This is a portal for the peer-reviewed and other publications from research funded by our program, or published work relevant to chemicals and health from our group members and collaborators. We also list some papers published by researchers outside of our group, given that they have the newest and most relevant scientific findings to our mission.
Hoffman Program 2015-2016 Report
Peer-reviewed publications funded by our program
Young, A. S., Allen, J. G., Kim, U. J., Seller, S., Webster, T. F., Kannan, K., & Ceballos, D. M. (2018). Phthalate and Organophosphate Plasticizers in Nail Polish: Evaluation of Labels and Ingredients. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2018, 52, 21, 12841-12850 [Full Text]
This study measured 12 phthalate and 10 organophosphate plasticizers in 40 nail polishes from 12 brands. This study highlights inconsistencies in nail polish labels and identifies TPHP and DEHP, which are potential endocrine disruptors, as ingredient substitutes for the common plasticizer DnBP.
Raz R., Levine H., Pinto O., Broday D.M., Yuval, Weisskopf M.G. Traffic-Related Air Pollution and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Population-Based Nested Case-Control Study in Israel. Am. J. Epidemiol. 187.4 (2017): 717-725. [Full Text]
This study assessed the association between nitrogen dioxide, a traffic pollution tracer, and risk of ASD. The findings suggest that postnatal exposure to nitrogen dioxide in Israel is associated with increased odds of ASD, and prenatal exposure with lower odds. The latter may relate to selection effects.
Rotem, R.S., Chodick G., Davidovitch M., Hauser R., Coull B.A., Weisskopf M.G. Congenital Abnormalities of the Male Reproductive System and Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Am. J. Epidemiol. 187.4 (2018): 656-663. [Full Text]
Androgens have an extensive influence on brain development in regions of the brain that are relevant for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), yet their etiological involvement remains unclear. In this study, ASD risk was not found to be elevated among unaffected brothers of hypospadias or cryptorchidism cases, providing some indication for the possibility of pregnancy-specific risk factors driving the observed associations.
McNeely E, Staffa S.J., Mordukhovich, I., Coull B. 2018. Symptoms Related to New Flight Attendant Uniforms. BMC Public Health. 17: 972. [Full Text]
Recent claims from flight attendants suggest that new uniforms have elicited skin, respiratory and allergic reactions. The study found a relationship between health complains and the introduction of new uniforms in a longitudinal occupational cohort.
Dodson, R.E., Rodgers K.M., Carey G., Cedeno-Laurent J.G., Covaci A., Poma G., Malarvannan G., Spengler J.D., Rudel R.A., Allen J.G. 2017. Flame Retardant Chemicals in College Dormitories: Flammability Standards Influence Dust Concentrations. Environmental Science & Technology. 51(9): 4860-4869. [Full Text]
Dust samples from a variety of residential spaces in a university campus corroborate that the concentrations of flame retardants are influenced by adherence to a particular flammability standard.
Relevant publications from our research collaborators
Cedeno-Laurent J.G., Williams A., MacNaughton P., Cao X., Eitland E., Spengler J.D., Allen J.G. 2018. Building Evidence for Health: Green Buildings, Current Science, and Future Challenges. Annual Review of Public Health. 39: 23.1-23.18. [Full Text]
An overview of the role of buildings protecting our health by minimizing deleterious environmental exposures in the places where we spent 90% of our time.
Bakhiyi B., Gravel S., Ceballos D., Flynn M.A., Zayed J. 2018. Has the Question of E-waste Opened a Pandora’s Box? An Overview of
Unpredictable issues and Challenges. Environmental International. 110: 173-192. [Full Text]
This scientific review provides an overview of the complex and global e-waste problem. E-waste management faces many gaps, issues and challenges, and Improper e-waste handling has led to several human health and environmental issues.Solutions should be eco-oriented consumer habits and upgraded recycling processes.
Beaucham C., Ceballos D., King B. 2017. Lessons Learned from Surface Wipe Sampling for Lead in Three Workplaces. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene.14:8, 611-619.
Surface wipe sampling in the occupational environment is a technique widely used by industrial hygienists. Wiping sampling in this study demonstrated lead in non-production surfaces in all of the three workplaces examined and employees were potentially taking lead home to their families existed.
Ceballos D., Beaucham C., Page E. 2017. Metal Exposures at Three U.S. Electronic Scrap Recycling Facilities. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene. 14(6):401-408.
Air, surface, and biological monitoring were performed at three escap facilities for metals. Metals were found on non-production surfaces, and the skin and clothing of workers before they left work in all of the facilities.
Ceballos D., Dong Z. 2016. The Formal Electronic Recycling Industry: Environmental and Occupational Health Research Challenges and Opportunities. Environmental International. 95: 157-166. [Full Text]
With mounting e-waste, more workers, their family members, and communities could experience unhealthful exposures to metals and other chemicals. The long-term solution is manufacturing of electronics without harmful substances and easy-to-disassemble components.
Ceballos D., Whittaker S., Lee E.G., Broadwater K., Roberts J., Gong W. 2016. Occupational Exposures to New Dry Cleaning Solvents: High-Flashpoint Hydrocarbons and Butylal. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene. 13(10):759-69. [Full Text]
Occupational exposures to two new alternative dry cleaning solvents, butylal and high-flashpoint hydrocarbons, were characterized in four dry cleaning shops. Air concentrations in the butylal shops were well below occupational exposure limits, but there were potential skin exposures.
Dong Z., Lynch R.A., Schaider L.A. 2016. Key Contributors to Variations in Fish Mercury within and among Freshwater Reservoirs in Oklahoma, USA. Environmental Science: Processes & Impact. 18(2): 222-236.
This paper presents a statistical evaluation of the key variables affecting fish mercury in freshwater reservoirs in central rural U.S. Fish in local farm ponds were found to contain 2–17 times higher total mercury concentrations than fish of a similar length in nearby reservoirs.
Latest Research
Lewis A.C. 2018. The Changing Face of Urban Air Pollution. Science. 359(6377): 744-745.
VOC emissions from consumer products and other petrochemical-derived products now surpass those from automotive related emissions. This represents a new challenge in the regulatory policy for emission control in urban sites.
McDonald B.C., de Gouw J.A., Gilman J.B., Jathar S.H., Akherati A., Cappa C.D., et al. 2018. Volatile Chemical Products Emerging as Largest Petrochemical Source of Urban Organic Emissions. Science. 359(6377): 760-764.
Transport-derived emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have decreased owing to stricter controls on air pollution. This means that the relative importance of chemicals in pesticides, coatings, printing inks, adhesives, cleaning agents, and personal care products has increased, and these volatile chemicals now contribute fully one-half of emitted VOCs in 33 industrialized cities.
Steinemann A. 2018. Fragranced Consumer Products: Effects on Asthmatics. Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health. 11(1): 3-9. [Full Text]
Presence of fragrance in the workplace is particularly harmful to asthmatics. This study documents the prevalence of negative effects that asthmatics report while being exposed to fragrances in the workplace.
Dantoft T.M., Skovbjerg S., Andersson L., Claeson A.S., Engkilde K., Lind N., Nordin S., Hellgren L. 2017. Gene Expression Profiling in Persons with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity before and after a Controlled n-Butanol Exposure Session. BMJ Open. 7(2).
In a small sample of 36 individuals, this study aimed at comparing gene expression levels between participants with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and healthy controls before and after a chemical exposure. Results showed a similar gene expression level at baseline between cases and controls. After exposure, it was not possible to identify MCS cases based on gene expression.