Interview: GZA's Ben Sallemi on Volunteering for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Science Advisory Board Public Health Standing Committee

Recently, GZA’s Ben Sallemi was reappointed to a volunteer role with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s (NJDEP’s) Science Advisory Board Public Health Standing Committee. Ben sat down with us to talk about the role, and how it helps inform the NJDEP’s approach to scientific issues.

What does the Science Advisory Board (SAB) do, to the layman? What’s it mean to advise NJDEP on science?

Since 2009, the SAB has provided independent peer review and advice to the NJDEP Commissioner and NJDEP staff on scientific and technical issues. There are four standing committees: Ecological Processes, Public Health, Water Quality and Quantity, and Climate and Atmospheric Sciences.  Each committee reports to the SAB.

When new and emerging issues arise, the NJDEP speaks to the relevant committee’s members to gather more information and help inform their decision-making. The NJDEP needs to know: What does the data show? Is more data needed?  This background data and critical analysis help inform the NJDEP’s decisions moving forward.

How’d you get involved with the board?

A colleague of mine learned of the opening on the SAB’s Public Health Committee from her involvement in an environmental industry professional organization. She let me know about the opportunity, and after looking into it, I applied. 

Tell me a bit about the experience of the other board members, where they come from scientifically? 

An advanced degree is required to be considered for a committee or board position and many of those on the Public Health Committee are medical doctors working in academia and have training in various medical specialties. I’m a consultant, of course, and one of my fellow board members was formerly with a regulatory agency.

Why’s that mix of experience important?

Every member has a voice and is encouraged to contribute an opinion. Thus, issues are examined from many angles. We benefit from the diverse background, training, and experience of the board. We also don't require consensus to issue a report, although when we've been tasked with a charge question so far, we’ve come to the same conclusions for our report.
 

I see that you’re the only Certified Industrial Hygienist on the board, how does that inform your work with the board?

My CIH credential is in the “Comprehensive Practice of Industrial Hygiene,” giving me a broad scientific foundation for my work with the committee.  Everyone on the committee applies best practices of scientific inquiry to our work, reviewing the data and conducting investigations.

The most recent report you were part of was on estrogenic compounds in the environment. Walk me through the process of contributing here?

The SAB approaches a committee with “charge” questions based on the topic they wish to get more information about. The committee usually receives 4-5 charge questions delving into a single topic. With these compounds, the questions were:

• What does the current science indicate in terms of adverse human health effects?
• What are the routes of human exposure?
• What has been done since the joint monitoring efforts conducted with USGS circa 2008 and should such efforts be resumed?
• Is this issue a concern for New Jersey?
• How does this concern compare to that of other emerging contaminants?

We then work in smaller groups to study the charge questions and report back to the full committee. This includes a broad range of publicly available scientific and technical data on the topic in question. The reports may come from any number of sources including state reports, federal data, and academic research.

Once our work is complete, we summarize our findings and recommendations in a written report we submit to the SAB. The SAB reviews our work and then shares it with the NJDEP Commissioner and their staff so they can integrate it into their decision-making process.

After the report is approved, it’s posted to the SAB website on their home page.

As a citizen, how does working on the Board make you feel?

I am proud to serve my state in this way. Using my science background and skills to assess data that will support policies protective of human health and the environment is very gratifying. Collaborating with the dedicated science and medical professionals with whom I serve is also rewarding. I’m glad to have this opportunity.