ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
Con-GRAD-ulations! Laboratory Scientists Help Revive Nationwide Radiochemistry Workforce
By Sydney Comet, MPH, specialist, Environmental Health
Radiochemistry is a specialized branch of chemistry focused on radioactive materials, unstable chemical elements that spontaneously release energy as radiation. This radiation can damage cellular genetic material, increasing the risk of dangerous health concerns including cancer, cardiovascular diseases and more. Public health radiochemistry programs protect human and animal health, the food supply and the environment by monitoring, managing and mitigating the effects of both naturally occurring radioactive materials and those used for anthropogenic purposes. State public health and environmental laboratories play an integral role in monitoring by testing for radioactive contamination in matrices such as air, water, soil, food and clinical samples.
Radiochemistry programs are needed to protect humans and animals against common exposure to radioactive materials, such as radon, uranium and thorium, and accidental chemical spills. However, there have been concerns about the declining workforce given that half of the national nuclear and radiochemistry laboratory workforce are eligible for retirement in the next 5 – 10 years. Furthermore, there have been increasingly fewer formal US universitybased radiochemistry programs, which results in an increased number of radiochemists relying on on-the-job training that focuses more on test completion. Given the considerable differences in proper sample handling and methods, and safety concerns between traditional chemistry and radiochemistry testing, laboratory scientists must acquire fundamental knowledge of radiation principles and receive adequate training in radiochemistry.
To address these concerns, APHL partnered with the University of Iowa in 2023 to develop the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention( CDC)- funded Radiochemistry Graduate Certificate Program to equip students with the background, theory, practical knowledge and hands-on training required to address the routine and emerging radiochemistry challenges that state public health laboratories face. The 12-month program combines online graduatelevel coursework with two in-person summer laboratory trainings and is specifically designed for working public health laboratory professionals.
Celebrating the First Year of the Program
In August 2025, the first class of 12 APHL-supported students completed the year-long certificate program. This required significant dedication and commitment while also fulfilling their full-time laboratory duties. A postcertificate survey was sent in September to the students to understand how the program impacted their careers and state laboratory work.
New Skills
Survey data was interpreted from 10 of the 12 students who are still employed at a public health laboratory. All survey respondents reported changes to their laboratory in at least one of the following areas: increased confidence and knowledge( 100 % of survey respondents), optimized laboratory techniques and / or data calculations( 100 %), improved ability to troubleshoot issues( 70 %), quality improvement practices( 60 %), protocol modifications( 50 %) and new methods( 50 %)( Figure 1). One student commented that with their increased knowledge of
Figure 1. Impact of radiochemistry graduate certificate program on state laboratory operations. radiochemistry fundamentals, they are now better prepared to onboard new and more complex methodologies, increasing their laboratories’ capabilities. Another student echoed these sentiments and reported that they were able to handle more responsibilities and train other personnel after completing the program.
Multiple students commented on their improved ability to properly analyze samples, perform calculations and interpret data. These improvements have already been made in several laboratories with one student remarking that they feel more confident in the data they share with their clients and that the data are more reflective of the true uncertainty.
Changes in Public Health Laboratories
Since completing the program this past summer, changes have been implemented in the students’ laboratories. One student was able to increase the accuracy of a laboratory standard operating procedure through a wording change that reflected a better understanding of radioactivity calculations. They plan to look over all their laboratory’ s calculation spreadsheets to ensure these adjustments are made. continued on page 18
16 LAB MATTERS Winter 2025 PublicHealthLabs @ APHL. org
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