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Division of Toxicology and Response

Division of Toxicology and Response

Mandy Paust, Division Director - 517-896-5253

The Division of Toxicology and Response is comprised of 3 sections:

  • Toxicology and Assessment (TAS)
  • Chemical Planning and Response (CPRS)
  • Community Education and Outreach (CEO)

These areas work closely together and with the other two divisions to identify environmental human health hazards, investigate and conduct additional sampling as needed and intervene using best practices in the fields of health education and community engagement.

 

Toxicology & Assessment Section

Jordan Bailey, Acting Section Manager - 517-331-2424

The Toxicology and Assessment Section supports EHB activities with expertise in toxicology and risk assessment. The section’s work includes assessing and making public health determinations for Superfund sites, PFAS sites and other sites with environmental contamination.

Toxicology and Assessment Section units include:

Environmental Site Contamination Unit

Rosa Jaiman, Unit Manager - 517-331-1049

Environmental Site Contamination Unit toxicologists work with local public health, environmental state and federal regulatory agencies and local units of government (e.g., public water utilities) to evaluate and make public health recommendations related to environmental exposures to PFAS and other hazardous substances.

The unit’s toxicologists:

  • Provide public health recommendations within the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team (MPART), community engagement, local health departments and Potentially Responsible Parties (PRP), if applicable.
  • Participate in public meetings, seminars, and other educational presentations intended to inform and educate community members on PFAS exposures and other contaminants.
  • Prepare Letter Health Consultations (LHC), Health Consultations (HC), and Public Health Assessments (PHA) to document public health conclusions and recommendations.
  • Participate in other technical support activities, including participation in the various multi-agency workgroups established under MPART to research, identify and provide recommendations that address the threat of PFAS contamination in Michigan.

Environmental Assessment & ATSDR Unit

Andrea Keatley, Unit Manager - 517-284-1273

The Environmental Assessment and ATSDR Unit works under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and works independently to provide:

Environmental Investigation & Intake Unit

Lisa Hainstock, Unit Manager - 517-282-6735

Environmental Investigation and Intake Unit environmental quality analysts (EQAs) are responsible for the initial intake and assessment of potential environmental chemical exposures at sites of contamination in Michigan. They conduct timely assessment of site hazards and tracking of subsequent response efforts to mitigate human exposures at these sites, including PFAS.

The unit’s EQAs:

  • Act as project managers of EHB public health assessment team (toxicologist, geologist, community engagement and others) on sites of chemical contamination in MI, including PFAS, vapor intrusion and Superfund areas;
  • Collect and compile data needed by MDHHS as part of the assessment process and public health action plan development, and; 
  • Coordinate with MDHHS team, local public health, environmental state and federal regulatory agencies, and local units of government (e.g., public water utilities) to evaluate and make public health recommendations related to environmental exposures to PFAS and other hazardous substances.

 

Chemical Planning & Response Section

Jerry Tiernan, Section Manager - 517-388-7471

The Chemical Planning and Response Section (CPRS) carries out much of environmental media sampling for the Environmental Health Bureau (EHB), including soil, groundwater and vapor sampling. CPRS conducts intake of various environmental release and complaint notification systems to assure dissemination and forwarding of information to EHB programs to conduct follow up environmental health actions as necessary to protect public health. CPRS provides for the environmental navigation needs of EHB, providing just-in-time information directly to residences when affected by an environmental health concern. CPRS plans for and implements EHB activated emergency response actions during times of environmental health emergencies or time-critical needs, including household mercury spills, oil spills and other hazardous chemical releases. CPRS also provides response management support to local, state and federal partners in the event of public environmental health disasters, like oil spills and other hazardous chemical releases. CPRS manages the Get Ahead of Lead filter safety net programs across Michigan including the Filters for Foster Care Program. CPRS houses several EHB Programs including the Public Health Drinking Water Program and the Air Contaminant and Vapor Intrusion Program.

Emergency and Time Critical Operations (Web Version)

Emergency and Time Critical Operations (Printable Version)

The section is composed of the following units:

Drinking Water & Environmental Sampling Unit

Ken Bowen, Unit Manager - 517-599-8379

The Drinking Water and Environmental Sampling Unit (DWESU) conducts environmental media sampling for EHB programs to achieve both normal program functional objectives and emergency and/or time-critical objectives. Additionally, DWESU provides operational capacity to the Public Health Drinking Water Program (PHDWP) serving as project managers and/or subject matter experts for various drinking water related environmental health concerns. DWESU also assists the PHDWP with the development and distribution of educational materials and outreach for both public and private drinking water supplies. The unit also houses the EHB’s Geotechnical functionality which includes geologists and an engineer who work directly with EHB programs, as needed, to meet program objectives.

Vapor Intrusion & Stabilization Unit

Lisa Quiggle, Unit Manager - 517-582-5868

The Vapor Intrusion and Stabilization Unit conducts several major functions:

  • Along with other state and federal partners the unit analyzes information from sites with a potential for vapor intrusion to determine if there are any threats to public health.
    • If vapor intrusion is occurring, the unit assesses the data to determine human health risk.
    • The unit may relocate occupants until the risk is mitigated. Mitigation is often in the form of a vapor intrusion mitigation system installed by partner agencies or a responsible party.
    • After a mitigation system is installed, the unit tracks the ongoing operation and maintenance of the system.
  • The unit supports the initial assessment of regulatory environmental health notices to the State of Michigan. Including regulatory notices of potential or actual ongoing emergency environmental health situations. This is accomplished through the review and classification of incoming notices and forwarding to appropriate program staff and/or activation of the EHB Internal Response Framework.
  • The unit also supports EHB in response to environmental public health emergencies by serving within or supporting the operation of incident management/unified management structures. Members of the unit are trained in emergency response through the implementation of the National Incident Management System (NIMS).
  • The unit also responds to mercury spills.

Community Services Unit

Laura Gossiaux, Unit Manager - 517-290-9849

The Community Services Unit (CSU) works in conjunction with EHB programs to provide logistical, operational, and/or direct support to coordinate necessary intervention actions directly to individuals or small groups, particularly during emergency or time critical response needs. This can include filter distribution, alternate water service, and/or temporary housing relocation as determined necessary to reduce exposure. During times of emergency or time-critical response CSU’s Environmental Health Navigators provide direct information and/or health education to affected residences. CSU manages the logistical and program needs of EHB’s Statewide Filter Distribution functionality which includes our lead reducing filters and PFAS reducing filters. Finally, CSU Operators manage phone calls to several EHB program/topic public phone lines, providing information, education and/or connection to existing subject matter experts to address common environmental health concerns. During times or emergency or time-critical response by EHB, CSU can deploy and operate a phone bank system to allow for the rapid communications with the affected community.

Response Planning Unit

Matthew Bursley, Unit Manager - 517-243-9812

Response Planning Unit (RPU) serves as a resource to coordinate EHB’s incident preparedness and response activities to environmental, chemical and physical hazards, The unit collaborates with local, state and federal agencies to assure hazards are identified, investigated and interventions are in place to mitigate or remediate hazards for the people of Michigan including those most vulnerable.

The unit serves as the EHB’s focal point towards sustaining and increasing the Bureau's capabilities for prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery activities through implementation of the NIMS Framework and works in collaboration with the MDHHS Bureau of Emergency Preparedness, E.M.S. and Systems of Care (BEPESoC).

 

Community Education & Outreach Section

Chris Finch, Section Manager - 517-285-7323

The Community Education and Outreach Section supports EHB in the areas of health education, community outreach and engagement services. Centralizing communication activities in the section ensures consistent application of the best available social science and public health practices throughout EHB with the goal of informing residents of actions that can be taken to prevent or limit exposures to environmental hazards.

The Community Education and Outreach Section is composed of three units:

Health Education Unit

Maria George, Unit Manager - 517-648-5709

The Health Education (HE) Unit creates messaging for the division on Environmental Health topics. The HE Unit creates materials that are clear, concise and accessible to Michigan residents.

The materials created by the HE Unit allow Michigan residents to make informed decisions on how to reduce personal exposure to chemical contaminants and increase awareness of potential health outcomes.  

The HE Unit: 

  • Works with experts to identify communication needs, develop communication plans and ensure materials are accurate.
  • Creates materials that are clear and easy to understand.
  • Works with community engagement and outreach staff to ensure materials are shared with partners and communities across the state

Community Engagement Unit

Kristin Ward, Unit Manager - 517-331-0592

The role of the Community Engagement Unit is to facilitate communication, involvement and information sharing between the Environmental Health Bureau, communities and organizations to build trust, empower Michiganders and improve public health outcomes.

Community Education Unit Regional Map and Contact Information

Outreach Unit

Lakecia Powell-Denson, Unit Manager - 517-275-2027

The Community Outreach Unit supports EHB by providing the public clear, consistent and timely public health information and resources related to all EHB programs and projects. Health-protective information provided to Michiganders aids in helping them make the best decisions to protect themselves from environmental exposures and hazards.