Jennifer D. Roberts, Dr.PH, M.P.H.

Dr. Jennifer D. Roberts is a Senior Scientist in Exponent’s Health Sciences’ Center for Exposure Assessment and Dose Reconstruction. She has more than 8 years of experience working in the fields of exposure assessment, toxicology, industrial hygiene, and environmental health. Dr. Roberts has been involved with researching and reconstructing exposure and the quantification of dose among occupational and non-occupational communities in order to assess the risk of exposure to chemicals such as hexavalent chromium, nickel, benzene, and diacetyl. Dr. Roberts has also been heavily engaged in research involving the risks of exposure to pathogens, specifically Cryptosporidium, in a variety of urban waterways.

Prior to joining Exponent, Dr. Roberts was a Senior Health Scientist with ChemRisk, where she provided risk assessment expertise in order to assist clients with their environmental and occupational health challenges. Dr. Roberts also completed a post-doctoral fellowship at The National Academies, Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology in Washington, D.C., where she reviewed and contributed to the research of several projects including the toxicity review of Iodotrifluoromethane and the evaluation of the current trends and the future of toxicity testing.

Dr. Roberts’ research interests are in the areas of chemical and microbial human health risk assessment, epidemiology, toxicology, industrial hygiene, and risk management and communication. She has also served as a guest lecturer for the Master of Public Health students at Howard University, School of Medicine in Washington, D.C., as well as the University of California at San Francisco Occupational and Environmental Medicine group grand rounds.

Donovan E, Unice K; Roberts JD, Harris M, Finley B. Risk of gastrointestinal disease associated with pathogen exposure in the Lower Passaic River. Appl Environ Microbiol 2007; 74(4):994–1003.

Donovan E, Staskal D, Unice K, Roberts JD, Haws L, Finley B, Harris M. Risk of gastrointestinal disease associated with pathogen exposure in the sediments of the Lower Passaic River. Appl Environ Microbiol 2007; 74(4):1004–1018.

Roberts JD, Silbergeld EK, Graczyk TK. A probabilistic risk assessment of Cryptosporidium exposure among Baltimore urban anglers. J Toxicol Environ Health A 2007; 70:(18):1568-1576.

Graczyk TK, McOliver C, Silbergeld EK, Tamang L, Roberts JD. Risk of handling as a route of exposure to infectious waterborne Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts via Atlantic blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus). Appl Environ Microbiol 2007; 73(12):4069-4070.

NRC (contributing author). Toxicity testing for assessment of environmental agents. Interim Report. National Research Council, National Academy Press, Washington, DC, 2006.

Geer LA, Cardello N, Dellarco MJ, Leighton TJ, Zendzian RP, Roberts J, Buckley TJ. Biomarker-based evaluation of whole body dosimetry for estimating worker chlorpyrifos exposure. Ann Occup Hyg 2004; 48(8):683-695.

NRC (contributing author). Iodotrifluoromethane: Toxicity review. National Research Council, National Academy Press, Washington, DC, 2004.

Riepenhoff-Talty M, Morse K, Wang CH, Shapiro C, Roberts J, Welter M, Allen M, Evans MJ, Flanagan TD. Epidemiology of group C rotavirus infection in western New York women of childbearing age. J Clin Microbiol 1997; 35(2):486-488.

Book Chapters

Gaffney SH, Roberts JD. Occupational Risks. In: Encyclopedia of Quantitative Risk Analysis and Assessment. Paustenbach D, Roberts J (section eds), Wiley Publishers, West Sussex, England, Vol. 3, 2008.

Books Edited

Encyclopedia of Quantitative Risk Analysis and Assessment, Toxic Substances/Chemical Risk, Co-Editor, 2005-2008.

Published Abstracts

 
Donovan E, Unice K, Roberts J, Giles K. Risk analysis of prion transmission during brain surgery: Evaluation of a novel decontamination technique. International Conference on Exposure Analysis Abstract Book, 2007.

Silbergeld E, Roberts J, Graczyk T, McOliver C. Pathogen exposure risks among anglers in urban watersheds. International Conference on Environmental Epidemiology Abstract Book, 2007.

Roberts JD, Galbraith DA, Finley BL. A comprehensive review of occupational exposure to diacetyl in microwave popcorn facilities. Toxicologist 2007; 96(1):412-413.

Staskal DF, Donovan E, Roberts J, Unice K, Finley B, Harris M. Human health risk associated with exposure to pathogen-contaminated sediments. Toxicologist 2007; 96(1):335.

Roberts J, Galbraith D, Finley B. A comprehensive review of occupational exposure to diacetyl in microwave popcorn facilities. International Conference on Environmental Epidemiology and Exposure Abstract Book, 2006.

Roberts J, Silbergeld E, Graczyk T. A risk analysis of the level of risk to Cryptosporidium through consuming or having contact with contaminated fish among Baltimore urban anglers in Maryland. International Conference on Environmental Epidemiology and Exposure Abstract Book, 2006.

Donovan E, Roberts J, Harris M, Finley B. Risk of gastrointestinal disease associated with pathogen exposure in the Lower Passaic River. International Conference on Environmental Epidemiology and Exposure Abstract Book, 2006.

Roberts JD, Silbergeld E, Graczyk T. Risk of Cryptosporidium infection among Baltimore urban anglers. Toxicologist 2006; 90(1):329-330.

Roberts J. Urban fishing: An under-recognized risk. J Urban Health 2003; 80(Suppl 2).

Roberts J. Comparison of racial identity and body image in black and white female college students. Ann Behav Med 1997; 19(Suppl):S30-220.

Presentations

Roberts JD, Galbraith DA; Finley BL. A comprehensive review of occupational exposure to diacetyl in microwave popcorn facilities. Poster Session: Epidemiology/Exposure Assessment. 46th Annual Meeting and ToxExpo of the Society of Toxicology, Charlotte, NC, March 25-29, 2007.

Roberts J, Galbraith D, Finley B. A comprehensive review of occupational exposure to diacetyl in microwave popcorn facilities. Poster Presentation: International Conference on Environmental Epidemiology and Exposure, Paris, September 2-6, 2006.

Roberts J, Silbergeld E, Graczyk T. A risk analysis of the level of risk to Cryptosporidium through consuming or having contact with contaminated fish among Baltimore urban anglers in Maryland. Poster Discussion: Dietary Exposures. International Conference on Environmental Epidemiology and Exposure, Paris, September 2-6, 2006.

Roberts JD, Silbergeld E, Graczyk T. Risk of Cryptosporidium infection among Baltimore urban anglers. Poster Session: Risk Assessment I. 45th Annual Meeting and ToxExpo of the Society of Toxicology, San Diego, CA, March 5-9, 2006.

Roberts J. A risk analysis of Cryptosporidium infection among Baltimore urban anglers. 132nd Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association, Washington, DC, November 6-10, 2004.

Roberts J. Urban fishing: An under-recognized risk. 132nd Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association, Washington, DC, November 6-10, 2004.

Roberts J. Are environmental exposures the cause of multiple sclerosis? Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 2004.

Roberts J. A risk analysis of exposure to Cryptosporidium through fishing and fish consumption among susceptible populations within urban Baltimore watersheds in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Dissertation, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 2004.

Roberts J. Urban fishing: An under-recognized risk. Second Annual International Conference on Urban Health, New York, NY, October 15-18, 2003.

Roberts J. Urban fishing: An under-recognized risk. The EPA Chesapeake Bay Program, George Washington University, Washington, DC, October 2002.

Roberts J. Symposium on Government/Public Policy Opportunities for PhD Scientists, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 2002.

Roberts J. Comparison of racial identity and body image in black and white female college students. The Society of Behavioral Medicine, 18th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, April 16-19, 1997.

Chemical Experience

Estimated the risk of exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs), hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide among community residents due to an accidental oil emission from a petrochemical refinery by analyzing collected industrial hygiene and environmental data.

Performed an exposure assessment of Color Index (C.I.) Pigment Yellow 34 and Color Index (C.I.) Pigment Red 104 among Canadian consumers using U.S. EPA’s Exposure and Fate Assessment Screening Tool (E-FAST V2.0). This assessment also examined the bioavailability and bioaccessibility of each pigment and provided recommendations for the implementation of a full risk assessment.

Researched the safety and efficiency of the use of chemical dust suppressant systems for fugitive coal dust being emitted from mobile and stationary sources.

Assessed the safety of pesticides for use on wood pallets by investigating the toxicological profile of each chemical’s active ingredient(s), the acceptability of each chemical’s use on food as a pesticide and if applicable the establishment of tolerances for each pesticide.

Reviewed the historical aspects, occupational exposure, industrial hygiene and regulation of silica exposure in the U.S. as it pertained to porcelain enamel sprayers and sandblasters.

Managed and developed the research of a project involving the occupational exposures among workers to diacetyl, a chemical contained in the butter flavoring of microwave popcorn, as well as other food products in order to qualitatively assess the workers’ risk of developing respiratory disease. This research also entailed a thorough analysis of the human and animal diacetyl toxicology.

Provided input for a human health risk assessment to quantitatively evaluate the potential human health risks associated with theoretical exposures to historical releases of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans, polychlorinated biphenyls, and hexachlorobenzene.

Evaluated and quantified the risk of historical occupational exposures to pure benzene and benzene containing products on board various vessels and barges. This exposure assessment used the benzene air sampling data in the peer-reviewed literature and probabilistic (Monte Carlo) modeling techniques.

Conducted a quantitative and detailed assessment of the dose and health risk of several members of a community potentially exposed to inhalational hexavalent chromium and nickel. This work involved modeling several exposure pathways and customizing the models for each individual based on their breathing rates and activity levels. Annual average daily doses, lifetime average daily doses, and risk estimates were computed and compared to both state and federal risk criteria to assess each individual’s risk of cancer and non-cancerous health effects.

Completed a one-year post-doctoral appointment with the Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology at The National Academies, which involved the development of relevant background research, drafting papers, and reviewed a wide range of the National Research Council’s (NRC) projects including the Toxicity Review of Iodotrifluoromethane, Toxicity Testing and the Assessment of Environment Agents, and the Assessment of the Health Implications of Perchlorate Ingestion.

Initiated and managed the reviewing process of a NRC project that examined the current movement and the future potentiality of the use of “-omics” (genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, transcriptomics, etc.) technology to improve risk assessments specifically in regard to cross-species extrapolation.

Collaborated with NRC staff and committee members in drafting the environmental health components of the report entitled Children’s Health, the Nation’s Wealth: Assessing and Improving Child Health, in addition to providing background research.

Assessed the outdoor and indoor air pollutants in several South Baltimore homes by conducting interviews and collecting personal, indoor and outdoor air samples in addition to urine samples for biomonitoring purposes.

Performed the statistical analysis for several research projects including a biomarker evaluation of occupational chlorpyrifos exposure.

Synthesized the research conclusions of regulatory and non-regulatory agencies such as the National Toxicology Program (NTP) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in order to create an on-line resource regarding carcinogenic exposures for constituents of the American Cancer Society.

Carried out weekly radon testing in residential homes within Dekalb County, Georgia while providing information and guidance to local residents; a statistical analysis of the radon testing results was integrated into a thesis in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Master of Public Health.

Microbial Experience

Quantitatively characterized the pathogen-related impacts associated with the deposition of raw sewage into urban waterways and the nearby sediments. The risk of disease due to exposure to giardia, fecal coliform, fecal streptococcus or fecal enterococcus based on various exposure scenarios was evaluated and compared to applicable standards.

A risk analysis was undertaken for the potential of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) transmission by the reuse of surgical instruments, post decontamination and sterilization, using an adaptation of the United Kingdom Department of Health’s model which is a sequential operations model (SOM) that calculates the number of subsequent vCJD (variant form) infections that would occur following contamination of surgical instruments by a single patient.

Conducted a human health risk assessment to evaluate the probability of a cryptosporidiosis infection among Baltimore urban anglers by collecting fish and hand wash samples and analyzing them through FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization) in conjunction with immunofluorescent antibodies (IFA) assays. The probability of infection using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) dose-response model for Cryptosporidium was determined based on a Monte Carlo analysis using the samples and questionnaire information collected from the anglers.

Managed daily swimming pool inspections and assigned a score to determine the level of safety and absence of contaminants according to EPA and Dekalb County, Georgia, regulations.

Inspected and evaluated compliance of food regulations for summer camp programs within Dekalb County, Georgia, and local area restaurants.

• Society of Toxicology, 2005–present
• International Society of Exposure Analysis, 2005–present
• Society of Risk Analysis, 2008
• Chicago Regional Chapter Society of Risk Analysis, 2008