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

Region 9 WSPEHSU Associate Director, UCSF

Childhood Cancer & the Enviroment Program Support

Ariel Eastburn McCormick, MA

Program Coordinator, UCSF

Marya Zlatnik, MD

Reproductive Environmental Health Specialist

Sonja Swenson, MD

Pediatric Specialist, UCSF

What is Green Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting?

Understand what is green cleaning and learn how it protects health and the environment with safer products and practices.

Region 9
Cleaning and Sanitizing| Healthy Schools

Tips for Green Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting in Early Care and Education

Explore essential tips for green cleaning at school. Make your cleaning routine eco-friendly and effective for healthy environments.

Region 9
Cleaning and Sanitizing| Healthy Schools

What is Integrated Pest Management?

This document introduces the concept of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and explains its importance for sustainable pest control.

Region 9
Healthy Homes| Healthy Schools| Pesticides & Pests

The Healthy Schools Act (California)

Learn about the requirements and recommendations under the Healthy Schools Act (California) to ensure a safer environment for children.

Region 9
Cleaning and Sanitizing| Healthy Homes| Healthy Schools| Pesticides & Pests

Steps to a Pest-Free Indoor Environment

This poster emphasizes strategies for keeping outdoor spaces pest-free using integrated pest management techniques.

Region 9
Healthy Homes| Healthy Schools| Pesticides & Pests

Pests- What You Need to Know

This factsheet provides essential information on pest management, emphasizing safe and effective practices.

Region 9
Healthy Homes| Healthy Schools| Pesticides & Pests

Integrated Pest Management Resources

Emphasizing integrate pest management (IPM), this document compiles key resources for understanding and addressing environmental health risks assoc…

Region 9
Healthy Homes| Healthy Schools| Pesticides & Pests

Introduction to Integrated Pest Management

This document serves as an introduction to environmental health concepts, focusing on understanding and mitigating health risks with preventative s…

Region 9
Healthy Homes| Healthy Schools| Pesticides & Pests

Integrated Pest Management: Yellow Jackets

This factsheet provides strategies for managing yellowjacket infestations safely and effectively using integrated pest management principles.

Region 9
Healthy Homes| Healthy Schools| Pesticides & Pests

Integrated Pest Management: Mosquitoes

This document details safe and effective mosquito control methods that align with integrated pest management principles.

Region 9
Healthy Homes| Healthy Schools| Pesticides & Pests

Integrated Pest Management: Mold

This factsheet provides strategies for identifying and managing mold issues in indoor environments as part of an integrated pest management approach.

Region 9
Healthy Homes| Healthy Schools| Mold| Pesticides & Pests

Integrated Pest Management: Ants (for Schools)

This document provides strategies for early care and education programs to manage ant infestations safely, emphasizing prevention, sanitation, and …

Region 9
Healthy Homes| Healthy Schools| Pesticides & Pests

Integrated Pest Management: Ants (for Families)

This factsheet provides tips on effectively managing ant infestations using safe, integrated pest management practices.

Region 9
Healthy Homes| Healthy Schools| Pesticides & Pests

Integrated Pest Management Presentation

This serves as a comprehensive toolkit for early care and education programs, detailing strategies to prevent and manage pest problems through a co…

Region 9
Healthy Homes| Healthy Schools| Pesticides & Pests

How to Read a Pesticide Label

This poster provides step-by-step guidance on understanding pesticide labels to ensure safe and effective use.

Region 9
Healthy Homes| Healthy Schools| Pesticides & Pests

How to Hire a Pest Management Professional Who Does IPM

This factsheet provides guidelines for selecting pest management professionals that prioritize safety and effective pest control methods such as in…

Region 9
Healthy Homes| Healthy Schools| Pesticides & Pests

How to Choose a Safer Pesticide to Manage Pests

This poster highlights how to select safer pesticide options as part of an integrated pest management plan.

Region 9
Healthy Homes| Healthy Schools| Pesticides & Pests

Integrated Pest Management: A Toolkit for Early Care and Education

What is Integrated Pest Management? Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, is a strategy to prevent and treat pest problems using a combination of pre…

Region 9
Healthy Schools| Pesticides & Pests

A Story of Health—Asthma: Brett’s Story

Explore the life of Brett, a nine-year-old who lives in Southern California and is coping with asthma. A Story of Health: Asthma is one module in T…

Region 9
Air Quality

A Story of Health—Health Effects of Wildfires: Sofia’s Story

Follow Sofia and her family as they learn how to protect themselves from the immediate and longer term health dangers of a wildfire, with a focus o…

Region 9
Wildfires

When’s the Best Time to Start Protecting Your Child’s Health? 

Future parents: If you are considering or planning a pregnancy—start protecting your baby’s health NOW. Even before pregnancy begins, your he…

National PEHSURegion 9
Childhood Cancer| Reproductive Health

Flame Retardants Including Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs)

This factsheet examines the use of PBDEs as flame retardants, their potential health impacts, and tips to reduce exposure in homes and workplaces.

National PEHSURegion 9
Healthy Homes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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| PFAS| Water Quality

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

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

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

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

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| Water Quality

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wildfire Smoke Action Plan for Children with Asthma: Caregiver Toolkit

Region 10Region 9
Air Quality| Wildfires

Healthier Cleaning Supplies and Practices to Protect Children’s Health

Explore healthier cleaning supplies and practices to protect children’s health and ensure safer environments at home and school.

Region 9
Cleaning and Sanitizing| Healthy Schools

Breaking the Chain of Infection to Protect Children’s Health

Learn effective strategies for breaking the chain of infection in schools and communities with proper cleaning practices.

Region 9
Cleaning and Sanitizing| Healthy Schools

Healthier Cleaning Product Selection to Protect Children’s Health

Explore the healthier cleaning product selection that promotes a safer environment for families and communities.

Region 9
Cleaning and Sanitizing| Healthy Schools

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

Explore how healthier indoor air contributes to children’s health and well-being in schools and homes.

Region 9
Air Quality| Cleaning and Sanitizing| Healthy Schools

How to Read a Cleaning/Disinfecting Product Label

Learn how to read a cleaning product label to ensure safe use in your home and community. Get informed and stay healthy.

Region 9
Cleaning and Sanitizing| Healthy Schools

What’s the Problem With Bleach?

Understand the potential problem with bleach in schools and homes. Learn safe cleaning practices for healthy environments.

Region 9
Cleaning and Sanitizing| Healthy Schools

What’s So Great About Microfiber?

Discover what’s so great about microfiber for cleaning. Learn how it can help maintain healthy homes and schools.

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

A green cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting program in ECE reduces germs, allergens, toxic chemicals and pests.

Region 9
Cleaning and Sanitizing| Healthy Schools

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

Get your green cleaning checklist ready to promote healthy homes and schools with eco-friendly cleaning practices.

Region 9
Cleaning and Sanitizing| Healthy Schools

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

This Green Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting Toolkit will help you make changes in your early care and education (ECE) program so you can bett…

Region 9
Cleaning and Sanitizing| Healthy Schools
kids washing hands

Hand Washing (Early Childcare)

Region 9
Cleaning and Sanitizing| Healthy Schools

Hazard Communication in Early Childcare Education

Region 9
Cleaning and Sanitizing| Healthy Schools

Breaking the Chain of Infection in Early Care and Education

Explore strategies to prevent infection early in child care settings for healthier families and communities.

Region 9
Cleaning and Sanitizing| Healthy Schools

Green Cleaning, Sanitizing and Disinfection: Presentation for Schools

Learn why it is important for schools to use green cleaning methods and protect children’s health.

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| Reproductive Health
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
Natural Disasters

Natural Disasters

Region 9
Extreme Weather
Unique Vulnerabilities During Pregnancy handout

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

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

Radon

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

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

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