Joseph M Braun
Joseph M Braun
Professor of Epidemiology, Director of the Center for Climate, Environment & Health
Overview
I am a Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the Brown University School of Public Health. My career in public health began as an intern in the Milwaukee Health Department Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program and then a school nurse in Milwaukee, WI. I received my master's and doctoral degrees in Epidemiology from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. and completed postdoctoral training in environmental health at the Harvard School of Public Health.
My research foci center around the determinants, health effects, and mechanisms of environmental toxicants in vulnerable populations, including pregnant women, infants, children, and adolescents. This has included extensive work documenting the neurotoxicity of lead (Pb) and endocrine disruptors like BPA, phthalates, and triclosan. For the past 10 years, I have been studying whether early life PFAS exposure increases the risk of later life disease. This includes using high dimensional biomarkers to identify biological pathways underlying these associations. Finally, I have been involved in or led experimental studies to reduce exposure to environmental toxicants and associated health effects.
Our team uses data from several prospective cohort studies in North America (HOME, MIREC, PEACE, and NEFS) to conduct these studies. These cohorts have been following children since before conception or during pregnancy; follow-up now continues as children transition into adolescence. In the New England Family Study (NEFS), we are examining if prenatal PFAS exposure is associated with mid-adulthood chronic disease using a cohort of individuals followed from the 1960s.
Finally, I have dabbled in studying the effects of air pollution and climate change on human performance using publicly available marathon performance data. This work combines my passions for big data, environmental epidemiology, and endurance sports.
Brown Affiliations
Research Areas
Child development | childhood obesity | developmental origins | endocrine-disrupting chemicals | environmental hazards | environmental health | Epidemiology | fetal development | neurodevelopment
On the Web
Publications Visualize it
| Sun S, Spangler KR, Weinberger KR, Yanosky JD, Braun JM, Wellenius GA. "Ambient Temperature and Markers of Fetal Growth: A Retrospective Observational Study of 29 Million U.S. Singleton Births." Environ Health Perspect, vol. 127, no. 6, 2019, pp. 67005. |
| Sun, Shengzhi, Weinberger, Kate R., Spangler, Keith R., Eliot, Melissa N., Braun, Joseph M., Wellenius, Gregory A. "Ambient temperature and preterm birth: A retrospective study of 32 million US singleton births." Environment International, vol. 126, 2019, pp. 7-13. |
| Braun, Joseph M., Li, Nan, Arbuckle, Tye E., Dodds, Linda, Massarelli, Isabelle, Fraser, William D., Lanphear, Bruce P., Muckle, Gina. "Association between gestational urinary bisphenol a concentrations and adiposity in young children: The MIREC study." Environmental Research, vol. 172, 2019, pp. 454-461. |
| Li N, Arbuckle TE, Muckle G, Lanphear BP, Boivin M, Chen A, Dodds L, Fraser WD, Ouellet E, Séguin JR, Velez MP, Yolton K, Braun JM. "Associations of cord blood leptin and adiponectin with children's cognitive abilities." Psychoneuroendocrinology, vol. 99, 2019, pp. 257-264. |
| Etzel TM, Braun JM, Buckley JP. "Associations of serum perfluoroalkyl substance and vitamin D biomarker concentrations in NHANES, 2003-2010." International journal of hygiene and environmental health, vol. 222, no. 2, 2019, pp. 262-269. |
| Nassan FL, Williams PL, Gaskins AJ, Braun JM, Ford JB, Calafat AM, Hauser R, EARTH Study Team. "Correlation and temporal variability of urinary biomarkers of chemicals among couples: Implications for reproductive epidemiological studies." Environment International, vol. 123, 2019, pp. 181-188. |
| Skarha J, Mínguez-Alarcón L, Williams PL, Korevaar TIM, de Poortere RA, Broeren MAC, Ford JB, Eliot M, Hauser R, Braun JM. "Cross-sectional associations between urinary triclosan and serum thyroid function biomarker concentrations in women." Environment International, vol. 122, 2019, pp. 256-262. |
| Jackson-Browne MS, Papandonatos GD, Chen A, Yolton K, Lanphear BP, Braun JM. "Early-life triclosan exposure and parent-reported behavior problems in 8-year-old children." Environment International, vol. 128, 2019, pp. 446-456. |
| Vuong AM, Braun JM, Wang Z, Yolton K, Xie C, Sjodin A, Webster GM, Lanphear BP, Chen A. "Exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) during childhood and adiposity measures at age 8 years." Environment International, vol. 123, 2019, pp. 148-155. |
| Goetz AR, Beebe DW, Peugh JL, Mara CA, Lanphear BP, Braun JM, Yolton K, Stark LJ. "Longer sleep duration during infancy and toddlerhood predicts weight normalization among high birth weight infants." Sleep, vol. 42, no. 2, 2019. |
| Kingsley, Samantha L., Walker, Douglas I., Calafat, Antonia M., Chen, Aimin, Papandonatos, George D., Xu, Yingying, Jones, Dean P., Lanphear, Bruce P., Pennell, Kurt D., Braun, Joseph M. "Metabolomics of childhood exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances: a cross-sectional study." Metabolomics, vol. 15, no. 7, 2019, pp. 95. |
| Bianchi, Enrica, Boekelheide, Kim, Sigman, Mark, Braun, Joseph M., Eliot, Melissa, Hall, Susan J., Dere, Edward, Hwang, Kathleen. "Spermatozoal large RNA content is associated with semen characteristics, sociodemographic and lifestyle factors." PLOS ONE, vol. 14, no. 5, 2019, pp. e0216584. |
| Buckley JP, Hamra GB, Braun JM. "Statistical Approaches for Investigating Periods of Susceptibility in Children's Environmental Health Research." Current environmental health reports, vol. 6, no. 1, 2019, pp. 1-7. |
| Koch HM, Lessmann F, Swan SH, Hauser R, Kolossa-Gehring M, Frederiksen H, Andersson AM, Thomsen C, Sakhi AK, Bornehag CG, Mueller JF, Rudel RA, Braun JM, Harth V, Brüning T. "Analyzing terephthalate metabolites in human urine as biomarkers of exposure: Importance of selection of metabolites and deconjugation enzyme." Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences, vol. 1100-1101, 2018, pp. 91-92. |
| Vuong AM, Yolton K, Wang Z, Xie C, Webster GM, Ye X, Calafat AM, Braun JM, Dietrich KN, Lanphear BP, Chen A. "Childhood perfluoroalkyl substance exposure and executive function in children at 8 years." Environment International, vol. 119, 2018, pp. 212-219. |
| Vuong, Ann M., Yolton, Kimberly, Poston, Kendra L., Xie, Changchun, Webster, Glenys M., Sjödin, Andreas, Braun, Joseph M., Dietrich, Kim N., Lanphear, Bruce P., Chen, Aimin. "Childhood polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) exposure and executive function in children in the HOME Study." International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, vol. 221, no. 1, 2018, pp. 87-94. |
| Kalloo, Geetika, Calafat, Antonia M., Chen, Aimin, Yolton, Kimberly, Lanphear, Bruce P., Braun, Joseph M. "Early life Triclosan exposure and child adiposity at 8 Years of age: a prospective cohort study." Environmental Health, vol. 17, no. 1, 2018. |
| Braun JM, Hornung R, Chen A, Dietrich KN, Jacobs DE, Jones R, Khoury JC, Liddy-Hicks S, Morgan S, Vanderbeek SB, Xu Y, Yolton K, Lanphear BP. "Effect of Residential Lead-Hazard Interventions on Childhood Blood Lead Concentrations and Neurobehavioral Outcomes: A Randomized Clinical Trial." JAMA Pediatrics, vol. 172, no. 10, 2018, pp. 934-942. |
| Hu J, Peng Y, Zheng T, Zhang B, Liu W, Wu C, Jiang M, Braun JM, Liu S, Buka SL, Zhou A, Wise JP Sr, Zhang Y, Jiang Y, Hu C, Chen X, Huang Z, Zheng D, Shi K, Zhang X, Truong A, Qian Z, Xia W, Li Y, Xu S. "Effects of trimester-specific exposure to vanadium on ultrasound measures of fetal growth and birth size: a longitudinal prospective prenatal cohort study." The Lancet. Planetary health, vol. 2, no. 10, 2018, pp. e427-e437. |
| Vuong AM, Yolton K, Dietrich KN, Braun JM, Lanphear BP, Chen A. "Exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and child behavior: Current findings and future directions." Hormones and behavior, vol. 101, 2018, pp. 94-104. |
| Jackson-Browne MS, Papandonatos GD, Chen A, Calafat AM, Yolton K, Lanphear BP, Braun JM. "Identifying Vulnerable Periods of Neurotoxicity to Triclosan Exposure in Children." Environmental Health Perspectives, vol. 126, no. 5, 2018, pp. 057001. |
| Li N, Yolton K, Lanphear BP, Chen A, Kalkwarf HJ, Braun JM. "Impact of Early-Life Weight Status on Cognitive Abilities in Children." Obesity, vol. 26, no. 6, 2018, pp. 1088-1095. |
| Romano ME, Eliot MN, Zoeller RT, Hoofnagle AN, Calafat AM, Karagas MR, Yolton K, Chen A, Lanphear BP, Braun JM. "Maternal urinary phthalate metabolites during pregnancy and thyroid hormone concentrations in maternal and cord sera: The HOME Study." International journal of hygiene and environmental health, vol. 221, no. 4, 2018, pp. 623-631. |
| Radke EG, Braun JM, Meeker JD, Cooper GS. "Phthalate exposure and male reproductive outcomes: A systematic review of the human epidemiological evidence." Environment International, vol. 121, no. Pt 1, 2018, pp. 764-793. |
| Vuong AM, Braun JM, Webster GM, Thomas Zoeller R, Hoofnagle AN, Sjödin A, Yolton K, Lanphear BP, Chen A. "Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) exposures and thyroid hormones in children at age 3 years." Environment International, vol. 117, 2018, pp. 339-347. |
| Braun, Joseph M. "Pre-conception susceptibility to endocrine disruptors." Nature Reviews Endocrinology, vol. 14, no. 9, 2018, pp. 505-506. |
| Vuong AM, Braun JM, Yolton K, Wang Z, Xie C, Webster GM, Ye X, Calafat AM, Dietrich KN, Lanphear BP, Chen A. "Prenatal and childhood exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and measures of attention, impulse control, and visual spatial abilities." Environment International, vol. 119, 2018, pp. 413-420. |
| Zhang H, Yolton K, Webster GM, Ye X, Calafat AM, Dietrich KN, Xu Y, Xie C, Braun JM, Lanphear BP, Chen A. "Prenatal and childhood perfluoroalkyl substances exposures and children's reading skills at ages 5 and 8years." Environment International, vol. 111, 2018, pp. 224-231. |
| Buck CO, Eliot MN, Kelsey KT, Calafat AM, Chen A, Ehrlich S, Lanphear BP, Braun JM. "Prenatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances and adipocytokines: the HOME Study." Pediatric Research, vol. 84, no. 6, 2018, pp. 854-860. |
| Shoaff J, Papandonatos GD, Calafat AM, Chen A, Lanphear BP, Ehrlich S, Kelsey KT, Braun JM. "Prenatal Exposure to Perfluoroalkyl Substances: Infant Birth Weight and Early Life Growth." Environmental epidemiology (Philadelphia, Pa.), vol. 2, no. 2, 2018. |
| Kupsco A, Kioumourtzoglou MA, Just AC, Amarasiriwardena C, Estrada-Gutierrez G, Cantoral A, Sanders AP, Braun JM, Svensson K, Brennan KJ, Oken E, Wright RO, Baccarelli AA, Téllez-Rojo MM. "Prenatal metal concentrations and childhood cardio-metabolic risk using Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression to assess mixture and interaction effects." Epidemiology, 2018. |
| Wu S, Gennings C, Wright RJ, Wilson A, Burris HH, Just AC, Braun JM, Svensson K, Zhong J, Brennan KJM, Dereix A, Cantoral A, Schnaas L, Téllez-Rojo MM, Wright RO, Baccarelli AA. "Prenatal Stress, Methylation in Inflammation-Related Genes, and Adiposity Measures in Early Childhood: the Programming Research in Obesity, Growth Environment and Social Stress Cohort Study." Psychosomatic Medicine, vol. 80, no. 1, 2018, pp. 34-41. |
| Etzel, Taylor, Muckle, Gina, Arbuckle, Tye E., Fraser, William D., Ouellet, Emmanuel, Séguin, Jean R., Lanphear, Bruce, Braun, Joseph M. "Prenatal urinary triclosan concentrations and child neurobehavior." Environment International, vol. 114, 2018, pp. 152-159. |
| Kalloo G, Wellenius GA, McCandless L, Calafat AM, Sjodin A, Karagas M, Chen A, Yolton K, Lanphear BP, Braun JM. "Profiles and Predictors of Environmental Chemical Mixture Exposure among Pregnant Women: The Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment Study." Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 52, no. 17, 2018, pp. 10104-10113. |
| Braun JM. "RE: "INVITED COMMENTARY: EXPOSURE BIOMARKERS INDICATE MORE THAN JUST EXPOSURE"." American Journal of Epidemiology, vol. 187, no. 4, 2018, pp. 894-895. |
| Sears CG, Braun JM, Ryan PH, Xu Y, Werner EF, Lanphear BP, Wellenius GA. "The association of traffic-related air and noise pollution with maternal blood pressure and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in the HOME study cohort." Environment International, vol. 121, no. Pt 1, 2018, pp. 574-581. |
| Messerlian C, Williams PL, Ford JB, Chavarro JE, Mínguez-Alarcón L, Dadd R, Braun JM, Gaskins AJ, Meeker JD, James-Todd T, Chiu YH, Nassan FL, Souter I, Petrozza J, Keller M, Toth TL, Calafat AM, Hauser R, EARTH Study Team. "The Environment and Reproductive Health (EARTH) Study: A Prospective Preconception Cohort." Human reproduction open, vol. 2018, no. 2, 2018. |
| Kingsley SL, Eliot MN, Kelsey KT, Calafat AM, Ehrlich S, Lanphear BP, Chen A, Braun JM. "Variability and predictors of serum perfluoroalkyl substance concentrations during pregnancy and early childhood." Environmental Research, vol. 165, 2018, pp. 247-257. |
| Braun JM, Chen A, Hoofnagle A, Papandonatos GD, Jackson-Browne M, Hauser R, Romano ME, Karagas MR, Yolton K, Thomas Zoeller R, Lanphear BP. "Associations of early life urinary triclosan concentrations with maternal, neonatal, and child thyroid hormone levels." Hormones and behavior, vol. 101, 2017, pp. 77-84. |
| Braun JM, Muckle G, Arbuckle T, Bouchard MF, Fraser WD, Ouellet E, Séguin JR, Oulhote Y, Webster GM, Lanphear BP. "Associations of Prenatal Urinary Bisphenol A Concentrations with Child Behaviors and Cognitive Abilities." Environ Health Perspect, vol. 125, no. 6, 2017, pp. 067008. |
| Braun JM, Gray K. "Challenges to studying the health effects of early life environmental chemical exposures on children's health." PLoS biology, vol. 15, no. 12, 2017, pp. e2002800. |
| Braun, Joseph M., Gray, Kimberly. "Challenges to studying the health effects of early life environmental chemical exposures on children’s health." PLOS Biology, vol. 15, no. 12, 2017, pp. e2002800. |
| Vuong, Ann M., Yolton, Kimberly, Xie, Changchun, Webster, Glenys M., Sjödin, Andreas, Braun, Joseph M., Dietrich, Kim N., Lanphear, Bruce P., Chen, Aimin. "Childhood polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) exposure and neurobehavior in children at 8 years." Environmental Research, vol. 158, 2017, pp. 677-684. |
| Cheng L, Zhang B, Zheng T, Hu J, Zhou A, Bassig BA, Xia W, Savitz DA, Buka S, Xiong C, Braun JM, Zhang Y, Zhou Y, Pan X, Wu C, Wang Y, Qian Z, Yang A, Romano ME, Shi K, Xu S, Li Y. "Critical Windows of Prenatal Exposure to Cadmium and Size at Birth." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 14, no. 1, 2017. |
| Stacy SL, Papandonatos GD, Calafat AM, Chen A, Yolton K, Lanphear BP, Braun JM. "Early life bisphenol A exposure and neurobehavior at 8years of age: Identifying windows of heightened vulnerability." Environment International, vol. 107, 2017, pp. 258-265. |
| Shoaff, Jessica, Papandonatos, George D., Calafat, Antonia M., Ye, Xiaoyun, Chen, Aimin, Lanphear, Bruce P., Yolton, Kimberly, Braun, Joseph M. "Early-Life Phthalate Exposure and Adiposity at 8 Years of Age." Environmental Health Perspectives, vol. 125, no. 9, 2017, pp. 097008. |
| Zhang H, Yolton K, Webster GM, Sjödin A, Calafat AM, Dietrich KN, Xu Y, Xie C, Braun JM, Lanphear BP, Chen A. "Erratum: "Prenatal PBDE and PCB Exposures and Reading, Cognition, and Externalizing Behavior in Children"." Environ Health Perspect, vol. 125, no. 6, 2017, pp. 069001. |
| Braun JM, Messerlian C, Hauser R. "Fathers Matter: Why It's Time to Consider the Impact of Paternal Environmental Exposures on Children's Health." Current epidemiology reports, vol. 4, no. 1, 2017, pp. 46-55. |
| Woods, Meghan M., Lanphear, Bruce P., Braun, Joseph M., McCandless, Lawrence C. "Gestational exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals in relation to infant birth weight: a Bayesian analysis of the HOME Study." Environmental Health, vol. 16, no. 1, 2017. |
| Woods MM, Lanphear BP, Braun JM, McCandless LC. "Gestational exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals in relation to infant birth weight: a Bayesian analysis of the HOME Study." Environmental health : a global access science source, vol. 16, no. 1, 2017, pp. 115. |
| Kingsley SL, Kelsey KT, Butler R, Chen A, Eliot MN, Romano ME, Houseman A, Koestler DC, Lanphear BP, Yolton K, Braun JM. "Maternal serum PFOA concentration and DNA methylation in cord blood: A pilot study." Environmental Research, vol. 158, 2017, pp. 174-178. |
| Choi, Ariel R., Braun, Joseph M., Papandonatos, George D., Greenberg, Paul B. "Occupational styrene exposure and acquired dyschromatopsia: A systematic review and meta-analysis." American Journal of Industrial Medicine, vol. 60, no. 11, 2017, pp. 930-946. |
| Fisher, Mandy, MacPherson, Susan, Braun, Joseph M., Hauser, Russ, Walker, Mark, Feeley, Mark, Mallick, Ranjeeta, Bérubé, René, Arbuckle, Tye E. "Paraben Concentrations in Maternal Urine and Breast Milk and Its Association with Personal Care Product Use." Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 51, no. 7, 2017, pp. 4009-4017. |
| Fisher M, MacPherson S, Braun JM, Hauser R, Walker M, Feeley M, Mallick R, Bérubé R, Arbuckle TE. "Paraben Concentrations in Maternal Urine and Breast Milk and Its Association with Personal Care Product Use." Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 51, no. 7, 2017, pp. 4009-4017. |
| Pell, Tripler, Eliot, Melissa, Chen, Aimin, Lanphear, Bruce P., Yolton, Kimberly, Sathyanarayana, Sheela, Braun, Joseph M. "Parental Concern about Environmental Chemical Exposures and Children's Urinary Concentrations of Phthalates and Phenols." The Journal of Pediatrics, vol. 186, 2017, pp. 138-144.e3. |
| Messerlian, Carmen, Bellinger, David, Mínguez-Alarcón, Lidia, Romano, Megan E., Ford, Jennifer B., Williams, Paige L., Calafat, Antonia M., Hauser, Russ, Braun, Joseph M. "Paternal and maternal preconception urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations and child behavior." Environmental Research, vol. 158, 2017, pp. 720-728. |
| Messerlian, Carmen, Braun, Joseph M., Mínguez-Alarcón, Lidia, Williams, Paige L., Ford, Jennifer B., Mustieles, Vicente, Calafat, Antonia M., Souter, Irene, Toth, Thomas, Hauser, Russ. "Paternal and maternal urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations and birth weight of singletons conceived by subfertile couples." Environment International, vol. 107, 2017, pp. 55-64. |
| Stacy SL, Eliot M, Etzel T, Papandonatos G, Calafat AM, Chen A, Hauser R, Lanphear BP, Sathyanarayana S, Ye X, Yolton K, Braun JM. "Patterns, Variability, and Predictors of Urinary Triclosan Concentrations during Pregnancy and Childhood." Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 51, no. 11, 2017, pp. 6404-6413. |
| Nassan, Feiby L., Coull, Brent A., Gaskins, Audrey J., Williams, Michelle A., Skakkebaek, Niels E., Ford, Jennifer B., Ye, Xiaoyun, Calafat, Antonia M., Braun, Joseph M., Hauser, Russ. "Personal Care Product Use in Men and Urinary Concentrations of Select Phthalate Metabolites and Parabens: Results from the Environment And Reproductive Health (EARTH) Study." Environmental Health Perspectives, vol. 125, no. 8, 2017. |
| Nassan FL, Coull BA, Gaskins AJ, Williams MA, Skakkebaek NE, Ford JB, Ye X, Calafat AM, Braun JM, Hauser R. "Personal Care Product Use in Men and Urinary Concentrations of Select Phthalate Metabolites and Parabens: Results from the Environment And Reproductive Health (EARTH) Study." Environ Health Perspect, vol. 125, no. 8, 2017, pp. 087012. |
| Vuong, Ann M., Yolton, Kimberly, Poston, Kendra L., Xie, Changchun, Webster, Glenys M., Sjödin, Andreas, Braun, Joseph M., Dietrich, Kim N., Lanphear, Bruce P., Chen, Aimin. "Prenatal and postnatal polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) exposure and measures of inattention and impulsivity in children." Neurotoxicology and Teratology, vol. 64, 2017, pp. 20-28. |
| Vuong AM, Yolton K, Poston KL, Xie C, Webster GM, Sjödin A, Braun JM, Dietrich KN, Lanphear BP, Chen A. "Prenatal and postnatal polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) exposure and measures of inattention and impulsivity in children." Neurotoxicology and Teratology, vol. 64, 2017, pp. 20-28. |
| Vuong AM, Braun JM, Yolton K, Xie C, Webster GM, Sjödin A, Dietrich KN, Lanphear BP, Chen A. "Prenatal and postnatal polybrominated diphenyl ether exposure and visual spatial abilities in children." Environmental Research, vol. 153, 2017, pp. 83-92. |
| Braun JM, Yolton K, Stacy SL, Erar B, Papandonatos GD, Bellinger DC, Lanphear BP, Chen A. "Prenatal environmental chemical exposures and longitudinal patterns of child neurobehavior." Neurotoxicology, vol. 62, 2017, pp. 192-199. |
| Zhang H, Yolton K, Webster GM, Sjödin A, Calafat AM, Dietrich KN, Xu Y, Xie C, Braun JM, Lanphear BP, Chen A. "Prenatal PBDE and PCB Exposures and Reading, Cognition, and Externalizing Behavior in Children." Environ Health Perspect, vol. 125, no. 4, 2017, pp. 746-752. |
| Braun JM, Bellinger DC, Hauser R, Wright RO, Chen A, Calafat AM, Yolton K, Lanphear BP. "Prenatal phthalate, triclosan, and bisphenol A exposures and child visual-spatial abilities." Neurotoxicology, vol. 58, 2017, pp. 75-83. |
| Romano ME, Kalloo G, Etzel T, Braun JM. "Re: Seasonal Variation in Exposure to Endocrine-disrupting Chemicals." Epidemiology, vol. 28, no. 5, 2017, pp. e42-e43. |
| Jackson TL, Braun JM, Mello M, Triche EW, Buka SL. "The relationship between early childhood head injury and later life criminal behaviour: a longitudinal cohort study." Journal of epidemiology and community health, vol. 71, no. 8, 2017, pp. 800-805. |
| Millenson ME, Braun JM, Calafat AM, Barr DB, Huang YT, Chen A, Lanphear BP, Yolton K. "Urinary organophosphate insecticide metabolite concentrations during pregnancy and children's interpersonal, communication, repetitive, and stereotypic behaviors at 8 years of age: The home study." Environmental Research, vol. 157, 2017, pp. 9-16. |
| Etzel, Taylor M., Calafat, Antonia M., Ye, Xiaoyun, Chen, Aimin, Lanphear, Bruce P., Savitz, David A., Yolton, Kimberly, Braun, Joseph M. "Urinary triclosan concentrations during pregnancy and birth outcomes." Environmental Research, vol. 156, 2017, pp. 505-511. |
| Romano ME, Hawley NL, Eliot M, Calafat AM, Jayatilaka NK, Kelsey K, McGarvey S, Phipps MG, Savitz DA, Werner EF, Braun JM. "Variability and predictors of urinary concentrations of organophosphate flame retardant metabolites among pregnant women in Rhode Island." Environmental health : a global access science source, vol. 16, no. 1, 2017, pp. 40. |
| Tewar S, Auinger P, Braun JM, Lanphear B, Yolton K, Epstein JN, Ehrlich S, Froehlich TE. "Association of Bisphenol A exposure and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in a national sample of U.S. children." Environmental Research, vol. 150, 2016, pp. 112-8. |
| Braun, Joseph M., Kalloo, Geetika, Chen, Aimin, Dietrich, Kim N., Liddy-Hicks, Stacey, Morgan, Samantha, Xu, Yingying, Yolton, Kimberly, Lanphear, Bruce P. "Cohort Profile: The Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment (HOME) study." International Journal of Epidemiology, 2016, pp. dyw006. |
| Braun, Joseph M. "Early-life exposure to EDCs: role in childhood obesity and neurodevelopment." Nature Reviews Endocrinology, 2016. |
| Percy Z, Xu Y, Sucharew H, Khoury JC, Calafat AM, Braun JM, Lanphear BP, Chen A, Yolton K. "Gestational exposure to phthalates and gender-related play behaviors in 8-year-old children: an observational study." Environmental health : a global access science source, vol. 15, no. 1, 2016, pp. 87. |
| Romano ME, Xu Y, Calafat AM, Yolton K, Chen A, Webster GM, Eliot MN, Howard CR, Lanphear BP, Braun JM. "Maternal serum perfluoroalkyl substances during pregnancy and duration of breastfeeding." Environmental Research, vol. 149, 2016, pp. 239-46. |
| Stacy SL, Eliot M, Calafat AM, Chen A, Lanphear BP, Hauser R, Papandonatos GD, Sathyanarayana S, Ye X, Yolton K, Braun JM. "Patterns, Variability, and Predictors of Urinary Bisphenol A Concentrations during Childhood." Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 50, no. 11, 2016, pp. 5981-90. |
| Shoaff JR, Romano ME, Yolton K, Lanphear BP, Calafat AM, Braun JM. "Prenatal phthalate exposure and infant size at birth and gestational duration." Environmental Research, vol. 150, 2016, pp. 52-8. |
| Buckley JP, Engel SM, Braun JM, Whyatt RM, Daniels JL, Mendez MA, Richardson DB, Xu Y, Calafat AM, Wolff MS, Lanphear BP, Herring AH, Rundle AG. "Prenatal Phthalate Exposures and Body Mass Index Among 4- to 7-Year-old Children: A Pooled Analysis." Epidemiology, vol. 27, no. 3, 2016, pp. 449-58. |
| Vuong AM, Yolton K, Webster GM, Sjödin A, Calafat AM, Braun JM, Dietrich KN, Lanphear BP, Chen A. "Prenatal polybrominated diphenyl ether and perfluoroalkyl substance exposures and executive function in school-age children." Environmental Research, vol. 147, 2016, pp. 556-64. |
| Vuong AM, Braun JM, Sjödin A, Webster GM, Yolton K, Lanphear BP, Chen A. "Prenatal Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether Exposure and Body Mass Index in Children Up To 8 Years of Age." Environ Health Perspect, vol. 124, no. 12, 2016, pp. 1891-1897. |
| Braun, Joseph M., Gennings, Chris, Hauser, Russ, Webster, Thomas F. "What Can Epidemiological Studies Tell Us about the Impact of Chemical Mixtures on Human Health?." Environ Health Perspect, vol. 124, no. 1, 2016. |
| Wagner-Schuman, Melissa, Richardson, Jason R., Auinger, Peggy, Braun, Joseph M., Lanphear, Bruce P., Epstein, Jeffery N., Yolton, Kimberly, Froehlich, Tanya E. "Association of pyrethroid pesticide exposure with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in a nationally representative sample of U.S. children." Environ Health, vol. 14, no. 1, 2015. |
| Romano ME, Webster GM, Vuong AM, Thomas Zoeller R, Chen A, Hoofnagle AN, Calafat AM, Karagas MR, Yolton K, Lanphear BP, Braun JM. "Gestational urinary bisphenol A and maternal and newborn thyroid hormone concentrations: the HOME Study." Environmental Research, vol. 138, 2015, pp. 453-60. |
| Vuong AM, Webster GM, Romano ME, Braun JM, Zoeller RT, Hoofnagle AN, Sjödin A, Yolton K, Lanphear BP, Chen A. "Maternal Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether (PBDE) Exposure and Thyroid Hormones in Maternal and Cord Sera: The HOME Study, Cincinnati, USA." Environ Health Perspect, vol. 123, no. 10, 2015, pp. 1079-85. |
| Braun, Joseph M., Chen, Aimin, Romano, Megan E., Calafat, Antonia M., Webster, Glenys M., Yolton, Kimberly, Lanphear, Bruce P. "Prenatal perfluoroalkyl substance exposure and child adiposity at 8 years of age: The HOME study." Obesity, vol. 24, no. 1, 2015, pp. 231-237. |
| Werner EF, Braun JM, Yolton K, Khoury JC, Lanphear BP. "The association between maternal urinary phthalate concentrations and blood pressure in pregnancy: The HOME Study." Environmental health : a global access science source, vol. 14, 2015, pp. 75. |
| Braun, Joseph M., Froehlich, Tanya, Kalkbrenner, Amy, Pfeiffer, Christine M., Fazili, Zia, Yolton, Kimberly, Lanphear, Bruce P. "Brief Report: Are Autistic-Behaviors in Children Related to Prenatal Vitamin Use and Maternal Whole Blood Folate Concentrations?." Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, vol. 44, no. 10, 2014, pp. 2602-2607. |
| "Challenges and Future Directions to Evaluating the Association Between Prenatal Exposure to Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and Childhood Obesity." 2014. |
| Braun, Joseph M., Lanphear, Bruce P., Calafat, Antonia M., Deria, Sirad, Khoury, Jane, Howe, Chanelle J., Venners, Scott A. "Early-Life Bisphenol A Exposure and Child Body Mass Index: A Prospective Cohort Study." Environ Health Perspect, 2014. |
| Braun, Joseph M., Kalkbrenner, Amy E., Just, Allan C., Yolton, Kimberly, Calafat, Antonia M., Sjödin, Andreas, Hauser, Russ, Webster, Glenys M., Chen, Aimin, Lanphear, Bruce P. "Gestational Exposure to Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and Reciprocal Social, Repetitive, and Stereotypic Behaviors in 4- and 5-Year-Old Children: The HOME Study." Environ Health Perspect, 2014. |
| Serrano, Samantha E, Braun, Joseph, Trasande, Leonardo, Dills, Russell, Sathyanarayana, Sheela. "Phthalates and diet: a review of the food monitoring and epidemiology data." Environ Health, vol. 13, no. 1, 2014, pp. 43. |
| Braun, Joseph M, Wright, Rosalind J, Just, Allan C, Power, Melinda C, Tamayo y Ortiz, Marcela, Schnaas, Lourdes, Hu, Howard, Wright, Robert O, Tellez-Rojo, Martha. "Relationships between lead biomarkers and diurnal salivary cortisol indices in pregnant women from Mexico City: a cross-sectional study." Environ Health, vol. 13, no. 1, 2014, pp. 50. |
| Prasodjo, Adila, Pfeiffer, Christine M., Fazili, Zia, Xu, Yingying, Liddy, Stacey, Yolton, Kimberly, Savitz, David A., Lanphear, Bruce P., Braun, Joseph M. "Serum cotinine and whole blood folate concentrations in pregnancy." Annals of Epidemiology, vol. 24, no. 7, 2014, pp. 498-503.e1. |
| Spanier, Adam J., Fausnight, Tracy, Camacho, Tareq F., Braun, Joseph M. "The associations of triclosan and paraben exposure with allergen sensitization and wheeze in children." Allergy and Asthma Proceedings, vol. 35, no. 6, 2014, pp. 475-481. |
| Watkins, Deborah J., Eliot, Melissa, Sathyanarayana, Sheela, Calafat, Antonia M., Yolton, Kimberly, Lanphear, Bruce P., Braun, Joseph M. "Variability and Predictors of Urinary Concentrations of Phthalate Metabolites during Early Childhood." Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 48, no. 15, 2014, pp. 8881-8890. |
| Burris, Heather H, Braun, Joe M, Byun, Hyang-Min, Tarantini, Letizia, Mercado, Adriana, Wright, Rosalind J, Schnaas, Lourdes, Baccarelli, Andrea A, Wright, Robert O, Tellez-Rojo, Martha M. "Association between birth weight and DNA methylation of IGF2 , glucocorticoid receptor and repetitive elements LINE-1 and Alu." Epigenomics, vol. 5, no. 3, 2013, pp. 271-281. |
| Larson, B. J., Gillmor, S. D., Braun, J. M., Cruz-Barba, L. E., Savage, D. E., Denes, F. S., Lagally, M. G. "Long-Term Reduction in Poly(dimethylsiloxane) Surface Hydrophobicity via Cold-Plasma Treatments." Langmuir, vol. 29, no. 42, 2013, pp. 12990-12996. |
| Braun, Joe M, Just, Allan C, Williams, Paige L, Smith, Kristen W, Calafat, Antonia M, Hauser, Russ. "Personal care product use and urinary phthalate metabolite and paraben concentrations during pregnancy among women from a fertility clinic." Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology, vol. 24, no. 5, 2013, pp. 459-466. |
| Braun, Joseph M., Sathyanarayana, Sheela, Hauser, Russ. "Phthalate exposure and childrenʼs health." Current Opinion in Pediatrics, vol. 25, no. 2, 2013, pp. 247-254. |
| Patisaul, Heather B., Roberts, Simon C., Mabrey, Natalie, McCaffrey, Katherine A., Gear, Robin B., Braun, Joe, Belcher, Scott M., Stapleton, Heather M. "Accumulation and Endocrine Disrupting Effects of the Flame Retardant Mixture Firemaster ® 550 in Rats: An Exploratory Assessment." Journal of Biochemical and Molecular Toxicology, vol. 27, no. 2, 2012, pp. 124-136. |
| Braun, Joe M., Hoffman, Elaine, Schwartz, Joel, Sanchez, Brisa, Schnaas, Lourdes, Mercado-Garcia, Adriana, Solano-Gonzalez, Maritsa, Bellinger, David C., Lanphear, Bruce P., Hu, Howard, Tellez-Rojo, Martha M., Wright, Robert O., Hernandez-Avila, Mauricio. "Assessing windows of susceptibility to lead-induced cognitive deficits in Mexican children." Neurotoxicology, vol. 33, no. 5, 2012, pp. 1040-1047. |
| Rauch, Stephen A., Braun, Joe M., Barr, Dana Boyd, Calafat, Antonia M., Khoury, Jane, Montesano, M. Angela, Yolton, Kimberly, Lanphear, Bruce P. "Associations of Prenatal Exposure to Organophosphate Pesticide Metabolites with Gestational Age and Birth Weight." Environ Health Perspect, vol. 120, no. 7, 2012, pp. 1055-1060. |
| Sathyanarayana, Sheela, Braun, Joe, Yolton, Kimberly, Liddy, Stacey, Lanphear, Bruce. "Bisphenol A and Infant Neonatal Neurobehavior: Sathyanarayana et al. Respond." Environ Health Perspect, vol. 120, no. 3, 2012, pp. a102-a103. |
| Braun, Joe M. "Endocrine disrupting compounds, gonadal hormones, and autism." Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, vol. 54, no. 11, 2012, pp. 1068-1068. |
| Kalkbrenner, Amy E., Braun, Joe M., Durkin, Maureen S., Maenner, Matthew J., Cunniff, Christopher, Lee, Li-Ching, Pettygrove, Sydney, Nicholas, Joyce S., Daniels, Julie L. "Maternal Smoking during Pregnancy and the Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders, Using Data from the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network." Environ Health Perspect, vol. 120, no. 7, 2012, pp. 1042-1048. |
| Smith, Kristen W., Braun, Joe M., Williams, Paige L., Ehrlich, Shelley, Correia, Katharine F., Calafat, Antonia M., Ye, Xiaoyun, Ford, Jennifer, Keller, Myra, Meeker, John D., Hauser, Russ. "Predictors and Variability of Urinary Paraben Concentrations in Men and Women, Including before and during Pregnancy." Environ Health Perspect, vol. 120, no. 11, 2012, pp. 1538-1543. |
| Braun, Joe M., Lucchini, Roberto, Bellinger, David C., Hoffman, Elaine, Nazzaro, Marco, Smith, Donald R., Wright, Robert O. "Predictors of virtual radial arm maze performance in adolescent Italian children." Neurotoxicology, vol. 33, no. 5, 2012, pp. 1203-1211. |
| Kalkbrenner, Amy E., Braun, Joe M., Durkin, Maureen S., Maenner, Matthew J., Cunniff, Christopher, Daniels, Julie L. "Presentation of Study Results: Kalkbrenner et al. Respond." Environ Health Perspect, vol. 120, no. 9, 2012, pp. a344-a345. |
| Braun, Joe M., Smith, Kristen W., Williams, Paige L., Calafat, Antonia M., Berry, Katharine, Ehrlich, Shelley, Hauser, Russ. "Variability of Urinary Phthalate Metabolite and Bisphenol A Concentrations before and during Pregnancy." Environ Health Perspect, vol. 120, no. 5, 2012, pp. 739-745. |
| Braun, Joe M, Hauser, Russ. "Bisphenol A and childrenʼs health." Current Opinion in Pediatrics, vol. 23, no. 2, 2011, pp. 233-239. |
| Sathyanarayana, Sheela, Braun, Joe M., Yolton, Kimberly, Liddy, Stacey, Lanphear, Bruce P. "Case Report: High Prenatal Bisphenol A Exposure and Infant Neonatal Neurobehavior." Environ Health Perspect, vol. 119, no. 8, 2011, pp. 1170-1175. |
| Braun, J. M., Kalkbrenner, A. E., Calafat, A. M., Yolton, K., Ye, X., Dietrich, K. N., Lanphear, B. P. "Impact of Early-Life Bisphenol A Exposure on Behavior and Executive Function in Children." Pediatrics, vol. 128, no. 5, 2011, pp. 873-882. |
| Braun, Joe M, Daniels, Julie L, Poole, Charles, Olshan, Andrew F, Hornung, Richard, Bernert, John T, Xia, Yang, Bearer, Cynthia, Barr, Dana, Lanphear, Bruce P. "A prospective cohort study of biomarkers of prenatal tobacco smoke exposure: the correlation between serum and meconium and their association with infant birth weight." Environ Health, vol. 9, no. 1, 2010, pp. 53. |
| Anderko, Laura, Braun, Joe, Auinger, Peggy. "Contribution of Tobacco Smoke Exposure to Learning Disabilities." Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing, vol. 39, no. 1, 2010, pp. 111-117. |
| Kalkbrenner, Amy E, Hornung, Richard W, Bernert, John T, Hammond, S Katherine, Braun, Joe M, Lanphear, Bruce P. "Determinants of serum cotinine and hair cotinine as biomarkers of childhood secondhand smoke exposure." Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology, vol. 20, no. 7, 2010, pp. 615-624. |
| "Determinants of serum cotinine and hair cotinine as biomarkers of childhood secondhand smoke exposure." 2010. |
| Braun, Joe M., Daniels, Julie L., Poole, Charles, Olshan, Andrew F., Hornung, Richard, Bernert, John T., Khoury, Jane, Needham, Larry L., Barr, Dana B., Lanphear, Bruce P. "Prenatal environmental tobacco smoke exposure and early childhood body mass index." Paediatric and perinatal epidemiology, vol. 24, no. 6, 2010, pp. 524-534. |
| Braun, Joe M., Kalkbrenner, Amy E., Calafat, Antonia M., Bernert, John T., Ye, Xiaoyun, Silva, Manori J., Barr, Dana Boyd, Sathyanarayana, Sheela, Lanphear, Bruce P. "Variability and Predictors of Urinary Bisphenol A Concentrations during Pregnancy." Environ Health Perspect, vol. 119, no. 1, 2010, pp. 131-137. |
| Froehlich, T. E., Lanphear, B. P., Auinger, P., Hornung, R., Epstein, J. N., Braun, J., Kahn, R. S. "Association of Tobacco and Lead Exposures With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder." Pediatrics, vol. 124, no. 6, 2009, pp. e1054-e1063. |
| Braun, Joe M., Kalkbrenner, Amy. "Autism Prevalence and Precipitation: The Potential for Cross-Level Bias." Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, vol. 163, no. 5, 2009, pp. 492. |
| Braun, Joe M., Yolton, Kimberly, Dietrich, Kim N., Hornung, Richard, Ye, Xiaoyun, Calafat, Antonia M., Lanphear, Bruce P. "Prenatal Bisphenol A Exposure and Early Childhood Behavior." Environ Health Perspect, vol. 117, no. 12, 2009, pp. 1945-1952. |
| Braun, Joe M., Daniels, Julie L., Kalkbrenner, Amy, Zimmerman, Judith, Nicholas, Joyce S. "The effect of maternal smoking during pregnancy on intellectual disabilities among 8-year-old children." Paediatric and perinatal epidemiology, vol. 23, no. 5, 2009, pp. 482-491. |
| Braun, Joseph M., Froehlich, Tanya E., Daniels, Julie L., Dietrich, Kim N., Hornung, Richard, Auinger, Peggy, Lanphear, Bruce P. "Association of Environmental Toxicants and Conduct Disorder in U.S. Children: NHANES 2001–2004." Environ Health Perspect, vol. 116, no. 7, 2008, pp. 956-962. |
| Baker, Arthur M., Braun, Joe M., Salafia, Carolyn M., Herring, Amy H., Daniels, Julie, Rankins, Nicole, Thorp, John M. "Risk factors for uteroplacental vascular compromise and inflammation." American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, vol. 199, no. 3, 2008, pp. 256.e1-256.e9. |
| Baker, Arthur, Braun, Joe, Salafia, Carolyn, Herring, Amy, Daniels, Julie, Rankins, Nicole, Thorp, John. "663: Uteroplacental vascular compromise and preterm birth." American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, vol. 197, no. 6, 2007, pp. S190. |
| Braun, Joe M., Lanphear, Bruce P., Kahn, Robert S., Froehlich, Tanya, Auinger, Peggy. "ADHD: Braun et al. Respond." Environ Health Perspect, vol. 115, no. 8, 2007, pp. A399-A399. |
| Braun, Joe M., Lanphear, Bruce. "Comments on ‘Lead neurotoxicity in children: is prenatal exposure more important than postnatal exposure?’." Acta Paediatrica, vol. 96, no. 3, 2007, pp. 473-473. |
| Braun, Joe, Kahn, Robert S., Froehlich, Tanya, Auinger, Peggy, Lanphear, Bruce P. "Exposures to Environmental Toxicants and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in US Children." Environ Health Perspect, 2006. |
| "Exposures to environmental toxicants and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in U.S. children." 2005. |
Research
Research Statement
I am interested in determining whether environmental chemical exposures before conception or during fetal development and childhood adversely affect infant, child, and adolescent health. The developing fetus and child may be more sensitive to environmental chemicals because of immature detoxification pathways and rapidly developing organ systems. Some environmental chemicals, specifically endocrine disrupting chemicals, may disrupt endogenous hormone signaling and metabolism to adversely affect growth and neurodevelopment. There is specific concern that early life chemical exposures might increase the risk of disorders like learning disabilities, ADHD, autism, anxiety, and depression. In addition, I study whether these chemical may act as obesogens or diabetogens to reprogram the developing fetus and child to more efficiently store excess calories and increase the risk of obesity or cardiometabolic disorders in children. Recently, we have begun examining whether a mother or father's exposure to chemicals before pregnancy impacts their children's growth and development. Finally, I am interested in identifying modifiable sources of chemical exposures in pregnant women and children so that individuals can take steps to reduce their body burden of chemicals and regulators can effectively target public health interventions.
I work with several prospective birth cohort studies to study the determinants and health effects of environmental chemical exposures. These include the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment (HOME), Maternal Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC), Environment and Reproductive Health (EARTH), Preconception Environmental exposures And Childhood health Effects (PEACE), and Programming Research in Obesity, Growth, Environment and Social Stressors (PROGRESS) Studies.
Background
Education and Training
| Year | Degree | Institution |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | PhD | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Honors and Awards
2019: Dean’s Award for Excellence In Research Collaboration in Public Health, Brown University
2017: Named one of 20 Pioneers Under 40 in Environmental Public Health
2017: RGGS Assistant Professor of Epidemiology
2017: Brown University Research Achievement Award
2013: University of Milwaukee-Wisconsin Graduate of the Last Decade
2010-2013: Environmental Health Perspectives Reviewer of the Year
AffiliationsVisualize it
Collaborators
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Just, Allan | Nazareth-Ferguson Family University Associate Professor of Public Health, Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Environment and Society |
| Kelsey, Karl | Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Professor of Epidemiology |
| Papandonatos, George | Professor of Biostatistics (Research) |
| Pennell, Kurt | 250th Anniversary Professor of Engineering |
| Savitz, David | Professor Emeritus of Epidemiology, Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics, Professor Emeritus of Obstetrics and Gynecology |
| Tovar, Alison | Director of the Center for Health Promotion and Health Equity, Associate Professor of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Health Equity Scholars Academic Director |
| Walker, Erica | RGSS Assistant Professor of Epidemiology |
Affiliations
The International Society for Children's Health and the Environment
The International Society of Environmental Epidemiology
The International Society of Environmental Epidemiology
Credentials/Licenses
| Registered Nurse | State of Massachusetts | 2011-2016 |
Appointments
| Visiting Scientist. Harvard School of Public Health, 2012-2016 |
Teaching
Teaching
| PHP 2090 - Research Grant Writing for Public Health |
| PHP 2090A - Research Grant Writing for Public Health-Part A |
| PHP 2090B - Research Grant Writing for Public Health-Part B |
| PHP 2130 - Human Biology for Public Health |
| PHP 2220E - Topics in Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology |