Dr. Beate Ritz's research focuses on the health effects of occupational and environmental toxins such as pesticides, ionizing radiation, and air pollution on chronic diseases including neurodegenerative (Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer, multiple systems atrophy (MSA)) and neurodevelopmental disorders (autism, cerebral palsy), cancers, as well as adverse birth outcomes and childhood asthma. In terms of occupational health, she investigated the causes of cancer in chemical toxin and radiation exposed workers, assessed the impact of ergonomic work-place factors on musculo-skeletal disorders, and pesticide exposures and Parkinson's disease in farmers. For the past two decades, she studied the effects of air pollution on adverse birth outcomes, asthma, autism, and childhood and adult cancers. She has also been investigating the long-term effects of pesticide exposures on Parkinson's disease, autism and childhood cancers and conducting implementation research for the CA Parkinson's disease registry (CPDR) required by a law in California. Her research uses geographic information system (GIS) modeling of environmental exposures including pesticide use and traffic related air pollution and investigates links between genetic susceptibility factors and environmental exposures in populations. She is directing and collaborating in a large number of federally (NIH, DOD, NASA), state (California Air Resources Board), and foundation (Michael J Fox Foundation, MSA foundation) funded research projects.