ResearchResearch Interests
My primary interest is in how science is used to make regulatory decisions regarding chemicals in consumer products and the environment. Risk assessment is the most important tool that we have to evaluate chemicals, yet it is an imperfect one, predicated on assumptions and extrapolations that may not accurately capture reality. Moreover, scientific knowledge is constantly changing, which makes it difficult to use science to meet the needs of regulators, who need to make decisions now. How to juggle these competing and often conflicting interests is the fundamental challenge facing decision-makers, and the decisions they make impact our health and the integrity of the environment.
At University of Maryland, Baltimore I teach TOXI 611, Exposure, Risk and Public Health. This course is designed to introduce students to risk assessment techniques, along with the challenges facing risk assessors today.
As a senior health scientist at Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), I provide technical and scientific expertise on four major projects: chemical regulatory policy, human health risks from air toxics, chemicals in consumer products and nanotechnology. Each of these projects involves analyzing current regulations and policies, and developing recommendations to ensure adequate protection of human health and the environment.
PublicationsMoudgal CJ, Young D, Nichols T, Martin T, Harten P, Venkatapathy R, Stelma G, Siddhanti S, Baier-Anderson C, Wolfe M. 2008. Application of QSARs and VFARs to the rapid risk assessment process at US EPA. SAR QSAR Environ Res. 219(5-6):579-87.
Baier-Anderson C. 2006. Risk assessment, remedial decisions and the challenge to protect public health: the perchlorate case study. Analyt Chimica Acta. 567:13-19.
Baier-Anderson C, Blount BC, LaKind J, Naiman DQ, Tan S. 2006. Preliminary risk assessment for exposures to perchlorate from dairy milk, human milk, and water. J Toxicol Environ Health A. 69:319–330.
Baier-Anderson C, Anderson RS. 2000. The effects of chlorothalonil on oyster hemocyte activation: phagocytosis, reduced pyridine nucleotides and reactive oxygen species production. Environ Res. 83:72-78.
Baier-Anderson C, Anderson RS. 2000. Suppression of superoxide production by chlorothalonil in striped bass (Morone saxatilus) macrophages: the role of cellular sulfhydryls and oxidative stress. Aquat Toxicol. 50:85-96.
Smith LC, Baier-Anderson C, Clow LA, Terwilliger DP. 2000. Meeting review: Mid Atlantic Society of Developmental and Comparative Immunology. Devel Comp Immunol. 24:71-77.
Baier-Anderson C, Anderson RS. 1998. Evaluation of the immunotoxicity of chlorothalonil to striped bass phagocytes following in vitro exposure. Mar Environ Res. 46:337-340.
Baier-Anderson C, Anderson RS. 1998. Characterization of the immunotoxicity of chlorothalonil to striped bass phagocytes following in vitro exposure. Environ Toxicol Chem. 17:1546-1551.
Baier-Anderson C, Anderson RS. 1997. The effect of pentachlorophenol on pyridine Nucleotide production in oyster hemocytes: NADPH and immunomodulation. J She
Abstracts, Monographs, and Proceedings
Medley T, Walsh S, Baier-Anderson C, Balbus J, Carberry J, Doraiswamy K, Gannon J, Ruta G, Swain K, Warheit D, Whiting G. Environmental Defense - DuPont Nano Risk Framework. June 2007. http://www.nanoriskframework.com/page.cfm?tagID=1095 Squibb K, Baier-Anderson C, Thorne CD, Oliver M. 2004. Maryland Hazard Analysis for Intentional Human-Caused (Terrorist) Events. Report prepared for the Maryland Emergency Management Agency, August, 2004.
Book Chapters
Baier-Anderson C. 2008. Juggling through Life’s Transitions. In: Monosson E, editor. Motherhood, the Elephant in the Laboratory: Women Scientists Speak Out. Cornell University Press, NY
Baier-Anderson C, Anderson RS. 2000. Immunotoxicity of environmental pollutants in marine invertebrates. In: Fingerman M, editor. Recent Advances in Marine Biotechnology. Vol. 5, Oxford & IBH Publishing, New Delhi, India.
Personal HistoryDr. Baier-Anderson has over 10 years of experience in experimental research, science education, community outreach on military bases undergoing remediation activities, and application of toxicological research to human health risk assessments. She currently provides ongoing toxicology and risk assessment support for ToxServices, and serves as an Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland’s Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Program in Toxicology. Dr. Baier Anderson is an instructor for a graduate level course named Exposure, Risk, and Public Health, which is designed to introduce students to basic exposure and risk assessment methodologies. She is also a co-instructor for Advanced Toxicology, a core graduate course designed to introduce students to the approaches and methods used in toxicological research. Dr. Baier Anderson has four years of experience serving as a Technical Advisor to community groups, including the Aberdeen Proving Ground Superfund Citizens Coalition. She has been involved in reviewing, summarizing, and commenting on Superfund-related documents, such as Department of Defense Directives, Environmental Impact Statements and Environmental Assessments, to assist community stakeholders in more effective participation in cleanup decisions. Dr. Baier Anderson also has expertise related to contaminants of concern on military bases, including perchlorate and chlorinated pesticides. She is a member of the Perchlorate and Risk Assessment Team, Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council, and was invited to speak to the U.S. House of Representative in May 2003 about perchlorate and thyroid effects. Dr. Baier Anderson has conducted research studies focused on the effect of chlorinated pesticides, such as chlorothalonil, pentachlorophenol, and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, on immune system function in fish and oysters. Additionally, Dr. Baier Anderson was an invited participant in the U.S. Army’s Chemical Demilitarization Non-Stockpile Program (May — October 2002), and an invited participant in the Center for Public Environmental Oversight, Base Realignment and Closure Roundtable (October 2003 — April 2004), which developed strategies for improving military base cleanups. She is a member of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, and the Chesapeake and Potomac Regional Chapter of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.
Advisory Activities
National Academy of Science, Standing Committee on Use of Emerging Science for
Environmental Health Decisions, February 2009 - Present
National Academy of Science, Committee on Contaminated Drinking Water at Camp Lejeune, September 2007 – Present
Toxicology Excellence for Risk Assessment, Peer Consultation on the Relationship between PAC Profile and Toxicity of Petroleum Substances, October 2007– January 2008
US Environmental Protection Agency, External Reviewer, EPA Office of Water, Contaminant Candidate List 3 (CCL3), March 2007
Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council, February 2004 – February 2006
Member of Perchlorate and Risk Assessment Resources Teams
Other Resources http://www.edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=1290
Back to All Faculty |