Mr. Griffin has 8 years of experience in the areas of risk assessment, exposure assessment, air emissions modeling, and geographical information systems. He has performed human health risk assessments for numerous sites including hazardous waste sites, Superfund sites, and state-lead cleanup sites. He has used GIS to develop site-related risk assessments designed to guide remedy and cleanup decisions at industrial sites. In addition, he has prepared region-wide population based human health risk assessments to evaluate the long-range transport of power plant emissions. Mr. Griffin used his database and analysis expertise to evaluate the National Emissions Inventory and the National Scale Air Toxics Assessment on behalf of industry groups. He has evaluated and performed risk assessments associated with occupational and environmental exposure to asbestos. He assisted in the development of the PERFUM model, which is a probabilistic exposure model utilized by EPA to evaluate the risks associated with soil fumigant applications. He has also provided consulting services related to the preparation and submission of Premanufacture Notices (PMNs) under TSCA and the registration and reregistration of agrochemicals under FIFRA.
Prior to joining Exponent, Mr. Griffin was a project manager at Sciences International, where he performed risk assessments, air emissions modeling, product registration, and other health and environmental related consulting services.
Reiss R, Griffin J. A probabilistic model for acute bystander exposure risk assessment for soil fumigants. Atmos Environ 2006; 40(19):3548-3560.
Reiss R, MacKay N, Habig C, Griffin J. An ecological risk assessment for Triclosan in lotic systems following discharge from wastewater treatment plants in the United States. Environ Toxicol Chem 2002; 21(11):2483-2492.
Presentations
Turim J, Turnham P, Griffin J. Computing asbestos risk using mortality tables. Presented at the Society of Risk Analysis 23rd Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD, 2003.
Dietz JM, Griffin J, Ballou J. Effect of reforestation and translocation on conservation of genetic diversity in wild golden lion tamarins. Presented at the Society for Conservation Biology, 1999 Annual Meeting, University of Maryland, College Park, June 17-21, 1999.
Assisted in the development of the PERFUM model, which was designed to estimate the potential for bystander risks during the application of soil fumigants. The model was subject to an EPA Scientific Advisory Board review and is currently being utilized by EPA in the soil fumigant risk assessments.
Developed a site-specific human health risk assessment for an industrial site as part of Maryland’s Voluntary Cleanup Program. This assessment included the evaluation of soil, groundwater, sediment, and surface water exposures for a variety of receptor populations. The goal of the assessment was to aid in the development of the cleanup remedies necessary for the redevelopment of the site.
Assisted in the development of soil screening levels that were used to evaluate the potential health risks associated with the demolition of homes and business for a major development project.
Developed and oversaw a systematic review and analysis of medical and exposure information for thousands of claimants involved in an asbestos-related litigation proceeding. The review process included the establishment of written guidelines, the implementation of a rigorous quality control process involving training sessions for reviewers, and oversight by a team of senior staff who provided guidance throughout the entire review.
Provided support and technical analysis for litigation involving exposure to DDT in indoor dust. The focus was on potential historical exposures and the impacts of past exposure on property values. The EPA World Trade Center dust screening value approach was utilized to demonstrate the de-minimus future risks associated with current levels of DDT.
Aided a group of potentially responsible parties (PRPs) at a Superfund site in determining their share of the anticipated cleanup costs. Review of historical documents, aerial photographs, spatial distribution of contaminants, and process chemistry were used to estimate the anticipated cleanup costs and our client’s potential responsibility. Dioxins and PCBs in sediments were the major contaminants of concern.
Provided support and technical review for litigation involving poultry production. The main area of concern was exposure to arsenic in air and house dust from the spreading of poultry litter. Tasks involved the analysis of background levels of arsenic in soil and air and review of the plaintiffs’ expert reports.
Developed revised exposure estimates on behalf of a manufacturer involved in litigation claiming health effects from the spraying of malathion in a Medfly Eradication Program in Florida. Also aided the same client in litigation that claimed ecological impacts from the spraying of malathion in New York City to control mosquitoes.
Developed an indoor air risk assessment of a former industrial site at the request of the Arizona Department of the Environment. The assessment utilized vapor intrusion modeling and measurement data to evaluate the risks to current and future users of the site. This included the use of EPA’s Supplemental Guidance for Assessing Susceptibility from Early-Life Exposure to Carcinogens (Supplemental Guidance).
Utilized GIS, air modeling data, and risk assessment methodologies to develop a population level risk assessment that examined the health impacts of a mid-western power plant’s emissions on the population of the Northeastern U.S.
Evaluated and revised asbestos risk assessments performed by EPA for the Libby, Montana area as part of cost recovery and criminal litigation.
Analyzed underlying data, calculations, and results of the National Scale Air Toxics Assessment for a variety of industry groups. This assessment also included the evaluation and preparation of comments and corrections for the National Emissions Inventory on behalf of individual corporations and industry groups. Specifically, ethylene oxide and acrylonitrile emissions have been analyzed in detail.
Created a life table analysis that utilized cohort specific mortality data to predict the rates of mesothelioma and lung cancer in a cohort of asbestos exposed workers. This analysis included the evaluation of the Hodgson and Darnton, Berman and Crump, and Nicholson methodologies.
Evaluated the potential health impacts and risk reduction for the US population associated with the use of various formulations of biodiesel fuel in heavy duty diesel vehicles. The impact of the implementation of various diesel regulations was considered in evaluating the long-term benefits of the emissions reduction associated with biodiesel fuels.
Conducted air emissions modeling of coke ovens on behalf of EPA in order to evaluate the accuracy of the BLP and ISC models in estimating the dispersion of coke oven emissions from several facilities throughout the US.
Participated in the review of Reregistration Eligibility Documents for various agrochemicals on behalf of the agrochemical industry. In addition, provided research and analysis support for the registration of new pesticides regulated under the Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).
Prepared and submitted Premanufacture Notices (PMNs) for new chemical substances in compliance with the Toxic Substances Control Act on behalf of chemical manufacturing clients. The products registered have included glass coatings, paint additives, and friction product additives.
Evaluated the potential liability for a corn flour producer associated with the discovery of Starlink corn in their inventory. The analysis was used to support their insurance claim for removing all yellow corn products from the marketplace for a year.
Provided database and mapping support for a variety of litigation cases associated with Superfund sites. This support has included the evaluation of the adequacy of the data, the spatial distribution of impacts, and the appropriateness of proposed remedies.
Assessed the potential risks associated with community exposure to a former industrial site contaminated with chromium ore processing residue (COPR). Also evaluated the risk reduction capability of a proposed remedy for the site.