10 Questions With… Matthew Bozigar, an environmental epidemiologist who studies environmental exposures and health outcomes.

What brought you to Oregon State?

A desire to be much closer to family and back in my home state (I was born and raised in Northeast Portland) and the optimal fit with my environmentally focused health research. 

What sparked your interest in connecting geography with health outcomes?

It is estimated that only around 10% of disease is caused solely by genetic factors, and the rest is influenced by the surrounding environment and behaviors within such environments. So, geographical factors related to where people go (e.g., home, work, school, entertainment) are actually strongly related to health and well-being. In short, I wanted my research to have an impact, and the biggest impacts mean studying the geographical drivers of health outcomes.

What makes you passionate about higher education?

I enjoy investigating new areas in research as well as teaching and mentoring to inspire curiosity and exploration in students. So, a balance of research, teaching and service is perfect for me.

In contrast to lifestyle choices that impact health, where someone lives is often not something they can control. How do you approach health issues that have to be dealt with by communities and governments rather than individuals?

Great question — and where this really gets interesting is to interrogate if lifestyle choices are actually independent from where someone lives. I contend that lifestyle or behaviors are much more interrelated to the environment than they might first appear, because your environment sets the context in which your lifestyle or behaviors take place — in essence, helping to pattern them at the population level. That is to say that your environment and where you live are very important for your health and I try to provide the critical evidence that can help populations improve health. But action is then needed at a community, governmental or institutional level, which can be just as challenging as changing individual behaviors.

What advice would you give the younger version of yourself who was just starting college?

Keep exploring (See answer below about my favorite course).

When someone is moving to a new town or community, are there health-based resources they can look for to make decisions about places that are safer to live?

Sure, things like walkability score, food desert identification tools and other livability metrics are available. However, this presumes that people have the means —or can afford— to choose where they live. Many of us simply do not have such means and end up being more or less forced to live or be in certain places, which may or may not be conducive to health and wellbeing. This is why it is important to make all places healthy for people and the environment.

What was your favorite course in college?

I had two: Human geography and food and culture.  This was probably the first time I realized that I may not end up as a civil engineer, which was my major. 

Most people think of noise as a nuisance, but what health impacts can it have?

As the second-leading environmental cause of death and disability in Europe behind only air pollution (and ahead of things like chemicals, radiation, lead, etc.), noise is way more than a nuisance. Chronic or long-term exposure to noise elevates stress and disrupts sleep, which are key risk factors for all sorts of diseases, including high blood pressure, cardiometabolic and cardiovascular diseases (e.g., stroke, heart attack), cognitive decline, adverse birth outcomes and many more. My research seeks to both quantify impacts and raise awareness of noise as a major health threat.

What are some things homeowners can do to improve their environments even if their local government hasn’t addressed the community risk?

If homeowners can afford to better insulate their home from outdoor-originating sounds (e.g., road traffic), whether through multi-pane windows or sound-proofing, that would be one prevention option. If wearing earplugs is possible without safety concerns (e.g., small children in the home, fire safety, etc.), that is one way that is demonstrated to improve sleep. The early evidence is showing that noise machines (e.g., white/pink noise) are potentially more harmful than they are helpful, so I would advise using such devices sparingly, at a low level or not at all.

What is your favorite nonacademic pursuit or passion?

Traveling, exploring and learning. I’ve been lucky enough to travel extensively, and I would like to continue exploring places I haven’t been and places I have been more deeply.