Published June 04, 2015
John Herrock of the University of Louisiana at Monroe’s Toxicology Department cut
the ribbon on ULM’s newest multi-purpose facility—the Toxicology Asbestos Analysis
Laboratory. The lab will serve as a teaching facility, a research lab, and a community
resource.
Equipment needed to run the lab was purchased with a donation from local businessman
Dean Blackett, a ULM donor and supporter of both the fishing and water ski teams.
“I realized that Mr. Blackett and the ULM administration had confidence in us to get
this done the right way, and that was important to me,” said Dr. Kevin Baer, head
of ULM toxicology. “Through a generous donation from Mr. Blackett, we were able to
purchase a state-of-the-art polarized light microscope, supplies, equipment, and cover
costs for training. I appreciate Mr. Blackett’s commitment to environmental education.”
The lab, located in Sugar Hall, is designed specifically for testing samples to evaluate
workplace exposures, and for identifying microorganisms commonly detected in air,
fluids, and bulk samples during indoor air quality studies.
The lab is staffed with three ULM toxicology faculty. Toxicology instructors John
Herrock and Shannon Banks, will join Baer in the lab. Baer will serve as the quality
assurance officer and Herrock will serve as lab director.
Toxicology faculty have experience in industrial hygiene and occupational health and
safety, air monitoring, environmental pollution, and expertise in a wide range of
toxicological issues.
“We hope that this is just the beginning for the lab. We are looking toward adding
mold analysis using much of the same equipment. We’d like to think this is just the
first step in building this lab,” said Herrock.
According to Herrock, the lab will provide local and regional industry, environmental
consulting companies, construction/demolition/remodeling companies, and homeowners
with a local option for analyzing building materials.
Dr. Eric Pani, vice president for Academic Affairs, expanded on three of the most
important uses for the new lab.
“This lab will contribute to all three aspects of the university,” he said. "First,
it’s available for our students to use during their coursework—there’s nothing like
having hands-on experience to contribute to our students’ educational needs. It also
adds to the research component, which is helpful for both our students and our faculty;
and third, is the service component, which helps us work with the community.”
Baer hopes to educate his students and the community about asbestos and its properties.
“Asbestos is the trade name for a group of six naturally occurring minerals that have
very unique set of physical properties,” he said. “It is fire proof, acid resistant,
withstands friction and pressure, has good thermal and electrical insulating properties,
and has high tinsel strength.”
As a known human carcinogen, asbestos detection is important, but Baer also teaches
caution.
“Improper removal of asbestos containing materials may result in an exposure to workers
and contamination to the work area. It is known to cause the development of mesothelioma
tumors, lung and other cancers, so ideally, it is a good practice not to disturb early-1980s
or older building materials if you are not certain that it is ‘asbestos-free’.”
The faculty hope to build a rapport with the construction community and local homeowners
to be able to provide a possible life-saving service, and to give students an additional
research and laboratory experience.
“We felt like this was a step toward getting air quality, soil, and water testing
on student resumes to carry them toward a more advanced career path,” said Blackett.
The laboratory has gained American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) proficiency
in bulk asbestos analysis by polarized light microscopy (EPA Method 600). The faculty
are now seeking proficiency in mold analysis.
ULM currently offers the only undergraduate toxicology program in the southeastern
United States.
For more information about the lab, or to submit samples, call 318-342-1859 or 318-342-1698.
