FOCUS
Jessica believes that all people have the right to a home and work environment safe from endocrine disrupting chemicals. Endocrine disrupting chemicals have been associated with a multitude of health outcomes, from asthma to infertility to some cancers. These chemicals are notoriously difficult to study and regulate because they are now found everywhere, such as in our building materials and our personal care products. They even play a major role in some occupations, such as cleaning services. Using analytical chemistry, Jessica measures exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals experienced by women and children, as well as by firefighters. She is an exposure scientist who aims to more accurately describe exposures that occur at work and at home, in order to inform more accurate risk assessments that will be used for environmental public health policy decisions.
MORE ABOUT JESSICA
Jessica has worked as a bench scientist and a government consultant. These experiences motivated her to translate her bench work into science policy to protect the health of blue-collar workers, parents, and children. With HPRS, her research will facilitate evidence-based policy changes for better chemical regulation and accountability.
DISSERTATION GRANT AWARDEE — SPRING 2023
Exploring the Utility of Silicone Wristbands for Monitoring Exposure to Environmental Phenols With a Focus on Parabens
This research will determine if silicone wristbands can accurately quantify non-dietary aggregate exposure of environmental phenols across microenvironments. A particular focus on parabens, often associated with personal care product use, will demonstrate how sensitive silicone wristbands may be as compared to typical urine collection methods. This exposure quantification will support health impact assessments and risk assessments of environmental phenols because regulation of chemical sources most strongly correlated with exposure has the greatest potential to mitigate health effects.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HPRS DISSERTATION AWARDS, CLICK HERE.
