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Simon hales photoBA MB BChir (Cambridge) MPH PhD (Otago)

Research Professor; HEIRU

Contact details

Email simon.hales@otago.ac.nz

Research interests and activities

Simon is an environmental epidemiologist with an interest in the atmospheric environment and global issues.

Simon's current projects include:

  • empirical modelling of air pollution and health
  • assessing health aspects of vulnerability and adaptation to climate change
  • estimating the global burden of disease attributable to climate change
  • empirical modelling of communicable disease in relation to climate
  • health co benefits of climate change mitigation

Publications

Chambers, T., Kim, A., Dean, F., Bain, I., Douwes, J., Berry, M., Baker, M., & Hales, S. (2026). Nitrate pollution of drinking water linked to preterm birth: New NZ study. The Briefing, (14 July). Retrieved from https://www.phcc.org.nz/briefing/nitrate-pollution-drinking-water-linked-preterm-birth-new-nz-study Journal - Research Other

Chambers, T., Kim, A. H. M., Dean, F., Bain, I., Douwes, J., Berry, M., Baker, M. G., & Hales, S. (2026). Nitrate in drinking water and preterm birth: A national retrospective cohort study in New Zealand. Environmental Research, 306, 125169. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2026.125169 Journal - Research Article

Chambers, T., Prickett, M., & Hales, S. (2026). Denmark to dramatically reduce limit for nitrate in drinking water: Should NZ do the same? The Briefing, (25 June). Retrieved from https://www.phcc.org.nz/briefing/denmark-dramatically-reduce-limit-nitrate-drinking-water-should-nz-do-same Journal - Research Other

Yu, W., Xu, R., Huang, W., Yang, Z., Ye, T., Yu, P., … Hales, S., … Guo, Y. (2026). Regional variations in emergency care vulnerability to summer heat. Nature Communications. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1038/s41467-026-73338-z Journal - Research Article

Hales, S., Prickett, M., & Baker, M. (2026). Climate change risk report exposes serious public health policy gaps. The Briefing, (25 May). Retrieved from https://www.phcc.org.nz/briefing/climate-change-risk-report-exposes-serious-public-health-policy-gaps Journal - Research Other

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