Hong Chen

Senior Adjunct Scientist (Full Status) ICES uOttawa Populations & Public Health Research Program

Biography

Hong Chen is a scientist at Public Health Ontario and an assistant professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. Dr. Chen joined ICES as an adjunct scientist in 2013.

The goal of Dr. Chen’s research is to be policy-relevant and contribute to better decision making and actions to achieve environmental exposure reduction and disease prevention. His expertise includes the assessment of health effects of environmental risk factors, especially ambient air pollution, traffic-related noise, and extreme temperature. He is also interested in methodological development regarding the modeling of health impacts of air pollution, with a focus on developing spatiotemporal models to characterize the spatial and temporal variability of air pollutants.

Dr. Chen completed his Bachelor of Science degree (Environmental Science), and received a Masters in Environmental Science and Management Information System (MSc) from the United States, and a Doctorate in Epidemiology (PhD) from McGill University.

PhD, Epidemiology, McGill University
MSc, Management Information Systems, Texas A&M University
MSc, Environmental Science, University of Akron

Chronic diseases and conditions
Cardiovascular disorders
Environmental issues
Statistics and research methods

Scientist, Public Health Ontario
Assistant Professor, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto

ICES Grants

Grant

2018 - 2023

Air pollution and systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases

Granting Agency: Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Principal Investigators: Bernatsky S
Co-Investigators: Awadalla P, Chen H, Widdifield J
Grant Type: Project Scheme Grant
Grant Amount: $772,650

Grant

2016 - 2017

Do cardiovascular medications mitigate the adverse effects of air pollution on increasing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality?

Granting Agency: Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Principal Investigators: Chen H, Kwong J
Co-Investigators: Tu J
Grant Type: Project Scheme Grant
Grant Amount: $100,000

Grant

2015 - 2022

Building healthier cities: a Canadian initiative to identify environmental solutions to curb obesity (the “Healthy Cities, Healthier Lives” Research Program)

Granting Agency: Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Principal Investigators: Booth G
Co-Investigators: Chen H, Hoch J, Moineddin R, Rosella L
Grant Type: Foundation Scheme Grant
Grant Amount: $1,250,340

Grant

2014 - 2016

Cardiovascular incidence from exposure to outdoor air pollution

Granting Agency: Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Principal Investigators: Chen H
Co-Investigators: Kwong J, Brook J, Burnett R, Copes R, Goldberg M, Tu J, Villeneuve P
Grant Type: Operating Grant
Grant Amount: $193,948

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Journal Articles

Journal Article

03/07/2024

Effect modification by statin use status on the association between fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and cardiovascular mortality

Bai L, Kwong JC, Kaufman JS, Benmarhnia T, Chen C, van Donkelaar A, Martin RV, Kim J, Lu H, Burnett RT, Chen H. Int J Epidemiol. 2024; 53(4):dyae084.

Journal Article

08/11/2022

Chronic exposure to fine particulate matter increases mortality through pathways of metabolic and cardiovascular disease

Bai L, Benmarhnia T, Chen C, Kwong JC, Burnett RT, van Donkelaar A, Martin RV, Kim J, Kaufman JS, Chen H. J Am Heart Assoc. 2022; Nov 8 [Epub ahead of print].

Journal Article

24/05/2022

Association between long-term exposure to ambient air pollution and COVID-19 severity: a prospective cohort study

Chen C, Wang J, Kwong J, Kim J, van Donkelaar A, Martin RV, Hystad P, Su Y, Lavigne E, Kirby-McGregor M, Kaufman JS, Benmarhnia T, Chen H. CMAJ. 2022; 194(20):E693-700. Epub 2022 May 24.

Journal Article

27/04/2021

Individual and social determinants of SARS-CoV-2 testing and positivity in Ontario, Canada: a population-wide study

Sundaram ME, Calzavara A, Mishra S, Kustra R, Chan K, Hamilton MA, Djebli M, Rosella LC, Watson T, Chen H, Chen B, Baral SD, Kwong JC. CMAJ. 2021; 193(20):E723-34. Epub 2021 Apr 27.

Journal Article

23/04/2021

Long-term exposure to air pollution and mortality in a prospective cohort: The Ontario Health Study

Zhang Z, Wang J, Kwong JC, Burnett RT, van Donkelaar A, Hystad P, Martin RV, Bai L, McLaughlin J, Chen H. Environ Int. 2021; 154:106570. Epub 2021 Apr 23.

Journal Article

05/03/2021

Fine particulate matter concentration and composition and the incidence of childhood asthma

Lavigne E, Talarico R, van Donkelaar A, Martin RV, Stieb DM, Crighton E, Weichenthal S, Smith-Doiron M, Burnett RT, Chen H. Environ Int. 2021; 152:106486. Epub 2021 Mar 5.

Journal Article

05/03/2021

A population-based cohort study of respiratory disease and long-term exposure to iron and copper in fine particulate air pollution and their combined impact on reactive oxygen species generation in human lungs

Zhang Z, Weichenthal S, Kwong JC, Burnett RT, Hatzopoulou M, Jerrett M, van Donkelaar A, Bai L, Martin RV, Copes R, Lu H, Lakey P, Shiraiwa M, Chen H. Environ Sci Technol. 2021; 55(6):3807-18. Epub 2021 Mar 5.

Journal Article

12/01/2021

Ethnic and immigrant variations in the time trends of dementia and parkinsonism

Wong JJ, Kwong JC, Tu K, Butt DA, Wilton AS, Shah BR, Murray BJ, Kopp A, Chen H. Can J Neurol Sci. 2021; 48(6):779-90. Epub 2021 Jan 12.

Journal Article

25/12/2020

Long-term exposure to iron and copper in fine particulate air pollution and their combined impact on reactive oxygen species concentration in lung fluid: a population-based cohort study of cardiovascular disease incidence and mortality in Toronto, Canada

Zhang Z, Weichenthal S, Kwong JC, Burnett RT, Hatzopoulou M, Jerrett M, van Donkelaar A, Bai L, Martin RV, Copes R, Lu H, Lakey P, Shiraiwa M, Chen H. Int J Epidemiol. 2021; 50(2):589-601. Epub 2020 Dec 25.

Journal Article

04/11/2020

Air pollution as a risk factor for incident chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma: a 15-year population-based cohort study

Shin S, Bai L, Burnett RT, Kwong JC, Hystad P, van Donkelaar A, Lavigne E, Weichenthal S, Copes R, Martin RV, Kopp A, Chen H. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2021; 203(9):1138-48. Epub 2020 Nov 4.

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News Coverage

News Release

04/01/2017

Living near major traffic linked to higher risk of dementia

News Release

03/02/2016

Even moderate temperature changes can lead to death

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Contact Details

Get in touch with
Hong Chen

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Hong Chen

Biography

Education

Research Focus

Other Affiliations

ICES Grants

Air pollution and systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases

Do cardiovascular medications mitigate the adverse effects of air pollution on increasing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality?

Building healthier cities: a Canadian initiative to identify environmental solutions to curb obesity (the “Healthy Cities, Healthier Lives” Research Program)

Cardiovascular incidence from exposure to outdoor air pollution

Journal Articles

Effect modification by statin use status on the association between fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and cardiovascular mortality

Chronic exposure to fine particulate matter increases mortality through pathways of metabolic and cardiovascular disease

Association between long-term exposure to ambient air pollution and COVID-19 severity: a prospective cohort study

Individual and social determinants of SARS-CoV-2 testing and positivity in Ontario, Canada: a population-wide study

Long-term exposure to air pollution and mortality in a prospective cohort: The Ontario Health Study

Fine particulate matter concentration and composition and the incidence of childhood asthma

A population-based cohort study of respiratory disease and long-term exposure to iron and copper in fine particulate air pollution and their combined impact on reactive oxygen species generation in human lungs

Ethnic and immigrant variations in the time trends of dementia and parkinsonism

Long-term exposure to iron and copper in fine particulate air pollution and their combined impact on reactive oxygen species concentration in lung fluid: a population-based cohort study of cardiovascular disease incidence and mortality in Toronto, Canada

Air pollution as a risk factor for incident chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma: a 15-year population-based cohort study

News Coverage

Living near major traffic linked to higher risk of dementia

Even moderate temperature changes can lead to death

Get in touch with
Hong Chen

Hong Chen

Biography

Education

Research Focus

Other Affiliations

ICES Grants

Air pollution and systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases

Do cardiovascular medications mitigate the adverse effects of air pollution on increasing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality?

Building healthier cities: a Canadian initiative to identify environmental solutions to curb obesity (the “Healthy Cities, Healthier Lives” Research Program)

Cardiovascular incidence from exposure to outdoor air pollution

Journal Articles

Effect modification by statin use status on the association between fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and cardiovascular mortality

Chronic exposure to fine particulate matter increases mortality through pathways of metabolic and cardiovascular disease

Association between long-term exposure to ambient air pollution and COVID-19 severity: a prospective cohort study

Individual and social determinants of SARS-CoV-2 testing and positivity in Ontario, Canada: a population-wide study

Long-term exposure to air pollution and mortality in a prospective cohort: The Ontario Health Study

Fine particulate matter concentration and composition and the incidence of childhood asthma

A population-based cohort study of respiratory disease and long-term exposure to iron and copper in fine particulate air pollution and their combined impact on reactive oxygen species generation in human lungs

Ethnic and immigrant variations in the time trends of dementia and parkinsonism

Long-term exposure to iron and copper in fine particulate air pollution and their combined impact on reactive oxygen species concentration in lung fluid: a population-based cohort study of cardiovascular disease incidence and mortality in Toronto, Canada

Air pollution as a risk factor for incident chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma: a 15-year population-based cohort study

News Coverage

Living near major traffic linked to higher risk of dementia

Even moderate temperature changes can lead to death

Get in touch with Hong Chen

Get in touch with
Hong Chen