Jessica Levasseur
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About Jessica
Levasseur's research focuses on environmental health and exposure science, where she measures both how we are exposed to everyday chemicals and to which chemicals we are exposed to both at home and at work. Overarching themes in Levasseur's writings include public awareness of chemical exposures, advocacy for better testing of chemicals before introduction into the supply chain, and increased transparency of ingredient labels.
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Summarizes the intersection between structural racism and place as contributors to COVID-19 health disparities. Details how a place is intricately intertwined with the results of structural racism, focusing on one's access to health systems and services and physical environment, including the outdoor air and drinking water. Understands how place-based inequities and structural racism contributed to the COVID-19 racial disparities in incidence and mortality. Addresses how structurally racist place-based health inequities through anti-racist policy strategies is one way to move the United States toward achieving health equity.
Compares on-duty and off-duty exposures to better understand firefighter occupational exposures, both while responding to fires and while at the firehouse, helping us better understand why firefighter cancer diagnosis rates and cancer mortality are much higher than the general population. Uses silicone wristbands, measuring chemical exposures experienced by firefighters in Durham, NC. Finds even though silicone wristbands have not yet been investigated for their ability to measure combustion-related exposures these relatively new passive sampling devices may be instrumental in further characterizing firefighter occupational exposures.
Discusses the home environment is an important source of exposure to some environmental phenol chemicals (such as triclosan in house dust). Suggests that silicone wristbands are a good way to measure exposure to some phenols, such as triclosan, parabens, and BPA.
Measures at-home exposures to phthalates and plasticizers for approximately 200 children in Central NC. Finds these endocrine-disrupting chemicals were found in nearly all samples, implying that children's health may be at risk due to continual exposure to these chemicals.