Rachel Shaffer, PhD, MPH
About
Dr. Rachel M. Shaffer works on human health assessments in the Office of Water at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Washington, D.C. She has previously worked at the Office of Research and Development (ORD) at the U.S. EPA; the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ); and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). Dr. Shaffer has a broad background in environmental health sciences, with graduate training spanning experimental toxicology and human epidemiological research as well as experience in science policy and risk assessment. She has published on diverse topics, including air pollution, metals, pesticides, and food additives.
Education
- PhD, University of Washington (Seattle)
- MPH, University of Washington (Seattle)
- BA, Yale University
Research
Human health risk assessment; incorporating susceptibility into human health risk assessment; improving the use of epidemiology in risk assessment; systematic review; harmonization of chemical assessment processes; lead exposure and antisocial behavior; manganese and neurotoxicity; chemical-diet interactions; air pollution and neurodegeneration.
Publications
Selected publications
- Systematic review of adverse human health effects following oral exposure to inorganic nitrate and nitrite
- Lead exposure and antisocial behavior: A systematic review of human and animal evidence
- Comparative review of human health reference values of the United States
- A perspective from US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) scientists: how your epidemiologic analyses can inform the human health risk assessment process
- Application of probabilistic methods to address variability and uncertainty in estimating risks for non-cancer health effects