Susan Arnold, PhD

Associate Professor, with tenure, Division of Environmental Health Sciences

Susan Arnold

Contact Info

arnol353@umn.edu

Office Phone 612-624-6222

Office Address:
1239 Mayo

Mailing Address:
420 Delaware St SE
MMC 807 Mayo
Minneapolis, MN 55455

Associate Professor, with tenure, Division of Environmental Health Sciences

Director, Exposure Science and Sustainability Institute


PhD, Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Minnesota, 2015

MS, Occupational Health, Medical College of Ohio, 2005

BS, Biomedical Toxicology, University of Guelph, Ontario, 1987

Summary

I develop, evaluate, and apply exposure assessment methods to gain a better understanding of occupational and non-occupational exposures to chemical, biological and radiological agents. I am a certified industrial hygienist (CIH) with 20+ years of experience in professional practice that informs my research, teaching and service.

I especially enjoy leading and working with interdisciplinary teams in answering complex questions involving the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control of health hazards.

Since 2021, I have served as deputy director of the Midwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety, the NIOSH-funded education and research center.

Expertise

Exposure assessment, professional judgment, exposure modeling, indoor air, personal protective technology development, and evaluation

Awards & Recognition

  • Member, Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health
  • Fellow, American Industrial Hygiene Association, 2014

Professional Associations

  • Past Board Chair, American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists
  • Member, American Industrial Hygiene Association
  • Member, International Society of Exposure Science
  • Diplomat, American Board of Industrial Hygiene

Research

Research Methods/Techniques

In my research, I employ a range of laboratory and field empirical and statistical methods to identify inputs to accurate decision making that will lead to more accurate exposure estimates. I generate models and model inputs that are applied to unprecedented scenarios, such as the Deep Water Horizon explosion and disaster.

Research Funding Grants

  • 2021 – 2026, NIEHS R25 grant, "The Interdisciplinary Training, Education and Research Activities for Assessing and Controlling Contaminants from Emerging Technologies (InTERACCT) Program," PI.
  • 2021-2022, Donor funded, "Factors Influencing the Transmission of Airborne Viruses (FITrAV)," co-PI (P. Raynor, co-PI)
  • 2020 – 2023, Institute for Engineering in Medicine (IEM) Rapid COVID-19 Grant, "Evaluating Inhalation Exposure Risks of Fibers from Masks Constructed with EX-101 and EX-103 Materials," co-PI (M. Hillmeyer, co-PI)

Publications

Select Publications

  • Susan Arnold, Patricia A. Stewart , Gregory C. Pratt, Richard K. Kwok, Aaron Blair, Lawrence S. Engel, Dale P. Sandler and Mark R. Stenzel. "Estimation of Aerosol Concentrations of Oil Dispersants COREXIT™EC9527A and EC9500 During the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Response And Clean-Up Operations." Annals of Work Exposures and Health.
  • Urs Schlüter, Susan Arnold, Francesca Borghi, et al. "Theoretical Background of Occupational Exposure Models – Report of an Expert Workshop of the ISES Europe Working Group “Exposure Models." IJERPH.
  • J. Sahmel, S. Arnold, G. Ramachandran. "Influence of Repeated Contacts on the Transfer of Elemental Metallic Lead Between Compartments in an Integrated Conceptual Model for Dermal Exposure Assessment." Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health Part A.
  • Mark R. Stenzel, Susan F. Arnold, Gurumurthy Ramachandran, et al. "Estimation of airborne concentrations of oil dispersants COREXITTM EC9527A and EC9500 during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill response and cleanup operations." Annals of Work Exposures and Health. 
  • Underwood J, Sturchio G, Arnold S. "Patient Release and Instructions for Lutetium Dotatate Radiopharmaceutical Therapy." Health Physics.
  • Jeronimo M, Arnold S, Astrakianakis G, et al. "Spatial and Temporal Variability in Antineoplastic Drug Surface Contamination in Cancer Care Centers in Alberta and Minnesota." Annals of Work Exposures and Health.
  • Antti Joonas Koivisto, Michael Jayjock, Kaarle J. Hämeri, Markku Kulmala, Patrick Van Sprang, Mingzhou Yu, Brandon E. Boor, Tareq Hussein, Ismo K Koponen, Jakob Löndahl, Lidia Morawska, John C. Little, Susan Arnold. "Evaluating the Theoretical Background of STOFFENMANAGER® and the Advanced REACH Tool."Annals of Work Exposures and Health. 

See a full list of publications at the National Library of Medicine

Teaching

Academic Interests and Focus

My academic interests and teaching focus include the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control of health hazards, particularly work related health hazards and associated exposures. I bring these interests, research, and practical skills to the courses that I teach.

Teaching Areas

Occupational health, industrial hygiene, exposure science

Courses

I teach courses in occupational health and safety, exposure science and industrial hygiene, including PubH 6150: Interdisciplinary Evaluation of Occupational Health and Safety Field Problems; PubH 6172: Industrial Hygiene Applications; and PubH 6193: Advanced Topics in Human Exposure Science. I strive to build a safe environment that encourages my students to make inquiries, identify best practices, and apply them. I use interactive teaching methods, such as hands-on exercises and case studies. I apply my own research and practice experiences to help cultivate the next generation of outstanding industrial hygienists. I also use my industry network to create opportunities for students to gain exposure to, and experience in, diverse work environments to reinforce classroom learning.

Community Engagement

My service roles provide excellent opportunities to collaborate with others and magnify the impact of our work through shared learning. My work is largely research-to-practice oriented and relies on input from industry partners, which highlights knowledge gaps requiring more fundamental research and continues to connect academia to industry.

I co-founded and am director of the University of Minnesota Exposure Science and Sustainability Institute, which delivers research and training to our industry partners. 

Media

In The News

In the Media