Exposure Factors Facility Core

The Exposure Factors Facility Core (EFC) addresses a full range of exposure assessment and spatial analysis needs. Exposures in this context are broad in scope and include chemical, physical, social, built environment, other stressors such as ambient light at night and noise, and behaviors and activities that affect individual interactions with their surrounding environment.

Leadership

Ed Avol, M.S.

Core Co-Director

avol@usc.edu

John Wilson, Ph.D.

Core Co-Director

jpwilson@usc.edu

Genevieve Dunton, Ph.D.

Unit Leader

dunton@usc.edu

Services

SCEHSC investigators have access to cutting-edge methods, equipment, tools, and expertise for measuring and understanding environmental exposures and their health consequences.

Field data collection and sampling campaigns

Geospatial support

• Training and access to specific exposure sampling equipment and instrumentation

• Guidance on sampling strategies and data reduction, analysis and interpretation

• Consultations on other aspects of field operations and logistics

• Collection and processing of data gathered from personal monitoring technologies

• With the Integrative Health Sciences Facility Core — temporary or archival cold storage for collected environmental samples

• Training and access to geographical information system (GIS) software and proprietary geospatial data resources

• Consultations on methodologies for measurement and modeling of exposure data

• With the Biostatistics Facility Core — interpretation of results produced from standard and more complex forms of spatiotemporal analysis and modeling

Selected Equipment and Software

• Multi-stage Harvard Cascade Impactors

• Multi-stage Sioutas Cascade Impactors

• Single-stage Harvard Personal Exposure Monitors

• Custom-designed programmable weatherproof sampling pumpboxes

• Ogawa USA Passive Personal Samplers for diffusion sampling of ambient gases

• Burkhard Instruments Spore Trap Samplers for pollen & spore sampling

• HOBO Temperature & Relative Humidity Sensor & Data Loggers

• Qstarz Geospatial Positioning Sensors

• Custom-designed ultraviolet (UV) dosimeters: UV diffusers that channel light in the UV spectrum onto a photodiode designed to measure dose at specific time points during exposure

• Android smartphones for use in EMA or real-time data collection studies

• Extended cargo van for field operations

• Mobile Monitoring Facility: contains assorted on-board real-time PM and gas monitoring instrumentation for in-transit or stationary ambient exposure ascertainment of gases and particles

• ArcGIS software suite offered through the USC Spatial Sciences Institute for geospatial modeling and analysis

Accessing the Exposure Factors Facility Core

Investigators are able to receive consultations and utilize SCEHSC services based on the following prioritization:

1. SCEHSC Pilot Project award recipients
2. SCEHSC members
3. SCEHSC affiliate members
4. Investigators outside of the SCEHSC

Initial consultations and staff time are provided on a no-cost basis to Center investigators. Further consultation and services are charged at rates varying by Facility Core. SCEHSC members and pilot awardees receive discounted rates and no charges are provided to community partners.

Investigators seeking to access Core services should directly contact the respective Core Directors with their anticipated project needs.

Southern California Environmental Health Sciences Center

Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California
2001 North Soto Street, MC 9237
Los Angeles, CA 90089-9013

scehsc@usc.edu
Supported by NIEHS grant P30ES007048