CAPABILITIES

• Risk management and public policy

• Toxicology and risk assessment

• Pro bono activities

 

Risk Management and Public Policy

HealthRisk Strategies provides support on issues related to how science and risk information is used in US and international decisions about the best ways to manage, reduce, or eliminate risks to health from environmental or occupational exposures.

Organizations retain me to:

  • Comment on proposed risk policies
  • Advocate for sound science in public policy
  • Testify to advisory bodies on science policy and regulatory implementation issues
  • Write reports on regulatory and science policy issues for publication
  • Help preserve a role for science in collaborative decision-making processes

For example, I have:

  • Provided testimony to EPA’s Science Advisory Board on the children’s health aspects of EPA’s proposed cancer risk assessment guidelines.
  • Provided testimony to EPA’s Science Advisory Board on the complementary roles of science and public involvement in science policy decision-making.
  • Advised EPA’s Children’s Health Protection Advisory Committee on the use of human data for research and regulation.
  • Published several papers in peer-reviewed journals on children’s environmental health and regulation.
  • Conducted a meta analysis of studies on the effects of age on chemically induced carcinogenesis in rodents and evaluating its implications for regulatory strategies directed towards protecting children’s health.
  • Provided testimony to the National Academy of Sciences Committee on the Use of Third Party Toxicity Research with Human Research Participants.
  • Published two papers on the science, ethics, and law surrounding the use of human subjects testing data in chemical regulation.
  • Developed recommendations on risk-based decision-making and the role of the precautionary principle for the European Commission.
  • Organized and participated in symposia aimed at strengthening risk-based regulatory agendas in Europe and South America.
  • Provided comments to EPA on its proposed Clean Air Act implementation policies.
  • Provided testimony to EPA’s Office of Research and Development on its proposed revised cancer risk assessment guidelines.
  • Provided testimony to the National Toxicology Program on its carcinogen listing process.
  • Developed recommendations advocating a role of credible science in stakeholder-based risk management decision-making processes.

 

Toxicology and Risk Assessment

HealthRisk Strategies helps develop and reviews chemical-specific risk assessments and risk assessment methodology, makes recommendations about the likelihood that particular exposures may be associated with adverse health impacts, and provides toxicologic support for risk-related litigation. Organizations retain me to:

  • Peer-review risk assessments
  • Peer-review risk methods
  • Evaluate worker or environmental exposures and their likely health impacts
  • Provide scientific and technical support for cases of liability and toxic tort
  • Author papers on chemical risks

For example, I have:

  • Reviewed and commented on EPA’s proposed methods for assessing the contribution of childhood carcinogen exposures to lifetime excess cancer risk.
  • Provided comments to EPA during the development of a cumulative risk assessment of organophosphate pesticides.
  • Co-authored a paper on risks from organophosphate pesticides as estimated from biomarkers or from different risk models.
  • Peer-reviewed EPA’s proposed Framework for Cumulative Risk Assessment.
  • Chaired the peer review of EPA’s proposed risk assessment methodology for complex mixtures.
  • Advised a client on the likelihood that their new product would pose a health risk to workers.
  • Participated on an expert committee evaluating the public health impact of styrene.
  • Provided expert witness support to several law firms.
  • Assessed the primary risks to human health from environmental and occupational exposures to hazardous substances in Romania, including evaluating the institutional and regulatory issues related to characterizing and remediating hazardous exposures and developed a national environmental health strategy.
  • Assessed risks to health and the environment associated with emissions from an antiquated copper smelter in Transylvania.

 

Pro bono activities

  • Member, National Academy of Sciences Board on Environmental Studies & Toxicology
  • Member, California Green Chemistry Initiative's Science Advisory Panel, 2008
  • Member, National Academy of Sciences Low Activity Waste Committee (recommending risk-informed policies for low-level radioactive waste disposal), 2004-2007
  • Member, National Academy of Sciences Committee on Toxicity Testing of Environmental Agents (recommending toxicity testing vision for the 21st century), 2004-2007
  • Member, National Toxicology Program’s Report on Carcinogens Committee, 2002-2005
  • Involved in the leadership of the international Society for Risk Analysis, 1994-present
  • Program committee co-chair, First and Second World Congresses on Risk
  • Board member, Environmental Law Institute, 2003-2009
  • Board member, Toxicology Excellence for Risk Assessment
  • Adjunct faculty, Harvard School of Public Health, 2002-2005
  • Adjunct faculty, George Mason University Law School, 2004