Hamdy M. Balba, Ph.D.

Dr. Balba has 38 years of experience in a wide spectrum of specializations in the pesticide industry. His work in academic institutes and industry had primarily included pesticide synthesis, environmental fate, metabolism, analysis, and registration. Dr. Balba occupied a leading position among his peers in the area of the nature and analysis of pesticides bound residues in crops. Other fields of interest that highlight his academic career include the chemical simulation of metabolic enzyme systems, the biochemical changes in the resistant strains of pests, and exploring new analytical methods for determining the concentration of pesticides specially in the area of “Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry.” Dr Balba’s teaching career extended over 22 years at the University of New Haven where he served as adjunct professor. He lectured graduate and undergraduate courses in environmental chemistry, organic chemistry, and the chemistry of hazardous materials.

Dr. Balba’s 27 years of service in industry (Crompton Corporation, formerly Uniroyal Chemical Co., Crop Protection Division) consisted of a wide range of accomplishments, including supervision of a group of 30 scientists and technical staff conducting product chemistry, environmental fate, plant and animal metabolism, and analytical chemistry studies required for pesticide registrations worldwide. His responsibilities in this position included domestic and worldwide registration and re-registration activities.

Dr. Balba has a strong and extensive knowledge in pesticide regulatory requirements. Some of the major challenges in his industrial career were: the U.S. re-registration of about 13 existing active ingredients, and the world wide registration of four newly developed and acquired active ingredients of which two were under the US EPA’s reduced risk program. Dr. Balba was also responsible for the FAO/WHO (JMPR committee) full reviews of about eight active substances, including one under the Interim CODEX MRL for Safer Replacement Pesticides program. He played a critical role in persuading the US delegates in the Codex Committee of Pesticide Residues (CCPR) to adopt this program in order to expedite the introduction of reduced risk products to the worldwide agricultural community.

Balba HM. Review of strobilurin fungicide chemicals. J Environ Sci Health, B 2007; 42(4):441-51.

Still GG, Balba HM, Mansager ER. Studies on the nature and identity of bound residues of chloroaniline compounds in plant. J Agr Food Chem 1981; 29:739–46.

Still GG, Balba HM, Mansager ER. A pyrolytic method for estimation of bound residues of chloroaniline compounds in plant. J Assoc Of Anal. Chem 1979; 62:2337–40.

Balba HM, Saha JG. Studies on the distribution, excretion, and metabolism of α- and γ-isomers of C-14 chlordane in rabbits. J Environ Sci Health 1978; B13:211–33.

Balba HM, Still GG. Synthesis of C-14 labeled coniferyl alcohol (4-hydroxy-3-methoxycynnamyl alcohol). J. Labeled Compds Radiopharm 1978; 15:309–19.

Balba HM, El-Sherif MA, Hafez SL, Oteifa BA. Influence of the nematocide aldicarb on the phenolic contents of cotton roots infected with R. reniformis. Bull Faculty of Agr 1975.

Zaazou MH, Abdallah MD, Balba HM, Kandil M, Metwally H, Rahal A. Development of resistance against insecticides in the Egyptian cotton leaf worm Spodoptera littoralis (Boised). J Egyptn Entomological Soc, 1975.

Fredeen FJH, Saha JG, Balba HM. Methoxychlor residues in the Saskatchewan River and selected fauna following injection of methoxychlor black fly larvicide into the river. Pesticides Monitoring 1975; 8:241–6.

Balba HM, Saha JG. Fate of lindane in wheat grown from C-14 lindane treated seeds. Environ Letters 1974; 7:181–94.

Balba HM, Saha JG. Degradation of metacil by ascorbic acid oxidation system. Bull Environ Contamn Toxicol 1974; 11:193–200.

Balba HM, Abdallah MD, Zaazou MH, Kandil M. Relation between resistance and chemical composition of fat in the Egyptian cotton leaf worm. Experientia 1973; 29:688.

Balba HM, Abdallah MD, Zaazou MH, Rahal A. Distribution and metabolism of DDT, carbaryl and methyl parathion in S- and R-strains of Spodoptera littoralis (Boised). Toxicology 1973; 1:171–4.

Abdallah MD, Zaazou MH, Kandil M, Balba HM. Storage of insecticides in the fatty body of Spodoptera littoralis (Boised) as a possible mechanism of resistance. Experientia 1973; 29:318–9.

Balba HM, Singer M, Slade M, Casida JE. Synthesis of possible metabolites of methylcarbamate insecticide chemicals- Substituted aryl-N-hydroxymethylcarbamates. J Agr Food Chem 1968; 16:821–9.

Balba HM, Casida, JE. Synthesis of possible metabolites of methyl- carbamate insecticide chemicals- Hydroxyl and hydroxyalkylphenyl methylcarbamates. J Agr Food Chem 1968; 16:561–7.

Balba HM. Synthesis of possible metabolites of Methylcarbamate insecticide chemicals. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of California, Berkeley, 1967.

Book Chapters

Balba HM. Use of pyrolysis-gas chromatography- mass spectrometry in environmental analysis. In: Mass Spectrometry in Environmental Sciences. Plenum Press, NY, 1984.

Presentations

Still GG, Balba HM, Mansager ER. Characteristics and analysis of bound pesticide residues in plants. IUPAC-International Pesticide Residues, Zurich, Switzerland, 1978.

Balba HM, Still GG, Mansager ER. Bound residue analysis of chloroaniline compounds in plants: A pyrolytic method. American Chemistry Society 175th Meeting, Anaheim, CA, 1978.

Balba HM, Still GG, Mansager ER. Studies on the bound residues of chloroaniline in plants. American Chemistry Society 174th Meeting, Chicago, IL, 1977.

Balba HM, Still GG, Mansager ER. Studies on the bound residues of chloroanilines in plants. 5th Annual Workshop on Chemistry and Biochemistry of Pesticides, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, May 10–13, 1977.

Balba HM, Casida JE. Synthesis of metabolites of methylcarbamate insecticide chemicals. American Chemistry Society 153rd Meeting, Miami Beach, FL, 1967.

Conducted, managed, and supervised the registration chemistry studies required for the registration of existing, new, and acquired pesticides. Participated in safety committees that designed the safety measures. Determined and categorized reportable incidences to regulatory authorities. Led the initial task of establishing a database for the chemistry reports, which was subsequently expanded to encompass all worldwide reports and critical correspondence.

Responsible for enforcing the compliance with several laws and codes such as: Good Laboratory Practice (GLP), Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Resources Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Department of Transportation (DOT).

Prepared the dossiers and scientific packages for new and existing products submitted to WHO/FAO.

Participated in due diligence, namely the review and evaluation of all available technical documents for products that were considered for acquisition. If the decision was favorable for acquisition, established the timeline and budget to achieve domestic or worldwide registration for the newly acquired product.

Evaluated new chemicals for development and determined the appropriate analogue having the best chance for development and registration. Defended his key decisions in the R&D/Marketing staff special committee to obtain the final business decision.

Conducted numerous special proprietary scientific projects in the areas of products synthesis, production, and registration.

• American Chemical Society, 1964–present
• Society of Toxicology, 1977–present