Chemrisk.Com Area of Expertise

We offer a complete spectrum of services for conducting quantitative health risk assessments of consumer products using product specific sampling and quantification methods. Some of our professionals are international authorities on developing and applying methods for estimating or predicting possible chemical exposure from various consumer products. We are familiar with, and have utilized, screening tools such as x-ray flourescence (XRF) and numerous laboratory analytical methods. Our scientists have participated in scientific advisory panels sponsored by government agencies concerning chemicals contained in a wide array of consumer products, and, have become recognized experts in conducting health risk assessments for children’s exposures.

ChemRisk^® scientists have evaluated the health risks associated with a wide range of consumer products, including:

measurement of leachable lead concentratons in cosmetic jewelry and children’t toys;
analysis of asbestos fiber type in brakes and clutches;
assessment of dermal sensitization potential of latex gloves;
analysis of phthalate levels in processed cheese; and
assessment of trace benzene levels in petroleum-based products.

The changes in consumer attitudes and corporate culture in the United States are now being reflected by the passage of state and national laws regarding consumer products. The recently passed Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), for example, set key dates concerning lead and phthalate concentrations in children’s toys. Proposition 65, also known as California’s Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, attempts to protect the public from chemicals in drinking water sources that are known to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm by informing citizens about exposures to such chemicals through required warnings. ChemRisk^® scientists helped write the original exposure guidelines for this regulation, and have advised manufacturing clients as to the most scientifically appropriate exposure assessments for satisfying the expectations of appropriate regulatory bodies. We have worked for many Fortune 100 firms and others who have been questioned about the potential health risks of their products.

In summary, our staff has extensive professional experience evaluating the possible hazards posed by chemicals in virtually every media and category of consumer product. We are ideally poised to anticipate what regulatory agencies, NGOs, lawyers, and members of the public will expect of producers and sellers of the entire spectrum of food and consumer products. Our experience serving as experts to government agencies, as well as in state and federal courts, and on international science advisory panels, gives us considerable insight regarding the known or anticipated health and environmental hazards posed by chemicals.

ChemRisk^® Publications

Haws, L.C., M.A. Harris, L.L.F. Scott, E.S. Williams, and D.J. Paustenbach.2008. Assessment of the Potential Human Health Risks Posed by Benzene in a Commercial Beverage. Journal of Food Science.73(4):T33-41.

Staskal, D.F., L.L.F. Scott, L.C. Haws, W.J. Luksemburg, L.S. Birnbaum, J.D. Urban, E.S. Williams, D.J. Paustenbach, and M.A. Harris. 2008. Assessment of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether Exposures and Health Risks Associated with Consumption of Southern Mississippi Catfish. Environ Sci Tech. 42(17):6755-6761.

Sweet L., McAtee B., Kreider M.L., Ogle S., Finely B., Panko J. 2008. Evaluating the Aquatic Toxicity of Tire Wear Particles to Algae, Daphnids, and Fish. Presented at the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry North America 29th Annual Meeting, Tampa, FL. November 18, 2008.

McAtee B., Kreider M.L., Panko J., Sweet L., Finley B. 2008. Evaluation of Chemical Leaching Potential from Roadway Particles. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry North America 29th Annual Meeting, Tampa, FL. November 18, 2008.

Gaffney SH, KM Unice, MH Le, and ML Kreider. Formaldehyde emissions from wood products and concerns about the cancer hazard: Compliance with California’s Proposition 65 and Airborne Toxic Control Measure. Abstract #904. International Society for Environmental Epidemiology & International Society of Exposure Analysis 2008 Joint Annual Conference, Exposure and Health in a Global Environment, October 12–16, 2008. Pasadena, CA.

Sahmel, J., Unice, K., Scott, P., Cowan, D., Paustenbach, D. 2009. The use of multizone models to estimate an airborne chemical contaminant generation and decay profile: Occupational exposures of hairdressers to vinyl chloride in hairspray during the 1960s and 1970s. Risk Analysis 20(12): 1699-1725.

Panko J., Kreider M.L., McAtee B., Sweet L., Finley B. 2008. Methods for Collecting Tire Wear Particles under Realistic Driving Conditions – Implications for Future Research Regarding Environmental Impacts. Presented at the Fall 174th Technical Meeting of the Rubber Division of the American Chemical Society, Inc., Louisville, KY. October 15, 2008

Williams, P.R.D., J.S. Knutsen, C. Atkinson, A.K. Madl, and D.J. Paustenbach. 2007. Airborne concentrations of benzene associated with the historical use of some formulations of liquid wrench. J Occup Env Hyg. 4:547-561.

Shay, E.C., K.M. Unice, and D.J. Paustenbach. Estimation of inhalation exposures to the OFF!® Mosquito Coil III following indoor use. 15th Annual International Society of Exposure Analysis Conference. October 30-November 3, 2005. #T-24p. Tucson, AZ.

Panko JM, KM Unice and JL Brown. 2005. Comparison of Toluene Exposures during Spray Painting Using Various Exposure Models. Poster at the 15th Annual Conference of the International Society of Exposure Analysis in Tucson, AZ. October 30th to November 3rd, 2005.

Hays, S.M., C. Cushing, H.W. Leung, D. Pyatt, K. Holicky, and D.J. Paustenbach. 2003. Exposure of infants and children in the U.S. to the flame retardant decabromodiphenyl oxide (DBDPO). J Children’s Health. 1(4):449-75.

Finley, B.L. and K.T. Connor. 2003. Naturally occurring Ah-receptor agonists in foods: Implications regarding dietary dioxin exposure and health risk. Human Ecol Risk Assess. 9:1747-63.

Finley, B.L., D.R. Ownby, and S.M. Hays. 2003. Airborne tire particulates in the environment: A possible asthma risk from latex proteins? Human Ecol Risk Assess. 9:1505-1518.

Aylward, L., S. Hays, and B.L. Finley. 2002. Temporal trends in intake of dioxins from foods in the U.S. and Western Europe: Issues with intake estimates and parallel trends in human body burden. Organohalogen Compounds. 55:235-8.

Fries, G.F., D.J. Paustenbach, and W.J. Luksemburg. 2002. Complete mass balance of dietary polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in dairy cattle and characterization of the apparent synthesis of hepta- and octachlorodioxins. J Agric Food Chem. 50(15):4226-31.

Proctor D.M, E.C. Shay, K.A. Fehling and B.L. Finley. 2002. Assessment of human health and ecological risks posed by the uses of steel-industry slags in the environment. Human Ecol. Risk Assess. 8(4):681-711.

For additional information, please contact Dallas Cowan at dcowan@chemrisk.com; (303) 417-1046 x 1004