The ELSC has produced several toolkits, which can be found on the Environmental Health Resources page:
- Citizen Science Quality Assurance
- Environmental Health Laboratory Communications
- Environmental Health Laboratory Ethics
Environmental Laboratory Science Committee
The Environmental Laboratory Science Committee (ELSC) works to expand the successes and address the challenges of state, territorial and local laboratories testing environmental substances found in the natural and built environment.
Questions?
Contact us: [email protected]
Our Purpose
About the Committee
Committee Charge
The ELSC works on issues related to testing the natural and built environment, including water, soil, air, biota, consumer products and other matrices by:
- Advising APHL about ways to drive government policy
- Providing technical assistance to environmental laboratories and programs
- Addressing emerging environmental issues and enhancing public awareness of the value of environmental laboratories.
Priorities
- Address Technology and Instrumentation Challenges
- Address Outdated Methods and Explore Updating or Bringing on New Methods
- Explore Emerging Environmental Laboratory Topics
Our Work
Projects and Work Products
Current Projects
The ELSC is currently:
- Developing webinars and other resources to help laboratories determine whether and how they would test for contaminants of emerging concern, such as 6PPD-quinone and other tire treadwear products.
- Developing a guidance document with the APHL Academic Partnerships Team to help laboratories enhance their work through academic partner connections.
- Updating the APHL Healthiest Lab Award application to include best currently available approaches for laboratories to integrate environmentally sustainable practices into their laboratory.
Recently Completed Work Products
The Committee was instrumental in producing the following materials:
Our Team
Meet the Committee
The ELSC Committee is comprised of environmental laboratory scientists from across the country.
The Environmental Laboratory Science Committee has members representing state, local and institutional APHL member laboratories. (Committee members listed are from the 2025-2026 term. This list will soon be updated with the committee members serving the 2026-2027 term.)
Lori Pillsbury
Committee Chair | Oregon Department of Environmental Quality Laboratory
Keri Fisher, MLS (ASCP)CM, ASQ CQPA, LSSGB
Committee Vice-chair | Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Bureau of Laboratories
Carrie Crabtree, PhD
Georgia Department of Agriculture
Kristin Dunaway
Tennessee Department of Health Division of Laboratory Services
Nydea Espinoza
New Mexico Department of Health Scientific Laboratory
Pam Higgins, PhD
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Laboratory
Susan Jackson
South Carolina Bureau of Regional & Laboratory Services
Anita Keese
Texas Department of State Health Services Laboratory
Mui Koltunov, PhD
California Department of Toxic Substances Control Laboratory
Shelley Lankford
Washington State Department of Health Public Health Laboratories, Division of Disease Control & Health Services
Dustin May, PhD
State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa
Scott Miles
Louisiana Department of Public Health Bureau of Laboratory Services
Andrew Steffens, PhD
New Jersey Department of Health Environmental and Chemical Laboratory Services
Sin Urban, PhD
Maryland Department of Health Laboratories Administration
Eric Vaughn, DrPH, MPH
DC Department of Forensic Sciences - Public Health Laboratory
Sarah Wright, MS
Committee Liaison
Nikita Kheni, MSPH
Committee Liaison