The climate crisis is increasing extreme weather, flooding, drought, and wildfires, all of which put pregnant women and children at risk. In collaboration with the EaRTH Center, we are exploring climate issues such as how exposure to wildfire smoke during pregnancy may impact maternal and child health.
SPARK (Smoke from wildfires: Advancing Reproductive Knowledge)
In collaboration with the Gaw and Robinson Labs, we are studying how pregnancies were affected by wildfire smoke that reached the Bay Area in recent years to learn how wildfire smoke during pregnancy affects fetal growth and development. We are also following pregnant people during wildfire events to learn more about how location and behaviors during wildfires affect biological changes in blood and placenta.
Research Programs
FIRE Study (Wildfires and Maternal/Child Health)
How does wildfire smoke exposure affect preterm birth and maternal morbidity? Are associations different with more social vulnerability more strongly affected? Do housing factors or neighborhoods affected by structural racism play a role? We are examining all birth records in California from 2007 to 2020 to answer these questions.
AIR Study
Does wildfire smoke exposure affect fertility? Can wildfires impact chances of successful IVF? Dr. Thalia Segal and colleagues are examining past fires and how they may impact fertility and chances of successful IVF at UCSF.
Undergraduate Environmental Health Research Program
Are you an under-represented undergraduate student interested in environmental health research? We plan to offer a 10-week summer mentored research program with a focus on climate health equity that includes toxicology, environmental epidemiology, and science communication.
Meet our Team
Amy Padula, PhD MSc
Associate Professor
UCSF Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences
Emilia Basilio, MD MPH
Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellow
UCSF Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences
Anna Claire G. Fernández, MD(c)
Environmental Scholar
UCSF EaRTH Center
Stephanie Gaw, MD PhD
Associate Professor
UCSF Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences
Joshua Robinson, PhD
Assistant Professor
UCSF Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences
Rachel Sklar, PhD
Postdoctoral Scholar
UCSF Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment
Our Partners
The UCSF Center for Climate, Health and Equity
The Gaw Laboratory
Robinson Lab
Published Studies
Despite the occurrence of wildfires quadrupling over the past four decades, the health effects associated with wildfire smoke exposures during pregnancy remains unknown. Our study of 7923 singleton births in San Francisco between January 1, 2017 and March 12, 2020 examines associations between wildfire smoke exposure during pregnancy and birthweight.
Climate change is accelerating the intensity and frequency of wildfires globally. Understanding how wildfire smoke (WS) may lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes and alterations in placental function via biological mechanisms is critical to mitigate the harms of exposure.
Living near or migrating to areas at high risk for wildfires may result in health consequences and increased disparities for pregnant people and their children.
Climate change continues to result in increased exposure to wildfires in California and around the world with smoke reaching far more populations than in recent years. There is increased concern for the health effects of these fires, especially for pregnant people and their developing foetuses.