AdvancingExposureScienceES21ProgressReport:2015

ExecutiveSummary

In2010,EPAwithsupportfromNIEHSrequestedtheNationalAcademies,asindependentadvisersonscientificmatters,developalong‐rangevisionforexposurescienceinthe21stcentury,andastrategyforimplementingthisvisionoverthenexttwentyyears.Theresultofthateffortwasareport,ExposureScienceinthe21stCentury:AVisionandaStrategy,whichwasreleasedin2012bytheNationalAcademies.1 Thereportidentifiedanumberofrecommendationsforadvancingexposurescience.Theseincluded:

1. Usestate‐of‐the‐artmethodsandtechnologiessuchasremotesensingandglobalpositioningtogatherexposureinformation.

2. Incorporateadvancesingenomictechnologiesandinformaticstosystematicallyassemblethevastamountsofdifferentexposuredatatypes.

3. Engagestakeholderswhowanttocontributeexposuredataandstudies.4. CoordinateexposureresearchthroughaformalcollaborationwithotherFederalagencies

(similartoToxicityTestinginthe21stCentury‐Tox21)suchasUSGS,NIEHS,NOAA,CDC,NSFandNASA.

5. Trainandeducatethenextgenerationofexposurescientists.In2014,inresponsetorecommendations#4and#5,EPAandNIEHSconvenedaworkshopoffederalagencyrepresentativestoraiseawarenessaboutthereport,discussandunderstandthekeyrecommendationsinthereportandidentifyaspectsofexposuresciencethatareidealforcoordinationacrossfederalagencies.Sincethattime,theFederalWorkingGrouponExposureScience(ES21Workgroup)hasbeenestablishedtoexpandfederalpartnerships,tocreateacommonunderstandingofexposurescienceandtodriveresearchacrossthefederalgovernment.TheWorkgroupischarteredundertheToxicsandRisk(T&R)SubcommitteeoftheExecutiveCommitteeonEnvironment,NaturalResources,andSustainability.(AppendixA)

Initssecondyearofwork,theES21Workgrouphasmadesignificantprogressinfurtheringthecollaborationamongandacrossfederalgovernmentagencies.Initiallyfivesubgroupsformedthecoreoftheeffort:Biomonitoring;Sensors,CitizenScience,DataManagementandModeling.Recognizingtheneedforafocusnotonlyonbiomonitoringbutalsoenvironmentalmonitoringanewsubgrouponenvironmentalmonitoringhasbeenaddedtotheoriginalfive.AcommunicationsteamhasbeenestablishedtoassisttheES21FederalWorkingGroupinidentifyingopportunitiestoshareinformationandtoengageadditionalpartners.

TheWorkgrouphasputinplaceamultiprongedapproachforadvancingexposurescienceasrecommendedinthereport.Thisincludes:1)thedevelopmentoftechnologiestocharacterizeexposure,2)thedevelopmentofdataandknowledgemanagementtoolstoanalyzeandinterpretexposure,and3)theintegrationofstakeholdersintheresearchenterprisetoenhancetherelevanceandtranslationoftheresearch.

Asafirststepafteritsinitialmeetinginearly2014theES21Workgroupdevelopedamatrixofcurrentandprojected(near,midandlong‐term)activities.2Workoverthepastyearhasfocusedonaccomplishingmanyshorttermeffortsidentifiedinthatmatrixandlayingthefoundationforthelongertermefforts.Someexamplesoftheshorttermworkunderwayinclude:

o Educatingmembersonthetransformationneededtoimplementthisnewexposurescienceapproach

o Implementingopportunitiesforcollaborativeactionsbyeachsubgroupo PublishinghighlightsoftheimportantaspectsoftheES21NASReport,ES21WorkingGroup

efforts,andbroaderexposurescienceimplications

                                                            1 EPA Website : http://www.epa.gov/nerl/features/nrcreport.html 2 http://www2.epa.gov/innovation/progress‐meeting‐es‐21‐goals‐and‐objectives 

o TranslatingviatheSymposiumatInternationalSocietyforExposureSciences(ISES)o Establishinganinter‐agencyvirtualcollaborationspacetofacilitatecommunication,document

creationandideasharingacrossES21partnersandSubgroupso DevelopingawebsitetoprovidepublicaccesstoES21productsandactivities.

AgreatdealoffoundationalworkhasbeenaccomplishedbytheES21WorkingGroupin2015including:

o Producingaglossarytoharmonizeacrossdifferentexposureterms,o EstablishinganExposureDialogueGroupo Identifyingandmaximizingtheimpactofanumberofongoingcollaborations3including:

- DISCOVERAQ(DerivingInformationonSurfaceconditionsfromColumnandVERticallyresolvedobservationsrelevanttoAirQuality)

- FederalCoordinationofSensorTechnologySmallBusinessInnovativeResearch(SBIR)Investments

- DoDSerumRepositorydatao Maximizingtheuseofexistingcollaborationopportunitiesandcreatingnewoneso Developingtheframeworkforaseriesofcasestudiestofurtherinformandeducateabroader

communityaboutES21o Developingandpresentingaseriesofwebinarsdesignedtofurthersharetheconceptsbehind

theES21effort.

TheES21FederalWorkingGrouponExposureScienceGroupwillcontinuetobuilduponcurrentactivitiesbydevelopingamoreformalandsystematicmechanismforidentifyingandinitiatingcollaborationsandcreatinganinfrastructureacrossthefederalgovernmentthatwillfurtheradvancethefiverecommendationsintheNASreport.ThegrouphasbeguntoexpandthethinkingpresentedintheNASreportandisexploringareaswherethereseemstobebroadinterestacrossthefederalgovernment.Forexample,oneareaofbroadinterestissciencepreparednessfordisasterresponse.Thevalueofcollectingexposuredatapostacatastrophicenvironmentalincidentiswell‐recognized.However,theabilitytoconductsuchexposurescienceresearchisoftenhamperedbylackofplans,protocolsandresourcesatthetimethatadisasteroccurs.TheES21FederalWorkingGroupviewsthis“unpreparedness”asasignificantchallengetobeingabletocaptureexposuredatathatcanbeusedwithpotentialenvironmentalrisk‐relatedoutcomesofadisaster.Somefederalpartners(e.g.,HHS,andNIEHS)haverecentlystartedorrevampedeffortstoaddressthisissue.TheWorkGroupexpectstoleveragetheseactivitiestocreateaCommunityofPracticeinthisarea.

AverysignificantbenefitoftheNASreportisthatithasservedasanimpetusforfederalagenciesthatneed and use exposure science for environmental and public health decision‐making to do so in aleveragedmanner.WiththeES21foruminplace,theadvantageshavebecomeevenclearer.Innovativesolutionstorealworldproblemsnowhavethebenefitofcross‐agencyexpertiseandresources.Theinclusion of community engagement will make exposure science relevant and perhaps mostimportantly,practical.

ProgressinMeetingES21GoalsandObjectives:2015

I. Background

In2010,EPA,withsupportfromNIEHS,requestedthattheNationalAcademies,asindependentadvisersonscientificmatters,developalong‐rangevisionforexposurescienceinthe21stcentury

                                                            3 More details are provided in the full report 

andastrategyforimplementingthisvisionoverthenexttwentyyears.Thereport,ExposureScienceinthe21stCentury:AVisionandaStrategy,wasreleasedin2012bytheNationalAcademies.4

Thereport,authoredbyascientificpanelconvenedbytheNationalAcademies’NationalResearchCouncil,outlinesaframeworkforadvancingexposuresciencetostudyhowhumansandecosystemsinteractwithchemical,biological,andphysicalstressorsintheirenvironments.Thereportalsodescribesscientificandtechnologicadvancesneededtosupportthelong‐rangevisionforexposurescienceinthe21stcenturyandconcludeswithadiscussionoftheelementsneededtorealizeit.Thereportidentifiesanumberofrecommendationsforadvancingexposurescience.Theseinclude:

1. Usestate‐of‐the‐artmethodsandtechnologiessuchasremotesensingandglobalpositioningtogatherexposureinformation.

2. Incorporateadvancesingenomictechnologiesandinformaticstosystematicallyassemblethevastamountsofdifferentexposuredatatypes.

3. Engagestakeholderswhowanttocontributeexposuredataandstudies.4. CoordinateexposureresearchthroughaformalcollaborationwithotherFederalagencies

(similartoToxicityTestinginthe21stCentury‐Tox21)suchasUSGS,NIEHS,NOAA,CDC,NSFandNASA.

5. Trainandeducatethenextgenerationofexposurescientists.

In2014,inresponsetorecommendations#4and5,EPAandNIEHSconvenedaworkshopoffederalagencyrepresentativestoraiseawarenessaboutthereport,discussandunderstandthekeyrecommendationsinthereportandidentifyaspectsofexposuresciencethatareidealforcoordinationacrossfederalagencies.Sincethattime,theFederalWorkingGrouponExposureScience(ES21Workgroup)hasbeenestablishedtoexpandfederalpartnerships,tocreateacommonunderstandingofexposurescienceandtodriveresearchacrossthefederalgovernment.TheWorkgroupischarteredundertheToxicsandRisk(T&R)SubcommitteeoftheExecutiveCommitteeonEnvironment,NaturalResources,andSustainability.

ExposurescienceisusedacrosstheFederalgovernmenttoinformmanyimportantactions.Thebroadandcomplexnatureofamulti‐scaleapproachtoexposuresciencewillrequirethatthecoreelementsofthesystemsframeworkshowninFigure1arefullydevelopedandintegrated.Figure1providesanoverviewofwherevariousfederalpartnersarecurrentlyworkingwithintheframework,andillustratesthat many of the elements in the framework are being developed across the Federal government.However, it is apparent that these components need to be integrated to realize the full impact ofexposurescienceinaddressingkeyenvironmentalproblems.5

  

                                                            4 EPA Website : http://www.epa.gov/nerl/features/nrcreport.html 5 Exposure Science in the 21st Century: A Federal Perspective ( Not yet published) 

 

Figure 1 

 

II. ConveningtheES21FederalWorkingGrouponExposureScience6

In2014,EPA,CDCandothercollaboratorsconvenedthefirstmeetingoftheES21FederalWorkingGrouponExposureScience.Thegroupisco‐chairedbyDr.JenniferOrme‐ZavaletaofEPA/ORDandDr.GayleDeBord,ofCDC/NIOSH.ThepurposeoftheES21FederalWorkingGrouponExposureScienceistopromoteFederalparticipationandcollaborationinthedevelopmentofexposurescience.TheWorkingGroupwillexplorehowFederalpartnerscanengageinkeyexposurescienceareasasarticulatedintheNASreport.Memberswilladvanceandshareissuesrelatedtotheirspecificagencymandatesandinterests,andtheWorkingGroupwillservetoshareinformation,promotecollaborativeactivities,andreduceduplicationofeffortacrossagencies.

 

TheES21WorkingGrouphasdevelopedintoaforumforFederalagenciestocollaborateandadvancethefieldofexposurescience.TheWorkingGroupisaddressingthekeyexposurescienceareasidentifiedintheNASreportby:

Examiningthecurrentbodyofknowledge,data,andtoolsforassessingbothhumanandecologicalexposures;

Identifyingandcoordinatingongoingexposure‐relatedactivitiesamongFederalagencies; Prioritizingactivitiesandresearchcollaborationsthatcouldsubstantiallymodernizeand

promotetheuseofexposurescience;and, Identifyinginnovationstomodernizemethodsandoptimizetheuseofexposuredatato

fulfilltheobjectivesandgoalsofparticipatingagencies. Baseduponearlydiscussionsandidentificationofexposurescienceactivitiesunderwayineachofthepartnerorganizations,fivesubgroupsoftheFederalWorkingGroupwereformedtoaddresscollaborativeopportunitiesandchallenges.Inthepastyear,eachofthesegroupshasmadesignificantprogressinfurtherrefiningtheemergingchallengesandneedsofexposurescience,identifyingtheshort,midandlong‐termresearchneedsanddevelopinganeffectiveinter‐agencyforumfor

_________________________ 6 EPA, FDA, NIH/NIEHS, USGA, CDC, OSHA, DoD, USDA, NIST, DoE, OSTP, DHS, CPSC, NASA

collaboration.Thebiomonitoringsubgroupneededtobemorefocusedandsoasixthsubgroupforenvironmentalmonitoringwasformedinthesummerof2015.

CurrentStructureoftheES21FederalWorkingGrouponExposureScience

ThecurrentES21FederalWorkingGrouponExposureSciencecontinuestofocusoncross‐governmenteffortstoidentifyefficienciesandcollaborativeopportunitiesintheareaofexposurescience.Thegroupnowconsistsofrepresentativesfrommorethan20differentfederalorganizations(AppendixB)whoshareaninterestinexposurescienceresearchanddevelopment.Workhasbeendividedintosixsubgroupswithstrongcollaborationbetweenthegroups. 

A. Subgroups

Biomonitoring:Thissubgroupassessesongoingbiomonitoringstrategiestoidentifyrefinementsthatmaybenecessarytomakethemmoreeffectiveandaccurate.ThesubgroupischargedwithreviewingtheNationalResearchCouncilrecommendationsanddevelopsoptionsfornewbiomonitoringapproaches.Traditionalapproachesandimprovementstobiomonitoringcanbeaddressedwithaspecificfocusongreaterutilizationofbiomonitoringtechniquestoassessexposureandrisk.EnvironmentalMonitoringSubgroup:Thissubgroupfocusesondevelopingoptionsfornovelenvironmentalmonitoringapproachesthatenablefasteridentificationofchemical,biologic,andphysicalstressorsthatareaffectinghumansand/orecosystems;exposure‐relatedenvironmentalmonitoringthatwillhelpidentifythelargestknowledgegapsandrevealwheregatheringmoreexposureinformationwouldcontributetoreducinguncertainty;andmonitoringandcollectingdata,inavarietyofecologicalandhumansettingsthatcontributetothedevelopmentofexposuresciencedecision‐makingtools.

CommunityEngagementandCitizenScience:  Thissubgroupfocusesondevelopingstrategiestoengagecommunitiesinfurtheringthedevelopmentofexposurescience.TheNationalResearchCouncilhasmadeclearthat“tomaintainpublicconfidenceintheintegrityofexposurescience,innovativeformsofpublicengagementarerequired.”The“public”isboththeuserandthegeneratorofexposuredata.

 DataManagement:  Thissubgroupisreviewsthecurrentstatusofpoliciesandproceduresassociatedwithexposuredatacollection,analysisandsharing.Theyalsoidentifycriticalneedsandopportunitiestopartneracrossthegovernmentwiththegoalofestablishingacommonsetofstandardoperatingproceduresthatcanfacilitatesharingandutilizingexistingandfutureexposuredata.

 Modeling: Thissubgroupassessescurrentmodelstodeterminewhatrefinementsareneededtoimprovetheireffectiveness.ThisgroupalsoreviewstherecommendationsoftheNationalResearchCouncil,anddevelopsoptionsfornew,moreeffectivemodeling.Exposuremodelsmustbalancetheneedfortransparencywiththeneedforfidelityandcredibility.

Sensors/Dosimeters:  ThissubgroupreviewstherecommendationsoftheNationalResearchCouncil;takesinventoryofcurrentandemergingtoolsandgaps,anddevelopsoptionsfornewapproachesthatmayenhanceorreplaceolderapproaches.Newchallengesandnewscientificadvancesmeananexpanded,integratedvisionofexposurescienceisnecessary—onethatconsidersexposuresfromsourcetodose,overtimeandspace;andaccountsformultiplestressorsfrommoleculartoecosystemlevels.Advancedsensoranddosimetertechnologyisanimportantpartofthisexpandedvision.

CommunicationsTeam:ThecommunicationsteamsupportstheworkoftheES21WorkingGroupandthesixsubgroups.Theteamhasdevelopedacommunicationstrategyfocusedon(1)identifyingopportunitiestoincreaseparticipationintheES21effort;(2)identifyingopportunitiestoleverageexistingworkbothwithinandexternaltotheFederalcommunity;(3)sharingtheworkundertakenbytheES21WorkingGroupand(4)advancingthedevelopmentofthisnewexposurescienceparadigm.

   

ES21FederalWorkingGroupAccomplishmentsin2015

I. Collaborations

ES21isbuildingonaveryrichbaseofongoingexposuresciencecollaborationsacrosstheFederalgovernment.Anumberofthosecollaborationsarehighlightedbelow.AmorecompletelistingiscontainedinAppendixD.

DISCOVER AQ (Deriving Information on Surface conditions from Column and VERtically resolvedobservationsrelevanttoAirQuality)

TheNationalAeronauticsandSpaceAdministration(NASA)andtheUSEnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA)arecollaboratingontheDISCOVER‐AQproject.TheoverarchingobjectiveoftheDISCOVER‐AQinvestigationistoimprovetheinterpretationofsatelliteobservationstodiagnosenear‐surfaceconditionsrelatingtoairquality.NASAdeployedtwoairborneplatformstosampleincoordinationwithre‐locatableandfixedsurfacenetworks.EPAprovidedanextensiveground‐basedinstrumentnetworktoprovidethecritical“ground‐truth”fortheaircraft.Bycoordinatingtheseefforts,highquality,remotelysensedinformationwaspairedwithaccuratemeasurementdatatogeneratereliablesatelliteinformationonaerosolsandozoneprecursorsforspecific,highly‐correlatedtimesandlocationstobeusedinairqualitymodels.Thispartnershipwillresultinmoreaccurateandpowerfulairqualitymodelswhichwillimprovehumanandecologicalhealththroughreducedexposuretopollutants.https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/discover‐aq/

FederalCoordinationofSensorTechnologySBIRInvestments

TheNationalInstituteofEnvironmentalHealthSciences(NIEHS),theNationalInstituteforOccupationalSafetyandHealth(NIOSH),theNationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration(NOAA),andtheUSEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyarecollaboratingonacoordinatedSmallBusinessInnovationResearch(SBIR)sensorstechnologysolicitation.TheSBIRprogramisahighlycompetitiveprogramthatencouragesdomesticsmallbusinessestoengageinFederalresearchanddevelopmentthathasthepotentialforcommercialization.ThesefourfederalorganizationsareworkingtodevelopanSBIRsolicitationwhichwillfocusondevelopmentoflowcost,easytouseandreliablesensortechnology.Thispartnershipwillresultinthecreationofinnovativesensortoolsthatwillimprovescientificunderstandingofhuman–ecosystempollutantinteractions,whilestimulatingthesmallbusinesssectoroftheUSeconomy.

TheDoDSerumRepository

TheNationalInstituteofEnvironmentalHealthSciences(NIEHS)andtheUSDepartmentofDefense(DoD)areworkingtogetherwithateamofuniversitiestoutilizetheDoDSerumRepository‐oneofthelargestcollectionsofbiologicalsamplesintheworld.TheDoDbuiltandmaintainstherepositoryformedicalsurveillancepurposes.NIEHSisworkingwithuniversitypartnerstointegratetraditionalexposuredatawithnovelassessmentsofmetabolomicsignaturesofexposure.Thispartnershipwillharnessthepowerandutilityofanincrediblylargeanddiversebiologicalrepositorytoexamineinnovativewaysbiomarkerscanbeusedtorecognizeandreconstructexposuresinhumans,thusimprovinghumanhealth.

II. WilsonSchoolDataBaseofFederalCrowdsourcingandCitizenScienceProjects

Inanefforttoincreaseawarenessofandaccesstoreports,materialsandresearchassociatedwiththeES21effort,theES21WorkingGroupisworkingwiththeWilsonSchooltofullyutilizetheoutreachpotentialoftheCommonsLabDatabase.Thedatabaseisdesignedtocharacterizethevalueanddiversityoffederalcrowdsourcingandcitizensciencetosupportcoordinationwithinandbetweenagencies,andfacilitatepublicanalysisandengagement.Thedatabaseincludesprojectsfundedorsupportedbyfederalagencies.Theseprojectsmaybefundeddirectly,orthroughgrantsfrom

agenciessuchasEPA,NIH,andUSGS.Otherprojectsmayreceivein‐kindsupport,includingequipmentlendingorsupportfromagencypersonnel.TheCommunityEngagement/CitizenSciencesubgrouphasbeguntopopulatethedatabasewithmaterialfromtheES21groupandthroughthiseffortwillfurtherexpandtheopportunitiesforcollaboration.https://ccsinventory.wilsoncenter.org/

III. GlossaryofCommonTerms

InJune,2015theES21WorkingGrouppostedtheinitialversionofanES21GlossaryofCommonTerms.Thisglossarywasdevelopedasacross‐Federalefforttoidentifycommonexposurescienceterms.Recognizingthatspeakinginacommonlanguageandusingcommonterminologyisfundamentaltounderstandingandaddressingexposurescienceissues,theES21WorkingGroupidentifiedthisglossaryasanimportantfirststepinharmonizingexposureterms.Theglossarywillbeupdatedperiodicallytoincludenewtermsandeditexistinglanguage.http://www2.epa.gov/innovation/exposure‐science‐21st‐century‐federal‐working‐group

IV. DevelopmentofaCommunicationsStrategyandCommunicationTeamRecognizingtheneedtoprovideamechanism(s)tomorebroadlycommunicatetheworkoftheES21FederalWorkingGroup,acommunicationsteamhasbeenformed.Theteamhasproducedacommunicationstrategytobegintheprocessofexpandingawarenessofthegroupanditsmission.Thecommunicationsteamisfocusingonfourkeymessages.

Innovationsinscienceandtechnologyprovidethepotentialforadvancesinexposurescience. Newchallengesandnewscientificadvancesmeanthatanexpanded,integratedvisionof

exposurescience—onethatconsidersexposuresfromsourcetodose,overtimeandspace,tomultiplestressors,andfromthemoleculartoecosystemlevel—isnowneeded.

Achievingthisbroadervisionforexposuresciencewillrequireaninvestmentofresourcesandasubstantialshiftinhowexposurescienceresearchisconductedanditsresultsimplemented.

Collaborationisthecriticalkeytoleverageresources,expertiseandinnovationintheareasof:o PublicHealtho EcosystemServiceso EcologicalFunctiono RiskAssessmentandRiskManagemento ModelingandDataScience

Thegrouphasdevelopedastrategyto:

Identifyopportunitiestoincreaseparticipationinthiseffortthroughaninternalgovernmentcommunicationseffort

IdentifyopportunitiestoleverageexistingworkbothwithinandexternaltotheFederalcommunity

Advancethedevelopmentofthisnewexposurescienceparadigm SharetheworkthatisbeingundertakenbytheES21WorkingGroupthroughpublic

communications

V. CaseStudies

AkeygoaloftheES21effortistobuilduponcurrentactivitiesbydevelopingamoreformalandsystematicmechanismforidentifyingandinitiatingcollaborations.Aseriesofcasestudiesisbeingdevelopedtopromoteopportunitiesforleveragedcollaborations.Oneareaofbroadinterestissciencepreparednessfordisasterresponse.Thevalueofcollectingexposuredatafollowingacatastrophicenvironmentalincidentiswell‐recognized.However,theabilitytoconductsuchexposurescienceresearchisoftenhamperedbynothavingplans,protocolsandresourcesinplaceatthetimethatadisasteroccurs.TheES21FederalWorkGroupviewsthis

“unpreparedness”asasignificantfailinginbeingabletocaptureexposuredatathatcanbeusedtocorrelatewithpotentialenvironmentalrisk‐relatedoutcomesofadisaster.Somefederalpartners(e.g.,HHS,NLM,andNIEHS)haverecentlystartedorrevampedeffortstoaddressthisissue.TheWorkingGroupexpectstoleveragetheseactivitiestocreatea“CommunityofPractice”inthisareatocreateaforumforideaexchange,bestpracticesandtoencouragecollaborationandcooperation.

Inaddition,theWorkingGroupexpectstodefineageneralmechanismtoproducetimelyandscientificallyrigorousinformationaheadofadisaster.Tothisend,theworkgrouphasbeguntocollatethevariedresourcesavailablefromdifferentpartnerstobuildontheexistingcapabilitiesofthesepartnersandimplementaprocessaccessibletoallrelevantentities.Theworkgroupwillalsoaddressspecificactivitiesassociatedwithdisasterscenarios,suchasamajorchemicalspill,hurricaneresponseandnoveldiseaseoutbreak.Insodoing,weexpecttobuildcapacity(e.g.,developingaknowledgebaseofbothpeopleandintellectualresources)andsystems(e.g.,web‐accessibleandphysicaltools)thatwillfacilitateagile,rapidresponse.

VI. Max.Gov

InordertobetterfacilitatecommunicationsamongthemembersoftheES21WorkingGroupaMax.Govsitehasbeencreated.TheMAX.GovFederalCommunitysitecanfacilitatecollaborationsandinformationsharingthatisfarbetterthantheusualworkmethodsofe‐mail,attachments,andnetworkfilesharing,supportingworkgroupsandinformationsharingacrossoffice,agencyandgovernmentalboundaries.Workfromdailyactivitiesresultsinknowledgebuildingtorepurposedataintoinformationwithlastingvalue.TheCommunityallowsthattohappen‐itiseasytolearnandpowerfulenoughtobeusedforabroadscopeofdailyinformationsharingandcollaborationactivities.

   

ES21FederalWorkingGroupSubgroupAccomplishments Biomonitoring:Co‐ChairsMaryMortensen(CDC/NCEH)andAndreaPfahles‐Hutchens(EPA/OCSPP)

Charter

Monitoringofexposuretostressorscanplaymanyrolesincludingdeterminationofstressorpresence,typeandlevel.Withfewexceptions,however,monitoringtechniquesdonotprovidethequantitativeinformationneededforuseinexposureassessment.Thereisaneverincreasingneedfordevelopmentandcollectionofdifferentbiologicalmarkersandenvironmentalindicatorsofexposure.Theworkgroupwill

assessongoingstrategiestodeterminewhatrefinementsmaybenecessarytomakethemmoreeffectiveandaccurate.TheworkgroupischargedtoreviewtherecommendationsoftheNRCanddevelop1)optionsfornewapproachesthatmaybemoreusefulthantraditionalapproachesand2)improvementstotraditionalapproacheswithaspecificfocusongreaterutilizationofbiomonitoringtoassessexposureandrisk.

TheBiomonitoringChallenge

Newchallengesandscientificadvancesmeanthatanexpanded,integratedvisionofexposurescience—onethatconsidersexposuresfromsourcetodose,overtimeandspace,tomultiplestressors,andfromthemoleculartoecosystemlevel—isnowneeded.Thisvisionisdefinedastheextensionofexposuresciencefromthepointofcontactbetweenstressorandreceptorinward,intotheorganism;andoutward,tothegeneralenvironmentincludingtheecosphere.Thisgroupwillfocusonthechallengesassociatedwithknowledgeandtechniquesof:

BiomarkersandBiomonitoringTechniques(frontandbackendoftheregulatoryprocess) ImproveduseofBiomonitoringtoevaluate&reconstructexposure;and Linkingexposurestoecologicalandhumanhealthoutcomes

Accomplishmentsin2015:

The Biomonitoring Subgroup has focused work on biologicalmonitoringandhasrecommendedcreationaseparategrouptofocusonenvironmentalmonitoring.Membershipineachgroupwasassessedandrealignedtofocusoneitherenvironmentalmonitoringorbiologicalmonitoring.Thiseffortwillalloweachgrouptooperatemoreeffectively.

PriortotherealignmentoftheBiomonitoringSubgroup,acasestudyonmicrocystiswasdeveloped.Thiscasestudyconsideredthespectrumfromexposuretoeffectsthatcanresultfromanalgalbloom.ItwaspatternedoffofthecoreelementsoftheexposurescienceFramework(seeFigure1)todemonstrateintersectionsbetweenbiomonitoringandotheraspectsofexposurescience.Thecasestudydeterminedgapsandpotentialimprovementthatmightbemadebybiomonitoring,suchasmodelstoforecastorpredictblooms,andanticipatewhencontrolmeasuresmayberequiredforpublicwatersuppliesorrecreationalwaters.ThedevelopmentofthiscasestudypromptedthediscussionbySubgroupchairstodevelopcasestudiesacrosstheSubgroups.

Figure 2 

TheSubgrouphasinitiatedteleconferencesforexpandeddiscussionsonbiomonitoringatthevariousgovernmentagenciesparticipatinginES21.Thefocushasbeenonthefollowingquestions:

Whoisdoingbiomonitoringandwhy? Whousesthebiomonitoringdataandwhogeneratesit? Howisthebiomonitoringdatabeingused? Whatbiomonitoringdatasourcesareavailable? Whatisthequalityofthedatacollected?

Thesubgrouphasdevelopedalistofbiomonitoringtopicsmostcitedinthecurrentliteraturetohelpfocusareasofdiscussionforthesubgroup.

TheSubgroupalsodevelopedawebinarseriestofocusonbiomonitoringactivities;webinarsarescheduledtocontinuethroughoutthefallandintonextyear.Specificwebinarsfrom2015include:

NaphthaleneDosimeter BiomonitoringusingHL7TransactionDataandMedicalEncountersintheDOD BiomonitoringatNIEHS:Applications,InfrastructureandTechnology

EnvironmentalMonitoringSubgroup:Co‐Chairs:MichaelMcDonald(EPA),andKathyLee(USGS)

[ThisisanewsubgroupundertheES21WorkingGroupandisintheinitialstagesofdevelopment.Membershipisbeingrecruitedandasetofplannedactivitieswillbedevelopedoncethegroupisoperational.]

Charter

Environmentalmonitoringdescribestheprocessesandactivitiesthatneedtotakeplacetocharacterizeandmonitorthequalityoftheenvironment.Exposurescienceexaminesthecomplexrelationshipbetweentheinteractionwithastressorandreceptoroveraperiodoftime.Environmentalmonitoringenablesexposurescientiststocharacterizeandunderstandstressorfateandtransportinavarietyofecosystems.TheworkgroupischargedtoreviewtherecommendationsoftheNASreportExposureScienceinthe21stCenturyanddevelop(1)optionsfornovelenvironmentalmonitoringapproachesthatenablefasteridentificationofchemical,biologic,andphysicalstressorsthatareaffectinghumansand/orecosystems(2)exposure‐relatedenvironmentalmonitoringthatwillhelptoidentifythelargestknowledgegapsandrevealwheregatheringmoreexposureinformationwouldcontributereducinguncertaintyand(3)monitoringandcollectionofdata,inavarietyofecologicalandhumansettings,whichcontributetothedevelopmentofexposuresciencedecision‐makingtools.

TheEnvironmentalMonitoringChallenge

ConsistentwiththechallengesfacedbyalloftheES21FederalWorkingGroupsubgroups,effectiveenvironmentalmonitoringissubjecttoarangeofinstitutional,political,andlegalconstraints.Culturalandorganizationalchangesoverthelastfewdecadeshaveresultedinfeweravailableresourcesforenvironmentalmonitoring.Theseconstraintsrequiredevelopmentofamorecoordinated,efficientandtechnologicalapproachtoenvironmentalmonitoring.Evenifeffectivemonitoringdataisgathered,itmaynotbeusedindecisionmaking.Uncertaintyassociatedwithmonitoringdataallowsstakeholderstocontesttheuseofmonitoringindecisionmaking.Newmonitoringsystemsandpartnershipsareneededacrossgovernment,states,regionalandlocallevelstoproducehighqualitydataandinformationfordecisionmakers.

AstheEnvironmentalMonitoringSubgroupcharterisfinalizedandtheSubgrouppopulated,aplanfor2016accomplishmentswillbedeveloped.

Sensors/Dosimeters:TimWatkins(EPA/ORD)

Charter:

Sensortechnologyhasemergedasakeyinnovationinexposurescience.Sensortechnologyhasbeendefinedasthe“acquisitionandmeasurementofdata/informationonsomepropertiesofaphenomenon,object,ormaterialbyarecordingdevice....”Newtoolsareneededtofacilitatethecollectionofrealtime,reliableexposureinformation.TheSubgroupischargedtoreviewtherecommendationsoftheNRC,

inventorycurrentandemergingtoolsandgaps,anddevelopoptionsfornewapproachesthatmayenhanceorreplaceolderapproaches.

DescriptionoftheSensor/DosimeterChallenge:

Newchallengesandnewscientificadvancesmeanthatanexpanded,integratedvisionofexposurescience—onethatconsidersexposuresfromsourcetodose,overtimeandspace,tomultiplestressors,andfromthemoleculartoecosystemlevel—isnowneeded.Thisvisionistheextensionofexposuresciencefromthepointofcontactbetweenstressorandreceptorinward,intotheorganism;andoutward,tothegeneralenvironment.ToimprovedataqualityforRemoteSensingandincreaseitsutilityforexposurestudies,technologicimprovementsareneeded.

Accomplishmentsin2015:

Asastartingpointfordiscussionofpotentialcollaborations,theES21SensorsandDosimetersSubgroupconductedaseriesofwebinarstoshareinformationontheactivitiesdescribedabove.Thewebinarsidentifiedseveralpossibleareasofcollaborationincludingsensortechnologydevelopment,communicationandeducation,anddevelopmentofguidancedocuments.TheSubgrouphasidentifiedthecoordinationofSmallBusinessInnovativeResearch(SBIR)investmentsasinitialareaofcollaborationthatwouldclearlyidentifythecommoninterestsinandneedforsensortechnologiesacrosstheFederalGovernment.ThemostsignificanteffortduringthepastyearfortheSensorsSubgroupwastodevelopanapproachtocoordinateSensorRelatedSmallBusinessInnovativeResearch(SBIR)solicitations.FederalpartnershaveongoingSBIRprogramsthathaveincludedrequestsforproposalsrelatedtomonitoring,includingsensortechnology.However,theserequestshavenotbeencoordinatedinthepastandtheoverallfederalinvestmenthasnotbeencaptured,norhastherebeenaconsistentfederalmessageabouttheinterestinandutilityofsensortechnology.Keyelementsoftheproposedapproachinclude:

DevelopingawebsitehostedbySBAtoprovideanoverviewofsensor‐relatedSBIRfundingopportunitiesacrossfederalagencies,includingsolicitationdates,awardtypes(grantorcontract),anddollaramount.

DevelopingcommonlanguageforthewebsiteandthatagenciescoulduseintheirSBIRsolicitationsregardingtheutilityandvalueofsensortechnologiesforeachfederalorganization.Eachorganizationcansupplementthiscommonlanguagewithlanguagespecifictotheirneedintheirspecificsolicitation.

WorkingwithFederalpartnersatUSEPA,NIEHS,NIOSH,NOAA,andDOD(NASAandUSDOT/FHWAwillbeadded)

 

Thegoalsforthiseffortarefocusedon:

Articulateacommonneedandinterestforsensortechnologydevelopment,evaluation,andapplicationacrossthefederalgovernment.

IdentifythefederalcommitmenttosensortechnologyresearchandquantifyfederalSBIRinvestment.

Provideonecentralweblocationtomakeiteasierforsmallbusinessinnovatorstoapplyforfederalfundsrelatedtosensortechnology.

Avoidduplicativeinvestments.

TheSensorsSubgroupworkedonanumberofothereffortstoexpandtheknowledgebaseregardingthenewES21effort.Theseincluded:

AmericaIndustrialHygieneAssociation(AIHA)Webinar‐PresentedinformationandactivitiesfortheES21FederalPartnersgroupandtheSensorsandDosimeterssubgroupinawebinarhostedbyAIHAonsensortechnologies.OtherparticipantsinNIOSHandtheNationalNanotechnologyCoordinationOffice(NNCO).

InternationalSocietyofExposureScience(ISES)‐Contributedtothedevelopmentofthesymposiumforthe2015ISESConference,whichwasheldinOctober2015.

CaseStudies‐Contributedtothedevelopmentoftwocasestudies(stillinprogress)tohighlightthepotentialroleofsensortechnologiesinadvancingexposurescience.ThefirstcasestudyrelatestotheDisasterPreparednessandthesecondaddresstheroleoftechnologyinadvancingexposurescience.

AstheES21SensorsandDosimetersSubgroupmovesforward,theultimategoalistoenhanceprecisionofexposureassessmentforhealthandecosystemriskassessments.Inthenearterm,thefocuswilllikelybeonthedevelopmentandevaluationofreal‐timemonitoringtoolstoimprovetheprecisionofspatialandtemporalmeasurementsofexposureandinternaldoseforvarietyofenvironmentalcontaminants.Furthermore,thereisstrongconsensusthatthereisanear‐termneedtodeveloptechnicalguidance/performancespecificationsforemergingtechnologiessopotentialusesfortheseapproachesmaybefullyrealized.Inthelongerterm,issuesofbigdatawillneedtobeconsidered,aswellastheintegrationofdatafromtheseemergingtechnologieswithdatafrommoreestablishedandtraditionalmethods. 

   

Models:BillyJohnson(DoD/CoE)

Charter:Exposuremodelswillcontinuetosupportdiverseeffortssuchasriskanalysis,impactsassessment,lifecycleandsustainabilityassessments,epidemiologyandenergyanalysis.Modelsforscreening,prioritization,andpredictionneedtobedevelopedandvalidated.Exposuremodelsmustbalancetheneedfortransparencywiththeneedforfidelityandcredibility.Modelsneedtobebackedupbydatatobeacceptable.TheSubgroupwillassesscurrentmodelstodeterminewhatrefinementsmaybenecessarytomakethemmoreeffective.TheSubgroupischargedtoreviewtherecommendationsoftheNRCanddevelopoptionsfornewapproachesthatmaybemoreeffectivethanolderapproaches.

DescriptionoftheModelingChallenge:

Newchallengesandnewscientificadvancesmeanthatanexpanded,integratedvisionofexposurescience‐onethatconsidersexposuresfromsourcetodose,overtimeandspace,tomultiplestressors,andfromthemoleculartoecosystemlevel‐isnowneeded.TheNRCCommitteeidentifiedtheneedforthefurtherdevelopmentofexistingandemergingmethodsandapproaches,validationofmethodsandtheirenhancementforapplicationondifferentscalesandinbroadercircumstancesandimprovedlinkagestoresearchinotherareasofenvironmentalhealth.Modelsoftheprocesses,dynamicsanddistributionofexposurestochemical,physical,andbiologicagentsinassociationwithotherstressorsareanessentialelementofexposurescience.Thechallengeforthisgroupistoconsidertherolethatexposuremodelsneedtoplayinsupportingexposurescienceinthe21stcenturyandidentifyingthegapsthatneedtobefilled.Specificconsiderationswithinthecharterofthisgroupinclude:

Needdatatovalidatemodels ScreeningModelsforPrioritization Modeldevelopmentforspecificsensitive

populationssuchaschildrenandtheelderly

IntegrationBetweenHumanHealthandEcologicalExposures

DisasterScience MultiScaleExposureModeling

StatisticalmethodsandToolsforPredictiveModeling

IndividualLongitudinalExposures(DOD) OccupationalExposures Systemsmodelsforsustainability Spatially‐explicitModels

Accomplishmentsin2015:

TheModelingSubgrouphasexpandedparticipationtoincludetheDoD,EPA,CDC,NIEHS,NOAA,OSHAandUSDA.TheSubgrouphasbeenworkingtoidentifymodelingeffortsandtocoordinateandcollaboratewherepossible.Someexamplesofthemodelingeffortsunderwayinclude:

DoD‐ERDCLandscapeContaminantModelingSystem(ELCMS)‐ELCMSdefineslocations/regionsforsafedrinkingwaterthatrequireminimaltreatment.ELCMSprovidessecurewaterthroughanabilitytoidentify,predict,andassesswithstatisticalconfidencethelocationofuniquechemicalcontaminantswithinalandscape.WithELCMS,theArmycancharacterizethewaterqualitywithinalandscapewhereoperationsareplannedtoenhancetheperformanceofthefiltrationsystemsbyminimizinguseofthepoorestqualitywaterandenhancesolderconfidenceinusingportablefiltrationandthusreducingtherelianceonbottledwater.

DoD‐Eulerian–Lagrangian‐Agent‐Method(ELAM)–ELAMisanapproachdevelopedbyERDC’sEnvironmentalLaboratoryforanalyzingandforecastingthemovementand

distributionpatternsofindividualanimalsrespondingtoenvironmentalconditionsonlandandinthewater. 

EPA‐NationalEnvironmentalATLAS(EnviroAtlas)‐MergesdatafromEPA,USGS,NOAA,etc.toprovidewall‐to‐wallgeographicallyexplicitdatacharacterizingecosystemservicesacrosstheU.S.,plushigh‐resolutionanalysisforselectedcommunities.Categoriesofecosystemservicesinclude:cleanwaterfordrinking;cleanwaterforrecreationandaquatichabitat;adequatewatersupply;food,fuelandfiber;recreation,culturalandaestheticamenities;contributionstoclimatestability;protectionfromhazardousweather;habitatandthemaintenanceofbiodiversity;andcleanair.

EPA‐Cloudcomputingbaseknowledgemanagementsystem‐Ubertoolisaprototypecloud

computing‐baseknowledgemanagementsystemtosupportecologicalriskdecisionsmandatedunderFIFRAandtheEndangeredSpeciesAct.TheUbertooldashboardinfrastructureintegratestheprocessingofmodelresultsforoveradozencommonly‐usedEPAaquaticandterrestrialregulatorymodelsandsupportingdatasets.

CDC‐Carbonnanotube(CNT)dosimetrymodelingforriskassessment‐Thepurposeofthis

projectistogeneratethedataneededtodevelopahumanrespiratorytractdepositionmodelforCNTs,andtodevelopthemodelusingthesedata.Thisprojectincludesthreecomponents:(1)Evaluationoftransmissionelectronmicroscopy(TEM)methodstodeterminetheairbornesizedistributionsofCNTsintheworkplaceandlaboratory;(2)MeasurementofCNTdepositioninahumanrespiratorycastmodel;and(3)DevelopmentofacomprehensivehumanrespiratorytractdepositionmodelforairborneCNTs.

CDC‐Derivinghazardbandstoprotectemergencyresponders‐TheintentofthisprojectistosupplementtheImmediatelyDangeroustoLifeandHealth(IDLH),AcuteExposureGuidelineValues(AEGL),EmergencyResponsePlanningGuidelines(ERPG),andTemporaryEmergencyExposureLimits(TEEL)valueswithacategoricalprocessforidentifyingthepotentialtoxiceffectsfromasingleexposureevent,rangingfrommild,transienthealtheffects,suchasrespiratoryirritation;tosevereandirreversible,suchasrespiratorycorrosivity;tolife‐threateningeffectsbasedonhazardinformationalreadypublishedandreadilyavailableonsafetydatasheets,containerlabels,andREACH(Registration,Evaluation,AuthorizationandRestrictionofChemical)registrationdossiers.

NIEHS‐HighThroughputScreening(HTS)Initiative‐ThegoalsoftheHTSInitiativearetoprioritizesubstancesforfurtherin‐depthtoxicologicalevaluation,identifymechanismsofactionforfurtherinvestigation(e.g.,disease‐associatedpathways),anddeveloppredictivemodelsforinvivobiologicalresponse(predictivetoxicology).

NOAA‐HYSPLIT–AnatmosphericdispersionmodelusedatNOAAandworldwideforavarietyofpurposes,fromemergencyresponsetolong‐termecologicalassessment.Themodelisfreelyavailableandcanberunonthewebordownloadedandinstalledtorunlocally(viaabuilt‐inGraphicalUserInterface,thecommandline,and/orscripts).

NOAA‐HABForecasting‐NOAA'sHarmfulAlgalBloomOperationalForecastSystem(HAB‐OFS)providesinformationandoperationalforecastsregardingthepotentialdevelopment,intensification,transportandassociatedimpactsofKareniabrevisbloomsintheGulfofMexico.

TheModelingSubgrouphasalsodevelopedanumberofwebinarstobetterexplainthecurrentstateofmodelingworkinthefederalgovernment.

ScreeningLevelModelingofContaminantFate/TransportandExposure–U.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers–April16,2015

Screeninglevelmodels,ormodelsofreducedform,canprovideinvaluableinformationregardingcontaminantmovementandexposureconcentrationswithinmultimediaenvironmentalsystems,andsuchapplicationscanbeperformedrelativelyquickwithlowcost.ThiswebinarprovidedanoverviewofscreeninglevelmodelsandmodelingsystemsdevelopedthroughtheU.S.ArmyEngineerResearchandDevelopmentCenteraswellasadiscussionoftheiruses,performance,andbenefits.

HYSPLITAtmosphericModelingSystem–NOAA–August13,2015

TheHYSPLITatmosphericmodelingsystem(anditsprecursors)hasbeenundercontinualdevelopmentattheNOAAAirResourcesLaboratorysincethe1940's.ItisusedatNOAAandworldwideforavarietyofpurposes,fromemergencyresponsetolong‐termecologicalassessment.Themodelisfreelyavailableandcanberunonthewebordownloadedandinstalledtorunlocally(viaabuilt‐inGraphicalUserInterface,thecommandline,and/orscripts).ThemodelcanberunonWindows,Mac,orLinux‐basedplatforms.Inthiswebinar,thecapabilitiesandfeaturesofthemodelweresummarized,alongwithexamplesofitsusageatNOAAandbyothers.

    

DataManagement:   Vasu Kilaru (EPA / ORD) 

Charter  

 ThereisacompellingneedforthedevelopmentofPoliciesandStandardOperatingProceduresforthecollectionandmanagementofexposureandexposure‐relateddata.Inthenearterm,exposurescienceneedstodevelopstrategiestoexpandexposureinformationrapidlytoimproveunderstandingofwhere,when,andhowexposuresoccurandtheirhealthsignificance.Datageneratedandcollectedwouldbeusedtoevaluateandimprovemodelsofexposureforuseingeneratinghypothesesanddevelopingpolicies.Thisdatacollectionandmanagementgroupistaskedtoreviewthecurrentstatusofpoliciesandproceduresassociatedwithexposuredata,andtoidentifycriticalneedsand

opportunitiestopartneracrossthegovernmenttoestablishacommonsetofstandardoperatingprocedurestofacilitatethesharingandutilizationofexistingandfutureexposuredata.

Description of the Data Management Challenge  

Newchallengesandnewscientificadvancesmeanthatanexpanded,integratedvisionofexposurescience—onethatconsidersexposuresfromsourcetodose,overtimeandspace,tomultiplestressors,andfromthemoleculartoecosystemlevel—isnowneeded.Thisvisionisdefinedastheextensionofexposuresciencefromthepointofcontactbetweenstressorandreceptorinwardintotheorganism;andoutward,tothegeneralenvironmentincludingtheecosphere.Numerouschallengesintheareaofdatamanagementhavebeenidentifiedandwillserveasthestartingpointforthisgroup.Theseinclude:

ManagementAcrossHeterogeneousSources

QA/QC Linkages AvailabilityofExistingdata Ethicsofusingdata AccessibilityofData

CurrentData Howtoaccess,useandintegrate Methodsforcollecting,handlingand

analyzing“bigdata”frommultiplesources

ConsistencyAcrossthefederalGovernment- Terminologies- Platforms

 

Accomplishments in 2015: 

TheDataManagementSubgrouphasbeenworkingcollaborativelywiththeothersubgroupstoidentifybestpracticesforsharingdataacrosstheFederalgovernment.PartnersinthesubgroupincluderepresentationfromtheDepartmentofDefense,EnvironmentalProtectionAgency,CenterforDiseaseControlandPrevention,NationalInstituteofEnvironmentalHealthSciences,NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration,OccupationalSafetyandHealthAdministrationandtheU.S.DepartmentofAgriculture.

ExamplesofExposureDataSourcesidentifiedforsharinginclude:

DoD‐AdaptiveRiskAssessmentModelingSystem(ARAMS)‐ARAMSincorporatesvariousexistingdatabasesandmodelsforexposure,intake/update,andeffects(healthimpacts)intoanobject‐oriented,conceptualsitemodelingframework.

EPA‐NationalEnvironmentalATLAS(EnviroAtlas)‐MergesdatafromEPA,USGS,NOAA,etc.toprovidewall‐to‐wallgeographicallyexplicitdatacharacterizingecosystemservicesacrosstheU.S.plushigh‐resolutionanalysisforselectedcommunities.Categoriesofecosystemservicesinclude:cleanwaterfordrinking;cleanwaterforrecreationandaquatichabitat;adequatewatersupply;food,fuelandfiber;recreation,culturalandaestheticamenities;contributionstoclimatestability;protectionfromhazardousweather;habitatandthemaintenanceofbiodiversity;andcleanair.

CDC‐Occupationalexposuressamplingstrategiesmanualupdate‐Thisprojectaimstodevelopoccupationalexposuresamplingstrategyguidanceappropriatefortheevaluationandcontrolofavarietyofoccupationalexposureagents.

NIEHS‐NationalToxicologyProgram(NTP)‐TheNTPisafederalinteragencyprogramheadquarteredatNIEHS.Itsgoalistodevelopandapplytoolsofmoderntoxicologyandmolecularbiologytoidentifysubstancesintheenvironmentthatmayaffecthumanhealth.

NOAA‐HYSPLIT–IsanatmosphericdispersionmodelusedatNOAAandworldwideforavarietyofpurposes,fromemergencyresponsetolong‐termecologicalassessment.Themodelisfreelyavailableandcanberunonthewebordownloadedandinstalledtorunlocally(viaabuilt‐inGraphicalUserInterface,thecommandline,and/orscripts).

AcompletelistingofallidentifieddatasourcescanbefoundinAppendixC.

   

CommunityEngagement/CitizenScience: Liam O’Fallon (NIEHS) 

Charter 

TheCommunityEngagement/CitizenScienceSubgroupwillfocusondevelopingstrategiestoengagecommunitiesinfurtheringthedevelopmentofexposurescience.TheNRChasmadeclearthat“tomaintainpublicconfidencein

theintegrityofexposurescience,innovativeformsofpublicengagementarerequired”.Thepubliccanbetheuserandgeneratorofexposuredata.Thenewapproachesmustbeembracedbythepubliciftheyaretobecomekeyplayers.Thegroupshouldidentifynewopportunitiesandapproachesforencouragingthepublictoidentifyandaddressrelevanthealthconcernsatthelocallevel.Assessingongoingstrategiesandidentifyingnewapproachestoengagecitizensbefore,duringandafterexposurestudiesiskeyforsuccess.TheSubgroupwillassessongoingstrategiestodeterminewhatrefinementsmaybenecessarytomakethemmoreeffective.TheSubgroupischargedtoreviewtherecommendationsoftheNRCanddevelopoptionsfornewapproachesthatmaybemoreeffectivethanolderapproaches.

Description of Challenge 

Newchallengesandnewscientificadvancesmeanthatanexpanded,integratedvisionofexposurescience—onethatconsidersexposuresfromsourcetodose,overtimeandspace,tomultiplestressors,andfromthemoleculartoecosystemlevel—isnowneeded.Thisvision,dubbed“theeco‐exposome,”isdefinedastheextensionofexposuresciencefromthepointofcontactbetweenstressorandreceptorinwardintotheorganism;andoutwardtothegeneralenvironmentincludingtheecosphere.Effectiveimplementationofthecommittee'svisionwilldependonthedevelopmentandcultivationofscientists,engineers,andtechnicalexpertswithexperienceinmultiplefields,inordertoeducatethenextgenerationofexposurescientistsandtoprovideopportunitiesformembersofotherfieldstocross‐traininthetechniquesandmodelsusedtoanalyzeandcollectexposuredata.Thisincludestheneedforthedevelopmentofprogramstoimprovepublicunderstandingandengagementinexposure‐assessmentresearch,includingethicalconsiderationsinvolvedintheresearch.

Accomplishments for 2015 

TheCommunityEngagement/CitizenScienceSubgrouphasbeenworkingtocreateamorecoordinatedapproachtosharingbestpracticesandtoexpandopportunitiestoleverageongoingefforts.In2015workfocusedon:

 

Sharingofprogrammaticefforts

Informingnewandexistingefforts

o EPACitizenScienceTraining

o NIEHSPEPHwebinars&podcasts

o Glossaryofterms

Outliningplanforfuture

o Identifyingareasforcoordinationwithothergroups

o Developingcoordinatedsessionsatprofessionalconferences

Planning2016meetingfocusedoninterfaceofcitizenscience&community‐engagedResearch

InventoryofFederalPrograms

FederalCrowdsourcingandCitizenScienceCommunityofPractice(CCS)

Developeddatabaseofprojectsandapractitioner’stoolkit.https://crowdsourcing‐toolkit.sites.usa.gov

DevelopedaframeworkforCommunityEngagement

 

  

  

   

Appendix A

 

CHARTER of the

WORKING GROUP ON EXPOSURE SCIENCE FOR THE 21sT CENTURY TOXICS AND RISK SUBCOMMITTEE

COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT, NATURAL RESOURCES, AND SUSTAINABILITY NATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL

 

  

A. Official Designation

The Working Group on Exposure Science for the 21st Century (ES21) is hereby established by action of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC); Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Sustainability (CENRS); Toxics and Risk Subcommittee (T&R).

B. Purpose and Scope

Exposure science investigates the contact of humans or other organisms with chemical, physical, and biologic stressors, and their fate in living systems. Understanding exposure provides the real- world context for describing risk, along with information on the most effective ways to reduce exposure and improve health. Exposure science has become more important with the emergence of today's complex problems including climate change, security threats, population pressure, urbanization, depletion of natural resources, and increased understanding of environmentally related illness. This complexity, combined with advances in measurement and computational technologies, provides new opportunities for advancing and using exposure science to address today's wide range of health challenges. The purpose of the ES21 Working Group is to build on the framework recommended by the National Academy of Sciences in its 2012 report on Exposure Science in the 21st Century: a Vision and a Strategy, and promote Federal collaboration in the development of exposure science. The ES21 Working Group will serve to share information, integrate activities, and reduce duplication of efforts across agencies in the development of new exposure science.

C. Functions

ES21 will be a forum for Federal agencies to collaborate and advance the field of exposure science and optimize agency resources by:

a. Identifying and coordinating ongoing and planned exposure science research and development activities among Federal agencies in the near-, mid- and long-term in a planning matrix. This matrix will focus on the topics areas of modeling, biomonitoring, sensor technologies, managing data, and community engagement/citizen science.

b. Identifying innovations to modernize methods and optimize the use of exposure data to advance research and development, and applications in science and technology;

 

c. Developing a prioritized list of activities and research collaborations that could substantially modernize and promote the use of exposure science.

ES21 will coordinate with, and address the needs of, other relevant CENRS Committees and

working groups. ES2 l will report their findings to the Committee prior to the termination date. D. Membership and Structure

The following NSTC departments and agencies are represented on the ES21 Working Group:

Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, Department of the Interior, Department of Labor Department of Transportation, Environmental Protection Agency, National Aeronautics and Space Administration; National Science Foundation.

The following organizations of the Executive Office of the President are also represented on ES21:

Office of Management and Budget, and Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Cooperating departments and agencies shall include other such Executive organizations, departments, and agencies as the T&R Co-chairs may, from time to time, designate. ES2 l Co- chairs and an Executive Secretary shall be appointed by the T&R Co-chairs. The Executive Secretary shall maintain and distribute agendas, minutes, records of action, and products, consistent with NSTC procedures.

E. Private-Sector Interface

ES2 l, in consultation with T&R, may seek advice from members of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology to secure appropriate private-sector1 advice, and will recommend to T&R, CENRS and/or the President's Science Advisor the nature of any additional non-Federal advice needed to accomplish its mission. ES2 l may also interact with and receive ad hoc advice from various private-sector groups consistent with the Federal Advisory Committee Act.

1 The Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App., as amended, does not explicitly define "private sector," but the phrase is generally understood to include individuals or entities outside the Federal government such as, but not limited to, the following: non-Federal sources, academia, State, local or Tribal governments, individual citizens, the public, non-governmental organizations, industry associations, international bodies, etc.

 

F. Termination

Unless renewed by the Co-chairs of the T&R Subcommittee prior to its expiration, ES2l shall terminate no later than May 21, 2016.

G. Determination

I hereby determine that establishment of the Working Group on Exposure Science for the 21st Century (ES2l ) is in the public interest in connection with the performance of duties imposed on the Executive Branch by law and those duties can best be performed through the advice and counsel of such a group.

Approved:

Ron Hines Environmental Protection Agency (Co-chair, CENRS Toxics and Risk Subcommittee)

Patrick Mason, Department of Defense (Co-chair, CENRS Toxics and Risk Subcommittee)

Chris Weiss Department of Health and Human Services (Co-chair, CENRS Toxics and Risk Subcommittee)

 

1  

Appendix B

MemberOrganizations

CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention

‐‐AgencyforToxicSubstancesandDiseaseRegistry

‐‐NationalCenterforEnvironmentalHealth

‐‐NationalInstituteforOccupationalSafetyandHealth

ConsumerProductSafetyCommission

DepartmentofAgriculture

‐‐AgriculturalResearchService

‐‐FoodSafetyandInspectionService

‐‐NationalInstituteofFoodandAgriculture

DepartmentofDefense

‐‐AirForceCivilEngineerCenter

‐‐ArmySustainmentCommand

‐‐U.S.ArmyCorpofEngineers

‐‐ForceHealthProtection&Readiness

‐‐NavyMarineCorpsPublicHealthCenter

DepartmentofEnergy

DepartmentofHomelandSecurity

EnvironmentalProtectionAgency

‐‐OfficeofAirandRadiation

‐‐OfficeofChemicalSafetyandPollutionPrevention

‐‐OfficeofResearchandDevelopment

FoodandDrugAdministration

NationalAeronauticsandSpaceAdministration

NationalInstitutesofHealth

‐‐NationalCancerInstitute

‐‐NationalInstituteofEnvironmentalHealthSciences

NationalInstituteofStandardsandTechnology

NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration

OccupationalSafetyandHealthAdministration

OfficeofManagementandBudget

U.S.GeologicalSurvey

WhiteHouseOfficeofScienceandTechnologyPolicy

 

2  

AppendixC

DepartmentofDefense:AdaptiveRiskAssessmentModelingSystem(ARAMS)‐ARAMSincorporatesvarious

existingdatabasesandmodelsforexposure,intake/update,andeffects(healthimpacts)intoanobject‐oriented,conceptualsitemodelingframework.Theuserhastheflexibilitytovisuallyspecify,throughobjects,multimediapathwaysandriskscenarios.Also,theusercanchoosewhichparticularmodule(i.e.,model,database)touseforeachobject.

TrainingRangeEnvironmentalEvaluationandCharacterizationSystem(TREECS)‐Theobjectivewastodevelopaclient‐based,modeling,datadelivery,andanalysissystemthatintegratesrangemunitionsusagewithmultimediaandmulti‐pathwayfate/transportmodelingtoforecastrangesoilMCconcentrationsandMCmassexporttooff‐rangesurfacewaterandgroundwater,aswellasMCconcentrationsinsurfacewater,sediment,andgroundwateratpotentialreceptorlocations.

ERDCLandscapeContaminantModelingSystem(ELCMS)‐ELCMSdefineslocations/regionsforsafedrinkingwaterthatrequireminimaltreatment.ELCMSprovidessecurewaterthroughanabilitytoidentify,predict,andassesswithstatisticalconfidencethelocationofuniquechemicalcontaminantswithinalandscape.WithELCMS,theArmycancharacterizethewaterqualitywithinalandscapewhereoperationsareplanned;thiswouldservetoenhancetheperformanceofthefiltrationsystemsbyminimizinguseofthepoorestqualitywaterandenhancesolderconfidenceinusingportablefiltrationandthusreducingtherelianceonbottledwater.

ComputationalChemistry‐ThepurposeistopredictenvironmentalfateandtransportofMunitionsConstituents(MCs)andEmergingContaminants(ECs)onsimplesurfacesintermsofadsorptionproperties,partitioncoefficients,diffusioncoefficients,andsurfacereactivity.

ToxicologyandPhysiology EnvironmentalGenomics&SystemsBiology:Thegoalistoimproveourunderstanding

ofexposureandtoxicityofArmycompoundallstagesofthetechnologylife‐cycletominimizeimpactsonoperationsandthesoldier.Theapproachistousegenomics,systemstoxicologyandAdverseOutcomePathways(AOPs)toevaluateeffectsthatresultfromMunitionsexposure.Thisinformationiscriticalforestablishingthehazardandriskoftheseandemergingchemicalstosoldiersandtheenvironment.

ComputationalBiology:Thegoalistodevelopdynamicmechanisticmathematicalmodelstounderstandandpredictbehaviorsofanimalsexposedtochemicalstressorsandpredictadverseoutcomesandeffects(e.g.toxicity,death,reproductiveproblems)

Eulerian–Lagrangian‐Agent‐Method(ELAM)–ELAMisanapproachdevelopedbyERDC’sEnvironmentalLaboratoryforanalyzingandforecastingthemovementanddistribution

 

3  

patternsofindividualanimalsrespondingtoenvironmentalconditionsonlandandinthewater.

EnvironmentalProtectionAgencyNationalEnvironmentalATLAS‐MergesdatafromEPA,USGS,NOAA,etc.toprovidewall‐to‐

wallgeographicallyexplicitdatacharacterizingecosystemservicesacrosstheU.S.plushigh‐resolutionanalysisforselectedcommunities.Categoriesofecosystemservicesinclude:cleanwaterfordrinking;cleanwaterforrecreationandaquatichabitat;adequatewatersupply;food,fuelandfiber;recreation,culturalandaestheticamenities;contributionstoclimatestability;protectionfromhazardousweather;habitatandthemaintenanceofbiodiversity;andcleanair.

RemoteSensingInformationGateway(RSIG)–RSIGprovidesmulti‐terabyte,environmentaldatasets(i.e.,NASA’sMODIS,EPACMAQ,NEDISbiomassburningmeasurement,EPAAirNowandAQS)viaaninteractive,Webbrowserandoverlaysthemonamapoftheselectedregion,automaticallyaligninginformationfromvariousspatialandtemporalscalesintoaunifiedvisualization.

DownScalerModel–UsesBayesianfusiontocalculatedailyozone(8‐hrmax)andfineparticulateair(24‐hraverage)concentrationsurfacesacrosstheUSstartingin2001.DataareavailableaspartofCDC’sNationalEnvironmentalPublicHealthTrackingNetwork—awebportalforpublicandprofessionalstotrackhowtheenvironmentaffectspublichealthandhowpeopleaffectthehealthoftheenvironment(ephtracking.cdc.gov).

IGEMS/CSMmodel‐Includescapabilitiestouploadandgeographicallydisplaymonitoringdata,andcanbecoupledwithmodeledestimates.

MicrotracPersonalActivityModel‐UsesGPSdataonlocationandspeedtoestimatethetimepeoplespendinvarious"microenvironments"suchasinsideandoutsidetheirhome,school,workplace,andmotorvehicle.UsingMicroTracwithpersonalGPSdevices,accelerometers,andhealthmonitorsinexposureandhealtheffectsstudieswillallowscientiststolinkthelocationandactivitiesofstudyparticipantswithairpollutionmeasurementsandmeasuresofhealtheffectsduringastudy.

ClimateMulti‐scaleAirQualityModel‐Multiscalesystemusedforairqualitymanagementthatiscapableofaddressingcomplexairpollutionissuesincludingphotochemicalozone,particulatematter,airtoxics,aciddepositionandnutrientdeposition.Developsconcentrationsata4to12kmgridresolutionacrosstheUSeveryhour.Providesvisualizationofairqualitysurfaces.Currentlyisrunningcontinuously.

SHEDSandSHEDS‐Lite–Bothmodelsintegratedsource‐exposure‐dosemodelingcomponentstoprovidelow‐to‐hightierpredictionsofchemicalexposure.Modelshavetheabilitytodeveloptimecourseexposurefromminutestodaysformultiplechemicalsbymultiplepathways.Modelsalsoprovidevariabilityandsensitivityanalysisofoutputs.

PhysiologicalandAnatomicalVisualAnalytics(PAVA)‐PAVAisaweb‐basedvisualanalyticstooltosupportthedevelopment,validation,andcommunicationofphysiologically

 

4  

annotateddata(PAD)thatletsusersimportandcombineresultsfrommultiplephysiologically‐basedpharmacokinetic(PBPK)modelstovisualizetissuedosimetrylevels.

PhysiologicallyRelevantParameterEstimation(PReParE)‐PReParEestimatesphysicochemicalandbiochemicalparametervaluesusedindosimetrymodels

Cloudcomputingbaseknowledgemanagementsystem‐Ubertoolisaprototypecloudcomputing‐baseknowledgemanagementsystemtosupportecologicalriskdecisionsmandatedunderFIFRAandtheEndangeredSpeciesAct.The“Ubertool”dashboardinfrastructureintegratestheprocessingofmodelresultsforoveradozencommonly‐usedEPAaquaticandterrestrialregulatorymodelsandsupportingdatasets.

Community‐(Tribal‐)FocusedExposureandRiskScreeningTool(C‐FERST/T‐FERST)‐Communitymapping,informationaccess,andassessmenttool.C‐FERSTandT‐FERSTareexpectedtoincreasetheavailabilityandaccessibilityofscienceforriskrankingandunderstandingtheenvironmentalhealthconsequencesofcommunitybaseddecisions.Itincorporatesthelatestresearchestimatinghumanexposurestotoxicsubstancesintheenvironment.DesignedtoassistcommunitiesandTribeswiththechallengeofidentifyingandprioritizingenvironmentalhealthissuesandpotentialactions.

BenMAP‐AcomputerprogramthatusesaGeographicInformationSystem(GIS)‐baseddatabasetoestimatethehealthimpactsandeconomicbenefitsoccurringwhenpopulationsexperiencechangesinairquality,canbeusedtoidentifymoreeffectiveapproachesforimplementationofNationalAmbientAirQualityStandards(NAAQS).

CenterforDiseaseControlandPreventionOccupationalexposuressamplingstrategiesmanualupdate‐Thisprojectaimstodevelop

occupationalexposuresamplingstrategyguidanceappropriatefortheevaluationandcontrolofavarietyofoccupationalexposureagents.

SupplementingRecommendedExposureLevels(RELs)withhealthhazardbands‐AhazardbandingapproachmaybethemostappropriatewaytodefineRELsforfamiliesofmaterialswherethedataorresourcesaretoolimitedtoallowforacomprehensiveandconclusiveassessmentofrisk.

Carbonnanotube(CNT)dosimetrymodelingforriskassessment‐ThepurposeofthisprojectistogeneratethedataneededtodevelopahumanrespiratorytractdepositionmodelforCNTs,andtodevelopthemodelusingthesedata.Thisprojectincludesthreecomponents:(1)Evaluationoftransmissionelectronmicroscopy(TEM)methodstodeterminetheairbornesizedistributionsofCNTsintheworkplaceandlaboratory;(2)MeasurementofCNTdepositioninahumanrespiratorycastmodel;and(3)DevelopmentofacomprehensivehumanrespiratorytractdepositionmodelforairborneCNTs.

Derivinghazardbandstoprotectemergencyresponders‐TheintentofthisprojectistosupplementtheImmediatelyDangeroustoLifeandHealth(IDLH),AcuteExposureGuidelineValues(AEGL),EmergencyResponsePlanningGuidelines(ERPG),andTemporaryEmergencyExposureLimits(TEEL)valueswithacategoricalprocessforidentifyingthepotentialtoxiceffectsfromasingleexposureevent,rangingfrommild,transienthealtheffects,suchasrespiratoryirritation;tosevereandirreversible,suchasrespiratory

 

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corrosivity;tolife‐threateningeffectsbasedonhazardinformationalreadypublishedandreadilyavailableonsafetydatasheets,containerlabels,andREACH(Registration,Evaluation,AuthorizationandRestrictionofChemical)registrationdossiers.

MethodstodevelopOELsfornanomaterials‐Thepurposeofthisprojectistodevelopandimplementanevidence‐basedstrategytodeveloprecommendedoccupationalexposurelimits(OELs)oroccupationalexposurebands(OEBs)fornanomaterials.

NationalInstituteofEnvironmentalHealthSciencesNationalToxicologyProgram(NTP)‐TheNTPisafederalinteragencyprogram

headquarteredatNIEHS.Itsgoalistodevelopandapplytoolsofmoderntoxicologyandmolecularbiologytoidentifysubstancesintheenvironmentthatmayaffecthumanhealth.

InteragencyCoordinatingCommitteeontheValidationofAlternativeMethods(ICCVAM)‐ICCVAM'smissionistofacilitatedevelopment,validation,andregulatoryacceptanceofnewandrevisedregulatorytestmethodsthatreduce,refine,andreplacetheuseofanimalsintestingwhilemaintainingandpromotingscientificqualityandtheprotectionofhumanhealth,animalhealth,andtheenvironment.

HighThroughputScreening(HTS)Initiative‐ThegoalsoftheHTSInitiativearetoprioritizesubstancesforfurtherin‐depthtoxicologicalevaluation,identifymechanismsofactionforfurtherinvestigation(e.g.,disease‐associatedpathways),anddeveloppredictivemodelsforinvivobiologicalresponse(predictivetoxicology).

NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministrationHYSPLIT–IsanatmosphericdispersionmodelusedatNOAAandworldwideforavarietyof

purposes,fromemergencyresponsetolong‐termecologicalassessment.Themodelisfreelyavailableandcanberunonthewebordownloadedandinstalledtorunlocally(viaabuilt‐inGraphicalUserInterface,thecommandline,and/orscripts).

Real‐timeEnvironmentalApplicationsandDisplaysYstem(READY)‐READYisaworld‐wide‐webbasedsystemthathasbeendevelopedforaccessinganddisplayingmeteorologicaldataandrunningtrajectoryanddispersionmodelproductsonARL'swebserver.Thissystembringstogetherdispersionmodels,graphicaldisplayprogramsandtextualforecastprogramsgeneratedovermanyyearsatARLintoaformthatiseasytousebyanyone.

AtmosphericMercuryModeling‐HYSPLIT‐Hgmodeltracksmercuryemissionsourcesandlinkstheseemissionstoatmospherictransport,transformation,anddeposition.

AtmosphericDioxinModeling‐HYSPLIT‐SV(Semi‐Volatile)isaspecialversionoftheHYSPLITmodelthatsimulatestheatmosphericfateandtransportofsemi‐volatileairpollutants.

HABForecasting‐NOAA'sHarmfulAlgalBloomOperationalForecastSystem(HAB‐OFS)providesinformationandoperationalforecastsregardingthepotentialdevelopment,intensification,transportandassociatedimpactsofKareniabrevisbloomsintheGulfofMexico.

 

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Appendix D

ES21CollaborationEfforts

Title Partners Time Frame

Description

DISCOVER AQ (Deriving Information on Surface conditions from Column and VERtically resolved observations relevant to Air Quality)

EPA, NASA, NOAA, and state organizations

2011 - 2015

NASA developed a series of four field campaigns to collect 3-D air quality data that could be used to better understand emission, chemistry and meteorological processes governing near-surface pollution levels in a variety of different urban airsheds. The collaborations resulted in deployment of successful observational systems for all four field campaigns. EPA provided an extensive ground-based instrument network to provide the critical “ground-truth” for the aircraft, sondes, and satellite-based measurements. The DISCOVER AQ campaigns also provided the opportunity to evaluate Federal Regulatory Methods (FRM) and Federal Equivalency Methods (FEM) used to ascertain compliance for the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) under real-world conditions. New innovative new technologies were also evaluated, such as small sensors, remote sensing spectrometers and satellites for monitoring ambient air pollution. Citizen science activities engaged school children in the collection of air pollutant data using handheld sensor devices.

U.S. GeoPlatform Federal Agencies, State & local & Tribal governments, non-profit organizations, academic institutions, industry, citizens

Current The U.S. GeoPlatform (http://www.geoplatform.gov/overview-page) effort provides shared and trusted geospatial data, services, and applications for use by the public and by government agencies and partners to meet their mission needs. Through the GeoPlatform, users have access to a one-stop shop to deliver trusted, nationally consistent data and services. The GeoPlatform also provides authoritative data to support informed decision making, problem-solving applications / services, shared infrastructure to host data and applications, and a national focal point where governmental, academic, private, and public data and applications can be visualized together to inform and address national and regional issues.

Pilot Study of Exposure to Chemicals in

NIEHS, EPA Ongoing The study will help researchers develop and evaluate tools and techniques for assessing the multitude of chemicals people are exposed to every day. Personal

 

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Consumer Products: An NIEHS/EPA Collaborative Methods Demonstration and Evaluation

care products are of interest because of the efficiency of their delivery. Phthalates, parabens and triclosan have endocrine disrupting potential and are common ingredients in PCPs. The primary objectives of the study are to evaluate predictive models of chemical exposure as well as demonstrate and evaluate novel methods for chemical exposure measurements. EPA scientists will focus on how well the high-throughput chemical exposure models, parameters and components predict chemical environmental concentrations and exposures. NIEHS will investigate how effectively exposure to chemicals in consumer products and food packaging can be classified by comparing questionnaires and daily diaries with body-burden measurements. http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/about_ntp/bsc/2014/june/ohat_epa_collaborative_508.pdf

Regional Hubs for Risk Adaptation and Mitigation to Climate Change

USDA, NOAA, DOI

Ongoing The Climate Hubs were established in February of 2014 to deliver science-based knowledge, practical information and program support to farmers, ranchers, forest landowners, and resource managers to support climate-informed decision-making in light of the increased risks and vulnerabilities associated with a changing climate. These activities further the mission of maintaining and strengthening agricultural production, natural resource management, and rural economic development under increasing climate variability. Key partners in this effort include the public and land grant universities, Cooperative Extension, USDA researchers, the private sector, state, local and regional governments, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Interior (DOI) regional climate change experts, and non-profits engaged in providing assistance to landowners. http://climatehubs.oce.usda.gov/

CyAN (Cyanobacteria Assessment Network)

EPA, NASA, NOAA, USGS

Ongoing This collaborative effort integrates the efforts of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to provide an approach for mainstreaming satellite ocean color capabilities into U.S. fresh and brackish water quality management decisions. The overarching project goal is to support the environmental management and public use of U.S. lakes, reservoirs, and estuaries by providing the capability to detect and quantify cyanobacteria blooms using satellite data records.

 

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The four Federal agencies are participating in the project to (1) develop a uniform and systematic approach for identifying cyanobacteria blooms using ocean color satellites across the contiguous United States; (2) create a strategy for evaluation and refinement of algorithms across satellite platforms; (3) identify landscape linkage postulated causes of chlorophyll-a and cyanobacteria blooms in freshwater systems; (4) characterize exposure and human health effects using ocean color satellites in drinking water sources and recreational waters; (5) characterize behavioral responses and economic value of the early warning system using ocean color satellites and mobile dissemination platform; and (6) disseminate satellite data through an Android mobile application and EnviroAtlas.

We anticipate that the use of uniform satellite data products will improve the decision-making ability of managers. In addition, satellite data products may augment federal, state, tribal, and municipal monitoring and research efforts. At the conclusion of this project, there should be an increase in the applied use of remotely sensed water quality data for water quality management. The use of this technology has tremendous potential owing to the temporal and spatial coverage of the imagery and the current lack of data available for many systems. Using satellite data to monitor and report blooms throughout a region or state would provide a novel robust tool and assist in holistic management of events that may involve significant risk to the public. Ultimately this project will reduce resource needs and potential exposures of the public.

The DoD Serum Repository

DoD, NIEHS Ongoing The DoD Serum Repository is among the largest collections of biological samples in the world. It contains more than 55 million frozen, archived serum specimens collected primarily from applicants to and members of the United States Uniformed Services with additional samples collected on individuals before, after, and occasionally during deployment experiences. The Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center maintains the repository for medical surveillance purposes. The specimens are carefully linked to demographic, occupational, deployment history, medical visits, and immunizations information via the Defense Medical Surveillance System. DoD, with additional support from NIEHS, has partnered with researchers at Emory University and the University of Rochester to integrate traditional exposure data (ambient monitoring, occupational and industrial hygiene assessments) with novel

 

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assessments of metabolomics signatures of exposure and response as well as inflammatory and allergic response biomarkers resulting from a series of well-defined exposure situations. Pre-, during, and post-deployment serum specimens are being examined for 1) biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammatory disease processes, cardiovascular risk, and pollutant inhalation using multiplex cytokine analysis; 2) MicroRNA biomarkers of inflammatory disease processes; and 3) Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies as a sentinel signal of allergy and asthma. These tests will allow analysis of effects associated with deployment specific exposure events, the theater of deployment, as well as independent effects on serum biomarkers of disease risk. This collaboration allowed DoD and NIEHS to obtain valuable data on exposures and health outcomes using the same resources.

Collaborative Strategy on Bed Bugs

CDC, EPA, USDA, DoD

2015 The Collaborative Strategy on Bed Bugs was developed to clarify the federal role in bed bug control and highlight ways that all levels of government, community, academia and private industry can work together to reduce bed bugs across the United States. Controlling bed bugs can be very costly and nearly all communities and states are currently facing resource limitations. Collaborating and sharing training programs, communication materials or treatment plans will conserve resources and may also lead to higher quality outputs by providing new opportunities for improvement. The strategy outlines four priority areas for bed bug control (Prevention, Surveillance and Integrated Pest Management [IPM], Education and Communication, and Research). Each of these areas is critical to national efforts. http://www2.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-02/documents/fed-strategy-bedbug-2015.pdf

Federal Coordination of Sensor Technology SBIR Investments

DOD, DOE, EPA, NASA, NIEHS,NIOSH, NOAA, USACE, USDA

FY 2016 and on-going

Background: Federal partners have ongoing SBIR programs that have included requests for proposals related to monitoring, including sensor technology. However, these requests have not been coordinated in the past and the overall federal investment has not been captured, nor has there been a consistent federal wide message about the interest in and utility of sensor technology. Coordination Goals Articulate a common need and interest for sensor technology development,

evaluation, and application across the federal government. Identify the federal commitment to sensor technology research and quantify

federal SBIR investment. Avoid duplicative investments & Identify complementary investments.

 

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