Transforming EPA Science to Meet Today's and Tomorrow's Challenges (2023)

Below is the uncorrected machine-read text of this chapter, intended to provide our own search engines and external engines with highly rich, chapter-representative searchable text of each book. Because it is UNCORRECTED material, please consider the following text as a useful but insufficient proxy for the authoritative book pages.

Transforming EPA Science to Meet Today’s and Tomorrow’s Challenges Committee on Anticipatory Research for EPA’s Research and Development Enterprise to Inform Future Environmental Protection: The Road Ahead Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology Water Science and Technology Board Division on Earth and Life Studies Cultural, Ethical, Social, and Environmental Responsibility in Engineering Program National Academy of Engineering Consensus Study Report PREPUBLICATION COPY—Uncorrected Proofs 

NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS 500 Fifth Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 This activity was supported by Contract No. 68HERC19D0011 between the National Academy of Sciences and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of any organization or agency that provided support for the project. International Standard Book Number-13: 978-0-309-XXXXX-X International Standard Book Number-10: 0-309-XXXXX-X Digital Object Identifier: https://doi.org/10.17226/26602 This publication is available from the National Academies Press, 500 Fifth Street, NW, Keck 360, Washington, DC 20001; (800) 624-6242 or (202) 334-3313; http://www.nap.edu. Copyright 2023 by the National Academy of Sciences. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and National Academies Press and the graphical logos for each are all trademarks of the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. Suggested citation: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2023. Transforming EPA Science to Meet Today’s and Tomorrow’s Challenges. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/26602. ii Prepublication—subject to further editorial revisions 

The National Academy of Sciences was established in 1863 by an Act of Congress, signed by President Lincoln, as a private, nongovernmental institution to advise the nation on issues related to science and technology. Members are elected by their peers for outstanding contributions to research. Dr. Marcia McNutt is president. The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964 under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences to bring the practices of engineering to advising the nation. Members are elected by their peers for extraordinary contributions to engineering. Dr. John L. Anderson is president. The National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine) was established in 1970 under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences to advise the nation on medical and health issues. Members are elected by their peers for distinguished contributions to medicine and health. Dr. Victor J. Dzau is president. The three Academies work together as the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation and conduct other activities to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions. The National Academies also encourage education and research, recognize outstanding contributions to knowledge, and increase public understanding in matters of science, engineering, and medicine. Learn more about the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine at www.nationalacademies.org. iii Prepublication—subject to further editorial revisions 

Consensus Study Reports published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine document the evidence-based consensus on the study’s statement of task by an authoring committee of experts. Reports typically include findings, conclusions, and recommendations based on information gathered by the committee and the committee’s deliberations. Each report has been subjected to a rigorous and independent peer-review process and it represents the position of the National Academies on the statement of task. Proceedings published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine chronicle the presentations and discussions at a workshop, symposium, or other event convened by the National Academies. The statements and opinions contained in proceedings are those of the participants and are not endorsed by other participants, the planning committee, or the National Academies. Rapid Expert Consultations published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine are authored by subject-matter experts on narrowly focused topics that can be supported by a body of evidence. The discussions contained in rapid expert consultations are considered those of the authors and do not contain policy recommendations. Rapid expert consultations are reviewed by the institution before release. For information about other products and activities of the National Academies, please visit www.nationalacademies.org/about/whatwedo. iv Prepublication—subject to further editorial revisions 

COMMITTEE ON ANTICIPATORY RESEARCH FOR EPA’S RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ENTERPRISE TO INFORM FUTURE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION: THE ROAD AHEAD Members Daniel S. Greenbaum (Chair), Health Effects Institute, Boston, MA Shahzeen Z. Attari, Indiana University, Bloomington Thomas A. Burke, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD G. Allen Burton, Jr., University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Herek L. Clack, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Otakuye Conroy-Ben, Arizona State University, Tempe Victor G. Corces, Emory University, Atlanta, GA George P. Daston, Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, OH Frank W. Davis, University of California, Santa Barbara Edan T. Dionne, IBM, Armonk, NY Todd Kuiken, North Carolina State University, Raleigh (until October 2021) Rachel Morello-Frosch, University of California, Berkeley Ana Navas-Acien, Columbia University, New York, NY Paula J. Olsiewski, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, Baltimore, MD ManishKumar B. Shrivastava, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA Terry F. Yosie, Sustainability Advisor, Washington, DC Hao Zhu, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ Staff Raymond Wassel, Scholar and Responsible Staff Officer Clifford S. Duke, Director, Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology David Butler, National Academy of Engineering Hollomon Scholar Stephanie Johnson, Senior Program Officer (until February 2022) Natalie Armstrong, Associate Program Officer (from June 2022) Kaley Beins, Associate Program Officer (from September 2020 to July 2022) Vanessa Constant, Associate Program Officer (from October 2021 to October 2022) Thomasina Lyles, Senior Program Assistant (from July 2021) Cesar Raymund Segovia, Program Assistant (from November 2020 to April 2021) Sponsor U.S. Environmental Protection Agency v Prepublication—subject to further editorial revisions 

BOARD ON ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND TOXICOLOGY Members Frank W. Davis (Chair), University of California, Santa Barbara Dana Boyd Barr, Emory University, Atlanta, GA Ann M. Bartuska, U.S. Department of Agriculture (retired), Washington, DC Germaine M. Buck Louis, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA Francesca Dominici, Harvard University, Boston, MA R. Jeffrey Lewis, ExxonMobil Biomedical Sciences, Inc., Annandale, NJ Marie Lynn Miranda, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN Reza J. Rasoulpour, Corteva Agriscience, Indianapolis, IN Joshua Tewksbury, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panamá Sacoby M. Wilson, University of Maryland, College Park Tracey Jean Woodruff, University of California, San Francisco Staff Clifford S. Duke, Director Raymond Wassel, Scholar Kathryn Guyton, Senior Program Officer Natalie Armstrong, Associate Program Officer Anthony DePinto, Associate Program Officer Laura Llanos, Finance Business Partner Leslie Beauchamp, Senior Program Assistant Thomasina Lyles, Senior Program Assistant Katherine Kane, Program Assistant vi Prepublication—subject to further editorial revisions 

Reviewers This Consensus Study Report was reviewed in draft form by individuals chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise. The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in making each published report as sound as possible and to ensure that it meets the institutional standards for quality, objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study charge. The review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberative process. We thank the following individuals for their review of this report: Andrea Baccarelli, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University Steven P. Bradbury, Iowa State University Antonio J. Busalacchi, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research Ellison Carter, Colorado State University James Crooks, Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, National Jewish Health Penny Fenner-Crisp, Independent Consultant Gabriel Filippelli, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis School of Science James N. Galloway, University of Virginia Kurunthachalam Kannan, Grossman School of Medicine, New York University Robert Kavlock, Kavlock Consulting LLC Christine Kirchhoff, Penn State University Wayne Landis, Western Washington University Jay R. Lund, University of California, Davis Kristen Malecki, University of Illinois Chicago Sparkle Malone, Yale School of the Environment Prakash S. Nagarkatti, University of South Carolina Manuel Pastor, University of Southern California J. Timmons Roberts, Brown University John Volckens, Colorado State University Although the reviewers listed above provided many constructive comments and suggestions, they were not asked to endorse the conclusions or recommendations of this report nor did they see the final draft before its release. The review of this report was overseen by Charles N. Haas, Drexel University, and David C. Dorman, North Carolina State University. They were responsible for making certain that an independent examination of this report was carried out in accordance with the standards of the National Academies and that all review comments were carefully considered. Responsibility for the final content rests entirely with the authoring committee and the National Academies. vii Prepublication—subject to further editorial revisions 

Contents ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................................................................ xiii SUMMARY ......................................................................................................................................................... 1 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................... 12 Committee’s Statement of Task, 12 Organization of the Report, 13 Reference, 14 2 ORD’S APPROACH TO PROVIDING FORWARD-LOOKING SCIENCE ................................... 15 Overview of ORD and Its Functions, 15 ORD’s Strategic Planning, 19 ORD Budgetary Trends, 20 Evolution of ORD’s Role Within a Regulatory Agency, 22 ORD Capacity and Constraints for Incorporating New and Emerging Advances, 24 Messages of Previous Advisory Reports, 27 Chapter Summary, 28 References, 29 3 A ONE ENVIRONMENT–ONE HEALTH APPROACH FOR ORD................................................ 30 Addressing Major Challenges, 30 Framework for Pursuing Anticipatory Science: Applying Systems Thinking to One Environment–One Health, 39 Advancing Systems Thinking—The Importance of Integrating Social and Behavioral Sciences, 44 An Essential First Step Toward Applying Systems Thinking: Reimagining ORD Strategic Planning, 45 Findings and Recommendations, 48 References, 50 4 STRENGTHENING THE SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL CAPABILITIES OF THE EPA SCIENTIFIC ENTERPRISE ......................................................................................... 60 Creating a Culture of Innovation Within ORD, 60 Collaborations, 63 Communications and Outreach, 65 Enhanced Integration of Scientific and Technological Advances into ORD, 67 Findings and Recommendations, 69 References, 72 5 ACQUIRING AND APPLYING EMERGING TOOLS AND METHODS ....................................... 74 Measurements to Inform Exposure and Risk Assessments, 75 Biotechnology, 86 Participatory Research Approaches, 88 Data Science and Machine Learning, 90 Summary of the Chapter, 94 References, 95 6 A PATH FORWARD FOR SCIENCE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ...................... 105 ix Prepublication—subject to further editorial revisions 

Contents APPENDIXES A COMMITTEE MEMBER BIOSKETCHES ...................................................................................... 108 B OPEN SESSION AGENDAS ................................................................................................................ 114 C MONITORING FOR EXPOSURE ...................................................................................................... 118 D BIOTECHNOLOGY ............................................................................................................................. 131 E PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH ........................................................................................................ 137 F DATA SCIENCE AND MACHINE LEARNING............................................................................... 141 BOXES, FIGURES, AND TABLES BOXES S-1 Examples of Key Challenges Associated with Environmental Protection, 2 S-2 Committee Recommendations for ORD Collaborations, 5 1-1 Statement of Task, 12 2-1 ORD National Research Programs and Centers, 16 2-2 Computational Toxicology at EPA, 25 2-3 Barriers to Incorporating New Scientific Advances, 26 3-1 Harmful Algal Blooms in the Indian River Lagoon Estuary, 32 5-1 Examples of Big Datasets, 90 5-2 Exposure to Low Concentrations of Airborne Particulate Matter, 91 C-1 Environmental DNA, 128 FIGURES S-1 Committee’s framework for a One Environment–One Health approach, 3 2-1 Annual trend in overall approved budget for ORD from 2003 to 2022 in current-year dollars (unadjusted for inflation) and dollar values adjusted for inflation (2003 USD), 21 2-2 Annual trend from 2003 to 2022 in ORD-enacted budget allocated for ORD’s Science to Achieve Results (STAR) research grants program in current-year dollars (unadjusted for inflation) and dollar values adjusted for inflation (2003 USD), 21 2-3 Annual trend in the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) employees at ORD, 22 3-1 Triple jeopardy of environmental and social “riskscapes,” 36 3-2 One Environment–One Health, 40 3-3 Source to exposure to effects continuum, 41 3-4 Nested systems from the molecular level to the ecosystem, 42 3-5 Committee’s framework for a One Environment–One Health approach, 43 E-1 Continuum of community engagement in research, 138 x Prepublication—subject to further editorial revisions 

Contents F-1 Schematic of a grand vision for developing an umbrella of machine learning approaches for integrating across multi-dimensional, multi-observational, and multi-process modeling frameworks, 143 TABLES 2-1 Selected ORD Research Functions, 18 4-1 Several EPA Innovation Programs Involving ORD, 61 D-1 Issues Identified Through a Bioengineering Horizon Scan in 2020, 134 xi Prepublication—subject to further editorial revisions 

Acronyms and Abbreviations AA Assistant Administrator ABI Advanced Baseline Imager AOP adverse outcome pathway ARPA-H Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health BOSC EPA’s Board of Scientific Counselors CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CMAQ Community Multiscale Air Quality system DARPA Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency ddPCR droplet digital polymerase chain reaction DNA deoxyribonucleic Acid DoD U.S. Department of Defense DOE U.S. Department of Energy ENTACT EPA’s Non-Targeted Analysis Collaborative Trial EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ESI electrospray ionization FDA U.S. Food and Drug Administration FFY federal fiscal year FTE full-time equivalent FY fiscal year GC gas chromatography GeoCarb Geostationary Carbon Observatory GHG greenhouse gas GMO genetically modified organism GOES-R Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite HAB harmful algal bloom HEI Health Effects Institute HTS high-throughput screening IAQ indoor air quality JOGL Just One Giant Lab LC liquid chromatography lidar light detection and ranging MALDI matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization MIE molecular initiating event MISR Multi-angle Imaging Spectro Radiometer xiii Prepublication—subject to further editorial revisions 

Acronyms and Abbreviations NAM New Approach Method NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration NCCT National Center for Computational Toxicology NGS next-generation sequencing NIEHS National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences NIH National Institutes of Health NLCD National Land Cover Database NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NRC National Research Council NSF National Science Foundation NTA nontargeted analysis OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OMI Ozone Monitoring Instrument ORD EPA’s Office of Research and Development PAH polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon PCR polymerase chain reaction PFAS per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances PM2.5 particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5-µm and smaller PNNL Pacific Northwest National Laboratory QA quality assurance QC quality control QSAR quantitative structure–activity relationship RNA ribonucleic acid rRNA ribosomal ribonucleic acid SAB Science Advisory Board SBG Surface Biology and Geology SDWA Safe Drinking Water Act SDWIS Safe Drinking Water Information System STAR Science to Achieve Results program StRAP Strategic Research Action Plan STEM science, technology, engineering, and mathematics SYR3 Third Six-Year Review TEMPO Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution TIR thermal infrared USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture USGS U.S. Geological Survey VIIRS Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite VOC volatile organic compound VSWIR visible and shortwave infrared xiv Prepublication—subject to further editorial revisions