About

Hae-Young Kim is a Professor of the Practice of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at Duke University, holding this position since 2011. Her research and teaching interests include bilingualism and translanguaging, second and heritage Korean language development, and content-based language instruction with a focus on history, literature, and cultural studies. She has published on topics such as discourse reference forms, tense/aspect morphology, and relative clause construction in L2 Korean, as well as heritage language learners, motivations, and content-driven and socially-engaging language instruction. Her current research focuses on constructing language instruction that engages in critical academic discourse while aligning with students’ cultural interests and subjectivity.

Research topics

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Environmental chemistry
• Environmental science
• Internal medicine
• Ecology
• Medicine
• Organic chemistry
• Environmental health
• Waste management
• Immunology
• Pulp and paper industry
• Pediatrics
• Agroforestry
• Geology
• Surgery
• Obstetrics
• Environmental protection
• Chromatography

Selected publications

• The Human Exposome: Integrating the Environment, Human Health, and Society for the Next 60 years

  Environmental Science & Technology · 2026-05-05

  articleOpen access

  The exposome framework promises comprehensive characterization of chemical, physical, and biological exposures shaping human health, yet the measurement capacity now vastly outpaces interpretation and action. Here, we synthesize emerging frontiers that define the translation of exposome science into prevention: moving from "chemical dark matter" in high-resolution mass spectrometry toward functional exposomics; integrating the microbial exposome as both the target and modulator of exposures; deploying AI-enabled causal inference to bridge molecular precision with population-scale patterns; and embedding exposome evidence into proactive interventions, green chemistry, environmental redesign, and environmental justice frameworks. Progress over the next six decades will depend not only on measurement comprehensiveness but also on our capacity to shift from documenting environmental harm to designing healthier environments.

  PublisherDOI

• Evaluation of Fluorochemical Leaching from Lithium-Ion Batteries Under Simulated Solid Waste Landfill Conditions

  Environmental Science & Technology · 2025-12-03 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  Lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) are widely used in electronic devices and renewable energy systems. Fluorochemicals are essential components of LiBs, as a component of electrolytes, electrodes, and coatings. However, there are concerns about the environmental release of fluorochemicals, especially within landfills after disposal, due to the fact that landfill leachate is typically treated in facilities not designed to attenuate fluorochemicals. We have evaluated the occurrence of fluorochemical compounds in commercial LiBs and fluoropolymer binders and the release of LiB-derived fluorochemicals in simulated municipal solid waste (MSW) leaching experiments. Our survey of 19 LiBs found per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) including bis(perfluoroalkyl)sulfonimide (bis-FASI, up to 36 mg) and inorganic fluorochemicals such as hexafluorophosphate (PF6–, up to 1.4 g) and bis(fluorosulfinyl)imide (bis-FSI, up to 250 mg). PFAS were also measured in fluoropolymer binders in the range of 2–2000 ng/g. Nontargeted analysis resulted in detection of diverse fluorinated sulfonimides and organic phosphofluoridates in batteries as well as 6 novel PFAS in fluoropolymer binders. Analysis of MSW landfill leachates indicated the presence of LiB-derived fluorochemicals up to 76 μg/L. Simulated MSW leaching experiments showed that LiBs released PFAS (up to 100 mg/L) and inorganic fluorochemicals (up to 1.4 g/L) into the landfill leachate over a period of 220 days. Furthermore, PF6– and bis-FSI transformed in landfill leachate to form organic phosphofluoridates and novel amino sulfonyl fluorosulfanomides. This is the first report of PFAS and fluorochemical release from LiBs and transformation under landfill leaching conditions.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Assessment of developmental neurotoxicology-associated alterations in neuronal architecture and function using Caenorhabditis elegans

  ALTEX · 2025-01-01 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access

  Few of the many chemicals that regulatory agencies are charged with assessing for risk have been carefully tested for developmental neurotoxicity (DNT). To speed up assessment, and to reduce the use of vertebrate animals, great effort is being devoted to alternative laboratory models for DNT. A major DNT mechanism is altered neuronal architecture resulting from chemical exposure during neurodevelopment. Caenorhabditis elegans is a nematode that has been extensively studied by neurobiologists and developmental biologists, and to a lesser extent by neurotoxicologists. The development of the nervous system in C. elegans is easily visualized, entirely invariant, and fully mapped. We hypothesized that C. elegans could be a powerful in vivo model to test chemicals for their potential to alter neuronal architecture during development. We developed a novel C. elegans DNT testing paradigm that includes developmental exposure, examines major neurotransmitter neuronal types for architectural alterations, and tests neuron-specific behaviors. We characterized the effects of exposures to the developmental neurotoxicants lead, cadmium, and benzo(a)pyrene on neuronal architecture and specification. We identified no cases in which the apparent neurotransmitter type of the neurons we examined changed, but many in which neuronal morphology was altered. We found that neuron-specific behaviors were altered during C. elegans mid-adulthood for populations with measured morphological neurodegeneration in earlier stages. The functional changes were consistent with the morphological changes in terms of the type of neuron affected. Finally, we identified changes consistent with those reported in the mammalian DNT literature, strengthening the case for C. elegans as a DNT model.

  PublisherDOI

• High exposure variance enables candidate biomarker detection in a small EWAS of methylmercury-exposed Peruvian adults

  BMC Genomic Data · 2025-09-29

  articleOpen access

  BACKGROUND: Epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) are a highly promising approach that can inform precision environmental health. However, current EWAS are underpowered and increasing sample sizes will require substantial resources. Therefore, alternative approaches for identifying candidate biomarkers through EWAS are critical. Here, we provide proof of principle that maximizing exposure variance in EWAS enables effective candidate biomarker detection, even in small sample sizes. METHODS: We profiled genome-wide DNA methylation in whole blood from individuals from Madre de Dios, Peru, with either high methylmercury (MeHg) exposure (> 10 µg/g total hair mercury; N = 16) or low MeHg exposure (< 1 µg/g total hair mercury; N = 16). RESULTS: We identified nine differentially methylated CpG sites (FDR < 0.05), which is comparable to the number identified by much larger EWAS. The most significantly different CpG site was in an intronic enhancer of the SLC5A7 gene, which encodes the L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1) that facilitates MeHg transport. Our Gene Ontology and transcription factor motif enrichment analyses identified genes involved in outcomes linked to MeHg toxicity, including immune response, neurotoxicity, and type 2 diabetes (T2D). CONCLUSIONS: Similar EWAS in global populations with known high exposure variance can be leveraged to develop targeted, custom sequencing panels and microarrays limited to replicated, validated biomarkers of a given exposure.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Silicone wristbands for assessing personal chemical exposures: impacts of movement on chemical uptake rates

  Environmental Science Processes & Impacts · 2025-01-01 · 7 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  ) the respective rates in this rotator experiment. These results suggest that a mass transfer mechanism based solely on gas-solid partitioning under variations in air velocity cannot fully explain uptake on worn wristbands. Instead, the results implicate additional processes such as particle phase deposition, direct contact with certain materials, and excretion from skin as pathways of accumulation on the wristband sampler and personal exposure.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• National Inventory of Coal Ash Quality in Reserve at Major Electric Power Facilities in the United States

  2025-01-01

  article1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Environmental exposure assessment in the international prospective study of Chronic Kidney Disease of UnceRtain Etiology (CKDu) in Agricultural Communities (CURE) research consortium: Design and protocol development

  The Science of The Total Environment · 2025-05-22 · 4 citations

  articleOpen access

  Chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) is a major health concern among outdoor manual workers in rural Central America and South Asia. The CURE study is a prospective longitudinal cohort designed to investigate CKDu's environmental risk factors through standardized exposure assessments, questionnaires, and biological and environmental sample collection. This manuscript details the development of a standardized exposure assessment protocol within the CKDu CURE Consortium. The study recruits adults (18–45 years) from CKDu hotspots across five countries, ensuring proportional representation across three eGFR categories (20–59, 60–89, ≥90 mL/min/1.73m 2 ) and excluding participants with diabetes or other known CKD causes. The CURE study is committed to promptly returning clinically and environmentally relevant test results to participants after analysis. Exposure assessment includes demographics, healthcare access, nephrotoxic medications, infectious pathogens, and agricultural work conditions (e.g., heat stress, hydration, diet, agrochemicals, toxicants). Biological and environmental samples (water, dust, soil, wristbands) are collected considering seasonal variations. Omics analyses, including metabolomics, will investigate environmental and biological interactions. Statistical analyses will assess relationships between exposures and CKDu onset or progression, incorporating environmental mixture analyses. CURE will provide critical insights into CKDu risk factors, supporting future research and prevention strategies. A comprehensive exposure assessment will enhance understanding of environmental contributors, guiding interventions at individual, workplace, and community levels to mitigate CKDu's impact. • Chronic Kidney Disease of UnceRtain Etiology (CKDu) is a leading cause of death and disability among young agricultural workers in Central America and Soth Asia. • The Chronic Kidney Disease of UnceRtain Etiology (CKDu) in Agricultural Communities (CURE) study is a prospective multi-center cohort investigating the complex etiology of CKDu. • CURE focuses focus on environmental exposures in rural hotspot regions across Central America and India. • The study collects data on multiple risk factors—such as social determinants, occupational conditions, heat stress, hydration practices, agrochemical exposures, nephrotoxic medications, metals and metalloids, and other toxicants. • The study will generate essential knowledge on CKDu risk factors, guiding future research and informing prevention efforts.

  PublisherDOI

• Leadership in Environmental Engineering and Science: Celebrating Dr. Domenico Grasso’s Editorial Legacy and Presidential Appointment

  Environmental Engineering Science · 2025-06-25 · 1 citations

  articleCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Predictive Assessment of the Chemical Composition of Coal Ash in Reserve at U.S. Disposal Sites

  Environmental Science & Technology · 2025-03-07 · 7 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  In the United States, more than 2 Gt of coal combustion residuals (i.e., coal ash) are stored in hundreds of disposal units. Recent federal regulations mandate the closure or retrofitting of most coal ash impoundments, presenting significant challenges for waste management. These regulatory pressures also present opportunities to reuse coal ash. However, the quality and quantity of discarded coal ash across the U.S. are not well known, even though this information is crucial for spurring its reuse for conventional and new material applications. This study describes a predictive model for the major element composition of coal ash in reserve at disposal sites of major U.S. coal-fired power plants. This model was constructed from coal purchase records of 705 power stations from 1973 to 2022 and was trained on coal ash composition data, showing that coal ash elemental composition is strongly associated with the source of feedstock coal. The model showed regional shifts in the major element contents of ash produced by power plants in the last 50 years, particularly for calcium and iron (expressed as %CaO and %Fe2O3), as power stations changed their source of coal over this time frame. Our approach enables an estimation of chemical composition for ash stored in waste impoundments at individual power stations. Such information can help to delineate the regional market resource potential of supplementary cements for concrete and other material innovations that would utilize coal ash harvested from disposal sites across the U.S.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Apolitical Science

  Environmental Science & Technology · 2025-04-08 · 2 citations

  editorial
  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• William Pan

  Duke University

  42 shared

• Ernesto Ortiz

  35 shared

• Nelson Rivera

  Duke University

  31 shared

• Avner Vengosh

  30 shared

• Axel Berky

  Duke University

  27 shared

• Laura Ruhl

  University of Arkansas at Little Rock

  24 shared

• James C. Hower

  University of Kentucky

  23 shared

• Ross K. Taggart

  Duke University

  19 shared

Education

• Ph.D. Environmental Engineering

  University of California Berkeley

  2004

• M.S. Environmental Engineering

  University of California Berkeley

  1999

• B.S. Environmental Engineering Science

  Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  1998