NJSL Digital Collections :: Browsing by Author "Stern, Alan H."

Browsing by Author "Stern, Alan H."

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Assessment of Exposure in the Community Surrounding the Martin Luther King/Jefferson School Construction Site in Trenton: Research Project Summary
(Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science, Research and Technology, 2008-11) Weisel, Clifford P.; Gochfeld, Michael; Lioy, Paul J.; Stern, Alan H.
As part of the construction of a new school at the existing Martin Luther King/Jefferson School site in Trenton, NJ in 2004-2005, exogenous fill material consisting of soil and concrete fragments was introduced to the site to stabilize the foundation. Subsequent construction in and around this material resulted in reports from the community of dust transport into residential areas. There were also anecdotal reports of respiratory symptoms in surrounding residents. Testing of the fill material revealed low to moderate levels of lead and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the fill material. The NJDEP Division of Science and Research was asked to investigate whether and to what extent the fill material was transported to and within homes in the surrounding community.
Characterization of Hexavalent Chromium Concentrations in Household Dust in Background Areas: Research Project Summary
(Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Science, 2009-06) Fan, Zhi-Hua (Tina); Shalat, Stuart; Yu, Chang-Ho; Black, Kathy; Lin, Lin; Stern, Alan H.
In order to understand the significance of the low-level ubiquitous occurrence of hexavalent chromium (Cr+6 ) in house dust sampled in the Hudson County Chromium Exposure and Health Study in Jersey City, New Jersey, a study was undertaken to measure Cr+6 in samples of house dust obtained from background locations unrelated to Jersey City. A total of 20 homes was sampled in New Brunswick, New Jersey and surrounding towns. Three samples were collected in each home and analyzed for Cr+6. Total chromium (Cr+6 + Cr+3) was also analyzed in 17% of samples. As in Jersey City, Cr+6 was found to be ubiquitous in house dust samples in the background locations. No significant difference was found between Cr+6 concentrations in Jersey City and the background locations. Evidence suggests that at least some of the Cr+6 in the dust arose from materials inside the houses. Comparison of the correlation of Cr+6 and Cr+3 in Jersey City and the background locations indicates that residual chromate production waste (COPR) in Jersey City was not a major source of the Cr+6 in Jersey City house dust. In addition to household materials, possible sources of Cr+6 in house dust include atmospheric deposition, naturally occurring Cr+6 in soil, and exogenous soil and soil treatments containing Cr+6 contamination. Further research will be needed to identify the sources of Cr+6 in house dust.
The Contribution of Dust Particles from St. Lawrence Cement to Outdoor Dust in the Surrounding Waterfront-South Community in Camden, New Jersey: Research Project Summary
(Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Science, 2009-08) Lioy, Paul J.; Fan, Zhi-Hua (Tina); Yu, Chang Ho; Stern, Alan H.
In response to community concerns about dusty conditions in the Waterfront South area of Camden, NJ, and specific concerns that the nearby St. Lawrence/Holcim facility was a major contributor to these conditions, a study was undertaken to examine the contribution of that facility to dust deposition in the Waterfront South area. A composite sample of material was collected from the exposed piles at the facility and outdoor dust deposition and surface wipe samples were collected at multiple locations during two periods for a total of 52 days within a distance of 800 m of the facility as well as at a control location 2 km from the facility. Dust mass was examined as a function of distance from the facility, and the source material from the facility was compared to the community dust samples on the basis of elemental concentration (particularly calcium) and elemental ratios. In addition, a chemical mass-balance model was created that attempted to account for the elemental signature of the source material from the facility against the background of elemental occurrence in urban dust. Also, facility-wide deposition modeling was conducted using operations data supplied by the facility. Several independent lines of evidence point to a contribution from the facility of 2-13% with a most likely contribution in the range of 2-8% of the total dust material in the community at a distance of up to about 0.5 km. Unusual wind conditions could increase this contribution in the short-term. Both stack and fugitive emissions contribute to the facility’s overall dust emissions. However, fugitive emissions appear to be the larger source. This study was specifically focused on identifying the extant to which the St. Lawrence/Holcim facility contributed to the dust deposition in Waterfront South. It did not attempt to identify other contribution to the dust deposition. However, from other studies in the scientific literature in other locations, it appears that soil, and automotive use and wear (including tire wear) are major sources of urban dust.
Cultural Uses of Mercury in New Jersey – Year 2 Mercury Vapor in Residential Buildings – Comparison of Communities That Use Mercury for Cultural Purposes with a Reference Community: Research Project Summary
(Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science, Research and Technology, 2007-09) Stern, Alan H.; Gochfeld, Michael; Garetano, Gary
The first year of this study compared levels of mercury (Hg) vapor in hallways and common areas of apartment buildings in West New York, New Jersey and Union City, New Jersey to outdoor levels (Garetano et al. 2006). These two communities were chosen based on the prevalence of botanicas that sold Hg for cultural uses (e.g., Santeria and related practices). The results from the first year’s study suggested that levels of mercury in apartment buildings in these areas were significantly elevated above outdoor levels. However, these results could not distinguish between intentional cultural use and unintentional spills from household mercury-containing devices such as thermometers. In the second year of this study, the researchers increased the number of buildings sampled in West New York and Union City (the study communities), and compared the Hg vapor levels in these buildings to levels in a reference community with comparable housing stock, but no evidence of cultural use of Hg. There was no difference between the outdoor Hg levels in the study communities versus the reference community (2.9 vs. 2.3 ng/m3; p=0.20). However, compared with the reference community, public spaces in buildings in the study communities had significantly higher mean Hg levels (9.8 vs. 5.0 ng/m3; p=0.03) and higher average maximum values (13.3 vs. 6.4 ng/m3; p=0.01). Comparison of levels in the reference community to outdoor levels suggests an elevated background of indoor Hg vapor possibly from a history of unintentional Hg spills. However, the significantly increased levels above this background that were observed in the study communities strongly suggest (but do not prove) the prevalence of intentional cultural use of Hg. These findings call attention to the potential for significant exposure in areas with likely cultural use of Hg.
Cultural Uses of Mercury in New Jersey: Research Project Summary
(Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science, Research and Technology, 2003-05) Stern, Alan H.; Gochfeld, Michael; Riley, Donna; Newby, Alison; Leal, Tomas; Garetano, Gary
This study has two components: 1. Interviews with practitioners of Santeria and related practices 2. Survey of air mercury levels in buildings located in Hudson County. Twenty-two Santeria “priests” (i.e., Santeros), practitioners and/or botanica owners in Hudson County, NJ, were interviewed to determine their knowledge and use of mercury. Of the 21 interviewed, 17 used mercury in some form. All the interviewees, however, denied recommending or endorsing sprinkling of mercury or recommending that clients use mercury on their own. This, however, does not preclude independent, or more cultural uses of mercury by individuals. While initial indications pointed toward Caribbean and/or AfroCuban mercury-related practices, seven of those using mercury in rituals were from Mexico, Central America, or South America. In addition, anecdotal information from interviewees suggests that informal practices with mercury may specifically be part of Dominican cultural practices. Measurements of mercury concentration in air were obtained in the hallways of 34, and in the entrance vestibules of an additional 33 multi-family apartment buildings in Union City and West New York (Hudson County), NJ, using a highly sensitive Lumex portable mercury analyzer. Comparison buildings in Montclair, NJ, were also analyzed. In Hudson County the maximum building hallway concentration (as a possible indicator of mercury use in apartments) was significantly greater than the mean outdoor concentration in 38% of the surveyed buildings. In two buildings the maximum hallway concentration exceeded the U.S.EPA’s Reference Concentration (RfC) guideline of 300 ng/m3 although levels were significantly decreased on subsequent visits. Elevated hallway levels appear to result from specific apartments. These results suggest higher concentrations of mercury vapor in apartments. These results are consistent with intentional mercury use inside at least some of the buildings surveyed, but may also be consistent with recent data on indoor background levels resulting from historic spills.
Derivation of an Ingestion-Based Soil Remediation Criterion for Cr+6 Based on the NTP Chronic Bioassay Data for Sodium Dichromate Dihydrate: Research Project Summary
(Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Science, 2009-06) Stern, Alan H.
Although the carcinogenicity of hexavalent chromium (Cr+6, Cr(VI)) by inhalation has been known for a long time, there has been little evidence regarding the potential for the carcinogenicity and no ability to estimate cancer potency of Cr+6 by ingestion until recently. The release in 2008 of the National Toxicology Program’s (NTP) chronic bioassay of rats and mice exposed to Cr+6 in drinking water provided clear evidence of cancer risk by ingestion and permits the estimation of the cancer potency and the associated soil remediation criterion. Dose-related increases in oral cavity tumors were observed in both sexes of rats and small intestine tumors were observed in both sexes of mice. Following USEPA guidance, NJDEP calculated a value for the human-equivalent cancer potency of 0.5 (mg Cr+6/kg body weight/day)-1 based on the most sensitive species and sex (male mice). For a one-in-a-million (1x10-6) lifetime cancer risk, this is equivalent to a daily dose of 1x10-6 mg Cr+6/kg body weight/day. Based on NJDEP soil remediation standards guidance, this corresponds to a soil concentration of 1 ppm (part per million). The NTP study was scientifically sound in its design and execution. Taking into account the ability of the stomach to metabolize Cr+6 to the less toxic Cr+3 form, the NTP animal data are judged to be relevant to human exposure. As per the USEPA scheme for characterization of carcinogenic potential, it is concluded that Cr+6 is “likely to be carcinogenic to humans” by ingestion.
Derivation of ingestion-based soil remediation criterion for Cr+6 based on the NTP chronic bioassay data for sodium dichromate dihydrate / prepared by Alan Stern, Dr.P.H.
(Trenton, New Jersey: New Jersey, Dept. of Environmental Protection, Division of Science, Research and Technology, 2009., 2009) Stern, Alan H.
The Distribution of Chromium Species as a Function of Particle Size for Chromium Waste Laden Soils: Research Project Summary
(Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science, Research and Technology: Research Project Summary, 2008-11) Lin, Lin; Fan, Zhihua (Tina); Lioy, Paul J.; Stern, Alan H.
Among the remediation criteria applied to COPR in Hudson County, New Jersey are those based on the cancer risk associated with inhalation of Cr+6. For inhalation-based remediation criteria, the acceptable soil concentration is based on the concentration of Cr+6 on the respirable size particles. The default assumption is that the concentration of Cr+6 on those particles is the same as the concentration in the bulk COPR soil material. To examine this assumption COPR soil from 8 locations was separated into size fractions. The concentration of Cr+6, total Cr and Cr+3 was compared in the bulk soil and the individual size fractions including the respirable (<2.5 μm) material. Cr+6 was consistently enriched in the 2.5 μm fraction compared to the bulk COPR soil (mean enrichment = 63.7). In addition, the Cr+6 accounted for a larger percentage of the total Cr as the particle size decreased. In contrast total Cr and Cr+3 did not show a consistent enrichment in the 2.5 μm fraction. There was a strong relationship between Cr+6 concentration in the bulk material and in the 2.5 μm fraction that may allow analysis of Cr+6 in bulk COPR soil to be used as a surrogate analysis of the 2.5 μm fraction.
Emergency Room Visits and Hospital Admissions of Asthmatics in NJ as an Indicator of Ozone Exposure: Research Project Summary
(Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science, Research and Technology, 2003-05) Stern, Alan H.; Weisel, Clifford P.; Cody, Ronald
The goal of air pollution reduction strategies in NJ is not merely to achieve regulatory compliance, but also to protect the public health of its citizens. It is therefore important to evaluate progress in ozone reduction by examining the extent to which health effects associated with ozone are being reduced. Previous studies have established an association between atmospheric ozone concentrations and severe asthma symptoms (those resulting in emergency room (ER) visits or hospital admissions for asthma). Daily ER visit and hospital admissions data for asthma are compared to NJ maximum daily 8-hour ozone concentrations while also accounting for daily temperature, pollen, and spore data to determine the extent of association between ozone and asthma and to investigate possible trends in ozone-related asthma for the period 1995-1999. During this period no consistent trend is evident. In some years, ozone accounted for 1-10% of ER visits or hospital admissions for asthma. In some years, however, no significant association was observed. A statistical model incorporating data for all years during this period indicates a significant association between ER visits for asthma and the previous 24 hour maximum 8-hour ozone concentrations, and between hospital admissions for asthma, and previous 24, and 48 hour maximum 8-hour ozone concentrations. In both cases ozone accounted for about 1% of ER visits or hospital admissions for asthma. These data further suggest the existence of a threshold for severe asthma symptoms related to ozone in NJ in the range of 60-80 ppb. The upper end of this range is consistent with the current USEPA 8-hour ozone standard. These results suggest that, in general, current ozone levels in NJ are close to the threshold for detecting an association with severe asthma symptoms. Continued reductions in ozone levels can further reduce the remaining associations. Further prospective and retrospective analysis can clarify the nature of the ozone-asthma relationship in NJ and can help determine when ozone levels are sufficiently low to eliminate all detectable associations.
An Evaluation of Potential Exposures to Lead and Other Metals as the Result of Aerosolized Particulate Matter from Artificial Turf Playing Fields: Research Project Summary
(Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Science, 2011-08) Shalat, Stuart L.; Stern, Alan H.
In response to numerous community concerns starting in 2008 regarding the safety of artificial turf fields, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) funded a study by the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute (EOHSI) to measure lead (Pb) concentrations in wipe samples and in air at artificial turf fields. Sampling was conducted at five fields in New Jersey using an autonomous, programmable robot that agitated the turf surface and collected air samples above the turf in the breathing zone of a child. Other potentially toxic metals were also measured including chromium, cadmium and arsenic. Although considerable efforts were made to gain access to more fields, schools and community facilities were reluctant to participate. Pb was significantly elevated at one of the five fields. Although the measured levels of Pb at this field did not approach standards for protection of health, the small number of fields sampled makes it difficult to generalize the conclusions of this study to other artificial turf fields. On the basis of these results, it is recommended that artificial turf fields, particularly those older than three years, be screened for Pb using wipe sampling. If wipe samples show elevated levels of Pb, more intensive sampling of air with agitation of the turf is recommended.

Browsing by Author "Stern, Alan H."

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