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The CHAIRS-LA study is a collaboration with the University of California (Los Angeles and Irvine), Biomonitoring California, and Yale University to measure exposures to air pollution and cardiopulmonary health near oil refineries in Los Angeles County.

Wilmington, Carson, and Torrance are communities in the South Bay and Harbor Regions of Los Angeles. These communities have some of the highest concentrations of air pollution sources in California, including from multiple oil refinery sites. Wilmington and Carson are also adjacent to the third largest oil field in the country, three major freeways, and the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. In December 2025, both sites of the Los Angeles Refinery in Wilmington and Carson were retired.

With the help of community partners, we measured exposure to environmental pollutants using FreshAir wristbands and urine samples among adult residents of the South Bay and Harbor regions of Los Angeles, and assessed pulmonary and cardiovascular health prior to the refinery’s closure. Follow up measurements will be collected with our participants in fall 2026, about one year after the Los Angeles Refinery sites closed.

Wristbands will be used to measure exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and other air contaminants. Biomonitoring California plans to measure metals, metabolites, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the urine samples. We are also measuring participants’ blood pressure, lung function, and airway inflammation.

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