PEHSU Region 9

Service area: Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, the Pacific Islands, and Tribal Nations 

The Region 9 PEHSU (Western States) was founded in 2015, when the University of California, San Francisco PEHSU and the University of California, Irvine PEHSU merged. Our PEHSU is based out of San Francisco at University of California San Francisco, and serves Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, the Pacific Islands, and Tribal Nations. It is one of ten units that make up a national network of PEHSUs.   

Academic Affiliation: University of California at San Francisco 

Hospital Affiliation: University of California San Francisco Medical Center 

Based in San Francisco, California.
PEHSU Region 9

Specialties & comprehensive services

The Region 9 PEHSU provides expert clinical and public health evaluations of pregnant people, children and communities with suspected environmental health problems or concerns. Our team includes Pediatricians, Pediatric Clinical Toxicologists, Occupational & Environmental Medicine Physicians, Nurses and Industrial Hygienists and Public Health experts. Read more about our work here.  

Faculty & staff

Mark Miller, MD, MPH

Region 9 WSPEHSU Director Emeritus, UCSF

Childhood Cancer & the Environment Program Lead

Vickie Leonard, RN, FNP, PhD

Vickie Leonard, RN, FNP, PhD

UCSF, Childhood Cancer & the Environment Champion

Timur S. Durrani, MD, MPH, MBA

Timur S. Durrani, MD, MPH, MBA

Director

Gina Solomon, MD, MPH

Gina Solomon, MD, MPH

Principal Investigator

James Earl Schier Nolan, MPH

James Earl Schier Nolan, MPH

Associate Director

Ariel Eastburn McCormick, MA

Program Coordinator, UCSF

Marya Zlatnik, MD

Reproductive Environmental Health Specialist

featured image

Stephen Petrou, MD

PEHSU Region 9 Hawai’i Consultant

Sonja Swenson, MD

Pediatric Specialist, UCSF

Prescription for Prevention: Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

This factsheet highlights the sources of VOCs, their health effects, and strategies to improve indoor air quality by reducing VOC exposure.

National PEHSURegion 9
Healthy Homes| Healthy Schools

Prescription for Prevention: The Unique Vulnerability of Children

This document explores why children are more susceptible to environmental hazards due to their developing systems and behaviors, offering guideline…

National PEHSURegion 9
Healthy Homes| Healthy Schools

Prescription for Prevention: The Built Environment

This resource explores how urban planning and the built environment impact health, emphasizing the importance of access to green spaces, clean air,…

National PEHSURegion 9
Healthy Homes| Healthy Schools

Prescription for Prevention: Soil

This document addresses health risks from contaminated soil, especially for children and gardeners, and offers tips for safe gardening practices.

National PEHSURegion 9
Food Safety| Healthy Homes| Healthy Schools

Prescription for Prevention: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins, and furans

This document covers the history, health risks, and current issues related to PCBs, advising on strategies to avoid exposure.

National PEHSURegion 9
Healthy Homes| Healthy Schools

Prescription for Prevention: Pthalates

This factsheet outlines the sources and health risks of phthalates, commonly found in plastics and personal care products, and provides recommendat…

National PEHSURegion 9
Healthy Homes| Healthy Schools

Prescription for Prevention: PFAS

This document highlights the widespread use of PFAS chemicals, their persistence in the environment, and health concerns, with advice on minimizing…

National PEHSURegion 9
Healthy Homes| Healthy Schools| Water Quality

Prescription for Prevention: Pesticides

This factsheet discusses the health risks of pesticide exposure, particularly for children, and offers tips for reducing exposure in homes, gardens…

National PEHSURegion 9
Healthy Homes

Prescription for Prevention: Particles and Nitrogen Oxides Environmental Exposure

This factsheet discusses the dangers of particulate matter in air pollution, its effects on respiratory and cardiovascular health, and ways to miti…

National PEHSURegion 9
Air Quality

Prescription for Prevention: PAHs Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons

This document details the sources and health effects of PAHs, chemicals released during combustion, and suggests measures to limit contact.

National PEHSURegion 9
Healthy Homes| Healthy Schools

Prescription for Prevention: Outdoor Air Pollution

This factsheet focuses on pollutants affecting outdoor air quality, their health impacts, and actions individuals and communities can take to reduc…

National PEHSURegion 9
Air Quality

Prescription for Prevention: Nitrates in Food and Water

This document outlines the risks of nitrate contamination in food and water, especially for infants, and provides steps for testing and reducing ex…

National PEHSURegion 9
Healthy Homes| Healthy Schools

Prescription for Prevention: Mold

This document discusses the health impacts of mold exposure in homes and provides tips for identifying, removing, and preventing mold growth.

National PEHSURegion 9
Healthy Homes| Healthy Schools| Mold

Prescription for Prevention: Mercury

Mercury can be found in seafood and some consumer products, and can escape into the air easily from broken products containing mercury. Although it…

National PEHSURegion 9
Healthy Homes| Healthy Schools

Prescription for Prevention: Lead

This document provides comprehensive information on the sources of lead exposure, its health effects, and strategies for prevention, emphasizing th…

National PEHSURegion 9
Healthy Homes| Healthy Schools| Lead

Prescription for Prevention: Indoor Air Pollution

Particles and Nitrogen Oxides Environmental Exposure: This factsheet discusses the health impacts of particulate matter and nitrogen oxides from co…

National PEHSURegion 9
Air Quality| Healthy Homes| Healthy Schools
kids washing hands

Metals: Lead, Arsenic and Mercury

Dr. Durrani presents to UCLA Pediatric Residents on case studies of treating patients with toxic metals exposure, primarily lead. Learning Objectiv…

Region 9
Heavy Metals| Lead

Prescription for Prevention: Human Milk

This factsheet explores the benefits and potential contaminants in milk, offering recommendations for safer consumption to protect both infant and …

National PEHSURegion 9
Food Safety| Healthy Homes

Prescription for Prevention: Food

Proper nutrition is an important part of child development. You can decrease the amount of harmful chemicals that children are exposed toin food by…

National PEHSURegion 9
Food Safety| Healthy Homes| Healthy Schools

Prescription for Prevention: Extreme Weather

This resource explains the main routes of environmental exposure—ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact—and provides strategies to minimize risk…

National PEHSURegion 9
Extreme Weather

Prescription for Prevention: Exposure Routes

This resource explains the main routes of environmental exposure—ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact—and provides strategies to minimize risk…

National PEHSURegion 9
Healthy Homes| Healthy Schools

Prescription for Prevention: Dust

This factsheet addresses the health risks associated with household dust, which can contain harmful contaminants, and recommends cleaning practices…

National PEHSURegion 9
Healthy Homes| Healthy Schools

Prescription for Prevention: Consumer Products

This document discusses potential chemical hazards in everyday consumer products, advising the use of safer alternatives and providing resources to…

National PEHSURegion 9
Healthy Homes| Healthy Schools

Prescription for Prevention: Chemical Exposure

This document provides an overview of health risks from chemical exposures in everyday environments, with a focus on prevention strategies and safe…

National PEHSURegion 9
Healthy Homes| Healthy Schools

Prescription for Prevention: BPA

This factsheet focuses on Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical used in plastics and resins. It discusses sources of BPA exposure, associated health concer…

National PEHSURegion 9
Food Safety| Healthy Homes| Healthy Schools

Prescription for Prevention: Arsenic

This document addresses arsenic exposure, its sources (such as contaminated water and certain foods), health effects, and preventive strategies to …

National PEHSURegion 9
Food Safety| Healthy Homes| Water Quality

Prescription for Prevention: Plastics

Our modern world uses a lot of plastic and most of it does not get recycled. Instead, it pollutes our environment and water. Children are exposed t…

National PEHSURegion 9
Healthy Homes| Healthy Schools| Microplastics

Prescription for Prevention: Baby Food

This document examines the presence of heavy metals in baby food, their potential health impacts on infants, and recommendations for parents to red…

National PEHSURegion 9
Food Safety| Healthy Homes

Prescription for Prevention: Water

Drinking water can sometimes be contaminated with many different toxic chemicals including radon, lead, nitrates, gasoline, pesticides, and PFAS. O…

National PEHSURegion 9
Healthy Homes| Water Quality

Prescription for Prevention: Asbestos

This factsheet outlines the hazards of asbestos exposure, commonly found in older building materials. It details health risks like lung diseases an…

National PEHSURegion 9
Healthy Homes

Pediatric Environmental Health Radio Episode 3: Protecting Children from the Health Effects of Wildfires

From the PEHSU National Program Office, Pediatric Environmental Health Radio highlights stories, best practices and community impacts shared by ped…

National PEHSURegion 9
Wildfires

Plan de Acción Ante el Humo de los Incendios Forestales: Kit de Herramientas para Cuidadores

Region 10Region 9
Air Quality| Wildfires

Wildfire Smoke Action Plan for Children with Asthma: Caregiver Toolkit

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Air Quality| Wildfires

Boletín informativo sobre el humo de incendios la salud de los niños

Region 9
Air Quality| Wildfires

Mascarillas para proteger a los niños y mujeres embarazadas contra el humo de incendio forestal

Region 9
Air Quality| Reproductive Health| Wildfires

Infografía sobre el humo de incendio forestal

Region 9
Air Quality| Wildfires

El Plomo

Region 9
Lead

Healthier Cleaning Supplies and Practices to Protect Children’s Health

Region 9
Cleaning and Sanitizing| Healthy Schools

Breaking the Chain of Infection to Protect Children’s Health

Region 9
Cleaning and Sanitizing| Healthy Schools

Healthier Cleaning Product Selection to Protect Children’s Health

Region 9
Cleaning and Sanitizing| Healthy Schools

Healthier Indoor Air, Ventilation and Filtration to Improve Children’s Health

Region 9
Air Quality| Healthy Schools

How to Read a Cleaning/Disinfecting Product Label

Region 9
Cleaning and Sanitizing| Healthy Schools

What’s the Problem With Bleach?

Region 9
Cleaning and Sanitizing| Healthy Schools

What’s So Great About Microfiber?

Region 9
Cleaning and Sanitizing| Healthy Schools
kid reading a book

Ten Reasons to Have a Green Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting Program in Your ECE Facility

Region 9
Cleaning and Sanitizing| Healthy Schools

Green Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting: A Checklist for Early Care and Education

Region 9
Cleaning and Sanitizing| Healthy Schools

Green Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting: A Curriculum for Early Care and Education (Second Edition)

Region 9
Cleaning and Sanitizing| Healthy Schools
kids washing hands

Hand Washing (Early Childcare)

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Cleaning and Sanitizing| Healthy Schools

Hazard Communication in Early Childcare Education

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Cleaning and Sanitizing| Healthy Schools

Breaking the Chain of Infection in Early Care and Education

Region 9
Cleaning and Sanitizing| Healthy Schools

Green Cleaning, Sanitizing and Disinfection: A Toolkit for Early Care and Education

Region 9
Cleaning and Sanitizing| Healthy Schools

Protecting Children from Wildfire Smoke in the Pacific Southwest

Region 9
Wildfires

Summer 2022 Lecture on Wildfire Smoke and Children’s Health by Stephanie Holm, MD, MPH

The WSPEHSU continues to lead efforts in bringing awareness to wildfires and their continued impact on health. Hosted by the Right Care Initiative….

Region 9
Wildfires

Heat Stress and Health

National PEHSURegion 9
Extreme Weather

Keep Kids Healthy by Preparing for a Natural Disaster

Region 9
Extreme Weather

Extreme Weather & Pregnancy

Region 9
Extreme Weather
Safer pest control methods for head lice

Safer pest control methods for head lice

Safer pest control methods for head lice

Region 9
Pesticides & Pests
Green Cleaning, Sanitizing and Disinfecting: A Toolkit for Early Care and Education 

Green Cleaning, Sanitizing and Disinfecting: A Toolkit for Early Care and Education 

The Green Cleaning, Sanitizing and Disinfecting Toolkit presents practical information on how to keep early care and education (ECE) environments c…

Region 9
Cleaning and Sanitizing
Natural Disasters

Prescription for Prevention: Natural Disasters

Region 9
Extreme Weather
Unique Vulnerabilities During Pregnancy handout

Prescription for Prevention: Unique Vulnerabilities During Pregnancy

Region 9
Reproductive Health
Wildfire burns over a hillside

Free Continuing Medical Education on Wildfires

In 2021 the Western States PEHSU released the newest A Story of Health multimedia eBook chapter “Sofia’s story: Health Effects of Wildf…

Region 9
Air Quality| Wildfires
Lead factsheet (Rx for Prevention)

Lead factsheet (Rx for Prevention)

Lead-contaminated paint dust is the most common source of childhood lead exposure. There is no safe level of lead in our bodies. Lead can affect yo…

Region 9
Lead
Basement

Prescription for Prevention: Radon

Region 9
Air Quality| Testing for Environmental Exposures
Cigarette with smoke

Prescription for Prevention: Second Hand Smoke and E-Cigarettes

Region 9
Air Quality
Gas exhaust from car

Carbon Monoxide

Region 9
Testing for Environmental Exposures
School kids outside

Protecting Kids from Wildfire Smoke: Actions for CA Schools

Region 9
Extreme Weather| Wildfires
bowl of kale

Health Effects of Heavy Metals in Food

Healthy food is important for a long, healthy life! But some foods contain toxic chemicals which can impact children’s brain development and health…

Region 9
Food Safety| Heavy Metals

Keep it Outside: Mold and Human Health

Improving indoor air quality is good for the health of you and your children, especially for children with asthma. Because children spend many hour…

Region 9
Air Quality| Healthy Homes
Line of plastic water bottles

Children’s Health and the Impacts of Plastic

This video is part of the Prescriptions for Prevention Series. It covers ways to protect children and pregnant women from toxic chemicals in plastics.

Region 9
Microplastics| Reproductive Health

Aire Más Limpio al Cocinar

Este video detalla cómo la cocina afecta la calidad del aire interior y ofrece métodos de ventilación para reducir la contaminación y proteger la s…

Region 9
Air Quality| Healthy Homes

Clean Air While You Cook

Improving indoor air quality is good for the health of you and your children, especially for children with asthma. Because children spend many hour…

Region 9
Air Quality| Healthy Homes

Dr. Stephanie Holm: Wildfire smoke and children’s health

Region 9
Wildfires