2024 AIHA BC Yukon AGM Feature Speaker
Marissa Baker, PhD
Presentation Topic
“An Industrial Hygiene Assessment of fentanyl and methamphetamine on public transit in the Pacific Northwest, USA”
Presentation Brief Description
Prompted by transit employee concerns, University of Washington (Seattle) researchers undertook an exposure assessment for fentanyl and methamphetamine on transit vehicles in the Pacific Northwest (USA). Researchers collected and air surface samples from a total of 11 buses and 19 train cars. In this talk, Dr. Baker will describe the methods and findings from this study, recommendations that were made to participating transit agencies, and outline challenges and needs for ongoing work in this space.
Biography
Marissa Baker, PhD is an Assistant Professor of occupational health in the University of Washington School of Public Health in Seattle, WA. Trained as an industrial hygienist, Dr. Baker has expertise in workplace exposure assessment, using techniques including air and surface sampling, biomonitoring, employee surveys, and exposure modeling. Dr. Baker led a novel exposure assessment in the Pacific Northwest to characterize airborne and surface concentrations of fentanyl and methamphetamine in trains and buses, working with five transit agencies.