California - China Environmental Health Training Program

 

 

Activities of Past Scholars

 

 

Hubert Wang David Liu
 

Click on each activity to expand or minimize

  • Training: Detection of Domoic Acid (November 1 to December 24, 2003)

    • Participants: EHLB - Fogarty staff  (FB & HW)

    • Purpose: To learn how to measure the domoic acid in seafood using the HPLC.

    • Summary:   During the months of November & December, I trained at the EHLB.  There was 2 parts to the training: 1. Improve the HPLC method to detect domoic acid by experimenting with different analytical conditions (e.g., sample stability & different storage conditions; spike & recovery; comparison between different types of filters, etc.).  Based on my experimentations, I formulated an improved HPLC method (i.e., prolong column life, shorten analytical time, etc.)  Thus, I will be working with the Food & Drug Laboratory to validate this new method.  2. Conduct a study comparing the methods using the HPLC and the Receptor Binding Assay (RBA).  My preliminary results were good, but more work is needed in the future.  For example, my results show: better spike recovery by the HPLC (67%) vs. RBA (54%).  In addition, I also learned about QC at EHLB.  Working at the EHLB was a positive learning experience. 

  • Training: Detection of Domoic Acid (October 4 -11, 2003)

    • Participants: EHLB - Fogarty staff  (FB & HW)

    • Purpose: To learn how to measure the level of domoic acid in various environmental media (e.g., algal, shellfish, seawater, etc).

    • Summary:   I spent a week at the National Ocean Service Center for Coastal Environmental Health & Biomolecular Research located in Charleston, S. Carolina.  The training involved: learning the Receptor Binding Assay (RBA) analytical method and technique.  Info that I learned from this training can be summarized as follows: Domoic Acid:  There are different types of algal in the ocean and in lakes.  Some can produce marine toxins (e.g., domoic acid, PSP, ASP, etc.)  Domoic acid is a naturally produced harmful motor neurotoxin.  It can adversely affect both mammal and marine life.  One of the methods to detect domoic acid is the Receptor Binding Assay (RBA).  It is a specific and sensitive assay that can be used to analyze a large number of samples in a short timeframe.  I spent 4 days learning about all how to perform the RBA.  Other marine toxins:  In addition to learning about domoic acid, I also learned about other marine toxins (e.g., microcystin, PSP, etc.) and the specific detection methods for them.  It was an extremely educational experience for me.  I believe that the knowledge that I have gained during my training period will be valuable for my research work at the SCDC.  Also, I made many new friends at this research center.  I hope that our agencies can collaborate on research projects in the future which will be beneficial for the health and well-being of people here in the US and China.

  • Fifth Annual UC Davis Napa Conference for Environmental Health Scientists (August 25, 2003)

    • Participants: UC Davis staffs and students; scientists from government and industry; EHIB - EA &  EHLB -Fogarty  staff

    • Purpose:  To learn about the latest information about nutritional toxicology and metabolomics.

    • Summary:   On Aug 25th, I attended the fifth annual UC Davis Conference for Environmental Health Scientists. This meeting topic was “Nutritional Toxicology & Metabolomics”.  I learned about the relationship between  “diet, genes and disease”.   This was a very educational conference for me.  The information that I learned from this conference can be summarized into 3 main areas: Nutritional Genomics or Nutrigenomics:  Improper diet can be a serious risk factor for a number of diseases. For example, inadequate intakes of vitamins and minerals can lead to DNA damage, mitochondrial decay, and other adverse health conditions.  The new term “Nutrigenomics” was developed to describe how common dietary chemicals affect human health by altering the expression and /or structure of the genome at the molecular level.  This research looks into the interaction between diet, health and disease.  It also raise the point that “Dietary intervention based on knowledge of nutritional requirement, nutritional status, and genotype can be used to prevent, mitigate, or cure chronic disease”. Nutritional Toxicology:  The Nutritional Toxicology field studies the interactions between nutrition and toxic contaminants. This research field covers how gene expression is affected by nutrition and toxic insults, metabolomics, and etiology of chronic diseases through gene-toxin interactions. Examples were provided to show how pollutants could induce human atherosclerosis, and dioxin could suppress the function of the insulin receptor.  Metabolomics research using HPLC/MS/MS:  The metabolomics study is one of the important part of nutritional research, especially for natural products like herbs. One of the researchers showed how to analyze quercetin metabolites by LC/MS. This method was used to analyze 34 metabolites in a single run.  This conference provided me with much informative on a new scientific field.  It was exciting to learn the latest development in nutritional research, especially nutritional toxicology and nutrigenomics.  I also learned a new analytical technique on how to analysis metabolites using HPLC/MS/MS.

  • Summary of Cotinine Training at University of California, San Francisco (July - August, 2003)

    • Participants: EHLB - Fogarty staff  (HW) & UCSF staff (LY, PJ, & DM)

    • Purpose: To learn about analytical methods and instruments used in the detection of low levels of cotinine.

    • Summary:  At UCSF’s Clinical Pharmacology Research laboratory (www.UCSF.edu/smoking), I had the opportunity to learn different analytical methods and scientific instruments used to detect cotinine in biological samples (i.e., urine, serum, and saliva).  Cotinine levels differ between non-smokers vs. smokers, thus, different methods and instruments were required to perform analyses (i.e., cotinine levels are lower in non-smoker vs. smokers). The different types of scientific instruments that I learned to used for cotinine analysis included: HPLC/MS/MS (i.e., to analyze samples from nonsmokers); GC and GC/MS (i.e., to analyze samples from smokers).  The sample methods to analysis the biological samples were outlined in 3 scientific journal articles, namely, 1. Capillary GC method for the determination of nicotine & cotinne in human plasma (Peyton Jacob III, et al.);  2. Simultaneous determination of mecamylamine, nicotine, and cotinine in plasma by GC/MS (Peyton Jacob III, et al); and 3. Development & validation of sensitive method for determination of serum cotinne in smokers & nonsmokers by liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure ionization tandem mass spectrometry (John T. Bernert, et al).  The UCSF researchers also recommended several other related journal articles for me to review which gave me an in-depth understanding about cotinine analysis.  After reading the articles, I was able to discussion the information in the articles with the UCSF researchers.  In addition to learning about cotinine analysis, I also learned about laboratory safety, QA/QC procedures, standard preparation, etc.  In summary, the UCSF researchers provided me with excellent training.  I plan to use the cotinine information that I learned in order to collaborate the research project, ETS Exposure and Birth Outcome, with my colleague, Veronica Zheng, at our workplace, the Shanghai Center for Disease Control.  This project is divided into 3 parts: Subject Recruitment and Data Collection, Specimen Collection and Lab Assay, Data Management and Data Analysis.   The information that I learned at UCSF will enable me to analysis biological samples collected from pregnant women seeking prenatal health care.  One of the objectives of this study is to determine the association between cotinine levels and birth outcomes.

  • Meeting: Training at UCSF - Clinical Pharmacology Research Laboratory (July 18 & 22, 2003)

    • Participants: EHLB - Fogarty staff (HW)  & UCSF staff (PJ, LY, DM)

    • Purpose: To discuss my training activities at UCSF laboratory (which is located at SF General Hospital).

    • Summary:  On the July 18, I went to UCSF to discuss my cotinine training schedule (i.e., August to October) with the researchers at UCSF.  They provided me some literatures to review before starting the training.  On July 22, I returned to UCSF laboratory to meet with another researcher who I was assigned to work with.   Based on my discussion, my training will include: literature review (i.e., background information about environmental tobacco exposure (ETS), major pathways of nicotine metabolism and enzyme action, etc.), hands-on activities (e.g., sample extraction, data process/analysis), observation, and discussion, etc.

  • Training: Blood Lead Test Procedure (July 17, 2003)

    • Participants: EHLB - Fogarty staff  (FB & HW)

    • Purpose: To learn how to measure the level of lead in blood samples.

    • Summary:   At CDPH - EHL, I learned how to prepare blood samples to be analyzed for lead (i.e., sample collection and extraction); sample analysis (using an atomic absorption spectrometer with a graphite furnace and an automatic injection system), and quality control/assurance practices.

  • Meeting: Asthma Coalition in California  (July 8, 2003)

    • Participants: EHLB/EHIB - Fogarty  staff and experts from other governmental agencies and private organizations.

    • Purpose: To learn about the asthma coalition organization in CA.

    • Summary:   The meeting was held in Monterey, CA.  There were about 20 people at the meeting from various institutions.  The purpose of the meeting was to form a "coalition" against the asthma in California.  In the morning,  there were 2 speakers.  Rick Kreutzer (CDPH-EHIB) presented CDPH work on asthma (i.e., research, epidemiology, evaluation, public education, cooperation with other institutions).  Bert Jones, executive account manager of state government affairs and ally development, presented information about asthma regulations in Texas.  After the presentations, there was an informative brainstorming session; topics included: program structure, funding/budget issues, database structure, education/outreach activities, cooperation between organizations,  potential concerns, etc.  Attending this meeting was very informative and educational for me because I was able to see firsthand how meetings are conducted in the US.  This new insight will enable me to conduct meetings back home more effectively.

 

 

Click on each activity to expand or minimize

  • Meeting:  FDA's District Laboratory, San Francisco (December 16, 2003)

    • Participants:  Fogarty staff (DL & SC) and FDA staff.

    • Purpose: To learn food safety and QC activities.

    • Summary:  In the morning, I presented SCDC's organizational structure to the FDA staff and they presented their organizational structure also.  Then, we compared the duties and responsibilities our food safety labs both in US and China. Afterwards, I was given a comprehensive tour of FDA's chemical labs. In the chemical labs, several  FDA scientists showed us their analytical/research laboratories, scientific instruments and discussed their responsibilities.  1st, we visited the food additive analysis section.  This section focuses on testing for the safety of  food colors.  2nd, we visited the chemical metal analysis section which tests for lead contamination in dishware.  3rd, we visited the seafood analysis section that does sensory testing (i.e., freshness, spoilage, and odor issues). FDA staff scientists gave brief presentations about their works and instruments.  For example: Dr. Jacobs briefed us on this new  & effective analytical instrument that can instantly and easily detect lead in dishware.  In the afternoon, we toured the microbiological labs.  Once again, the FDA staff scientists in these labs gave brief presentations about their works and instruments.   In addition, I visited the sample storage and microbiologic media prepared center, and learned about quality assurance methods/techniques.

  • Training:  Participated in Fish Health Education Activities (December 8th and 10th, 2003)

    • Participants:  Fogarty staff (DL) and EHIB health education staff (SJ and SL).

    • Purpose: To learn health educational activities.

    • Summary:  I participated in the following activities:  Interviewed and educated senior citizens about the fish contamination at the senior citizen community center at Richmond. 2.    Interviewed the local public health workers  using Delta Watershed Fish Project Questionnaires at the public health department in Martinez.  The interview covered topics, such as, fish contamination concerns, community leaders and stakeholders relationships, outreach/education activities, and staff capacity building & collaboration.

  • Training:  Participated in a San Francisco Bay Fish Sign Evaluation Survey (November 20, 2003)

    • Participants:  Fogarty staff (DL) and EHIB staff.

    • Purpose: To learn health educational activities.

    • Summary:  I took part in a discussion about how to design a questionnaire for the SF Bay Fish Sign Evaluation project.  Then, I practiced survey techniques.  Afterwards, I accompanied one of the health educator to administer the survey at the Berkeley and Richmond Piers.

  • Conference: American Public Health Association (APHA) 131st Annual Meeting & Exposition (November 15th -  19th, 2003)

    • Participants:  Fogarty staff (DL) and other public health professionals.

    • Purpose: To learn public health activities in the United States through seminars and workshops.. And, to meet and network with other public health professionals.

    • Summary:  I participated in the APHA meeting in SF.  It was a great opportunity to meet with public health professionals from all over the United States.  I attended several scientific presentations (e.g., a. Creating the Future for CDC in the 21st Century: CDC’s Futures Initiative; b. Improving Nutrition and Physical Activity Interventions Through Community-based Participatory Research; c. Preventing Overweight & Obesity: Policy & Environmental Approaches; d. Results From Outbreak Investigations: Implications for Public Health Practice; d. Nutrition Assessment and Surveillance: Guiding Research and Program Development; and e. Nutrition and Physical Activity Research: Toward the Prevention of Overweight and Obesity.   In addition, I was able to attend 3 workshops: 1.  The Logic of Evaluation: A Skill Building Workshop on Community Health Program Planning & Evaluation.  In this workshop, I learned through small interactive group activities.  I learned about the logic model for program planning & evaluation.  Through working in small groups, I was able to gain hands-on experience with this model.  Now, I am able to construct a logic model for a community health program; to develop an evaluation plan for a community health program; to describe the relationship between outputs, outcomes, and indicators for community health program and to identify key stakeholders.  The logic of evaluation is a simple but powerful and effective tool for program planning & evaluation.  2. Statistical Methods for State & Local Public Health Data.  In this workshop, I learned 3 important points:  a. the development and use of state and local public health data for community health indicators report, performance measurement and public health report card; b. surveillance and outbreak detection for bio-terrorism & emerging infections; and c. privacy and confidentially in the public release of state and local public health data.  After taking this workshop, I am able: to discuss the statistical issues relating to state and local data; to identify statistical issues and methods in public health surveillance; and to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of at least 2 statistical methods for small area data.  In addition, I am also now able to articulate the privacy and confidentiality issues involved in the release of state and local public health data; and to determine the amount of data that can be released to the public without compromising the residents' privacy and confidentiality.  3. Interpreting & Reporting Public Health & Medical Research: Techniques & 13 Key Questions: In this workshop, I learned how to recognize the most common and serious errors in the literature so that I will not be misled by poor research. I learned several techniques and tools for critically appraising scientific literature.  The speaker also discussed the 13 general questions about the purpose, design, conduct, analysis, and interpretation of a research study. After this course, I understand why critical appraisal is necessary when reading the scientific literature. I learned three essential techniques for critically appraising scientific literatures. And, I also learned about various issues/concerns the difference between pragmatic trial and explanatory ones, confidence intervals and P values for reporting result, “operational definition,” bias that commonly occur in sample selection, allocation concealment and random assignment.  We also covered the difference between systematic reviews of the literature and narrative reviews.  And, the importance of baseline risk when interpreting clinical trials.  This course enable me to better interpret and critique public health and biomedical literatures.

  • Meeting with FDA Regional Officer (November 14, 2003)

    • Participants:  Fogarty staff (DL), FDA Officer (TS).

    • Purpose: To learn about FDA's QA/QC laboratory procedures.

    • Summary:  I provided an overview of my duties at SCDC's Department of   Nutrition and Food Safety to FDA's Regional Officer, TS.  At the SCDC, we have 2 laboratories (i.e., chemical and microbiology sections).  One of my goals is to learn more about FDA's QA/QC laboratory procedures.  TS provided me with an overview of FDA's laboratories in the United States.  I learned about the various tasks and duties of each of the regional laboratories.  TS recommended that I visit their regional laboratory in Alameda and to speak with their QA/QC manager and other laboratory personnels.

  • Epidemiology Case Study Review - A Mixed Bag in Michigan: The PPB Story (October 17, 2003)

    • Participants:  EHIB - EES & Fogarty staff

    • Purpose: To discuss the epidemiology case study and to further my knowledge about about epidemiology with an EHIB epidemiologist (GW).

    • Summary:  In case study of A Mixed Bag in Michigan (The PPB Story), I learned the role of the various governmental agency involved in the contaminated food situation in the U.S. We discussed: the different options for studying human health effects following an environmental exposure; how to calculate sample size requirement for a community survey; and the reasons for the creation of a registry following an environmental exposure and it's limitations.

  • Statistic Course at the Sacramento Statistical Association (October 16, 2003)

    • Participants:  Fogarty staff (DL), employees from governmental & nonprofit agencies and private industry.

    • Purpose: To learn causal inference in observational studies, missing data patterns and imputation.

    • Summary:  In this short statistics course, I reviewed the observational studies, randomized experiments, causation, association, bias, confound, collapsibility and adjustment for confounders.  I learned the importance of the missing data and the missing data mechanism. Most importantly, I studied the imputation methods under MCAR or MAR and imputation under non-ignorable missing. I also gathered a lot of information about references of the causal inference in observational studies, missing data patterns and imputation.

  • Meeting  with FDA Regional Medical Officer (September 18, 2003)

    • Participants: FDA regional medical officer and EHIB - Fogarty staff (DL)

    • Purpose: To learn about how food safety is managed at the federal level.

    • Summary:  Before this meeting, I visited the department of food safety at the state and city/county level. So my interest focused on the food safety agencies at the federal level.  We discussed the organizational structure of food safety in US and China. The FDA regional officer presented the perspective of food illness outbreaks in US.  I was surprised by the number of the unknown food-borne disease outbreaks and the increasing number of  viral food-borne diseases in US. We exchanged ideas about food-borne illness concerns both here in the US and in China.  The FDA regional officer provided me with excellent  website links on food safety. 

  • Meeting SF Department of Public Health's Environmental Health Inspection Staff (September 17, 2003)

    • Participants: SFDPH staff; EHIB - Fogarty staff

    • Purpose: To learn about how food safety is managed at the city level.

    • Summary:  I learned about the organization structure of  SF's DPH environmental health section on food safety.  There are 25 inspectors in environmental health section of SF department public health. They are in charge of inspecting about 10,000 restaurants, food retail stores, hotels and other establishments that do food business in SF only.  Their work include: permitting, inspecting, investigating and health education (i.e., food safety and how to deal with food-borne diseases).  I received valuable food safety materials and forms.  This meeting provided me with a framework about food safety at the city and county level in US.

  • Meeting with CDPH - Food & Drug Branch's Scientists  (September 12, 2003)

    • Participants: CDPH - Food & Drug Branch staff; EHIB - Fogarty staff

    • Purpose: To learn about how CA's food-borne disease surveillance system is operated and managed.

    • Summary:  I learned about the three levels of government agencies in food safety: federal, state and county.

      •    Each jurisdiction has specific mandates (e.g., inspection, investigation, regulation, etc.).  At this meeting, I also had the opportunity to discuss/compare past food-borne outbreaks and food safety issues in Shanghai and California; management of food vendors; regulations of nutrition supplements (healthy food or function food) and other additives.  We also exchanged ideas/opinions about the safety of genetically modified food products.  

  • Meeting with CA's FoodNet Program's Scientists (September 5, 2003)

    • Participants: CDHS - Division of Communicable Disease Control staff (DV); CA Emerging Infections Program (SS); EHIB - Fogarty staff

    • Purpose: To learn about how CA's food-borne disease surveillance system (FoodNet) operates and managed.

    • Summary:  DV and SS provided me with an introduction on how the FoodNet program is operated and managed both in CA and in the US.  This meeting was very helpful because I had the opportunity to clarify several questions about: surveillance and intervention on food-borne disease, risk analysis of food safety and HACCP.   I also had the opportunity to  discuss the difference between the active food-borne disease surveillance system in the US/CA and the passive food-borne disease surveillance system in China.  At the conclusion of this meeting, I learned that I do not need to "set up" an active food-borne disease surveillance system, but I need to "improve" our existing food-borne disease surveillance system in China. 

  • Epidemiology Case Study Review - L-Trypophan and Eosinophilia - Myalgia Syndrome (August 28, 2003)

    • Participants:  EHIB - EES & Fogarty staff

    • Purpose:  To discuss the epidemiology case study and to further my knowledge about about epidemiology with an EHIB epidemiologist (GW).

    • Summary:

      •         In case study of L-Tryptophan and Eosinophilia-Myalgia Syndrome, we discussed the following issues: the rapid establishment of national surveillance for a newly recognized and little understood disorder; the development of case definitions; biases that might have affected these studies; elements of design; and the advantages and disadvantages of case-control versus cohort studies.  We also discussed how to calculate and interpret a relative risk, odds ratio, and attributable risk percent.  Then, how to list and evaluate the criteria for causation.

    Fifth Annual UC Davis Napa Conference for Environmental Health Scientists (August 25, 2003)

    • Participants: UC Davis staffs and students; scientists from government and industry; EHIB - EA & Fogarty staff

    • Purpose:  To learn about the latest information about nutritional toxicology and metabolomics which will benefit my nutrition research at the SCDC.

    • Summary:

      • At this conference, I attended seven informative presentations:       1. The Effects of Toxic Chemicals on Utilization by Director of the UC Davis NIEHS Center Environmental Health Sciences Fumio Matsumura (PhD, Environmental Toxicology, UC Davis); 2. Pleiotropic Effects of Cancer Protective Dietary Indoles by Leonard Bjeldanes (PhD, Nutritional Science and Toxicology, UC Berkeley); 3. Nutritional Genomics: The Next Frontier in the Postgenomic Era by Director of the National Center Excellence for Nutritional Genomics Raymond Rodriguez (PhD, Molecular and Cellular Biology, UC Dav      is); 4. Metabolomic Assessments of Human Health and Nutrition by Rebecca Baillie (PhD, Lipomics Technologies); 5. The Nuts and Bolts of NMR-based Metabolomics by Mark Viant (PhD, Environmental Toxicology, UC Davis); 6. Effect of Herbal Components on CDNA-Expressed Cytochrome P450 by Martha Harkey (PhD, Medical Pharmacology and Toxicology, UC Davis); 7.  Keynote Address: A Metabolic Tune-up to Prevent DNA Damage by Children’s Hospital of Oakland Research Institute senior scientist Bruce Ames (PhD, Molecular and Cellular Biology, UC Berkeley).

  • Graduate Classes at the University of California, Berkeley (Fall Semester: July - December 2003)

    • Classes enrolled in: Principles of Epidemiology and Outbreak Investigation; Epidemiologic Investigations using Epi Info 2002; Introduction to Computational Epidemiology: An Infectious Disease Approach; and Health Risk Assessment, Regulation, & Policy

    • Purpose:  To further my understanding in the field of epidemiology and risk assessment.

    • Summary:

      • Principles of Epidemiology and Outbreak Investigation:              Before I took this class, I had already studied many different kinds of the epidemiology courses. This class helped me improve my Epi-English (i.e., epidemiology "jargon") and increased my knowledge in epidemiology.  In the course I learned about: frequency measures used in epidemiology, the measure of central location and dispersions, how to organize epidemiologic data, public health surveillance and how to investigate an outbreak. The most important part of taking this class was the opportunity to familiarize myself with how epidemiology research is conducted in the U.S. In addition, I learned about several epidemiological case studies (e.g., a food-borne disease outbreak investigation, a multi-state outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infection, etc.).  And, I analyzed several epidemiology articles (e.g.,  Nile virus infection; gastroenteritis outbreak at an university, and establishment of SARS and Hepatitis C surveillances).  Epidemiologic Investigations using Epi Info 2002.  In this class, I learned how to: create data entry screens; check code in entry to reduce errors; enter data editing records, etc.  In addition, I learned about: descriptive epidemiology & data analysis; creation of variables and manipulation of data; working with analysis and output documentation, etc.  This course also covered statistical procedures: logistic regression, Kaplan-Meier, Epi Map (GIS), etc.  Introduction to Computational Epidemiology: An Infectious Disease Approach:   In this class, I learned how to use the epidemiology software R.  Health Risk Assessment, Regulation, & Policy:   In China, health risk assessment is rarely done in the public health field. The health risk assessment regulation and policy is a new field to me.  I am interested in using health risk assessment techniques in my field,  food safety.  In this course, I reviewed an overview of health risk assessment topics: dose-response, sources emissions, transport of hazardous substances between different mediums, fugacity model, exposure analysis, uncertainty, risk characterization, indoor air exposures, etc.  In this class, the professors also covered: the basic scientific components of environmental and occupational health risk assessment; the policy context in which decisions to manage environmental health risks are made; and the quantitative methods used to assess the human health risks associated with exposure to toxic chemicals which focused on the four major components of risk assessment (i.e.,  hazard identification, dose-response assessment, exposure assessment, and risk characterization). They showed us how to conduct a  risk assessment for an environmental health problem.  They also covered: occupational and environmental health regulations in relations to how hazard, risk, cost, and benefits affected.  We also discussed current political controversies about environmental policy in class.   In addition to attending the lectures, I participated in many discussion groups during class.  This enable me to better understand how to conduct health risk assessments and their impacts on the environment and public health.  Also, the homework assignments helped increase and reinforce my knowledge in this field.  Furthermore, I attended an environmental health policy meeting (discussing policies of the European Union and the United States.)  This class will be very useful in my work at the SCDC.

  • SAS Programming 1: Essentials (August 6-8, 2003)

    • Participants: EHIB staff - Fogarty (DL), managers, health care workers, financial analysts, software programmers, etc.

    • Purpose:  To learn how to write SAS programs.

    • Summary:

      •  This 3 day course focused on how to manage, analyze and report various types of data sets.  The students were expected to complete assignments at the end of each chapter in the SAS workbook.  Although I am familiar with SAS, I  learned much information from this course, especially about the data-processing task feature.  This will enable me to use SAS more effectively at work in the future when I return to Shanghai.  The class has provided me with a better understanding or more in-depth knowledge about writing SAS programs to accomplish data-processing tasks; how to manage raw data; and how to write clear summary reports about the data sets.  Another major benefit that I gained from taking this SAS course was I learned where to obtain SAS support on the internet and publications.  The instructors also provided us with their contact information.  When I return to Shanghai, I plan to used the information that I learned in class to analyze my data sets.

  • Public meeting in Willits, CA: Health Effects on Air Exposure of Hexavalent Chromium (August 5, 2003)

    • Participants: EHIB - ATSDR & Fogarty staff; local health department officials; and the community

    • Purpose:  To observe and to learn how to organize and conduct a community meeting.

    • Summary:

      •  Last week, I attended an USEPA Public Involvement/Risk Communication workshop.  Thus, I was interested in attending a public community meeting to learn how the information that I learned in the workshop was applied/used in a public meeting.  There were about one hundred people at the meeting.  EHIB staff presented several topics: overview of the public meeting, an evaluation of exposure to historic air releases from the Abex/Remco hydraulics facility, and statistical results from the study.  Afterwards, the EHIB staff  met with community members to answer their concerns about potential health effects.  The following recommendations were made: medical monitor/clinical evaluations, to provide access to stress counseling services and to ensure community safety during Abex/Remco clean up.  In my opinion, I believe that EHIB conducted a very successful public meeting.  I have learned: how to prepare and organize a public meeting; how to ensure a community  meeting runs smoothly, and how to communicate with the public in a sensitive and respectful manner. 

  • Discussion about Designing the SF Bay Fish Sign Evaluation Project Questionnaire (August 4, 2003)

    • Participants: EHIB - EA, CP/E & Fogarty staff  

    • Purpose: To learn about questionnaire design

    • Summary:  In Shanghai, we have health education activities, but, we don't have much follow-up evaluation activities afterwards.    When we do a survey or evaluation, we must strictly design the questionnaire.   In-depth discussion about each question in the SF bay fish sign evaluation project was very informative and helped clarified many questions.  

  • Health Educational Training: Mercury Contamination in Fish (July 30, 2003)

    • Participants: Environmental health workers in Placer county, EHIB - EA, CP/E & Fogarty staff and Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) staff

    • Purpose: To learn about Mercury contamination in fish

    • Summary: Information covered: background information on methylmercury in sport fish; where does methylmercury in fish come from; locations in California with elevated levels of methylmercury in fish; methylmercury & health; how to reduce methymercury in fish making them safer to eat; can mercury poisoning occur from eating fish in California; what is in the health advisories; and how are the advisories being made available to the public.  Then, we discussed EHIB involvement in fish-contamination related projects:  Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Watershed Fish Project, Delta Fish Consumption Study, Fish Tissue Monitoring with Contamination Outreach, Education, and Training, etc.;.  Next, we reviewed EHIBs overview of risk communication issues and created a survey about mercury contamination in fish.  Lastly,  EHIB staff provided Placer County environmental health workers materials (i.e., California regulations on freshwater sport fishing, state advisories-Mercury Exposure, Health Effects of Mercury Exposure, Mercury in Fish); OEHHA fishing advisory, Sierra Lakes advisory and other documents about fish mercury contamination in California; and a booklet about advisories about mercury in fish.

  • Community Meeting in Willits, CA: Health Effects on Air Exposure of Hexavalent Chromium  (July 28, 2003)

    • Participants: Physicians in Mendocino county and EHIB - Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) & Fogarty staff 

    • Purpose:  Learn about air exposure of hexavalent chromium from Abex/Remco company, 1964-1995 and health education efforts about health effects of exposure of hexavalent chromium.

    • Summary:  EHIB staff presented results of the public health assessment about air exposure of hexavalent chromium in Willits: The hexavalent chromium released to the air from Abex/Remco would have been in the air for three different time periods. Analysis by the computer air model.  EHIB also shared results of expected cases and observed cases of cancer near Abex/Remco, 1988-2000.

  • Research, Outreach, and Education on Fish Consumption in the San Francisco Bay (July 21, 2003) 

    • Participants: EHIB - Exposure Assessment (EA), Community Participation/Education (CP/E), & Fogarty staff 

    • Purpose: To learn about how to the plan health education and outreach activities for the SF Bay Fish Project.

    • Summary: We had a brainstorming meeting that covered discussion of: the collaboration with other departments, how to fund the projects, the informational brochure about mercury, the projects for the Task Force, and other health educational activities.

  • Research, Outreach, and Education on Fish Consumption in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and its Tributaries (July 8, 2003) 

    • Participants: EHIB - Exposure Assessment (EA), Community Participation/Education (CP/E), & Fogarty staff 

    • Purpose: To learn about how to the plan health education and outreach activities.

    • Summary:  The research project will cover several areas:  Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, the SF Bay, Central Valley, etc.  Brainstorming about: 1. Working with other agencies on public participation, public outreach and health education projects.  2. Discussion of outreach materials on mercury in fish: signs, booklets, post cards, etc.

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  • USEPA Risk Communication & Public Involvement Workshop  (July 22-24, 2003) 

    • Participants: EHIB - Fogarty staff (DL & HW), scientists, engineers, and medical doctors from governmental agencies and private industry.

    • Purpose: To understand the purposes, challenges & implications of public involvement; to develop the rationale & practical strategies for public involvement; and to strengthen my understanding and role as vital team members.

    • Summary:  The public involvement workshop was very useful to my work.  The workshop included: instructor's explanation and presentation, case study, student self-practice, question, discussion and role-play. Public involvement is a new field to me.  After I finished the workshop, I learned many new concepts about public involvement (i.e., overcoming trust problems, risk and safety in communication, communication assessment, perceptions, C.O.K.E. [Committed, Open, Knowledge and Empathetic], etc.) and so on.  I have summarized the course material into 5 sections:  Strategic plan for public involvement and risk communication:  By studying the different kinds of case studies, I learned that it is important to strategically plan for public involvement meetings. The steps are: know your audiences, especially if you may need their support or permission; what is your overall goal; and what are some effective activities that will help. In order to do the plan well you must know: who you are, how to introduce yourself, how to involve the public, what you want, safety issues, etc.   How to communicate with the public:   By role’s playing, I realized that before we communicate with the public we have a lot preparation: 1st, we must prepare the public communication materials by analyzing and assessing the public and ourselves. 2nd, we must know the objective of the public and ourselves. 3rd, we should make a strategic plan for public involvement. 4th, we must do a "dry-run".  Finally, we must do well in the meeting.  How to work with the News Media:   I understand that sometimes it is difficult to work with the News Media. When we meet with the New Media, we must be caution. Before we work with the News Media, we must know the target audience, the purpose and goal of our message. Community involvement resources :   This workshop provided me with a lot of resource (i.e., a publication of  USEPA public involvement process, the Internet address about public involvement, etc.  I received a very good impression about the instructor, Captain Alvin Chun.  His workshop and presentation was interesting, clear and conscientious.