FACULTY
David A. Kalman, PhD
Chair, Env. and Occ. Health Sciences
Professor, Env. and Occ. Health Sciences
Dr. Kalman is an organic chemist by training, and is interested in several aspects of chemical behavior as it relates to Environmental Health.
Contact Information
Box 347234Health Sciences Building, F-463
Seattle, WA 98195
Tel: 206-543-6991
Tel: 206-543-3263
dkalman@u.washington.edu
Research Interests
Environmental chemistry, detection and fate of chemical hazards in natural and man-made environments
Education
PhD, Chemistry, University of Washington 1978
Projects
1. Characterization of population exposures to arsenic via drinking water
Together with colleagues at the University of California, Berkeley several studies are ongoing to assess exposures, health status, and possible mechanistic or genetic susceptibility aspects of water-derived arsenicism. Samples are currently being received from California, Mexico, Chile, Argentina, India, and Bangladesh.
2. Dosimetry for exposures to volatile organic solvents
With ongoing NIEHS/EPA sponsorship, we aim to elucidate the role of personal factors in governing toxicokinetics of inhaled solvents, leading to better predictive models, improved biomarker-based exposure assessment, and clearer understanding of risk factors in individuals. Earlier work focused on aromatic solvents; planned extensions will add several other classes of organic compounds.
3. Biomarkers of exposure to inhaled particulate matter (PM)
In collaboration with investigators in the EPA Northwest Center for Particulate Matter and Health, we are developing and validating a series of biomarker compounds that reflect exposures to wood smoke. These will be used both as tracers of atmospheric fine particulate generally and of the specific contributions from wood burning, in health effect and exposure characterization studies.
