Department of Health

The Environmental Health Program

Charles V. Shorten Ph.D, P.E.
209 Sturzebecker Health Sciences Center
West Chester, PA 19383
610-436-2825


Maura J. Sheehan, Sc.D., CIH

Maura Sheehan

Program: Environmental Health
319 Sturzebecker Health Sciences Center
Phone: (610) 436-2623
Fax: (610) 436-2860
E-mail address: msheehan@wcupa.edu

Educational background:

  • B.S., Biology, 1972, Lowell Technological Institute, Lowell, MA
  • M.S., Environmental Studies, 1976, University of Lowell, Lowell, MA
  • Sc.D., Industrial Hygiene, 1981, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

Certifications:

  • Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH, 1984), American Board of Industrial Hygiene

Areas of Professional Interest:

  • Industrial Hygiene
  • Aerosol Science
  • Toxicology

Areas of Research:

  • Measurement of Metalworking Fluid Aerosols in the workplace
  • Aerosol generation methods
  • Evaluation of controls used for complex aerosols such as metalworking mists and composite dusts

Biographical Sketch:

Dr. Sheehan joined West Chester University's Health Department in 1980. She enjoys the integrated approach needed to solve environmental problems. Dr. Sheehan has combined her interest in biology and engineering in the field of industrial hygiene. Industrial hygienists are health professionals who protect workers from disease agents by using a variety of hazard control strategies.

Dr. Sheehan's research involves the generation, measurement and control of workplace aerosols. Aerosols are airborne particles or droplets, and many aerosols cause significant diseases such as lung cancer, silicosis, tuberculosis, and asthma. She uses various test methods of generating aerosols for toxicology studies. Dr. Sheehan works with students and colleagues in the automobile and aerospace industries, evaluating control methods for metalworking fluid mists and "high tech" composite dusts. Both of these very different aerosols are generated by machining, a common industrial process.

By teaching courses in industrial hygiene, toxicology and air quality, Dr. Sheehan enjoys the opportunity to integrate my education and research to help students learn. In her classes, students focus on solving problems, and for course projects, students are linked with mentors practicing in the field. These mentors explain their specific problem solving experiences, and students share this information in class presentations. Students teach each other, integrating their own experiences into the learning process.