John C. Kissel

John C. Kissel, PhD, MS

Professor Emeritus
Email: jkissel@uw.edu
Office: 2337, Roosevelt One Building
Expertise: Sustainable Communities, Children's Health, Environmental Health, Health Equity, Infectious diseases, Pollution, John C. Kissel, Population Health Initiative, Toxicology

About

Dr. Kissel has a history of research related to human exposure to environmental contaminants. One aspect of this work involves characterization of human dermal contact with soils and sediments. Results of those studies have been incorporated directly into EPA guidance documents, such as the Exposure Factors Handbook, that are used by persons involved in cleanup of Superfund sites or other contaminated lands. Dr. Kissel and his students have also investigated the efficiency of dermal absorption of contaminants from environmental matrices and of skin decontamination by washing. A second research focus area is evaluation of the predictive capability of regulatory exposure models. Particular applications include occupational exposure to pesticides and indoor residential exposure to chemicals found in commercial products. Current activity includes investigation of mitigation of firefighter exposure to carcinogenic PAHs.

Education

  • PhD, Stanford University
  • MS, Harvard University
  • BS, University of Notre Dame

Mentorship

Not available to mentor new students.

DEOHS Students Mentored

Dermal Absorption of Benzo[a]pyrene From Soil: Assessment of Flux and Application to Risk Assessment of Contaminated Sites
Trevor Peckham | MS Thesis | 2015 | View

Quantifying Chemical Transfer from Fabric to Skin
Julia Marks | MS Thesis | 2015 | View

Variability in Estimated Physiological Half-Lives of PCBs in Humans: Impact on Exposure Assessment
Jeffry Shirai | MS Thesis | 1995 | View

Validation Studies of Monte Carlo Modeling of Children's Pesticides and Arsenic Exposures Due to Residential Soil Contamination
Ann Wawrukiewicz | MS Thesis | 1997 | View

Reconciliation of Aggregate Probabilistic Exposure Model Predictions with Observed Biomarkers: A Case Study Using Data from the CTEPP Child Cohorts
Joseph (Jay) Smith III | MS Thesis | 2006 | View

Media Mentions

EPA’s method to identify chemical concerns rejected by advisers
March 17, 2022 | Bloomberg Law | Featured: John C. Kissel | View
Tips and tricks for safe urban foraging
August 19, 2019 | KUOW | Featured: John C. Kissel | View
Air pollutants enter body through skin
| Science News | Featured: John C. Kissel | View
Q & A: The science behind Agent Orange and its lasting effects
| HS NewsBeat | Featured: John C. Kissel | View
VA to offer aid to Agent Orange C-123 reservists
| Seattle Times/AP | Featured: John C. Kissel | View
Your tax money will pay to clean up forest after shooting club used it for decades
| KIRO-TV | Featured: John C. Kissel | View