Chemrisk.Com Area of Expertise

Building-related illnesses attributed to aerosolized and respirable sized microorganisms, spores, and viruses are clinically well-defined diseases that can shut down your workplace and open the door to legal liability. High-profile cases of Legionnaires’ disease, SARS, Avian flu, Anthrax and other infectious diseases illustrate the risks that facilities of all types face due to microbial diseases. These risks include building closures and financial loss, damage to corporate reputation, and even serious illness or death – along with potential legal culpability. ChemRisk^® has a wealth of knowledge and experience in evaluating, assessing and mitigating these risks. Scientists in our firm have published numerous papers on this topic dealing with exposure, toxicology, and bio-threat agent countermeasures.

Staff experience in these areas includes:

Conducting more than 50 comprehensive indoor air quality investigations in many types of facilities that included microbial air, surface and water sampling, abatement and countermeasure recommendations and risk communication
Developing and implementing a pathogen sampling analysis program for combined sewer overflows in the Passaic River (New Jersey) and conducting a microbial risk assessment for recreationists who come in contact with the surface water of the River
Conducting an assessment of pathogen-related exposures and health risks to beach recreationists at Santa Monica Bay
Evaluating potential microbial health hazards to employees related to a change in technology at an insulation manufacturing facility

Our staff has a wealth of knowledge and hundreds of years of professional experience evaluating, assessing and mitigating microbial risks. 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 occupational and public health hazards posed by bioaerosols.

ChemRisk^® Publications

Camesano, T.A., K.M. Unice, and B.E.Logan. 1999. Blocking and ripening of colloids in porous media and their implications for bacterial transport. Colloids and Surfaces, A. Physiochem Eng Asp. 160:291-308.

Donovan, E., K. Unice, J.D. Roberts, M. Harris, and B. Finley. 2008. Risk of gastrointestinal disease associated with exposure to pathogens in the water of the lower Passaic River. Appl Environ Microbiol. 74(4):994-1003.

Donovan E.P., D.F. Staskal, K.M. Unice, J.D. Roberts,L.C.Haws,B.L.Finley, and M.A. Harris. 2008. Risk of gastrointestinal disease associated with exposure to pathogens in the sediments of the lower Passaic River. Appl Environ Microbiol. 74(4):1004-1018.

Intrepido, A. 2009. Trials and Tribulations: Response and Sampling for Bacillus anthracis after a Containment Breach at a Biodefense Laboratory. American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition, Toronto, Ontario, June 3, 2009.

Intrepido, A. 2008. Comparing Probabilistic and Targeted Sampling Strategies in Response to an Ames Strain Bacillus anthracis Containment Breach at the USAMRIID. 3rd National Conference on Environmental Sampling and Detection for Bio-Threat Agents, Las Vegas, NV. November, 2, 2008.

Intrepido, A., Martin, D. 2008. Sampling for Biological Agents, Chapter 3: Sampling Teams. American Society of Microbiology Press, Washington, D.C.

Logan, B.E., T.A. Camesano, A.A. DeSantis, K.M. Unice, and J.C. Baygents. 1999. Comment on “A method for calculating bacterial deposition coefficients using the fraction of bacteria recovered from laboratory columns” by Bolster et al. Environ Sci Tech. 33(8):1316-7.

Unice, K.M. and B.E.Logan. 2000. The insignificant role of hydrodynamic dispersion on bacterial transport. J Environ Eng. 126:491-500

Weis, C., Intrepido, A., Miller, A., Cowin, P., Durno, M., Gebhardt, J., Bull, R. 2002. Secondary Aerosolization of Viable Bacillus anthracis Spores in a Contaminated US Senate Office, Journal of American Medical Association. 288(22):2853-8.

For Additional information, please contact Ellen Donovan at edonovan@chemrisk.com; (415) 618-3222