Kai Chen, PhD
Assistant Professor of Epidemiology (Environmental Health); Director of Research, Climate Change and Health; Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health
Research & Publications
Biography
News
Locations
Research Summary
Climate change affects human health in many ways, including both direct impacts from changed extreme weather events and indirect impacts mediated through air pollution. Given the significant health burdens associated with extreme temperatures and air pollution, identifying and quantifying their individual and interactive health effects under a changing climate is of crucial importance for designing policies that maximize future health protection under climate change.
Dr. Chen’s research examines the health impacts of extreme temperature and ambient air pollution under a changing climate. He studies heat-related mortality and morbidity, the acute effects of air pollution on daily mortality and hospital admission, and the health impacts of climate change under different climate and population scenarios.
Coauthors
Public Health Interests
Environmental Health; Epidemiology Methods; Global Health; Climate Change; Infectious Diseases; Pollution; COVID-19
Selected Publications
- Associations between short-term exposure to PM2.5, NO2 and O3 pollution and kidney-related conditions and the role of temperature-adjustment specification: A case-crossover study in New York stateChu L, Chen K, Di Q, Crowley S, Dubrow R. Associations between short-term exposure to PM2.5, NO2 and O3 pollution and kidney-related conditions and the role of temperature-adjustment specification: A case-crossover study in New York state Environmental Pollution 2023, 328: 121629. PMID: 37054868, DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121629.
- Temperature variability and birthweight: epidemiological evidence from AfricaWang P, O'Donnell K, Warren J, Dubrow R, Chen K. Temperature variability and birthweight: epidemiological evidence from Africa Environment International 2023, 173: 107792. DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107792.
- Associations between short-term temperature exposure and kidney-related conditions in New York State: The influence of temperature metrics across four dimensionsChu L, Chen K, Crowley S, Dubrow R. Associations between short-term temperature exposure and kidney-related conditions in New York State: The influence of temperature metrics across four dimensions Environment International 2023, 173: 107783. PMID: 36841184, DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107783.
- High-resolution spatiotemporal modeling of daily near-surface air temperature in Germany over the period 2000–2020Nikolaou N, Dallavalle M, Stafoggia M, Bouwer L, Peters A, Chen K, Wolf K, Schneider A. High-resolution spatiotemporal modeling of daily near-surface air temperature in Germany over the period 2000–2020 Environmental Research 2022, 219: 115062. PMID: 36535393, DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.115062.
- Residential and Race/Ethnicity Disparities in Heat Vulnerability in the United StatesManware M, Dubrow R, Carrión D, Ma Y, Chen K. Residential and Race/Ethnicity Disparities in Heat Vulnerability in the United States GeoHealth 2022, 6: e2022gh000695. PMID: 36518814, PMCID: PMC9744626, DOI: 10.1029/2022gh000695.
- Future temperature-related mortality considering physiological and socioeconomic adaptation: a modelling frameworkRai M, Breitner S, Wolf K, Peters A, Schneider A, Chen K. Future temperature-related mortality considering physiological and socioeconomic adaptation: a modelling framework The Lancet Planetary Health 2022, 6: e784-e792. PMID: 36208641, DOI: 10.1016/s2542-5196(22)00195-4.
- Temperature Variability and Birthweight: Epidemiological Evidence from AfricaWang P, O'Donnell K, Dubrow R, Chen K. Temperature Variability and Birthweight: Epidemiological Evidence from Africa ISEE Conference Abstracts 2022, 2022 DOI: 10.1289/isee.2022.p-0584.
- Triggering of myocardial infarction by heat exposure is modified by medication intakeChen K, Dubrow R, Breitner S, Wolf K, Linseisen J, Schmitz T, Heier M, von Scheidt W, Kuch B, Meisinger C, Peters A, Schneider A. Triggering of myocardial infarction by heat exposure is modified by medication intake Nature Cardiovascular Research 2022, 1: 727-731. DOI: 10.1038/s44161-022-00102-z.
- Associations between long-term drought and diarrhea among children under five in low- and middle-income countriesWang P, Asare E, Pitzer VE, Dubrow R, Chen K. Associations between long-term drought and diarrhea among children under five in low- and middle-income countries Nature Communications 2022, 13: 3661. PMID: 35773263, PMCID: PMC9247069, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31291-7.
- Climate change and health in Kuwait: temperature and mortality projections under different climatic scenariosAlahmad B, Vicedo-Cabrera A, Chen K, Garshick E, Bernstein A, Schwartz J, Koutrakis P. Climate change and health in Kuwait: temperature and mortality projections under different climatic scenarios Environmental Research Letters 2022, 17: 074001. DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/ac7601.
- Short-term exposure to air pollution and mental disorders: a case-crossover study in New York CityYoo E, Roberts J, Eum Y, Li X, Chu L, Wang P, Chen K. Short-term exposure to air pollution and mental disorders: a case-crossover study in New York City Environmental Research Health 2022 DOI: 10.1088/2752-5309/ac6439.
- Health Burden and economic impacts attributed to PM2.5 and O3 in china from 2010 to 2050 under different representative concentration pathway scenariosWang Y, Hu J, Zhu J, Li J, Qin M, Liao H, Chen K, Wang M. Health Burden and economic impacts attributed to PM2.5 and O3 in china from 2010 to 2050 under different representative concentration pathway scenarios Resources Conservation And Recycling 2021, 173: 105731. DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2021.105731.
- Associations Between Drought and Childhood Diarrhea in Low- and Middle-Income CountriesWang P, Asare E, Pitzer V, Dubrow R, Chen K. Associations Between Drought and Childhood Diarrhea in Low- and Middle-Income Countries ISEE Conference Abstracts 2021, 2021 DOI: 10.1289/isee.2021.o-lt-029.
- Predicting spatiotemporally-resolved air temperature over Sweden from satellite data using an ensemble modelJin Z, Ma Y, Chu L, Liu Y, Dubrow R, Chen K. Predicting spatiotemporally-resolved air temperature over Sweden from satellite data using an ensemble model ISEE Conference Abstracts 2021, 2021 DOI: 10.1289/isee.2021.o-to-189.
- Short-term associations between ground-level ozone exposure and urinary system disease hospital admissions through the emergency room in Beijing, ChinaChu L, Du H, Li T, Dubrow R, Chen K. Short-term associations between ground-level ozone exposure and urinary system disease hospital admissions through the emergency room in Beijing, China ISEE Conference Abstracts 2021, 2021 DOI: 10.1289/isee.2021.p-120.
- Role of meteorological factors in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in the United StatesMa Y, Pei S, Shaman J, Dubrow R, Chen K. Role of meteorological factors in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in the United States ISEE Conference Abstracts 2021, 2021 DOI: 10.1289/isee.2021.p-599.
- Associations between short-term ambient ozone exposure and cause-specific mortality in the rural and urban areas of Jiangsu, ChinaLin C, Ma Y, Liu R, Ma Z, Zhou L, Jing Y, Bell M, Chen K. Associations between short-term ambient ozone exposure and cause-specific mortality in the rural and urban areas of Jiangsu, China ISEE Conference Abstracts 2021, 2021 DOI: 10.1289/isee.2021.p-121.
- Role of meteorological factors in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in the United StatesMa Y, Pei S, Shaman J, Dubrow R, Chen K. Role of meteorological factors in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in the United States Nature Communications 2021, 12: 3602. PMID: 34127665, PMCID: PMC8203661, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23866-7.
- Association between extreme temperatures and emergency room visits related to mental disorders: A multi-region time-series study in New York, USAYoo EH, Eum Y, Roberts JE, Gao Q, Chen K. Association between extreme temperatures and emergency room visits related to mental disorders: A multi-region time-series study in New York, USA The Science Of The Total Environment 2021, 792: 148246. PMID: 34144243, DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148246.
- Ambient carbon monoxide and daily mortality: a global time-series study in 337 citiesChen K, Breitner S, Wolf K, Stafoggia M, Sera F, Vicedo-Cabrera AM, Guo Y, Tong S, Lavigne E, Matus P, Valdés N, Kan H, Jaakkola JJK, Ryti NRI, Huber V, Scortichini M, Hashizume M, Honda Y, Nunes B, Madureira J, Holobâcă IH, Fratianni S, Kim H, Lee W, Tobias A, Íñiguez C, Forsberg B, Åström C, Ragettli MS, Guo YL, Chen BY, Li S, Milojevic A, Zanobetti A, Schwartz J, Bell ML, Gasparrini A, Schneider A. Ambient carbon monoxide and daily mortality: a global time-series study in 337 cities The Lancet Planetary Health 2021, 5: e191-e199. PMID: 33838734, DOI: 10.1016/s2542-5196(21)00026-7.
- Was it better or worse? Simulating the environmental and health impacts of emissions trading scheme in Hubei province, ChinaCao L, Tang Y, Cai B, Wu P, Zhang Y, Zhang F, Xin B, Lv C, Chen K, Fang K. Was it better or worse? Simulating the environmental and health impacts of emissions trading scheme in Hubei province, China Energy 2021, 217: 119427. DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2020.119427.
- Impact of population aging on future temperature-related mortality under climate change: A multi-country multi-city studyChen K, Sera F, Gasparrini A, Vicedo-Cabrera A. Impact of population aging on future temperature-related mortality under climate change: A multi-country multi-city study ISEE Conference Abstracts 2020, 2020 DOI: 10.1289/isee.2020.virtual.p-0398.
- Projection of temperature-related total and cardiovascular mortality under different climate and population scenarios by the end of the 21st century in Bavaria, GermanyRai M, Breitner S, Wolf K, Peters A, Schneider A, Chen K. Projection of temperature-related total and cardiovascular mortality under different climate and population scenarios by the end of the 21st century in Bavaria, Germany ISEE Conference Abstracts 2020, 2020 DOI: 10.1289/isee.2020.virtual.p-0406.
- Ambient Carbon Monoxide and Daily Mortality: A Global Time-Series Study in 337 citiesChen K, Breitner S, Wolf K, Stafoggia M, Sera F, Vicedo-Cabrera A, Gasparrini A, Schneider A. Ambient Carbon Monoxide and Daily Mortality: A Global Time-Series Study in 337 cities ISEE Conference Abstracts 2020, 2020 DOI: 10.1289/isee.2020.virtual.p-0972.
- Air pollution reduction and mortality benefit during the COVID-19 outbreak in ChinaChen K, Wang M, Huang C, Kinney PL, Anastas PT. Air pollution reduction and mortality benefit during the COVID-19 outbreak in China The Lancet Planetary Health 2020, 4: e210-e212. PMID: 32411944, PMCID: PMC7220178, DOI: 10.1016/s2542-5196(20)30107-8.
- Hourly Exposure to Ultrafine Particle Metrics and the Onset of Myocardial Infarction in Augsburg, GermanyChen K, Schneider A, Cyrys J, Wolf K, Meisinger C, Heier M, von Scheidt W, Kuch B, Pitz M, Peters A, Breitner S, Group F. Hourly Exposure to Ultrafine Particle Metrics and the Onset of Myocardial Infarction in Augsburg, Germany Environmental Health Perspectives 2020, 128: 017003. PMID: 31939685, PMCID: PMC7015564, DOI: 10.1289/ehp5478.
- Impact of climate and population change on temperature-related mortality burden in Bavaria, GermanyRai M, Breitner S, Wolf K, Peters A, Schneider A, Chen K. Impact of climate and population change on temperature-related mortality burden in Bavaria, Germany Environmental Research Letters 2019, 14: 124080. DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/ab5ca6.
- Hourly Exposure to Ultrafine Particle Metrics and the Onset of Myocardial Infarction in Augsburg, GermanyK C, A S, J C, C M, M H, W V, B K, A P, S B. Hourly Exposure to Ultrafine Particle Metrics and the Onset of Myocardial Infarction in Augsburg, Germany Environmental Epidemiology 2019, 3: 310-311. DOI: 10.1097/01.ee9.0000609384.97685.0a.
- Temporal variations in the triggering of myocardial infarction by air temperature in Augsburg, Germany, 1987-2014.Chen K, Breitner S, Wolf K, Hampel R, Meisinger C, Heier M, von Scheidt W, Kuch B, Peters A, Schneider A, Peters A, Schulz H, Schwettmann L, Leidl R, Heier M, Strauch K. Temporal variations in the triggering of myocardial infarction by air temperature in Augsburg, Germany, 1987-2014. European Heart Journal 2019, 40: 1600-1608. PMID: 30859207, DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehz116.
- Future ozone-related acute excess mortality under climate and population change scenarios in China: A modeling studyChen K, Fiore AM, Chen R, Jiang L, Jones B, Schneider A, Peters A, Bi J, Kan H, Kinney PL. Future ozone-related acute excess mortality under climate and population change scenarios in China: A modeling study PLOS Medicine 2018, 15: e1002598. PMID: 29969446, PMCID: PMC6029756, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002598.
- Two-way effect modifications of air pollution and air temperature on total natural and cardiovascular mortality in eight European urban areasChen K, Wolf K, Breitner S, Gasparrini A, Stafoggia M, Samoli E, Andersen ZJ, Bero-Bedada G, Bellander T, Hennig F, Jacquemin B, Pekkanen J, Hampel R, Cyrys J, Peters A, Schneider A, Group U. Two-way effect modifications of air pollution and air temperature on total natural and cardiovascular mortality in eight European urban areas Environment International 2018, 116: 186-196. PMID: 29689465, DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.04.021.
- Does temperature-confounding control influence the modifying effect of air temperature in ozone–mortality associations?Chen K, Wolf K, Hampel R, Stafoggia M, Breitner S, Cyrys J, Samoli E, Andersen Z, Bero-Bedada G, Bellander T, Hennig F, Jacquemin B, Pekkanen J, Peters A, Schneider A. Does temperature-confounding control influence the modifying effect of air temperature in ozone–mortality associations? Environmental Epidemiology 2018, 2: e008. DOI: 10.1097/ee9.0000000000000008.
- Impact of climate change on heat-related mortality in Jiangsu Province, ChinaChen K, Horton RM, Bader DA, Lesk C, Jiang L, Jones B, Zhou L, Chen X, Bi J, Kinney PL. Impact of climate change on heat-related mortality in Jiangsu Province, China Environmental Pollution 2017, 224: 317-325. PMID: 28237309, PMCID: PMC5387110, DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.02.011.
- Urbanization Level and Vulnerability to Heat-Related Mortality in Jiangsu Province, ChinaChen K, Zhou L, Chen X, Ma Z, Liu Y, Huang L, Bi J, Kinney PL. Urbanization Level and Vulnerability to Heat-Related Mortality in Jiangsu Province, China Environmental Health Perspectives 2016, 124: 1863-1869. PMID: 27152420, PMCID: PMC5132638, DOI: 10.1289/ehp204.
- Heavy metals in soils and road dusts in the mining areas of Western Suzhou, China: a preliminary identification of contaminated sitesMa Z, Chen K, Li Z, Bi J, Huang L. Heavy metals in soils and road dusts in the mining areas of Western Suzhou, China: a preliminary identification of contaminated sites Journal Of Soils And Sediments 2015, 16: 204-214. DOI: 10.1007/s11368-015-1208-1.
- Influence of heat wave definitions to the added effect of heat waves on daily mortality in Nanjing, ChinaChen K, Bi J, Chen J, Chen X, Huang L, Zhou L. Influence of heat wave definitions to the added effect of heat waves on daily mortality in Nanjing, China The Science Of The Total Environment 2014, 506: 18-25. PMID: 25460935, DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.10.092.
- The comparison analysis of Chinese public perception of earthquakes on different time scalesHuang L, Bao W, Chen K, Bi J. The comparison analysis of Chinese public perception of earthquakes on different time scales Natural Hazards 2014, 73: 613-625. DOI: 10.1007/s11069-014-1095-6.
- Influence of temperature to the short-term effects of various ozone metrics on daily mortality in Suzhou, ChinaChen K, Yang H, Wei Z, Bi J, Huang L. Influence of temperature to the short-term effects of various ozone metrics on daily mortality in Suzhou, China Atmospheric Environment 2013, 79: 119-128. DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2013.06.004.