NEWS & EVENTS
In Memoriam – Bill Perez
It is with sadness that we announce the passing of our Chief Scientist, William Perez, Ph.D., PMP. this past week after a battle with cancer. Bill was an outstanding human factors scientist who has had experiences initially in the defense industry and for over 30 years, as an expert in the transportation industry. Read More
Investigating PFAS Contamination
Dr. Sweta Ojha, Staff Scientist of Environmental and Analytical Chemistry in toXcel’s Life Sciences group, along with a team of fellow co-authors in the University of Kentucky Department of Civil Engineering and Superfund Research Center, as well as the University of Kentucky Department of Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health, recently published their work on “A Geospatial and Binomial Logistic Regression Model to Prioritize Sampling for Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances (PFAS) in Public Water Systems” (Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, 04 Apr, 2022). The study results provided valuable guidance on methods to: (1) identify and direct attention toward potential PFAS hot spots in drinking water sources, (2) Prioritize sampling locations for detection of PFAS in public water systems and (3) provide insights regarding the potential PFAS sources that contaminate groundwater and surface water.
Environmental Science & Engineering News Flash!
We’re pleased to welcome Dr. Sweta Ojha to our life sciences team as Staff Scientist for Environmental and Analytical Chemistry, located at our Gainesville, VA headquarters. Sweta holds a PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of Kentucky and a Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology. Her primary focus has been on monitoring and risk assessment of environmental contaminants including heavy metals, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and other potential chemical hazards.
toXcel Produces Report for GHSA – America’s Rural Roads: Beautiful and Deadly
A new report from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), funded by State Farm®, explores the extent of the rural road safety problem and dives into the data to determine who dies in these crashes and what risky driving behaviors are key contributors. This new resource also offers nearly three dozen recommendations for State Highway Safety Offices (SHSOs) and their partners to help make rural roads safer. Led by Paula Raymond and under contract to GHSA, toXcel conducted the research, performed the analysis, and wrote the report. Read the full report here.
toXcel Joins the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America)
toXcel is proud to be a part of the ITS America community supporting a safer, smarter, greener, and more equitable transportation system for all users. Read the press release here.
EPA Announces Monkeypox Eligibility for Emerging Viral Pathogen Labeling
You’ve seen it in the news – Monkeypox is circulating and has made its way into the United States in a handful of cases. The WHO and CDC are monitoring this virus. On May 23, 2022, EPA activated its Emerging Viral Pathogen policy to allow qualified registrants to make claims against Monkeypox and inform customers about disinfection of this virus. Monkeypox is a Tier I, enveloped virus. EPA has recently published their List Q to help inform customers about which products are effective against Monkeypox. As a registrant, if your product qualified for List N for COVID-19 claims, also a Tier I enveloped virus, you would qualify for List Q. Please contact us for information on how and what claims you can make for your product.
toXcel Attends the Recent HCPA Impact2022 Mid-Year Meeting in Washington, DC
Nelson Cornwell was present at the HCPA mid-year meeting in Washington, DC and attended expert-led sessions on issues that impact our client’s household and commercial products and registrations. Connie Welch-Dujardin and Nicole Perkinson (toXcel’s VP and Regulatory Affairs Manager, respectively) attended the sessions remotely. Emerging trends and regulatory issues were discussed, including disruptions caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We are always keeping up to date on policies that may impact our clients and their product registrations.
Paula Raymond Presents at Drug-Impaired Driving Toxicology Workshop at the 2022 Lifesavers Conference
Paula Raymond recently served on a panel during the 2022 Lifesavers National Conference on Highway Safety Priorities for a workshop entitled, “One Drug, Two Drugs…Red Drugs, Blue Drugs: Testing & Toxicology Challenges.” Paula presented about upcoming state drug-impaired driving toxicology meetings that toXcel will be planning and facilitating under contract to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
toXcel awarded GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) for Professional Services
The GSA MAS Professional Services Category offers federal, state, and local governments innovative solutions to their professional services needs. Learn more about toXcel’s GSA MAS Professional Services contract and how we can use this contract to meet customers’ needs.
Gaby Cross Serves on Women and Minority Leaders Panel at the 2022 Southern District ITE Student Leadership Summit
Gaby Cross recently participated in a Women and Minority Leaders Panel at the 2022 Southern District Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Student Leadership Summit in Blacksburg, VA. The Summit is a student-led conference to promote leadership and professional development for transportation engineering students through technical and professional presentations hosted by invited industry speakers and extensive student-industry networking. Virginia Tech hosted the Summit in collaboration with the University of Virginia.
Bryan Katz and Pamela Kryschtal involved with VDOT Study on Driver Response to Dynamic Message Sign Safety Campaign Messages
Bryan Katz and Pamela Kryschtal were part of a Virginia Transportation Research Council Team that conducted a study for the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to examine the effectiveness of non-traditional safety messages posted to dynamic message signs on roadways. These types of messages, such as, “Be on Santa’s Nice List – Drive Politely” and “Don’t be Tricked – DUIs are no Treat” are meant to catch drivers’ attention. The study found that the signs are effective. Messages about distracted driving and driving without a seat belt, messages meant to provoke a negative emotion, and messages using statistics are perceived to most likely change driver behavior. Read the final report and an NPR article about the study.
Prenatal developmental toxicity studies on fumes from oxidised asphalt (OA)
Chris McAlinden co-authored an article in the June 2021 issue of Reproductive Toxicology, studying the effects of fumes from oxidised asphalt on fetal development. Oxidised asphalt is manufactured in large quantities and mainly applied in water proofing, sealants, joint fillings, roofing applications and roofing products, such as shingles. The aim of this study was to generate hazard data, in particular prenatal developmental toxicity data, required by the European REACH legislation for substances manufactured or imported in quantities greater than 100 tons/year, that could be subsequently used for risk assessment and securing safe use of the substance which is the key focus of REACH.
toXcel Included on Team Granted Eligibility for Federal Research Projects Aimed at Improving Emerging Vehicle Electronics Technologies
toXcel is proud to be part of a team led by the Transportation Research Center Inc. (TRC Inc.) that has been granted eligibility by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to compete for research projects aimed at reducing crashes by evaluating how vehicle electronic subsystems can affect vehicle safety risk and what countermeasures can minimize that risk. Read more about this important work.