Yuan Yao

Yuan Yao

Post-doctoral Scholar at UCLA Fielding School of Public Health

Publications

You can also find my articles on my Google Scholar profile.

Selected Articles

Indoor and outdoor volatile organic compound levels during and after the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires

Published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters, 2026

This study examined indoor and outdoor volatile organic compound (VOC) concentrations during and after the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, finding elevated indoor VOC levels in fire-affected homes even after outdoor fires were contained.

Recommended citation: Yao, Y., Garcia-Gonzales, D., Li, J., Niu, M., Nie, Q., Jerrett, M., & Zhu, Y. (2026). Indoor and Outdoor Volatile Organic Compound Levels during and after the 2025 Los Angeles Wildfires. Environmental Science & Technology Letters, 13, 70–75.
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Fine particulate matter emissions from electric vehicle fast charging stations

Published in Environment International, 2025

This work reveals fine particulate matter emissions from EV fast-charging power cabinets, with concentrations exceeding WHO guidelines. By identifying particle resuspension as a potential mechanism, the study advances understanding of non-exhaust pollution sources in electrification infrastructure and highlights critical implications for exposure assessment and environmental health research.

Recommended citation: Yao, Y., Niu, M., Chen, H., Yu, Q., Wu, Q., Li, Y., Zhang, Y., Ozcan, A., Jerrett, M., & Zhu, Y. (2025). Fine particulate matter emissions from electric vehicle fast charging stations. Environment International, 201, 109581.
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Equitable energy transitions for a healthy future: Combating air pollution and climate change

Published in British Medical Journal (The BMJ), 2025

This paper advances the field by framing energy transitions as both climate and health interventions, linking exposure science, equity, and policy. It provides a novel, interdisciplinary lens to quantify co-benefits and guide equitable strategies for sustainable development.

Recommended citation: Yao, Y., Jerrett, M., Zhu, T., Kelly, F., & Zhu, Y. (2025). Equitable energy transitions for a healthy future: Combating air pollution and climate change. British Medical Journal (The BMJ), 388, e084352.
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Fine and ultrafine particle concentrations in a cannabis consumption lounge

Published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters, 2025

This study provides the first detailed assessment of fine and ultrafine particle concentrations in a cannabis consumption lounge. Findings highlight significant secondhand exposure risks, advancing indoor air pollution research and filling a key gap in understanding cannabis-related aerosol dynamics.

Recommended citation: Niu, M., Yao, Y. (co-first), Chen, H., Villanueva, L., & Zhu, Y. (2025). Fine and ultrafine particle concentrations in a cannabis consumption lounge. Environmental Science & Technology Letters, 12, 183–188.
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Neuroendocrine stress hormones associated with short-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide and fine particulate matter in individuals with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A panel study in Beijing, China

Published in Environmental Pollution, 2022

This panel study links short-term nitrogen dioxide and fine particulate matter exposure to neuroendocrine stress hormone changes, advancing mechanistic understanding of air pollution health effects. Findings highlight differential responses in COPD versus non-COPD participants, offering novel evidence of stress-axis dysregulation as a pathway for pollution-related disease.

Recommended citation: Yao, Y., Chen, X., Yang, M., Han, Y., Xue, T., Zhang, H., Wang, T., Chen, W., Qiu, X., Que, C., Zheng, M., & Zhu, T. (2022). Neuroendocrine stress hormones associated with short-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide and fine particulate matter in individuals with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A panel study in Beijing, China. Environmental Pollution, 309, 119822.
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Transcriptional pathways of elevated fasting blood glucose associated with short-term exposure to ultrafine particles: A panel study in Beijing, China

Published in Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2022

This study shows robust associations between short-term ultrafine particle exposure and elevated fasting blood glucose, revealing transcriptional pathways involving metabolism, immune response, DNA damage, and apoptosis. It provides novel mechanistic evidence linking ambient particles to metabolic dysregulation.

Recommended citation: Yao, Y., Chen, X., Chen, W., Gao, K., Zhang, H., Zhang, L., Han, Y., Xue, T., Wang, Q., Wang, T., Xu, Y., Wang, J., Qiu, X., Que, C., Zheng, M., & Zhu, T. (2022). Transcriptional pathways of elevated fasting blood glucose associated with short-term exposure to ultrafine particles: A panel study in Beijing, China. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 430, 128486.
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Differences in transcriptome response to air pollution exposure between adult residents with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Beijing: A panel study

Published in Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2021

This study provides the first transcriptome-wide comparison of PM responses between COPD patients and healthy adults. It identifies distinct molecular pathways—including Notch signaling and oxidative stress—advancing mechanistic understanding of pollution susceptibility and gene–environment interactions.

Recommended citation: Yao, Y., Chen, X., Chen, W., Han, Y., Xue, T., Wang, J., Qiu, X., Que, C., Zheng, M., & Zhu, T. (2021). Differences in transcriptome response to air pollution exposure between adult residents with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Beijing: A panel study. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 416, 125790.
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Susceptibility of individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to respiratory inflammation associated with short-term exposure to ambient air pollution: A panel study in Beijing

Published in Science of the Total Environment, 2021

This study shows that COPD patients mount amplified respiratory inflammatory responses to short-term air pollution, revealing biological mechanisms of heightened vulnerability. Findings provide critical evidence for precision public health, guiding protective standards and interventions for susceptible populations in polluted urban environments.

Recommended citation: Yao, Y., Chen, X., Chen, W., Wang, Q., Fan, Y., Han, Y., Wang, T., Wang, J., Qiu, X., Zheng, M., Que, C., & Zhu, T. (2020). Susceptibility of individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to respiratory inflammation associated with short-term exposure to ambient air pollution: A panel study in Beijing. Science of the Total Environment, 766, 142639.
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Long-term storage of whole blood samples and RNA isolation in environmental epidemiological studies

Published in Acta Scientiae Circumstantiae, 2019

This study establishes a low-cost, simplified protocol for long-term storage of whole blood and high-quality RNA isolation. It overcomes degradation challenges and ensures yield, integrity, and purity, enabling large-scale molecular epidemiology and transcriptomic studies in environmental health research.

Recommended citation: Yao, Y., Chen, W., Chen, X., Han, Y., & Zhu, T. (2019). Long-term storage of whole blood samples and RNA isolation in environmental epidemiological studies. Acta Scientiae Circumstantiae, 39(12), 4301–4308.
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