Understand how cannabis industry dust and molds affect breathing in workers
Official title: Uncovering the Risks: An Urgent Need to Investigate the Occupational Respiratory Hazards in the GrowingCannabis Industry
Funded at University of Colorado · NIH-11444653 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant looks at how air in indoor cannabis workplaces may irritate or trigger lung problems for workers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boulder, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $769,060 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL180509-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11444653 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Workers in indoor cannabis cultivation and processing facilities who are exposed to facility dust and bioaerosols.
✕Less likely to help
General public with no exposure to cannabis facility air may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
Researchers will study indoor air inside cannabis facilities to identify dust, molds, and other tiny particles that workers breathe. They will measure bioaerosols and link them to respiratory issues like asthma and allergies. The team will explore how cannabis dust and Aspergillus fumigatus might interact to harm lungs and what exposure levels lead to risk. Findings could guide safer workplace practices and protective measures for workers in this growing industry.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to better air quality standards and protections for cannabis workers.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies show links between bioaerosols and respiratory illness in indoor work environments, but this specific cannabis-focused research is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado
Boulder, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Eidem, Tess Marie — University of Colorado
- Study coordinator: Eidem, Tess Marie
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.