Integral Consulting Inc.

We’ll be at the Toxicology Forum 2024 Summer Meeting next week!  The meeting, presented by the non-profit organization The Toxicology Forum, is dedicated to fostering deliberative dialogue to shape decision-making and outcomes on critical issues in toxicology for the promotion and protection of public health. Heather Lynch will be presenting “Strategies for Improving Consideration of Study Quality in Evidence Integration and Causality Assessment” on Tuesday, July 16, in the 2:00–5:45 p.m. session titled, “Systematic Review—Is the Method Getting in the Way of the Science?” We are excited to be part of this unique platform where experts from government, regulatory, and health agencies, industry, academia, political policymakers, and public interest groups come together to advance public health. To connect, reach out to Heather at https://lnkd.in/gbxbjYV9. #publichealth #toxicology #conference

How can we pragmatically assess microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) in food and beverages? MNPs are gaining a lot of attention in the public sphere due to their presence in our environment and recent reported detections in food and beverages. While a valid concern, mere presence does not necessarily signify a health crisis. Instead, it highlights the need for thorough considerations of MNP sources, exposure pathways, and their interactions with environmental factors. Understanding these dynamics is essential to accurately gauge the presence of MNPs in the food supply chain.  Kristian Fried and Lisa Tolbert will discuss this topic at the International Association for Food Protection’s Annual Meeting next week, where they will present their poster, “Navigating the Microplastics and Nanoplastics Challenge with a Product Stewardship Framework,” on Wednesday, July 17, 8:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m. To get a copy of the full poster, please reach out to Kristian: https://lnkd.in/gPRdCue2 #microplastics #MNPs #foodandbeverage  

A Crucial Step Towards Heat Safety in the Workplace Last week, the U.S. Department of Labor proposed a new rule to protect millions of workers from severe health risks of extreme heat—the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the United States.  This initiative, aimed at both indoor and outdoor work settings, stands to safeguard ~36 million workers and significantly mitigate heat-related injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. The proposed rule mandates employers to develop comprehensive injury and illness prevention plans tailored to controlling heat hazards. Key requirements include:  • Evaluation of Heat Risks: Regular assessment of heat risks in the workplace.  • Provision of Drinking Water: Ensuring workers have access to adequate hydration.  • Rest Breaks: Implementation of mandatory rest breaks to prevent overheating.  • Control of Indoor Heat: Measures to manage and reduce heat in indoor work environments.  • Protection for New/Returning Workers: Specific plans for acclimating new or returning workers to high-heat conditions.  • Training Emergency Procedures: Adequate training for workers and immediate action plans for heat emergencies.    Public participation is encouraged once the rule is published in the Federal Register. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gv58KFMd  Integral’s team of industrial hygienists and occupational health and safety professionals has extensive experience in heat stress, human health risk assessment, and regulatory compliance. We are skilled in evaluating heat stress risk among diverse worker populations and helping organizations develop comprehensive plans to prevent injuries and illnesses caused by workplace heat hazards. For inquiries about the new proposed rule or to learn more about our services, please contact A. Michael Ierardi, MES, MS, CIH, CSP or Taylor Burnham.  #OSHA #IH #heatstress #update

Next Monday 6/24—Learn more about the newest iteration of Integral's PFAS regulatory map, now equipped with a dashboard feature to help you see the regulatory landscape through a unique and valuable perspective. Integral is hosting a webinar “Integral’s New PFAS Regulation Dashboard” at 4 p.m. EST next Monday, June 24. Register for free: https://lnkd.in/gWCUGimd #pfas #pfasregulations #webinar #engineeringinsights

Ph.D. student A. Michael Ierardi, MES, MS, CIH, CSP receives prestigious AIHA award We are excited to share that our Mike Ierardi has been awarded the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) Foundation's highest scholarship and professional development honor, the President’s Leadership Award. Mike’s exceptional achievements in industrial hygiene, environmental, and occupational health disciplines, combined with his leadership and volunteerism, have earned him this distinction.  Mike’s journey in studying the interplay between the environment and human health spans over a decade. He has contributed to numerous peer-reviewed articles and leads, mentors, and educates the next generation of industrial hygienists at CUNY SPH. In his research and work, he is committed to integrating occupational health psychology into industrial hygiene through Total Worker Health, an innovative approach to addressing traditional and emerging workplace hazards.  Please join us in congratulating Mike on this achievement. Together, we look forward to contributing to a safer, healthier future. Learn more about Mike: https://lnkd.in/gNmRq7xZ #industrialhygiene #AIHA #IndustryLeaders  

New EPA Screening Values for 6PPD and 6PPD-quinone 💡 On June 13, 2024, US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) introduced new Acute Aquatic Life Screening Values for 6PPD, an antioxidant added to tire rubber to protect the rubber polymer, and 6PPD-quinone (6PPD-q), its more bioavailable transformation product. These compounds are increasingly studied for their association with toxicity to aquatic organisms, particularly salmonids. The most acute effects are thought to occur after early season rainstorms, which flush tire-wear particles from roads into waterbodies, coinciding with spawning season. The acute toxic effects from 6PPD and 6PPD-q are still being elucidated; whether there are effects and the extent of long-term effects is not yet known (Tian et al., 2021, DTSC et al. 2021).     EPA’s screening values for 6PPD and 6PPD-q are 8,900 nanograms per liter (ng/L) and 11 ng/L respectively, provided under section 304(a)(2)(B) of the Clean Water Act (CWA). These differ from the enforceable Ambient Water Quality Criteria established under section 304(a)(1) of the CWA due to data limitations and non-conformance with EPA test methods for the available studies. Although the underlying data are not included in federal register notices, the screening values are influenced significantly by the toxicity studies for the particularly sensitive coho salmon species.     Despite the uncertainties, these values aim to safeguard a broad spectrum of freshwater aquatic communities across various watersheds. The possible broad application of these screening values underscores the need for nuanced interpretation and localized consideration, given variations in species toxicity, aquatic ecosystems, and watershed conditions.     While these screening values may offer guidance and inform regional water quality programs, they should not be solely relied upon for making management or remedial decisions. Their status as screening values, rather than enforceable criteria, reflects uncertainty in the values.     Read the announcement: https://lnkd.in/gczTUiKa.     For more information, contact Patrick Gwinn, Bridgette DeShields, Emily Guyer, PE, or Ben Leonard.  Learn more about 6PPD-q in stormwater in our previous webinar: https://lnkd.in/gqZxE23E  #6ppd #6ppdq #emergingcontaminants

Integral’s Jennifer Wollenberg, Daniel Doolittle , and Edward Saade will be in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada this week for the 2024 #InternationalWorkshopOnEnvironmentalGenomics! As the field of environmental genomics evolves and adoption of this innovative technology expands, we are excited to collaborate with the #IWEG24 attendees, who are the leading authorities on the development and application of genomic tools to advance understanding of natural systems through better measurement. The detailed understanding of ecological communities that can be gained through eDNA will undoubtedly improve management decisions across industries. Jennifer Wollenberg will take the stage on June 13th for Session 1, “Industrial case studies and applications,” where she will discuss uses of eDNA monitoring for site assessment, management, and regulatory compliance. The presentation will discuss potential applications in a range of fields including conservation, permit monitoring, sustainability programming, offshore energy, and contaminated site investigation. Integral is a proud sponsor of this event. We are looking forward to a great #EnvironmentalGenomics2024 workshop. See you in St. John’s! 

💡Webinar: Learn about Integral’s New PFAS Regulation Dashboard   Join us for the last webinar in our Integral Engineering Insights series—Integral’s New PFAS Regulation Dashboard.    📅 Date and Time:  Monday, June 24, 2024 | 4 p.m. EST 🗣 Presenters: Logan Uselman, PG, PhD, Jonathan Zadra, Ph.D., and Alexandra Meyers, MPH, BCES, of Integral Consulting Inc.  💡 Why Attend?    Learn more about the newest iteration of Integral's PFAS regulatory map, now equipped with a dashboard feature to help you see the regulatory landscape through a unique and valuable perspective. This webinar will discuss how to use the map and new dashboard to maintain compliance, understand environmental and public health impacts, and support policy and advocacy efforts related to PFAS management. 💡 Register Now   https://lnkd.in/gWCUGimd  A certificate of attendance will be issued upon request at the webinar's completion.   The recording and slides of the webinar will be sent to all registrants. #pfas #webinar

Big Changes to Maine’s Reporting Requirements and PFAS Phase-Out In April, Maine’s Governor Mills signed a new law (Public Law c. 630) that significantly changes the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) reporting requirements and phase-out program, effective August 9, 2024. This law eliminates the broad notification requirement and introduces a new, focused reporting program. Key product categories are now exempt from sales bans, allowing manufacturers to innovate and reformulate their products.  The staged timeline for sales prohibitions extends through 2040, ensuring manufacturers have time to adapt.  At Integral, we stay ahead of regulatory developments to help you navigate these changes seamlessly. Learn more about the new law and its implications in our article, written by Miranda Henning, BCES: https://lnkd.in/gC8syYVR #PFAS #Maine

Battelle Chlorinated is next week!  Integral will be attending Battelle’s Thirteenth International Conference on Remediation of Chlorinated and Recalcitrant Compounds in Denver, Colorado, June 2–6, 2024.     We are proud to be contributing to the growing body of knowledge about innovative technologies and approaches to characterize, monitor, clean up, and manage complex contaminated sites and are excited to engage with a diverse group of stakeholders at the conference.     Our team will be presenting four posters and hosting a booth (#314).  Want to connect? Visit us at our booth or reach out to any of the contributors listed below.    See you in Denver!  #BattelleChlorinated2024