- Exposure and on-site assessment/management
- Hazard evaluation
- Environmental assessment
- Peer review
- Regulatory agency liaison and permit acquisition
- Litigation support
Exposure and on-site assessment/management
Exposure and on-site assessment/management includes on-site and off-site activities to evaluate the degree to which toxic substances contamination might occur in watersheds, airsheds, commercial or industrial facilities, ecosystems, or real estate. At contaminated sites, exposure analysis includes determining past or projected future human exposure to the substances, for example in commercial products of the home, workplace, or environment; or in hazardous or municipal wastes managed by such practices as landfilling, incineration, or even recycling. Degrees and routes of exposure to foodborne, waterborne or airborne toxics, domestic or agricultural pesticides, or pharmaceuticals may be assessed.
Hazard evaluation
Hazard evaluation begins where exposure analysis ends–that is, with qualitatively and/or quantitatively evaluating potential health effects associated with substances to which acute or chronic exposure or possible exposure has been documented. Potential risks to public health arise from two necessary conditions: exposure and toxicological potency. The latter is documented in hazard evaluation.
Environmental assessment
Environmental assessment includes evaluating the dynamics of substances released to indoor or outdoor environments by all release processes. Environmental dynamics relates to the presence and persistence of substance(s) in indoor environments and/or in terrestrial, aquatic, marine, aerial, or agricultural ecosystems; processes of physical, chemical, and/or biological transformation and degradation; bioaccumulation and bioconcentration; transport and fate; and effects of the substance(s) on organisms and communities, including alterations of species composition, diversity, richness, and abundance.
Peer review
Peer review includes analyzing the technical merit of toxicology study design and implementation, statistical testing, and validity of conclusions drawn from study findings, as well as technically advising regulatory agencies. Dr. Michaels has conducted peer reviews for technical journals and for agencies such as the U.S. Department of Health, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and U.N. World Health Organization.
Regulatory agency liaison and permit acquisition
Regulatory agency liaison and permit acquisition begins with examining plans for siting, construction, operation, and maintenance of proposed facilities requiring permits in accordance with applicable laws. On-site and/or off-site activities are then undertaken to address issues of potential concern. A determination is made of whether the subject facility can be reasonably expected to meet federal, state, and local environmental regulations if sited, constructed, operated, and maintained as proposed. Environmental and/or health risk management options may be identified to mitigate potential adverse project impacts. On-site and off-site activities are coupled with required regulatory agency liaison as well as written and oral testimony as may be appropriate.
Litigation support
Litigation support includes any of the other described services needed for evaluating toxic tort lawsuits, supporting case development, and providing expert testimony in depositions and/or court.
