![[logo] US EPA](http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
NHEERL on the Road
Dublin, Ireland
WED Aquatic Biologist Presents Paper at ECSA Symposium
Steven Ferraro, a scientist at the NHEERL Western Ecology Division's (WED's) Pacific Coastal Ecology Branch, participated in the Estuarine and Coastal Sciences Association (ECSA) Symposium in Dublin, Ireland, August 30 to September 4, 2009. ESCA is a premier international scientific organization dedicated to the study of all aspects of estuarine and coastal marine science and its applications to environmental management and protection. The theme of the ECSA Symposium was "estuarine goods and services," and its primary purpose was to provide a forum in which to present and exchange information and to discuss and debate scientific methods, approaches, and issues on this theme.
At the ECSA Symposium, Dr. Ferraro presented a paper entitled "Ecological periodic tables for estuarine habitats." His presentation included research conducted over a decade that showed recurring patterns of ecosystem support services associated with specific habitat types, which can be used to make better informed resource management decisions. While there, Dr. Ferraro also communicated directly with a large number of international scientific experts working in the field of estuarine ecosystem services, a major focus area of future ORD research.
Five EPHD Scientists Participate in ISEE Conference
The 21st International Society of Environmental Epidemiology (ISEE) Conference took place in Dublin, Ireland, August 25-29, 2009. It was one of the most important meetings where new developments in the area of exposure analysis were discussed. The continuous development of new tools, methods, and theories helps EPA and the scientific community to overcome limitations in the estimation of exposure and risk. The variability in the population, exposure conditions, and degrees of susceptibility to environmental hazards represents an important source of uncertainty. This is, without doubt, one of the biggest challenges facing the scientific community. The discussion of these issues and challenges is important to EPA in deciding which level of protection should be implemented for different population groups.
Five NHEERL Environmental Public Health Division (EPHD) scientists actively participated in the ISEE conference.
- David David Diaz-Sanchez, EPHD Clinical Research Branch Chief, met with several international experts to discuss collaborative studies with a focus on improving the ORD asthma research program. This included a visit to the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital where he met with the head of the Department of Histopathology about incorporating new pathology techniques developed there into the program. Just pior to the conference, Dr. Diaz-Sanchez participated in the ISEE workshop on Global Health Impacts of Climate Change and Variability held at University College.
- Elizabeth Hilborn, an EPHD Epidemiology Branch scientist, presented "Environmental Mycobacteriosis and Drinking Water: An Emerging Problem for Developed Countries." Dr. Hilborn's work focuses on the emerging pathogen, Mycobacterium avium, which occurs in drinking water.
- Lucas Neas, a researcher with EPHD's Epidemiology Branch, gave an oral presentation entitled "Asthma Phenotypes Modify the Impact of Environmental Factors on Children's Lung Function" and assisted in another oral presentation entitled "Associations of Endothelial Function and Air Temperature in Diabetic Individuals." Dr. Neas also served as an abstract reviewer in preparation for this conference.
- Dina Schreinemachers, an EPHD Epidemiology Branch scientist, presented a poster titled "Use of Nontraditional Epidemiologic Methods To Link Environmental Exposure and Disease: An Example." Dr. Schreinemachers also gave a lecture and participated in discussion sessions at the conference.
- Danelle Lobdell, a scientist with EPHD's Epidemiology Branch, presented a poster titled "A Feasibility Study on Assessing Public Health Impacts of Cumulative Air Pollution Reduction Activities in a Small Geographic Area." In addition, Dr. Lobdell presented a talk titled "U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2008 Report on the Environment: Identified Gaps and Future Challenges for Human Exposure and Health Indicators."