Wendy Heiger-Bernays

Prof. Wendy Heiger-Bernays

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

37Years (1990-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

View All Publications
29 January 2021 in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ASAmila O. De Silva
Amila O. De Silva
JAJames M. Armitage
James M. Armitage
TBThomas A. Bruton
Thomas A. Bruton
CDClifton Dassuncao
Clifton Dassuncao
WHWendy Heiger-Bernays
Wendy Heiger-Bernays
Elsie M. SunderlandElsie M. Sunderland
Elsie M. Sunderland
We synthesize current understanding of the magnitudes and methods for assessing human and wildlife exposures to poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Most human exposure assessments have focused on 2 to 5 legacy PFAS, and wildlife assessments are typically limited to targeted PFAS (up to ~30 substances). However, shifts in chemical production are occurring rapidly, and targeted methods for detecting PFAS have not kept pace with these changes. Total fluorine measurements complemented by suspect screening using high-resolution mass spectrometry are thus emerging as essential tools for PFAS exposure assessment. Such methods enable researchers to better understand contributions from precursor compounds that degrade into terminal perfluoroalkyl acids. Available data suggest that diet is the major human exposure pathway for some PFAS, but there is large variability across populations and PFAS compounds. Additional data on total fluorine in exposure media and the fraction of unidentified organofluorine are needed. Drinking water has been established as the major exposure source in contaminated communities. As water supplies are remediated, for the general population, exposures from dust, personal care products, indoor environments, and other sources may be more important. A major challenge for exposure assessments is the lack of statistically representative population surveys. For wildlife, bioaccumulation processes differ substantially between PFAS and neutral lipophilic organic compounds, prompting a reevaluation of traditional bioaccumulation metrics. There is evidence that both phospholipids and proteins are important for the tissue partitioning and accumulation of PFAS. New mechanistic models for PFAS bioaccumulation are being developed that will assist in wildlife risk evaluations. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:631–657. © 2020 SETAC Abstract Methods for assessing human and wildlife exposures to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are reviewed along with current understanding of exposure sources and pathways.

1 May 2013 in Environment International
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
CCCourtney C. Carignan
Courtney C. Carignan
MMMichael McClean
Michael McClean
ECEllen M. Cooper
Ellen M. Cooper
DWDeborah J. Watkins
Deborah J. Watkins
AFAlicia J. Fraser
Alicia J. Fraser
TWThomas Webster
Thomas Webster

21 September 2012 in Environmental Science & Technology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
CCCourtney C. Carignan
Courtney C. Carignan
Mohamed A. AbdallahMohamed A. Abdallah
Mohamed A. Abdallah
NWNerissa Wu
Nerissa Wu
WHWendy Heiger-Bernays
Wendy Heiger-Bernays
MMMichael McClean
Michael McClean
TWThomas Webster
Thomas Webster

11 September 1990 in Biochemistry
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
WHWendy Heiger-Bernays
Wendy Heiger-Bernays
JEJohn M. Essigmann
John M. Essigmann
SLStephen J. Lippard
Stephen J. Lippard

30 March 2017 in Public Health Reports®
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
WCWhitney Cowell
Whitney Cowell
TIThomas Ireland
Thomas Ireland
DVDonna Vorhees
Donna Vorhees
WHWendy Heiger-Bernays
Wendy Heiger-Bernays

1 March 2017 in Environmental Health Perspectives
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
SPStefani L. Penn
Stefani L. Penn
SASaravanan Arunachalam
Saravanan Arunachalam
MWMatthew Woody
Matthew Woody
WHWendy Heiger-Bernays
Wendy Heiger-Bernays
YTYorghos Tripodis
Yorghos Tripodis
JLJonathan Levy
Jonathan Levy
Background: Residential combustion (RC) and electricity generating unit (EGU) emissions adversely impact air quality and human health by increasing ambient concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ozone (O3). Studies to date have not isolated contributing emissions by state of origin (source-state), which is necessary for policy makers to determine efficient strategies to decrease health impacts. Objectives: In this study, we aimed to estimate health impacts (premature mortalities) attributable to PM2.5 and O3 from RC and EGU emissions by precursor species, source sector, and source-state in the continental United States for 2005. Methods: We used the Community Multiscale Air Quality model employing the decoupled direct method to quantify changes in air quality and epidemiological evidence to determine concentration–response functions to calculate associated health impacts. Results: We estimated 21,000 premature mortalities per year from EGU emissions, driven by sulfur dioxide emissions forming PM2.5. More than half of EGU health impacts are attributable to emissions from eight states with significant coal combustion and large downwind populations. We estimate 10,000 premature mortalities per year from RC emissions, driven by primary PM2.5 emissions. States with large populations and significant residential wood combustion dominate RC health impacts. Annual mortality risk per thousand tons of precursor emissions (health damage functions) varied significantly across source-states for both source sectors and all precursor pollutants. Conclusions: Our findings reinforce the importance of pollutant-specific, location-specific, and source-specific models of health impacts in design of health-risk minimizing emissions control policies. Citation: Penn SL, Arunachalam S, Woody M, Heiger-Bernays W, Tripodis Y, Levy JI. 2017. Estimating state-specific contributions to PM2.5- and O3-related health burden from residential combustion and electricity generating unit emissions in the United States. Environ Health Perspect 125:324–332; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/EHP550