Evaluating the Impact of the U.S. National Toxicology Program: A Case Study on Hexavalent Chromium

Abstract

Background:Evaluating the impact of federally funded research with a broad, methodical, and objective approach is important to ensure that public funds advance the mission of federal agencies.Objectives:We aimed to develop a methodical approach that would yield a broad assessment of National Toxicology Program’s (NTP’s) effectiveness across multiple sectors and demonstrate the utility of the approach through a case study.Methods:A conceptual model was developed with defined activities, outputs (products), and outcomes (proximal, intermediate, distal) and applied retrospectively to NTP’s research on hexavalent chromium (CrVI). Proximal outcomes were measured by counting views of and requests for NTP’s products by external stakeholders. Intermediate outcomes were measured by bibliometric analysis. Distal outcomes were assessed through Web and LexisNexis searches for documents related to legislation or regulation changes.Results:The approach identified awareness of NTP’s work on CrVI by external stakeholders (proximal outcome) and citations of NTP’s research in scientific publications, reports, congressional testimonies, and legal and policy documents (intermediate outcome). NTP’s research was key to the nation’s first-ever drinking water standard for CrVI adopted by California in 2014 (distal outcome). By applying this approach to a case study, the utility and limitations of the approach were identified, including challenges to evaluating the outcomes of a research program.Conclusions:This study identified a broad and objective approach for assessing NTP’s effectiveness, including methodological needs for more thorough and efficient impact assessments in the future.Citation:Xie Y, Holmgren S, Andrews DMK, Wolfe MS. 2017. Evaluating the impact of the U.S. National Toxicology Program: a case study on hexavalent chromium. Environ Health Perspect 125:181–188; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/EHP21

Fluorescent Metal–Organic Frameworks for Selective Sensing of Toxic Cations (Tl3+, Hg2+) and Highly Oxidizing Anions ((CrO4)2−, (Cr2O7)2−, (MnO4)−)

“…Hexavalent chromium has been well established as a genotoxic carcinogen. Human exposure to Cr 6+ ions increases the risk of developing lung cancer, asthma, or damage to nasal epithelia and skin . Their concentrations in the environment needs to be monitored and controlled.…”

Zebrafish in Toxicology and Environmental Health

“…Since the passage of this law, science, and technology have made rapid progress necessitating further legislative intervention to protect the public from the health effects of chemical exposures (Birnbaum, 2010). In response, the National Toxicology Program was established in 1978 as an interagency program by the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, which is known today as the Department of Health and Human Services, to address public, scientific, and governmental concerns that human diseases and disabilities are linked to chemical exposures (Xie, Holmgren, Andrews, & Wolfe, 2016). In 1980, as part of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, more commonly referred to as the “Superfund Act,” Congress formed the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).…”

FeS@rGO nanocomposites as electrocatalysts for enhanced chromium removal and clean energy generation by microbial fuel cell

“…Long-term exposure of Cr (VI) to human beings can cause dermatitis, tumours, liver and kidney damage, bronchogenic, and respiratory problems [1]. Cr(VI), owing to its high toxicity, has been classified as a class-I carcinogen by the International Agency Research on Cancer and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has declared 50 µg/L of Cr(VI) as a permissible limit in drinking water [2,3]. The release of Cr(VI) into the aquatic environment is mainly through wastewater effluents of electroplating, metallurgy, leather tanning, and dyes manufacturing industries [4].…”