DRI / DIRECTORY / YEONGKWON SON
Yeongkwon Son Profile Photo
Dr. Yeongkwon Son
Associate Research Professor, Environmental Health
Phone 
775-674-7185
E-Mail 
Yeongkwon.Son@dri.edu
Campus 
Reno Campus
Full Resume / CV 
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Division 
Atmospheric Sciences

Dr. Son is an Associate Research Professorat the Organic Analytical Laboratory, Desert Research Institute. His research here focuses on assessment of personal exposure to environmental pollutants and their potential adverse health impact. Dr. Son is an expert in exposure science, chemical and biomarker analysis, computational modelling, and sampling device design.

Dr.Son’s early career has been dedicated to watershed management projects and public health outcome measurements. He has been involved in more than ten projects in South Korea assessing the ecological impacts of water pollutants, and has developed Natural and Ecological Wastewater treatment System (NEWS) for decentralized rural communities. In addition to Korea, the NEWS has been installed in Swaziland, Africa, to reduce ecological and human health risks associated with untreated wastewater. In the course of his research, Dr. Son developed a novel long-term simulation tool to model the influence on wetland treatment on ecosystem interactions.

After his extensive research in South Korea, Dr. Son shifted his attention to the field of public health, and specifically to the impact of environmental agents on human health. While a graduate student at Rutgers University, Dr. Son was involved in several research projects on indoor and outdoor air pollution, including quantification of hydroxyl radicals induced by urban particulate matter, and measurements of personal exposure to multiple air pollutants in children with asthma. Building upon this expertise, he now studies emissions from electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), measuring and modeling human health risks associated with the real-life e-cigarette use. His current focus also includes low-cost sensor network to study health impacts of wildfire smoke and other air pollutants and toxicity of emerging pollutants (e.g., PFAS).

Keywords

Environmental Health, Exposure Science, Risk Assessment, Environmental Modeling, Environmental Monitoring, Water Quality, Air Quality

 

Publications
2024
VanderMolen, K.A., Son, Y., Kimutis, N., Collins, M. J., Wall, T. U. (2024). Identifying risk information needs of rural communities impacted by wildfire smoke: A mental models approach, International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 100, Article No. 104182, 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2023.104182

Campbell, D. E., Bhattarai, C., Son, Y., Khlystov, A. Y. (2024). An Automated “Hands-Off” Method for Sampling Mainstream Smoke from Cannabis Cigarettes, Toxics, 12 (5), 313, 10.3390/toxics12050313

Rumbaugh, A., Liang, C., Wen, Y., Khlystov, A. Y., Campbell, D. E., Wallis, C., Fang, H., Wexler, A., Son, Y. (2024). Evaluation of passive samplers as a cost-effective method to predict the impact of wildfire smoke in grapes and wines, Food Chemistry, 141191. Elsevier

2023
Nguyen, P. K., Son, Y., Petereit, J., Khlystov, A. Y., Panella, R. (2023). Modeling Human Lung Cells Exposure to Wildfire Uncovers Aberrant lncRNAs Signature, Biomolecules, 13 (1), 155. MDPI, 10.3390/biom13010155

2021
Zhang, T., Bhattarai, C., Son, Y., Samburova, V., Khlystov, A. Y., Varganov, S. (2021). Reaction Mechanisms of Anisole Pyrolysis at Different Temperatures: Experimental and Theoretical Studies, Energy & Fuels, 35 (12), 9994–10008. ACS Publications

Son, Y., Khlystov, A. Y. (2021). An Automated Aerosol Collection and Extraction System to Characterize Electronic Cigarette Aerosols, Frontiers in Chemistry, 9 (764730), 1-7, November 4, 2021

2020
Son, Y., Mainelis, G., Delnevo, C., Wackowski, O. A., Schwander, S., Meng, Q. (2020). Investigating E-Cigarette Particle Emissions and Human Airway Depositions under Various E-Cigarette-Use Conditions, Chemical Research in Toxicology, 33 (2), 343-352, 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.9b00243

Son, Y., Bhattarai, C., Samburova, V., Khlystov, A. Y. (2020). Carbonyls and Carbon Monoxide Emissions from Electronic Cigarettes Affected by Device Type and Use Patterns, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17 (8), 2767, 10.3390/ijerph17082767

Son, Y., Giovenco, D., Delnevo, C., Khlystov, A. Y., Samburova, V., Meng, Q. (2020). Indoor Air Quality and Passive E-cigarette Aerosol Exposures in Vape-shops, Nicotine and Tobacco Research, ntaa094, 10.1093/ntr/ntaa094

Ebersole, J., Samburova, V., Son, Y., Cappelli, D., Demopoulos, C., Capurro, A., Pinto, A., Chrzan, B., Kingsley, K., Howard, K., Clark, N., Khlystov, A. Y. (2020). Harmful chemicals emitted from electronic cigarettes and potential deleterious effects in the oral cavity, Tobacco Induced Disease, 18 (May), 41, 10.18332/tid/116988

Son, Y., Weisel, C., Wackowski, O., Schwander, S., Delnevo, C., Meng, Q. (2020). The Impact of Device Settings, Use Patterns, and Flavorings on Carbonyl Emissions from Electronic Cigarettes, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17 (16), 5650, 10.3390/ijerph17165650

X. Wang, Firouzkouhi, H., Claassen, M., Bingham, B., Gronstal, S. B., Kohl, S. D., Rhode, D. E., Son, Y., Chow, J. C., Watson, J. G., Kumar, N. (2020). Virus Transport and Mitigation in Offices and Classrooms. Desert Research Institute: Reno, NV, Prepared for Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development.

X. Wang, Firouzkouhi, H., Claassen, M., Bingham, B., Gronstal, S. B., Kohl, S. D., Rhode, D. E., Son, Y., Moosmüller, H., Chow, J. C., Watson, J. G., Kumar, N. (2020). Virus Transport and Mitigation in Public Transit Buses. Desert Research Institute: Reno, NV, Prepared for Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development.

2019
Son, Y., Mishin, V., Laskin, J. D., Mainelis, G., Wackowski, O. A., Delnevo, C., Schwander, S., Khlystov, A. Y., Samburova, V., Meng, Q. (2019). Hydroxyl Radicals in E-cigarette Vapor and E-vapor Oxidative Potentials under Different Vaping Patterns, Chemical research in toxicology, 32 (6), 1087-1095, 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.8b00400

2018
Samburova, V., Bhattarai, C., Strickland, M., Darrow, L., Angermann, J., Son, Y., Khlystov, A. Y. (2018). Aldehydes in Exhaled Breath during E-Cigarette Vaping: Pilot Study Results, Toxics, 6 (3), 46, 10.3390/toxics6030046

Son, Y., Weisel, C., Wackowski, O., Mainelis, G., Schwander, S., Delnevo, C., Kipen, H., Meng, Q. (2018). Evaluation of e-vapor nicotine and nicotyrine concentrations emitted under various e-liquid compositions, device settings and vaping topographies, Chemical Research in Toxicology, 31 (9), 861-868, 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.8b00063

Son, Y., Osornio-Vargas, A., O’Neill, M., Hystad, P., Texcalac-Sangrador, J., Ohman-Strickland, P., Meng, Q., Schwander, S. (2018). Land use regression models to assess air pollution exposure in Mexico City using finer spatial and temporal input parameters, Science of the Total Environment, 639, 40-48, 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.144

Conference Proceedings
2024
Suh, A., Hur, E., Chen, K., Wu, J., Jia, D., Son, Y. (2024). Combating Severe Drought with Cloud Seeding Drones. US-Korea Conference on Science, Technology, and Entrepreneurship: San Francisco, CA, August 21, 2024-August 24, 2024

Martinez, B., Son, Y., Khlystov, A. Y. (2024). Effect of Flavoring Chemical Compounds on Carbonyl Emissions from Electronic Cigarettes, POS2-159. Society for Research on Nicotine & Tobacco (SRNT) Annual Conference: Edinburgh, Scotland, March 20, 2024-March 23, 2024

Dina, O., Fu, Y., Hurbain, P. R., Li, D., Li, L., Son, Y. (2024). Monitoring 32 Metallic and Metalloid Elements in Urine Samples of Young Children, 838. International Society of Exposure Science (ISES) Annual Meeting: Montreal, Canada, October 20, 2024-October 24, 2024

Dina, O., Son, Y., Li, D., Li, L., Hurbain, P. R., Fu, Y. (2024). Evaluating Heavy Metals Exposure in the Stool and Indoor Dust Samples of Children, 4.10.P-We-125. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) Annual Conference: Fort Worth, TX, October 20, 2024-October 24, 2024

2023
Martinez, B., Son, Y., Khlystov, A. Y. (2023). Evaluation of Carbonyl Collection Methods in Electronic Cigarette Aerosol, POS1-129. Society For Research On Nicotine and Tobacco: San Antonio, TX

Son, Y., Martinez, B., Enrinoso, O., Kue, D., McLaughlin, V., Hogan, A., Miller, F., Khlystov, A. Y., Mercincavage, M., Pearson, J. (2023). Development of Saliva Tobacco Product Related Compound Analysis Method to Study Direct Chemical Exposures after Smoking, POS1-131. Society For Research On Nicotine and Tobacco: San Antonio, TX

Enrinoso, O., Hogan, A., Martinez, B., Lenza, B., Miller, F., McLaughlin, V., Kue, D., Son, Y., Mercincavage, M., Pearson, J. (2023). Preference for Cigarette Brands Using “Natural,” “Organic,” and “Tobacco and Water” Packaging Terms in the United States: Results from Wave 5 (2018/19) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study, POS4-22. Society For Research On Nicotine and Tobacco: San Antonio, TX

Son, Y. (2023). Per- and Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Surface Water and Sediments From Two Urban Watersheds In Nevada, USA. Nevada Water Environment Association: Reno, Nevada, March 21, 2023-March 23, 2023

Saftner, D. M., Mora, L., DePauw, A., Lukasik, H., Kozloski, R., Son, Y., Arienzo, M. M. (2023). Using Emerging Contaminants to Inform the Management of Hot Springs in the Black Rock Desert, Northern Nevada. CUAHSI Biennial Colloquium, June 11, 2023-June 14, 2023

Hurbain, P., Dina, O., Fu, Y., Li, L., Li, D., Son, Y. (2023). Heavy Metal Exposures among 6 months to 6 years old Children in Northern Nevada. Nevada Public Health Association: Reno, NV, September 13, 2023-September 14, 2023

Watson, J. G., Chow, J. C., Wang, X., Son, Y., Braik, M. (2023). STEM education with Davidson Academy: Air quality and non-invasive biomarkers. Desert Research Institute: Reno, NV

2022
Kozloski, R., Chea, S., Arienzo, M. M., Chandra, S., Hogan, Z., Son, Y. (2022). Microplastics in the Mekong River, Cambodia: Preliminary results, AGU Fall Meeting: Chicago, IL

Khlystov, A. Y., Son, Y., Samburova, V., Bhattarai, C. (2022). The Effect of Puff Topography and Device Type on Toxicant Emissions from Electronic Cigarettes, 22nd Annual Meeting of the International Society of Exposure Science: Lisbon, Portugal, September 2022.

VanderMolen, K.A., Dragoni, D., Son, Y., McCurdy, G. D., Grainey, E., Lacy, P., Stevenson, R., Collins, M., Wall, T. U. (2022). Expanding Wildfire Smoke Monitoring and Messaging into Rural Nevada, Rocky Mountain Regional Wildfire Smoke Symposium: [virtual], November 14, 2022

2021
Son, Y., Carranza, C., Torres, M., Black, K., Jones, L., Meng, Q., Osornio-Vargas, A., Schwander, S. (2021). Association Between Particle Load in Alveolar Macrophages and Air Pollution Particulate Matter Exposures in México City, A3175-A3175. American Thoracic Society, May 15, 2021-May 19, 2021

Son, Y., Cho, J. (2021). Current Trends in Air Quality Forecasting using a Machine Learning Technique, ICT-Advanced Engineering Society. International Conference on Advanced Engineering and ICT-Convergence: Seoul, Korea, July 7, 2021-July 9, 2021

2020
Son, Y., Khlystov, A. Y., Samburova, V. (2020). Pilot Study on The Nicotine Metabolite Ratio Among Electronic Cigarette Users. Society For Research On Nicotine and Tobacco 26th annual meeting: New Orleans, Louisiana, March 11, 2020-March 14, 2020, Poster No. PS5-155

2019
Son, Y., Bhattarai, C., Samburova, V., Khlystov, A. Y. (2019). Impact of Vaping Patterns on carbonyls and Carbon Monoxide Emissions from Four Popular Types of Electronic Cigarettes. Society of Research on Nicotine and Tobacco 25th annual meeting: San Francisco, California, February 20, 2019-February 23, 2019, Poster No. POS4-47.

Son, Y., Khlystov, A. Y., Samburova, V., Al-Shujairi, A., Giovenco, D., Delnevo, C., Meng, Q., Meng, Q. (2019). Passive Nicotine Exposures in Electronic Cigarette Vape Shops in New Jersey USA. Society of Research on Nicotine and Tobacco 25th annual meeting: San Francisco, California, February 20, 2019-February 23, 2019, Poster No. POS2-8.

Son, Y., Bhattarai, C., Samburova, V., Meng, Q., Wackowski, O., Delnevo, C., Khlystov, A. Y. (2019). Estimating the Human Health Risks Induced by Harmful Chemical Exposures from Four Types of Electronic cigarettes. Society of Research on Nicotine and Tobacco 25th annual meeting: San Francisco, California, February 20, 2019-February 23, 2019, Poster No. POS2-17.

Son, Y., Ryu, J. (2019). Development of low-cost autonomous air quality sensing platform to access health impacts associated with wildfire events. Nevada Public Health Association: Reno, NV, USA, September 24, 2019-September 25, 2019

2018
Son, Y., Samburova, V., Khlystov, A. Y. (2018). Carbon Monoxide and Carbonyl Emissions from Four Popular E-cigarettes. Nevada Public Health Association Annual Meeting: Las Vegas, NV, September 26, 2018-September 27, 2018

Samburova, V., Son, Y., Bhattarai, C., Strickland, M., Darrow, L., Angermann, J. E., Khlystov, A. Y. (2018). Aldehydes in Exhaled Breath during E-cigarette Vaping: Results of a Pilot Study. Nevada Tobacco Prevention Coalation Regular Meeting: Reno, NV, September 12, 2018, Invited speaker

Pearson, J. L., Crabtree, M. B., Maloney, S. F., Hiler, M., Spindle, T., Kilgalen, B., Nareg, K., Son, Y., Samburova, V., Khlystov, A. Y., Eissenberg, T. (2018). A comparison of e-cigarette nicotine aerosol content vs blood nicotine concentrations: Markten vs. e-Go T. Tobacco Regulatory Science Annual Meeting: Washington, DC, June 18, 2018

Al-Shujairi, A., Son, Y., Meng, Q., Giovenco, D., Delnevo, C. (2018). Indoor Air Quality in Electronic Cigarette Vape Shops. Society of Research on Nicotine & Tobacco Annual Meeting: Baltimore, MD, February 21, 2018-February 24, 2018, Poster No. POS5-5.