Department of Environmental Health Sciences

Mary O'Reilly

Environmental Specialist, New York State Department of Transportation
Adjunct Assistant Professor, School of Public Health, Environmental Health Sciences

Ph.D., The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (1979)
Postdoctoral training: Upstate Medical Center

Research Interests

The influence of the environment on individual health is profoundly interesting and immensely important. My postdoctoral studies evaluated the co-carcinogenicity of the mouse mammary tumor virus and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on the development of mammary tumors. As an environmental toxicologist at Syracuse Research Corporation I performed quantitative health risk assessment on a variety of substances including solvents, pesticides and metals, for the U.S.EPA. As an industrial hygienist, an ergonomist and an environmental specialist am applying the scientific method to real life situations to improve occupational and environmental health.

The areas of research that I am currently interested in include:

1. Ground water effects of scrap tires used as highway fill. One way to re-use old tires is to put them in highway embankments. In several studies where this has been done elevated levels of iron and manganese have been found in downgradient ground water. Both the cause of this phenomenon and the possible effects of it are unknown at this time. Increased iron and manganese levels are associated with some neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease.
2. Application of risk assessment principles to a transparent and scientifically based method to rank brownfield redevelopment sites. Brownfield redevelopment is primarily an economic endeavor, but the health effects can be far-reaching. Performance of quantitative health risk assessments for each of the contaminants on a site could take years and may not yield terribly useful information. I am working with the Broome County Health Department and the Broome County Brownfield Committee to establish a methodology to prioritize sites for development.
3. Evaluation of the environmental effects of roadside management. The two main tools of an integrated roadside management program are herbicides and mowing. In order to effectively compare and contrast these two activities it is important to define the energy requirements and the adverse effects of each, and to characterize the situations in which each would be more effective.
4. Phytoremediation - the use of plants to clean up contaminated sites. Several poplars trees have been planted at a site to evaluate their effect on the ground water levels of trichloroethylene (TCE). No source has been identified for the TCE and an air-sparging, soil-venting intervention did not appear to be working.
5. The effects of modifying the work station so that the individual can work in a neutral posture without pain or discomfort. Application of human factors principles provide a scientific basis for the design or re-design of the workplace, including computer work stations, manufacturing, health care settings and other various types of occupational environments.

Contact Information

Phone: 607-721-8138
Fax: 607-721-8129
E-mail: Mary.Brophy@sln.suny.edu.

Additional information on faculty research interests and publications can be found at: http://www.wadsworth.org/resnres/bios/pifacframe.htm