Gradient Principal Christopher Long will be presenting at the International Society of Exposure Science (ISES) 2026 Annual Meeting, taking place October 4-8, 2026 in Vancouver, Canada.

• “Addressing the Misconception that Underground Higher-Voltage Transmission Lines Are a Larger and Different Source of Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMFs) than Other Common Exposure Sources.” C. Long, J. Chien, C. Cavanagh

Gradient Air Quality Scientist Nima Afshar-Mohajer will be presenting at the Air & Waste Management Association’s (A&WMA) The Science of PFAS Conference 2026, taking place September 22-24, 2026 in Durham, NC.

• “Significance of the Physical and Chemical Properties of PFOA in Atmospheric Fate and Transport Model.” N. Afshar-Mohajer, A. Hrdina, C. DesAutels

Dr. Julie Goodman was featured recently in the Canton Citizen for her involvement as a long-time member of the Canton Board Of Health, along with the proactive measures the town has taken to protect public health.  Notably, Canton, Massachusetts, is recognized as proactively banning the manufacture, distribution, and sale of Kratom.  This town ban came ahead of Massachusetts’ statewide restriction.  In addition, in tobacco regulations made in 2013-2014, “Canton raised the tobacco purchase age from 18 to 21 — years before it was federally mandated.”  In addition, Canton has taken proactive measures with vaccine accessibility by administering a no-cost, municipal vaccination program for uninsured or underinsured residents of any age.  All of these protective measures have been achieved through regulations and coordination with the Canton Board of Health.

Read the full article here:  Canton public health officials quietly blazing a trail | Canton Citizen

In this issue of Trends, we provide several articles on the topic of product safety and stewardship – the practice of responsibly managing a product’s health and safety and environmental and regulatory impacts throughout all its life cycle stages – and the use of exposure and risk assessment to support that safety and stewardship practice.

Our first article discusses the importance of conducting proactive risk assessments for wearable electronic devices.  Our second article explores the potential for small particles to enter the brain through the nose-to-brain pathway.  Our third article examines potential sources of air emissions and health risks associated with a battery energy storage system (BESS) and ways they are being evaluated and mitigated.  Our fourth article looks at methods for identifying and managing nitrosamines in consumer products.

Gradient contributors to this Trends issue include Drs. Nicholas Drury, Peter Andrew, and Steven Boomhower, ERT, ATS; Seth Larch; Christopher DesAutels, M.S.; Charlotte Marsh, M.S., CPPS, DABT; and Pranav Mashankar, M.S.

Articles:

• Risk Assessments of Wearable Electronic Devices
• Can What You Breathe Reach Your Brain? Exploring the Nose-to-Brain Pathway
• Modeling and Emissions Quantification to Understand Potential Risks from Battery Energy Storage Systems
• From Ingredients to Impurities: Assessing and Managing Nitrosamine Risk in Consumer Products
• What’s New at Gradient

Gradient Senior Epidemiologist Kyle Colonna will be presenting at the American College of Epidemiology (ACE) 2026 Annual Conference, taking place September 14-17, 2026 in Buffalo, NY.

• “Mancozeb Exposure and Cancer Risk in Humans: A Systematic Review of the Epidemiology Evidence.”  K. Colonna, A. Frutos, A. Miller, Y. Na, J. Goodman, D. Boon (Ramboll)

Gradient Principal Scientist Dr. Steven Boomhower will be presenting at the Society for Birth Defects Research & Prevention 66th Annual Meeting, taking place June 14-17, 2026 in Washington, DC.

• “An Evaluation of Epidemiology Studies of Birth Defects and Inorganic Arsenic Exposure.”  S. Boomhower.

Gradient Principal Dr. Steven R. Boomhower, Ph.D., ERT has been accepted as a Fellow of the Academy of Toxicological Sciences (ATS).

The Academy of Toxicological Sciences (ATS) is a nonprofit organization that exists to certify toxicologists who are recognized by their peers for their expertise and sound scientific judgment.  The purpose of this recognition and certification is to ensure, through peer review of credentials, the competence and experience of professionals whose work affects public welfare.  Candidates for certification must have demonstrated evidence of knowledge of toxicology and active involvement in toxicological activities.  A Fellow of the Academy must have an exemplary record of professional accomplishment, as well as extensive evidence of recognition by peers of competency and sound scientific judgment in toxicology as reflected by appointment or election to councils, committees, etc.

Congratulations, Steven!

The 23^rd International Congress of the European Society of Toxicology In Vitro (ESTIV 2026) will take place in Maastricht, Denmark, from June 29 to July 2, 2026.  From the conference website, the theme for the event, “Ensuring Safety, Advancing Science: Bridging to the Future with NAMs,” aims to “explore the transformative impact of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) in ensuring safety, promoting innovation, and shaping the future of toxicology.”

Gradient’s Lindsey Borton will present “Chasing phantoms? A case study on replacing the rabbit pyrogen test for the evaluation of material-mediated pyrogens in medical devices” on June 30 11:00-13:00 local time.

The full line-up of speakers in this session are as follows:

• Janine Townsend – Practical challenges to the use of NAMs for medical devices – when state-of-the-art science alone is not enough
• Seyoum Ayehunie – NAM approach for vaginal irritation assay to evaluate irritation potential of feminine care products and medical devices
• Kelly Coleman – In vitro irritation testing for medical devices: validation and regulatory acceptance
• Shabnam Solati – Advancing medical device pyrogen testing through the in vitro monocyte activation test
• Lindsey Borton – Chasing phantoms? A case study on replacing the rabbit pyrogen test for the evaluation of material-mediated pyrogens in medical devices
• Amanda Ulrey – Converging efforts for the advancement of new approach methodologies in the current regulatory context: safety assessment of medical devices

For more on this event, please see ESTIV Congress 2026 | European Society of Toxicology In Vitro

In this issue of Trends, we provide several articles on the topic of critical mineral mining.

Our first article gives an overview of the importance of critical minerals to the United States (US) mining industry and the current regulatory landscape.  The second article discusses the limited information available about rare earth elements and their potential risks to human health.  The third article examines the ecological challenges posed by critical mineral mining and ways to mitigate potential impacts.  Our fourth article explores deep-sea mining of critical minerals as an alternative to land-based mining in the face of expanding global demand.

Gradient contributors to this Trends issue include Drs. Leonard Ancuta, Steven Boomhower, Tim Verslycke, and William Dowd; Meghna Swamy, M.S.; Jerry Hu, M.S.; David Dodge, M.S., DABT, CIH; and Sarah Zahn, M.S.

Articles:

• Critical Minerals Move to the Forefront of United States Mining
• Occupational Health Risks from the Mining of Critical Rare Earth Elements
• Building the Energy Transition Without Undermining Nature
• Critical Minerals: A Deep Dive to the Ocean Floor
• What’s New at Gradient

Gradient Principal Scientist Dr. Isaac Mohar will be presenting at the Respiratory Drug Delivery (RDD) 2026 conference, taking place May 10-14, 2026 in Phoenix, AZ.

• “Leachables Toxicological Risk Assessment: Read-Across Case Study of Permissible Daily Exposure Limit Derivation for Butyl Oligomer (C21H40).”  I. Mohar, I. Hadley.