States