
M.P.H., Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, 2009
B.A., Environmental Studies, Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, 2006
Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology (DABT), American Board of Toxicology, Raleigh, North Carolina, 2022
Advanced Comprehensive Toxicology, American College of Toxicology, Reston, Virginia, 2022
Pulmonary Function Training Course # 091, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Atlanta, Georgia, 2017
Practitioner’s Guide to Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology, Toxicology Excellence for Risk Assessment (TERA), Cincinnati, Ohio, 2012
Member, Society of Toxicology, 2009-Present
Member, International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering, 2019–Present
President, New England Chapter, Society for Risk Analysis, 2015–2016
2022 Boston University School of Public Health Academic Merit Scholarship
2021 Recipient of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) President’s Award (Back to Work Safely Task Force)
2021 Recipient of the AIHA Social Responsibility Award (Back to Work Safely Task Force)
2009 Member of Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health (inducted May 2009)
2009 Best Overall Poster, Boston University School of Public Health Practicum Poster Session
2005 Member of Phi Beta Kappa Academic Honor Society (inducted May 2005)
Heather Lynch, MPH, DABT Principal, Toxicology, Health, and Ecological Science (617) 301-1566 Boston, MA hlynch@integral-corp.com
Ms. Lynch is a Principal and board-certified toxicologist with 15 years of experience in toxicology, epidemiology, and human health risk assessment. Her areas of expertise include systematic review and weight-of-evidence (WoE) analyses, regulatory and site-based risk assessment, and the toxicity of heavy metals and persistent compounds, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). She also has extensive project experience pertaining to EPA programs and regulations such as the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) and the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), including collating and analyzing consumer and occupational exposure data for submission to EPA. She previously worked as a contractor to several government agencies, managing large, chemical-specific risk assessments for the EPA National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) and conducting toxicity reviews of substances petitioned for inclusion in the USDA National Organic Program. Ms. Lynch has published numerous original peer-reviewed articles on a range of substances and health effects. She is also a governor-appointed member of the Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Act Science Advisory Board. She recently served on the ad hoc Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals to conduct independent peer review of the draft TSCA risk evaluations for two chemicals.



Systematic Review of the Scientific Evidence on Ethylene Oxide as a Human Carcinogen
Publication
February 14 2025
Inorganic Arsenic Human Health Toxicity Update: Key Changes and Implications
Press Release
February 04 2025


Litigation and Compliance Impacts of Proposed Ethylene Oxide Regulations Based on Flawed Science
White Paper
July 15 2024

EPA Denies Center for Biological Diversity's Petition to List Discarded PVC as a Hazardous Waste
Press Release
May 03 2024
Occupational Exposure Monitoring for Flame Retardant Chemicals under TSCA
Case Study
November 19 2024- PFAS
- Regulatory Support
- Systematic Review
- Community Exposure And Risk Analysis
- Toxicology
- Human Health Risk Assessment
PFAS
Regulatory Support
Systematic Review
Community Exposure And Risk Analysis
Toxicology
Human Health Risk Assessment
Gloekler, L., O. Jappen, J. Reynolds, S. Thornton, J. Sanders, A. Maier, and H. Lynch. 2025. Dermal wipe sampling method development and validation for semivolatile and nonvolatile flame-retardant compounds TBBPA and TPP for use in occupational exposure assessments. J. Occup. Environ. Hyg. 1–12. doi/epdf/10.1080/15459624.2025.2473464.
Henning, M., and H. Lynch. 2024. The U.S. releases a moonshot research and development strategy for PFAS. JDSupra. September 6. https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/the-u-s-releases-a-moonshot-research-4026777.
Kozal, J.S., H.N. Lynch, J. Klapacz, R.S. Schoeny, P.A. Jean, and A. Maier. 2023. Mode of action assessment for propylene dichloride as a human carcinogen. Chem. Biol. Interact. 110382. doi.org/10.1016/j.cbi.2023.110382.
Lauer, D.J., A.J. Russell, H.N. Lynch, W.J. Thompson, K.A. Mundt, and H. Checkoway. 2024. Triangulation of epidemiological evidence and risk of bias evaluation: A proposed framework and applied example using formaldehyde exposure and risk of myeloid leukemias. Glob. Epidemiol. 7:100143.
Lynch, H.N., L.H. Allen, C.M. Hamaji, and A. Maier. 2023. Strategies for refinement of occupational inhalation exposure evaluation in the EPA TSCA risk evaluation process. Toxicol. Ind. Health 39(3):169–182. doi.org/10.1177/07482337221145988.
Lynch, H.N., L.E. Gloekler, L.H. Allen, J.R. Maskrey, C. Bevan, and A. Maier. 2023. Analysis of dermal exposure assessment in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Toxic Substances Control Act risk evaluations of chemical manufacturing. Toxicol. Ind. Health 39(1):49–65. doi.org/10.1177/07482337221140946.
Lynch H.N., J.S. Kozal, M.J. Vincent, R.D. Freid, E.M. Beckett, S. Brown, C. Mathis, R. Schoeny, and A. Maier. 2023. Systematic review of the human health hazards of propylene dichloride. Regul. Toxicol. Pharm. 144:105468.
Lynch, H.N., D.J. Lauer, O.M. Leleck, R.D. Freid, J. Collins, K. Chen, W.J. Thompson, A.M. Ierardi, A. Urban, P. Boffetta, and K.A. Mundt. 2023. Systematic review of the association between talc and female reproductive tract cancers. Front. Toxicol. 5:1157761. doi: 10.3389/ftox.2023.1157761.
Lynch, H.N., E.M. Beckett, L.L. Dobyns, W.J. Thompson, H.R. Divis, E. Encina, S.H. Gaffney, and K.A. Mundt. 2022. Literature review of the relative importance of household, community and social, and workplace settings on the probability of COVID-19 infection. J. Pub. Health Emerg. doi: 10.21037/jphe-22-12.
Lynch, H.N, J.S. Kozal, A.J. Russell, W.J. Thompson, H.R. Divis, R.D. Freid, E.J. Calabrese, and K.A. Mundt. 2022. Systematic review of the scientific evidence on ethylene oxide as a human carcinogen. Chem. Bio. Interact. 364:110031. doi: 10.1016/j.cbi.2022.110031.
Lynch, H.N., D.J. Lauer, W.J. Thompson, O. Leleck, R.D. Freid, J. Collins, K. Chen, A.M. Ierardi, A.M. Urban, M.A. Cappello, P. Boffetta, and K.A. Mundt. 2022. Systematic review of the scientific evidence of the pulmonary carcinogenicity of talc. Front. Pub. Health 10:989111. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.989111.
Lynch, H.N., K.A. Mundt, D. Pallapies, and P.F. Ricci. 2022. Lost in the woods: Finding our way back to the scientific method in systematic review. Global Epidemiology 4. 100093.
Mundt, K.A., L.D. Dell, P. Boffetta, E.M. Beckett, H.N. Lynch, V.J. Desai, C.K. Lin, and W.J. Thompson. 2021. The importance of evaluating specific myeloid malignancies in epidemiological studies of environmental carcinogens. BMC Cancer 21(1):227.
Lynch, H., and J.E. Goodman. 2020. Target Sites: Skin. Chapter 61. In: Information Resources in Toxicology, Volume 1: Background, Resources, and Tools. P. Wexler, S. Gilbert, A. Mohapatra, et al. (eds). Fifth Edition. Academic Press.
Peterson, M.K., I. Mohar, T. Lam, T.J. Cook, A.M. Engel, and H. Lynch. 2019. Critical review of the evidence for a causal association between exposure to asbestos and esophageal cancer. Crit. Rev. Toxicol. 49(7):597–613.
Goodman, J.E., K. Zu, C.T. Loftus, H.N. Lynch, R.L. Prueitt, I. Mohar, S.P. Shubin, and S.N. Sax. 2018. Short-term ozone exposure and asthma severity: Weight-of-evidence analysis. Environ. Res. 160:391–397. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.201 7.10.018.
Lynch, H.N., R.L. Prueitt, and J.E. Goodman. 2018. Critique of the ACGIH 2016 derivation of toluene diisocyanate threshold limit values. Regul. Toxicol. Pharm. 97:189–196. doi: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2018.06.017.
Goodman, J.E., and H.N. Lynch. 2017. Improving the International Agency for Research on Cancer’s consideration of mechanistic evidence. Toxicol. Appl. Pharm. 319:39–46. doi: 10.1016/j.taap.2017.01.020.
Lynch, H.N., J.E. Goodman, and N.B. Beck. 2017. More clarity needed in the navigation guide systematic review framework (letter). Environ. Int. 102:74–75. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2017.01.011.
Lynch, H.N., K. Zu, E.M. Kennedy, T. Lam, X. Liu, D.M. Pizzurro, C.T. Loftus, and L.R. Rhomberg. 2017. Quantitative assessment of lung and bladder cancer risk and oral exposure to inorganic arsenic: Meta-regression analyses of epidemiological data. Environ. Int. 106:178–206. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2017.04.008.
Prueitt, R.L., H.N. Lynch, K. Zu, L. Shi, and J.E. Goodman. 2017. Dermal exposure to toluene diisocyanate and respiratory cancer risk. Environ. Int. 109:181–192. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2017.09.017.
Lynch, H.N., J.E. Goodman, J.A. Tabony, and L.R. Rhomberg. 2016. Systematic comparison of study quality criteria. Regul. Toxicol. Pharm. doi: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2015.12.017.
Lynch, H.N., C.T. Loftus, J.M. Cohen, L.E. Kerper, E.M. Kennedy, and J.E. Goodman. 2016. Weight-of-evidence evaluation of associations between particulate matter exposure and biomarkers of lung cancer. Regul. Toxicol. Pharm. 82:53–93. doi:10.1016/j.yrtph.2016.10.006.
Goodman, J.E., L.E. Kerper, K. Zu, H.N. Lynch, and G. Tao. 2015. Comment on a systematic review of the association between pleural plaques and changes in lung function by Kopylev et al. (2014). Occup. Environ. Med. 72(9):684-685. doi: 10.1136/oemed-2015-102894.
Goodman, J.E., R.L. Prueitt, S.N. Sax, D.M. Pizzurro, H.N. Lynch, K. Zu, and F.J. Venditti. 2015. Ozone exposure and systemic biomarkers: Evaluation of evidence for adverse cardiovascular health impacts. Crit. Rev. Toxicol. 45(5):412–452. doi: 10.3109/10408444.2015.1031371.
Sidhu, M.S., K.P. Desai, H.N. Lynch, L.R. Rhomberg, B.D. Beck, and F.J. Venditti. 2015. Mechanisms of action for arsenic in cardiovascular toxicity and implications for risk assessment. Toxicology 331:78–99. doi: 10.1016/j.tox.2015.02.008.
Goodman, J.E., R.L. Prueitt, S.N. Sax, H.N. Lynch, Ke. Zu, J.C. Lemay, J.M. King, and F.J. Venditti. 2014. Weight-of-evidence evaluation of short-term ozone exposure and cardiovascular effects. Crit. Rev. Toxicol. 44 (9):725–790. doi: 10.3109/10408444.2014.937854.
Kerper, L.E., H.N. Lynch, K. Zu, G. Tao, M.J. Utell, and J.E. Goodman. 2014. Systematic review of pleural plaques and lung function. Inhalation Toxicology 27(1):15-44. doi: 10.3109/08958378.2014.981349.
Lynch, H.N., G.I. Greenberg, M.C. Pollock, and A.S. Lewis. 2014. A comprehensive evaluation of inorganic arsenic in food and considerations for dietary intake analyses. Sci. Tot. Environ. 496:299–313. doi: 10.1016/j-scitotenv.2014.07.032.
Prueitt, R.L., H.N. Lynch, Ke. Zu, S.N. Sax, F.J. Venditti, and J.E. Goodman. 2014. Weight-of-evidence evaluation of long-term ozone exposure and cardiovascular effects. Crit. Rev. Toxicol. 44(9):791–822. doi: 10.3109/10408444.2014.937855.
Streamlining Systematic Review of Chemical Exposures: A Practitioner’s Perspective. GlobalChem—Global Chemicals Regulation Conference, Washington, DC. April 2023.
Unlikely to Harm or Cause for Alarm? Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), Heavy Metals, and the US Approach to Potentially Harmful Substances in Foods and Dietary Supplements. Food, Advertising, Labeling, and Litigation Conference: For the Food and Dietary Supplement Community, Washington, DC. September 2022.
Ethylene Oxide: Legal, Scientific, and Regulatory Aspects. 36th Environmental & Emerging Claim Manager Association (EECMA) Annual Conference (Virtual). April 2022.
PFAS: Navigating the Water Twenty Years Later. American Bar Association Toxic Torts and Environmental Law Conference. April 2022.
Integrating Industrial Hygiene Practice into TSCA Occupational Exposure Assessment. GlobalChem—Global Chemicals Regulation Conference, Washington, DC. April 2022.
PFAS 101, in: Is Long-Tail Litigation Wagging the Chronic “Hazard” Dog? Manufacturing and Consumer Products Law Institute, Washington, DC. March 2022.
Strategies and Tools for Conducting Systematic Reviews of Mechanistic Data to Support Chemical Assessments. Invited Discussant, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) Workshop. 2018.
Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology (DART) and Risk Assessment of Environmental Chemicals: Applications, Complexities, and Novel Approaches. Co-Chair and Presenter. 56th Annual Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting, Baltimore, Maryland. 2017.
Application of DART Risk Assessment: Protecting Workers from Chemical Exposures. 56th Annual Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting, Baltimore, Maryland. 2017.
Lynch, H.N. 2023. Mode-of-action analysis of thyroid hormone effects of perfluorobutane sulfonic acid. Presented at the Society of Toxicology 62nd Annual Meeting, Nashville, Tennessee. March 19–23.
Lynch, H.N., J. Kozal, A. Russell, R.D. Freid, W.J. Thompson, and K.A. Mundt. 2022. Hybrid method for systematic review: Case study with ethylene oxide. Presented at the Society of Toxicology 61st Annual Meeting, San Diego, California. March 27–31.
Lynch, H.N., R.L. Pruiett, I. Mohar, and J.E. 2018. Goodman critical evaluation of thresholds for respiratory effects of toluene diisocyanate. Presented at the Society of Toxicology 57th Annual Meeting, San Antonio, Texas. March 14–18.
Lynch, H.N., J.E. Goodman, and Z. Yan. 2017. Risk assessment calls for standard guidelines for exposure characterization in epidemiology studies. Presented at the Society of Toxicology 56th Annual Meeting, Baltimore, Maryland. March 12–16.
Lynch, H.N., L.E. Kerper, M. Seeley and B.D. Beck. 2016. Dietary intake of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and implications for drinking water limits. Presented at the Society of Toxicology 55th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana. March 13–17.
Lynch, H., M. Tumpney, and B. Beck 2015. Exposure measurement error and the impact of nutrition in studies of inorganic arsenic and cardiovascular endpoints. Presented at the Society of Toxicology 54th Annual Meeting, San Diego, California. March 22–26.
Lynch, H.N., G.I. Greenberg, M.C. Pollock, and A.S. Lewis. 2014. A comprehensive evaluation of inorganic arsenic in food and considerations for dietary intake analyses. Society for Risk Analysis Annual Meeting, Denver, Colorado. December 7–10.
Lynch, H., M. Seeley, and B. Beck. 2014. A weight-of-evidence evaluation of the association between lead exposure and autism spectrum disorders. Society of Toxicology 53rd Annual Meeting, Phoenix, Arizona. March 23–27.
Lynch, H., S. Sax, R. Pruiett, and J. Goodman. 2013. Weight-of-evidence evaluation of the cardiovascular effects of ozone exposure. Society for Epidemiologic Research Annual Meeting, Boston, Massachusetts. June 18–21.