Title: A Modular Mechanistic Framework for Assessing Human Exposure to Chemicals in Materials, Products, and Articles – Next Steps
Date: Thursday, January 14, 2021
Time: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM ET
Presenter: John Little and Clara Eichler
Instructors: Vasu Kilaru, Elena Austin, Edmund Seto, Darby Jack, Steven Chillrud, Dan Westervelt, Vikram Rao
Saturday, August 14th, 2021 | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM EST
Description: Given the cost and popularity along with the uncertainty/variability in data quality, the use of air sensors for a given application requires an understanding of the data quality of these devices. This can be done either in the laboratory or in-situ in the field, both of which have their advantages and disadvantages. The advantage of a field study is that it portrays real world conditions along with interferences from a complex mixture of pollutants. Field deployment of sensors along with a co-located reference monitor allows for direct assessment of the data quality performance of the sensor devices.
Learning Objectives: This course will demonstrate the basic steps of a co-location analysis from data already collected. Such an analysis not only illuminates the performance of the given sensors, but could be used to re-calibrate the instruments to provide improved performance. The analysis will consider various performance parameters such as precision, accuracy, error and discuss effects of temperature and relative humidity.
Attendees of this course will utilize collocated reference and sensor data and evaluate performance based on several metrics. Data will already be uploaded online and an R Shiny package will be used for analysis. Data from several sites are likely to be used to illustrate issues. The instructors will also discuss other issues such as:
1. Logistics: Permissions, space concerns and distance from other instruments’ sample inlets, insurance, safety, power, networking, access, etc.
2. Choice of colocation site: how representative is the colocation site’s environment with the environment that the monitor will eventually be located? Discussion of the different types of sites (regional, near-roadway, etc.) that are operated by gov’t, as this often conditions the instruments and pollutant species that are collected there.
3. How long should the colocation be? Re-colocation/re-calibration?
4. Do all monitors need to be collocated/calibrated within a study/region?
5. Measuring other covariates to understand sensor performance/calibration? E.g., temperature, humidity
6. Identifying sensor limits of detection (high or low) and/or non-linear sensor response from colocation data.
7. Identifying sensor drift or failure from colocation data.
Instructors: Courtney Carignan, Alison Connolly
Friday, July 30th, 2021 | 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM EST
Description: Get support preparing for your platform presentation from the ISES Mentorship committee. Our panelists will share their top tips and participants will be invited to practice their presentation in a small breakout group to get positive and constructive feedback from one of our panelists.
Instructors: Kyle Messier
Friday, August 13th, 2021 | 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM EST
Description: Land-use regression, Kriging, and similar geospatial methods are popular approaches for predicting external exposure. This workshop will introduce recent developments in land-use regression and Kriging methods that allow for simultaneous selection of geographic covariates while accounting for spatial or spatiotemporally correlated errors while being scalable for large geospatial datasets. Additionally, methods to account for non-detect or left-censored data in land-use regression will be discussed. Participants in this workshop will learn the theory and the R-language implementation with real-world data.
Instructors: Tai Lung
Friday, July 30th, 2021 | 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM EST
Description: The public looks to health care providers for expertise in environmental health. Unfortunately, physicians receive very little formal training regarding environmental exposures and even less on the relationship to health outcomes. Medical school curricula are increasingly including instruction on social determinants of health as these factors are accepted influences for poor health outcomes. Building from this, attendees of this 2-hour workshop will learn how to use the US EPA’s EJSCREEN Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping Tool, in conjunction with publicly available health outcome data to teach medical professionals the relationship between environmental exposures (lead-based paint and air pollution), social factors (race, economic status) and poor health outcomes, such as lead poisoning, asthma, and shortened life expectancy. As health educators and students may not have access to GIS applications or methods, the tools needed for this activity are an internet browser and a spreadsheet application with mapping capabilities such as Microsoft Excel.
Instructors: Chisato Calvert, Jeremy Taub
Monday, August 30th, 2021 | 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM EST
Description: This workshop will introduce the OpenAQ Platform, Tools, and Community to participants in order to inspire and empower them to apply – and contribute – open air quality data in new ways to their research. By participating in this workshop, participants will be able to:
• Access more than half a billion near real-time air quality (PM2.5, PM10, O3, NO2, CO, SO2, and BC) data points from 11000+ stations in 93 countries via an online user interface, API and other methods
• Create user-customized datasets for download
• Analyze large batches of data quickly using AWS’ Athena and other open-source tools from the OpenAQ Community
• Learn how open air quality data has been applied to various fields including research, journalism, policy, and education
• Learn how to share air quality data obtained for research purposes on the OpenAQ Platform
• Learn how to connect with the OpenAQ Community to gain new colleagues working on air quality issues from a variety of fields across the world.
Instructors: Lindsey Martin
Monday, August 30th, 2021 | 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM EST
Description: Implementation science is the study of methods to promote the adoption and integration of evidence-based interventions (e.g., programs, practices, and policies) into routine health care, community, and public health settings. This objective of this two-hour interactive workshop is to provide participants with a high-level overview of implementation science and its application to the field of environmental health. Topics that will be discussed include distinguishing effectiveness (e.g., intervention) studies from implementation studies, differentiating implementation outcomes from effectiveness outcomes, common implementation strategies, hybrid effectiveness-implementation designs, an overview of theories, models, and frameworks in implementation science, and the importance of community engagement in the implementation process. Participants will come away from the workshop with an introductory understanding of how to apply implementation science to their work in environmental health, and a list of resources to promote further study.
Instructors: Bryan Duncan, Pawan Gupta
Friday, August 13th, 2021 | 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM EST
Description: The combination of air quality (AQ) data from satellites and low-cost sensor systems, along with output from AQ models, have the potential to augment high-quality, regulatory-grade data in countries with in situ monitoring networks and provide much needed AQ information for health professional in countries without them. We demonstrate the potential of free and publicly-available NASA resources, which include capacity building activities, satellite data, and global AQ forecasts, to provide cost-effective, and reliable AQ information to health professionals around the world. We will also have a hands-on training to show participants how to access NASA resources.
Instructors: Esther Erdei, Kathleen Vandiver, Amanda Mayer, Judith Zelikoff
Friday, July 30th, 2021 | 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM EST
Description: The workshop will introduce a novel learning system considering environmental health, genetics and emerging chemicals from a health equity perspective. Our approach combines hands-on interactive models with case-based lessons, and targeted online toxicology lectures that highlights environmental health issues in impacted communities. The hands-on approach employs DNA and protein molecular models designed to demonstrate differences in susceptibilities to environmental chemicals. The models provide learners with visuals and an experience of “learning by doing.” Increased knowledge of the effects of environmental toxicants is the first step toward improving health care for exposed communities. The workshop designed to provide a fundamental basis of environmental health education for students (undergraduate, graduate level) and health care professionals new to environmental health and environmental justice issues. The workshop team will deliver interactive, hands-on learning opportunities to the audience that strengthens toxicological concepts and linking those to population susceptibilities and potential emerging disease pathways.
Instructors: Jianguo Xia
Friday, August 13th, 2021 | 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM EST
Description: The growing applications of high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) have set the stage for a new paradigm for exposure assessment. However, data analysis and interpretation remain challenging. User-friendly, high-performance tools are urgently needed. This workshop will introduce the latest version (5.0) of MetaboAnalyst (www.metaboanalyst.ca) for comprehensive LC-HRMS spectral processing and analysis. In particular, participants will be able to
• Devise proper bioinformatics workflows for processing and analyzing metabolomic data
• Understand parameter optimization and conduct LC-MS data processing;
• Apply appropriate statistics to undertake rigorous data analysis;
• Visualize datasets to gain intuitive insights into the composition and functional insights
Instructors: John Wambaugh, Barbara Wetmore, Caroline Ring
Friday, August 13th, 2021 | 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM EST
Description: Toxicokinetics (TK) provides key information for relating inherent chemical hazard to the exposures that occur in order to understand potential risk posed to public health. High throughput toxicokinetics (HTTK) is the combination of in vitro data and generic TK modeling. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s R package “httk” provides open source data and models for HTTK for more than a thousand chemicals. This course will introduce “httk” by covering the generation of chemical-specific in vitro data for HTTK, generic TK models for key exposure scenarios that may be parameterized with those data, uncertainty and variability analysis, and applications to in vitro-in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE) for risk assessment.
Instructors: Peter Fantke, Olivier Jolliet, Lei Huang
Monday, August 30th, 2021 | 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM EST
Description: There is an increasing need for methods to assess exposure and related impacts of toxic chemical emissions on human health and ecosystems including consumer exposure. This course provides a practical overview of multimedia chemical fate modelling, near-field and far-field multi-pathway human exposure modelling, ecosystem and human health effects dose-response modelling, and comparative indicators for human-toxicological and ecotoxicological impacts. We explain basic concepts of environmental mass balance modelling including partitioning, first order cross-media transport, and persistence. We further introduce the concept of assessing multiple transfers between near-field and far-field environments and resulting exposures for consumers and the general population, discussing data and models available for detergents, building materials, food contact materials and personal care products. Along a series of practical examples, we will illustrate how fate, exposure, effect and damage factors can be combined to construct factors to characterize chemical emissions and chemicals in consumer products, building on the USEtox scientific consensus model and USEtox-compatible near-field models. We will conclude with a demonstration of how the models can be used in various applications, including the prioritization and ranking of chemicals for institutions like the European Commission or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Course Objectives
The aim of this course is to introduce participants to the exposure science methods used in life-cycle and comparative risk assessments. Participants will learn to use and evaluate basic tools for mass-balance, fate modelling, near-field and far-field exposure and intake fraction, and effect factor estimation. Participants will review underlying model assumptions and evaluate data needs along with data and knowledge gaps in these assessments.
The course is intended for environmental science practitioners interested in the scientific fundamentals of chemical impact assessment for a broad range of environmental emissions. Only basic background knowledge of environmental modelling, risk assessment or life cycle assessment is considered necessary.
Participants will come away with knowledge of basic concepts of consumer and population exposure science for chemical impact assessment and be able to perform their own assessment using the latest release version of the scientific consensus model USEtox and related near-field models, and interpret results for their own application context.
Target Audience
The course is for PhD students, professionals and practitioners interested in state-of-the-art mass balance-based tools for use in life cycle impact assessment, human and ecological toxicity assessment, consumer exposure assessment, risk screening, chemical substitution and prioritization. No specific previous knowledge is required.
Products/Course materials
Short course copies of all lecture presentation slides as well as working materials for the exercises will be distributed electronically. A copy of all presented modelling tools will be distributed. Course participants will be provided copies of all main scientific articles in electronic form.
Instructors: Bryan Duncan, Pawan Gupta
Friday, August 13th, 2021 | 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM EST
Description: The combination of air quality (AQ) data from satellites and low-cost sensor systems, along with output from AQ models, have the potential to augment high-quality, regulatory-grade data in countries with in situ monitoring networks and provide much needed AQ information for health professional in countries without them. We demonstrate the potential of free and publicly-available NASA resources, which include capacity building activities, satellite data, and global AQ forecasts, to provide cost-effective, and reliable AQ information to health professionals around the world. We will also have a hands-on training to show participants how to access NASA resources.
Instructors: Alison Krajewski, Lauren Wyatt, Alexandra Larsen
Friday, August 6th, 2021 | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM EST
Description: Data visualization is critical to conveying new findings in environmental health and is a vital part of advancing the field of environmental epidemiology around the globe. There are a variety of options for creating figures with licensed software, but data visualization packages like ggplot2/R are easily accessible and economical alternatives that can produce high quality and journal-ready figures. The syntax of ggplot2 is challenging to learn, so this workshop aims to allow participants to become comfortable with the syntax of ggplot2, create elegant, complex figures, and be comfortable applying the skills learned to their own research projects.
This workshop, led by a diverse, all-female panel of new researchers, will offer live-coding and interactive examples using R statistical software. This session will begin with a brief introduction to the ggplot2 package and supporting packages. Next, we will cover general practices for manipulating data structures and data formatting for creating ggplots. We will spend the majority of the workshop introducing examples of various plots that are frequently used in environmental epidemiology, focusing on the following aspects:
• Adding confidence intervals to point estimates;
• Manipulating background, axis, titles, legends, colors, themes;
• Creating maps;
• Saving and exporting high quality figures for presentations and publications.
We assume that participants will have some experience in statistical programming. No prior experience with ggplot is necessary, but this workshop is not meant to be an introduction to R.
Instructors: Dinsheng Li, Allison Patton, Marissa Kosnik, Tom Bruton, Susan Csiszar, Kristin Isaacs, Brittany Baisch
Saturday, July 31st, 2021 | 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM EST
Description: Being an exposure scientist can open many different doors in terms of career paths. In this workshop, graduate students, postdocs, and junior faculties who are wondering about their future can interact with six panelists from four sectors (academia, industry, government, and non-profit) at different career stages. The panelists will first introduce themselves and share their experience in their respective sectors as exposure scientists. Then the floor will open for Q&A with the audience. This workshop is organized by the ISES Mentorship Committee and sponsored by the Health Effects Institute.
Instructors: Jessica Daniel, Jose Zambrana
Saturday, July 31st, 2021 | 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM EST
Description: EnviroAtlas (https://www.epa.gov/enviroatlas) is a data-rich, web-based decision support tool that combines maps, analysis tools, downloadable data, and informational resources. It is used by states, tribes, communities, and individuals to help inform policy and planning decisions that impact the places where we live, learn, work and play. EnviroAtlas contains two primary tools: An Interactive Map, which provides access to 550+ environment-related and demographic maps and the Eco-Health Relationship Browser, which displays evidence from hundreds of scientific publications on the linkages between ecosystems, the services they provide, and human health. EnviroAtlas data are available for multiple extents for the U.S., from fine-scale data for individual municipalities to national datasets. This workshop will demonstrate how to use the two main interactive tools, including analysis tools built in to the Interactive Map. We will also do a deep dive into available EnviroAtlas data, focusing on topics of import to the ISES community, including: Impacts of public health policy, Climate change, Sustainability, Multiple stressor interactions, Use of “big data” in exposure science.
Attendees will be trained on how to access the data online and download for use. The workshop will also cover resources available for specific user groups, including Downloadable Geospatial Toolboxes, Educational modules for classroom use, a guide for using EnviroAtlas in Health Impact Assessment, and more. Attendees will also get a sneak peek at upcoming EnviroAtlas features and data. The virtual workshop will invite interaction and engagement from attendees to explore their topics of interest.
Instructors: Melissa Smarr,Lauren Aleksunes, Andres Cardenas, Zelieann R Craig, Michael (Mike) Humble, Ericka L. Reid, Tiffany Sanchez, Kassim Traore, Marie O’Neill
Friday, July 30th, 2021 | 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM EST
Description: The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences provides a great opportunity for researchers to advance exposure science and environmental epidemiology, but the NIH grant process can be challenging, particularly for first time applicants. This workshop will demystify the grant application process, provide tips for applicants, and highlight funding programs relevant to the ISES/ISEE communities. Workshop participants will also discuss strategies to increase the recruitment and retention of PIs and students from groups who have been historically underrepresented in biomedical research and underfunded by NIH.
Instructors: Andrew Slocombe, Kelsey Ranjbar
Friday, August 6th, 2021 | 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM EST
Description: Many California communities, including low-income and minority communities, face disproportionate and cumulative impacts from pollution. To better understand and identify these communities, CalEPA’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) developed CalEnviroScreen, a science-based mapping tool that identifies vulnerable California communities by census tract that are disproportionately burdened by multiple sources of pollution. This workshop will provide an overview and brief background of CalEnviroScreen, focusing on the scoring of pollution indicators and the concept of cumulative exposure and how that differs from traditional exposure assessment. There will then be an interactive portion to explore different areas of the state using CalEnviroScreen’s online mapping applications. The workshop will finish with opportunity for discussion on the benefits and limitations of the tool, it’s future potential, and methods to incorporate and/or improve additional exposure information into CalEnviroScreen.
Instructors: Ana Rule, Juan Pablo Ramos Bonilla
Friday, August 6th, 2021 | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM EST
Description: Este taller está diseñado para proporcionar el conocimiento básico y la habilidad para realizar muestreos de aire para aerosoles biológicos y cómo analizar y presentar resultados. Los temas incluyen la justificación y los métodos para realizar un muestreo selectivo por tamaño, la viabilidad del organismo, la eficiencia del mustreo, las fuentes comunes emision, las concentraciones relativas y enfoques para realizar “one health”. Repasaremos el principio de funcionamiento y pros / contras de los muestreadores más habituales. Otros temas que se discutirán incluyen desafíos para definir estándares de exposición. Incluye tiempo para la discusión de estudios de casos.
This workshop is designed to provide the basic knowledge and skill to perform air sampling for biological aerosols, and how to analyze and present results. Topics include rationale and methods for conducting size-selective sampling, organism viability, collection efficiency, common sources of concern, relative concentrations, and one health approaches. We will review the principle of operation and pros/cons of the most common samplers. Other topics to be discusses include challenges for defining exposure standards and guidelines. Includes time for discussion of case studies.