Dr. Arbor Quist is an assistant professor in the Division of Epidemiology in the College of Public Health. She connected with the Institute for Population Research in spring 2025 when she received a Seed Grant. Her research looks at how industrial pollution and environmental disasters influence population health. She is especially interested in the health effects of odors and how oil and gas activities affect health.

Professor Quist shared her answers with the Institute for Population Research (IPR) to the following questions about her career, research interests, and the impact of her work.

Q. Which of your current projects are you most excited about?

I’m currently leading a pilot study on the health effects of oil and gas activities in Ohio, with a focus on birth outcomes and exposure to metals and radioactive materials. As part of this study, I am working with community partners to collect baby teeth and soil samples from residents who live on roads where oil and gas is commonly applied as a dust suppressant or deicer. This project may help residents understand whether this practice increases their exposure to toxic metals and radioactive radium.

Q. What drew you to IPR, and how do you benefit from your involvement with IPR?

I was drawn to IPR because of its commitment to interdisciplinary, population-level research. IPR gives me the opportunities to connect with scholars from different fields, sparking new ideas and potential collaboration that strengthen the research.

Q. What has been the biggest impact of your work, or what do you hope for future impacts for your work?

This past summer, I gave a deposition on my research on a hydrogen sulfide incident in southern Los Angeles County as part of a toxic tort case. Our published studies examine how this event affected residents’ respiratory and neurological health. These findings are being cited in litigation to seek remedies that could provide meaningful support to residents whose health was adversely affected.

Q. Have you done any community engaged or participatory work? What was this experience like, and how did it shape your research goals or practices?

Yes, much of my work is community engaged research. Working with communities motivates me to pursue research that is meaningful and applied. These collaborations can be challenging because academic timelines often move slower than what communities hope for, but they keep me grounded and remind me why the work matters.