RESEARCH
At ESSI, we conduct applied research to help industry answer practical questions. We generate the data to support data-driven exposure and risk management decision making, facilitating world-class product stewardship.
We design and conduct studies focusing on predicting, assessing, and reducing occupational exposures to chemicals, and on predicting and assessing chemical exposures that may occur as a result of consumer products use. By combining chamber and field methodologies we are able simplify complex situations and generate objective data that support data-driven solutions.
Our state of the art instruments facilitate accurate, robust exposure related data. Using our dynamic generator, we can calibrate our real time instruments with a wide range of chemicals and chemical mixtures ensuring highly accurate measurements of specific chemicals and chemical mixtures. Our portable Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) allows us to identify and quantify specific chemicals within mixtures, as well as pure substances. We have a wide range of real time instruments for measuring vapors, aerosols, and particulates across a wide range of particle size, number, and mass.
CONSULTING
Exposure Assessments – Chamber
Companies and industry groups need accurate, representative product exposure data for regulatory compliance and registration in the U.S. and globally (e.g. the Registration, Evaluation, and Authorization of Chemicals or REACH regulations in the European Union). These data are also needed to define accurate and representative exposure scenarios for broader workplace exposure management, product stewardship, and product liability management.
Exposure Assessment – Field
Best practice recommendations help minimize exposures that can occur from people using products, providing consumer product and product stewardship guidance. These are developed by collecting exposure data and measuring the factors contributing to exposure in the field to define exposure scenarios that are based on typical work practices. When it is not possible to directly measure, techniques such as modeling are used to estimate the factors and the exposure. We have the experience and tools to conduct field surveys, providing companies with the data and information needed to develop representative exposure scenarios and product use guidance.
Community groups often need to quantify exposures to contaminants present in their communities to understand their health risks and determine the need for and extent of remediation. Field surveys are also useful for quantifying community exposures, delineating between differences in the magnitude of exposure due to differences in locations and activities.
TRAINING
We conduct training to ensure practicing IH and EHS professionals have the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.
Industrial hygienists have knowledge/skills gaps that reflect deficiencies in core competencies. When this is recognized by their company or by the individual as is often the case with consultants, a demand for training is created. This is the current situation for several key areas central to our research, including exposure assessment, Bayesian Decision Analysis, Exposure Modeling, and Control of Hazards.