Landmark epidemiologic study of chromate production workers. The study took advantage of an extensive exposure data base that was concurrent with employment history at the facility. Smoking information was available for over 90% of the cohort, which is rare for historical cohorts. The study is considered one of the most detailed occupational studies ever conducted and is one of the critical studies used by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for its proposed Permissible Exposure Limit for chromium. At the invitation of OSHA, a Sciences' expert testified at the public hearings on the proposed PEL. The study resulted in two publications in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine (abstracts) and one in Risk Analysis (abstract) as well as numerous presentations in scientific fora.

Evaluation of epidemiologic studies of occupational and environmental exposures. Sciences has evaluated the vast epidemiologic literature on asbestos, examining risks of mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis by occupational and residential exposure, and the company maintains a large repository of articles on the subject. The relationship of occupation to risk has been further examined by the relative carcinogenic potency of fiber types, dimension and quantity of exposure. Additional epidemiologic evaluations of health effects have included solvents, agricultural waste, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, mercury, arsenic, and chromium exposures.

Analysis of birth defects data on a pharmaceutical. Sciences analyzed the data regarding claims of a birth defect resulting from use of a pharmaceutical. The analysis was prepared for presentation at an FDA panel hearing. The analyses were subsequently described in a letter to the journal where the issues were first raised. In the published letter, the epidemiologic limitations of the original paper were described, and proper epidemiologic approaches were recommended.

Meta-Analysis of Toxicological Data. Many chemicals, particularly those that have been in production for long periods of time, have multiple toxicological studies for the same endpoints. The variance in results from these studies may be the result of random variability in responses. A more accurate estimate of the dose-response can be obtained by considering all of the available data. Meta-analysis can be used to provide the most statistically accurate dose-response from multiple studies. Sciences recently conducted a meta-analysis of toxicity data for the insecticide dimethoate for the producer of the chemical. Sciences analyzed the available data and determined that the most sensitive endpoint for risk assessment was cholinesterase inhibition and that the dose-response was highly dependent on the route of exposure. This analysis was presented to EPA’s FIFRA Scientific Advisory Panel and the Panel accepted the conclusion that dimethoate is appropriately regulated by using cholinesterase inhibition as the most sensitive endpoint.