APHL 2022 POSTER ABSTRACTS all regional partners for input on prioritizing the next steps for EHS improvement . Participants discussed what has been working well and identified knowledge gaps and opportunities for improvements . By continuing to collaborate with this multi-disciplinary , system-wide partnering , MHDL and regional stakeholders will identify the next steps for advancing efforts toward water pathogen surveillance , research and workforce enhancement .
Presenter : Kristin Schieble , City of Milwaukee Health Department , Email : kschieb @ milwaukee . gov
The Vital Role of the Environmental Laboratory as Public Health Laboratories
H Adams 1 , E Morin 2 , S Rhode 3 , E Turner 4 , Z Golden 5 , T O ’ Neal 6 , S Olund 7 , K Wangsness 8 , D Freidman 9 , A Sanderson 10 , R Bradshaw 2 , R Randolph 2 , K Robb 11 , K Hansen 2 ; 1 City of Wichita Falls , TX ,
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Association of Public Health Laboratories , 3 Massachusetts Water Resources Authority , 4 Pace Analytical , 5 Inframark , 6 Austin Water ,
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Minnesota Department of Health , 8 Arizona State Public Health Laboratory , 9 Friedman Consulting , 10 Environment Federation ,
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American Public Health Association
Public water and wastewater systems in the United States are responsible for analyzing samples in their laboratories or ensuring samples be analyzed to meet regulatory standards . The laboratory ’ s role in collecting , analyzing and reporting sample results is especially important as data generated by utility samples drives decision-making for public health . Water utility laboratories protect the public health of those that drink produced water and of those downstream of the wastewater effluent discharge . Utilities and laboratories both protect the public health as a core function , while also protecting animals , plants and the environment . While water and wastewater utilities and laboratories are essential stakeholders in the public health system , they are not widely promoted within the industry . Equally integral and often overlooked , other laboratory types include : food , agriculture , commercial and state environmental labs . This interconnected mission is an excellent example of the CDC One Health Concept ( OHC ), which recognizes interconnection of human , animal and environmental health . The OHC has become a globally distinguished way to promote public health collaboration , involving multiple levels of expertise from scientists to the general public . The 10 Essential Public Health Services ( EPHS ) also link utilities and laboratories to public health . The role of utilities and laboratories fall under several EPHS goals :
• Assess and monitor population health status , factors that influence health , and community needs and assets – wastewater surveillance
• Communicate effectively to inform and educate people about health , factors that influence it , and how to improve it – regulated contaminants
• Build and support a diverse and skilled public health workforce – utility and laboratory personnel
• Improve and innovate public health functions through ongoing evaluation , research and continuous quality improvement – innovation instead of stagnation
• Build and maintain a strong organizational infrastructure for public health – partnerships with public health departments
Understanding the utility ’ s role as a public health entity is key to promoting and fostering a culture of public health awareness . If they are not viewed this way , funding , equipment quality and personnel will be affected . Utilities participate in many public health-related activities and provide an invaluable prospective for solving problems . The public health system should work with utilities and laboratories to develop an understanding of their role in the protection of public health and build partnerships and interdisciplinary collaboration . The National Wastewater Surveillance System ( NWSS ), developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic , shows how these partnerships can be utilized in existing and future events . Utilities and laboratories are an integral part of public health .
Presenter : Hunter Adams , City of Wichita Falls , hunter . adams @ wichitafallstx . gov
Automating Sample Extraction for High-throughput Environmental Chemistry Testing
Z Cao , A Frost , X Hu and S Urban , Maryland Department of Health Laboratories Administration
Achieving high and reliable throughput in complex extraction regimens remains a bottleneck in environmental chemistry testing programs . This inherent challenge has been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic causing staffing shortages . To mitigate these challenges , we adapted a new , 8-channel automated solid-phase extractor ( SPE-03 ) across three sophisticated EPA Methods for water testing ( 525.2 , 537.1 and 1633 ). Optimized conditions reduced extraction time , nearly halved costs , maintained or improved recovery and consistency , and dramatically increased throughput . Specifically , evaluating extractor line composition , disc type , disc holder composition and extraction parameters ultimately led to increased recoveries and / or decreased carryover for EPA Method 525.2 analytes . Remarkably , deploying SPE-03 to EPA Method 537.1 for quantifying PFAS at 1 ppt reporting levels resulted in an increase of capacity to ~ 1,600 drinking , ground or surface water extractions per year with only a 20 % FTE involvement . Our studies suggest the automated SPE-03 extractor to be a versatile , reliable and accessible means to increase environmental testing quality and capacity in a state public health laboratory setting .
Disclaimer : Mention of specific commercial products in this work does not in any way constitute endorsement .
The first three authors contributed approximately equally to this work .
Presenter : Sin Urban , Maryland Department of Health Laboratories Administration , sinisa . urban @ maryland . gov
REDCap as a Data Exchange and Storage Platform for Biomonitoring and Surveillance
O Latona and A Perry , Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services ( MDHHS ) has established a novel surveillance program to determine firefighters ’ average exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances ( PFAS )– the PFAS in Firefighters of Michigan Surveillance ( PFOMS )
Environmental Health