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Contact Information

Email: amybrown@umd.edu
Office Phone: 301-405-3913
Fax: 301-314-9290
Office Address: University of Maryland * Entomology Department * Plant Sciences Building * College Park, MD 20742
URL: http://www.pesticide.umd.edu

Teaching
  • HONR 229M -- Evaluating Health Risks from Environmental Toxicants.
  • ENTM 699 -- Pesticide Technology, Regulation, and Policy: Impacts on Health and Environment.

Graduate Program Affiliations
Research Interests
I have research, teaching, and extension responsibilities at the University. The common theme in these activities is identifying, testing, and implementing strategies to minimize exposure to pesticides. Pesticide policy, exposure patterns, and safety education are integrated in these programs.

My lab conducts translational research in pesticide toxicology, epidemiology, and policy.  Projects center on potential human health effects of pesticides and the policies that address these issues, particularly with regard to pesticide education. This research requires cooperation with pesticide applicators, pesticide control officials, and members of the health care community. Identifying and implementing successful approaches to exposure miniimization is the focus of several current and recent projects in my lab.

Extension Interests
My extension program has three components, and I serve as the state Coordinator for each.
  1. Increasing the health care community's understanding of pesticide-related illnesses. Through the Maryland Agromedicine Program (MAP) I have trained physicians, student nurses, graduate students in public health and epidemiology, sanitarians, public health workers, allied health care providers, and clinicians who treat migrant and seasonal laborers.
  2. Improving pesticide applicators' knowledge and skills to minimize potential effects on human health and the environment. Through the Maryland Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP), I develop educational materials and programming for pesticide applicators in all categories (agricultural, structural, public health, landscape, right-of-way, and many others). I also serve as a resource on pesticide safety education and policy for the state's network of Extension agents and specialists.
  3. Facilitating sound decision-making through relevant information exchange.I serve as a liaison between the University and state and federal officials, researchers, Extension educators, growers, consumers, health care providers and other stakeholders regarding sound information about pesticide use, policies, regulations, developing issues, and technologies. I also serve on several state and national pesticide-related task forces, workgroups, and advisory panels.

Education
  • Ph.D. 1993.  Marine-Estuarine-Environmental Sciences, Toxicology specialty, University of Maryland
  • M.S. 1980.  Entomology, Michigan State University
  • B.S. 1975.  Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida

Awards
  • Named a Fellow of the American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators, 2009.  This is the highest honor granted by AAPSE, the professional society for research, teaching, and education in this field of endeavor.
  • American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators Board of Directors' Award for Meritorious Service for "excellence in pesticide education and exceptional service to AAPSE," 2005
  • Recognized by the US Environmental Proection Agency (EPA) for "significant contributions to pesticide safety education to protect human health and the environment," 2003
  • USDA Secretary's Award for Environmental Protection, 1996
  • Partnership in Environmental Protection Medal, 1995

Appointments & Memberships 
  • American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators (AAPSE); Member, 1994-present; President, 2001-2003; Chair, Water Quality Committee, 1995; Liaison to U.S. EPA, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, USDA, and U.S. Department of Labor: National Pesticide Initiatives for Health Care Providers, 2001-2005; Liaison to EPA: Endangered Species, 2001; Liaison to EPA: Global Harmonization and Reclassification of Pesticides, 2001; Member, Executive Committee and Board of Directors, 1999–2005; Co-Chair, Task Force on Pesticide Safety Education Sustainability, 2004-2005
  • Governor's Pesticide Council (Maryland), Member, 1991-2003; Chair, 1993-2003; Chair, Pesticide Education Subcommittee, 1992-2003
  • North American Agromedicine Consortium (NAAC); Member, 1995-2009
  • Pesticides and National Strategies for Health Care Providers (EPA, USDA, HHS, DOL); Member representing pesticide safety educators, 1998-2005
  • Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee (EPA’s advisory group for pesticide programs); Member representing academia, 2004-2010.
  • Work Group on Comparative Safety Statements on Pesticide Product Labeling (EPA); Member representing pesticide safety educators, 2008 - present

Selected Publications
  • Brown, A.E., C. Ramsay & C. Foss. 2012. A training method pairing epidemiological research results with pesticide safe handling recommendations to improve pesticide applicators' personal safety practices. J. Pestic. Safety Educ. 14:23-32. [Article]
  • Brown, A.E. 2012.  A low-cost method of evaluating outreach-based changes in recommended practices. J. Pestic. Safety Educ. 14:13-22. [Article]
  • Matheny, A. L., J. Traunfeld, M. J. Raupp, and A. E. Brown. 2009. Gardeners and gardening trends in the United States. Outlooks on Pest Mgt. 20(2):1-6. [Article]
  • Brown, Amy E. 2008. Comparative safety statements or logos for pesticide labels. J. Pestic. Safety Educ. 10:7-12. [Article]
  • Brown, A. E. 2007. Web-based distribution of electronic labels: Implications for pesticide safety education. J. Pestic. Safety Educ. 9:20-24. [Article]
  • Brown, A.E. 2006. Federal Changes Under Consideration for Pesticide Applicator Certification and Training and Worker Protection. Pesticide Safety Educators' Briefs Series. Dept. of Entomology, Univ. of MD Coop. Ext., College Park, MD. 16 pp.
  • Curwin, B., A. Brown, and J. Acquavella. 2005. International Symposium on Agricultural Exposures and Cancer: Exposure Assessment Summary. Scand. J. Ind. Hlth.
  • Menon, K.S. and A.E. Brown. 2005. Exposure of children to deet and other topically applied repellents. Amer. J. Ind. Med. 47(1):91-97.  [Abstract]
  • Brown, A.E. 2005. Mode of action of structural pest control chemicals. Pesticide Information Leaflet series, No. 41, Univ. MD Coop. Ext. 8 pp.  [Leaflet]
  • Brown, A.E. 2004. Global harmonization of pesticide classification and labeling. Pesticide Educators' Briefs series, Dept. of Entomology, Univ. of MD Coop. Ext., College Park, MD. 5 pp.
  • Bernier, G., A. Lindell, J. Roberts, C. Burns, and A. Brown. 2003. National Pesticide Competency Guidelines for Medical & Nursing Education. U.S. EPA, Washington, DC, 55 pp.  [Booklet]
  • Brown, A.E. 2002. (Last rev.) Developing a Pesticide Exposure History. Pesticide Information Leaflet series, No. 25, Dept. of Entomology, Univ. of MD Coop. Ext., College Park, MD. 9 pp.  [Leaflet]
  • Whitford, F., A. Brown, L. Ballentine, B. Field, and A. Blessing. 2001. Children and poisoning. Seconds matter. PPP-53, Purdue Pesticide Programs, Purdue U., W. Lafayette, IN. 14 pp. [Booklet]
  • Brown, A.E. 2001. Pesticides: Usage and Exposure Patterns. Pesticide Information Leaflet series, No. 36, Dept. of Entomology, Univ. Of MD Coop. Ext., College Park, MD. 6 pp. [Leaflet]
  • Brown, A.E., M. Miller and M. Keifer. 2000. (Last rev.) Cholinesterase Monitoring -- A Guide for the Health Professional. Pesticide Information Leaflet Series, No. 30, Dept. Entomology, Univ. MD Coop. Ext., College Park, MD. 7 pp.  [Leaflet]
  • Brown, A.E. and J.Z. Schmidt. 2000. Response to Pre-notification of Pesticide Application in a Public School System. J. Pestic. Safety Educ. 2:1-14.  [Article]
  • Brown, A.E. 1999. Developing a pesticide policy for individuals with multiple chemical sensitivity: Considerations for institutions. Toxicol. Ind. Hlth. 15(3-4):432-437. [Abstract]