Steven R. Boomhower, Ph.D.
Principal Scientist
he/him
Dr. Boomhower is a principal scientist with specialties in metals toxicology, neurotoxicology, and human health risk assessment. He uses his multidisciplinary expertise to evaluate potential chemical exposures and health risks in many contexts, including hazard and risk assessment, food safety, consumer product safety, and regulatory comment. Before joining Gradient, Dr. Boomhower was a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Environmental Health at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, where he conducted in vitro and in vivo studies of metals exposure. His work in toxicology has received multiple funding awards, including from the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation. Dr. Boomhower has authored several book chapters and peer-reviewed scientific articles in toxicology and epidemiology. He also teaches courses in toxicology and pharmacology as an instructor at Harvard University, and has served as an invited adjunct lecturer at Georgetown University.
Food Safety Assessment: Conducted an exposure assessment of lead, arsenic, mercury, and cadmium in infant formula products and evaluated potential human health risks of cancer and non-cancer endpoints.
Mining Safety Assessment: Conducted an in-depth review of epidemiology studies on the pulmonary health effects of bauxite and alumina dust inhalation in occupational settings.
Regulatory Comment: Evaluated US EPA’s draft 2023 Integrated Science Assessment and Integrated Review Plan for the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for Lead. Evaluated the US EPA’s use of the Integrated Exposure Uptake Biokinetic (IEUBK) model for updated soil lead guidance for CERCLA sites and RCRA Corrective Action facilities.
Inhalation Toxicity Assessment: Performed an in-depth review and analysis of epidemiology and exposure studies of bleach-based cleaners (as well as unintended mixtures of cleaners) to determine the acute toxicity of cleaning-fume inhalation.
Biokinetic Modeling: Performed lead modeling to estimate the extent to which blood lead levels would decrease following the removal of lead sources in a residence.
Risk Communication: Created a fact sheet on potential per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposures and health risks resulting from the use of fluorinated ski wax.
Hazard Assessment of Sunscreen Ingredients: Assessed various sunscreen ingredients using Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) criteria, with particular focus on carcinogenicity, reproductive and developmental toxicity, respiratory sensitization, repeated toxicity, and endocrine-disrupting endpoints.
Lewis, AS; Boomhower, SR; Marsh, CM; Jack, MM. 2024. “Considerations for deriving a safe intake of propylene glycol.” Food Chem. Toxicol. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2024.114460.
Park, HR; Azzara, D; Cohen, ED; Boomhower, SR; Diwadkar, AR; Himes, BE; O’Reilly, MA; Lu, Q. 2024. “Identification of novel NRF2-dependent genes as regulators of lead and arsenic toxicity in neural progenitor cells.” J. Hazard. Mater. 463:132906.
Boomhower, SR. 2022. “Public health issues of legalizing cannabis: Considerations for future studies.” In Handbook of Substance Misuse and Addictions: From Biology to Public Health. (Eds.: Patel, VB; Preedy, VR) Springer, Cham, Switzerland, p1-18.
Bailey, LA; Boomhower, SR. 2021. “Potential implications of new information concerning manganese Ohio community health effects studies.” Regul. Toxicol. Pharmacol. 127:105069.
Boomhower, SR; Long, CM; Li, W; Manidis, TD; Bhatia, A; Goodman, JE. 2021. “A review and analysis of personal and ambient PM2.5 measurements: Implications for epidemiology studies.” Environ. Res. 204:112019.
Ash, PEA; Dhawan, U; Boudeau, S; Lei, S; Carlomagno, Y; Knobel, M; Al Mohanna, LFA; Boomhower, SR; Newland, MC; Sherr, DH; Wolozin, B. 2019. “Heavy metal neurotoxicants induce ALS-linked TDP-43 pathology.” Toxicol. Sci. 167(1):105-115. doi: 10.1093/toxsci/kfy267.
Boomhower, SR; Newland, MC. 2019. “Adolescent methylmercury exposure: Behavioral mechanisms and effects of sodium butyrate in mice.” Neurotoxicology 70:33-40.
Boomhower, SR; Newland, MC. 2017. “Effects of adolescent exposure to methylmercury and d‑amphetamine on reversal learning and an extradimensional shift in male mice.” Exp. Clin. Psychopharm. 25:64-73.