DR. CENA'S RESEARCH
My research has focused primarily on the following three aspects of Environmental Health:
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH
I am an aerosol scientist and industrial hygienist. I have extensive experience in control and assessment of occupational hazards associated with exposures to aerosols and nanoparticles. Prior to joining WCU, I have worked for 5 years for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). I have led the CDC's Infection Prevention and Control team in West Africa during the Ebola outbreak. I research workplace exposures, nanotechnology, particle characterization and exposure assessment.
TOXICOLOGY
I have a passion for Toxicology and I love learning about the human body, how it works and how we can prevent or lower exposure to environmental pollutants. These exposures introduce our body to chemicals that exploit its defense mechanisms and cause disease. I have published several articles on my research and collaborations with researchers from the CDC in the field of toxicology and the health effects associated with exposure to nanoparticles. It have presented my work at national and international conferences.
SUSTAINABILITY
As I have pondered about my ecological and carbon footprints and my impact on important environmental issues such as climate change, I have enjoyed exploring ways to live a more sustainable lifestyle. I have obtained research funds for the development of sustainability projects on WCU campus such as the use of renewable energy to help meet our carbon neutrality goal. I have spearheaded the installation of the solar array on the SECC roof and I manage our energy-independent Environmental Health lab.
CURRICULUM VITAE
Education
PH.D. FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
Occupational & Environmental Health; Specialization in Industrial Hygiene
Iowa City, Iowa
2011
M.S. FROMÂ IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
Industrial Technologies; Specialization in Occupational Health and Safety
Ames, Iowa
2007
B.S. FROM BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY
Major in Statistics;Â Minor in Business Management (Business Analysis)
Provo, Utah
2005
Employment
2016 - Present
WCU
Program Director and Associate Professor of Environmental Health; Department of Health; College of Health Sciences.Â
Roles: researcher and professor of Environmental Health, Industrial Hygiene, Toxicology and Occupational Safety; lab manager.
2011-2016
CDC/NIOSH
Research Scientist/Industrial Hygienist, at the NIOSH Health Effects Laboratories, Exposure Assessment Branch.
Research interests: nanoparticle exposure; real-time exposure assessment; anticipation, recognition, evaluation and control of workplace hazards.
2015
CDC
CDC Ebola response deployment to Sierra Leone. Team leader of Western-Area Infection Prevention and Control team.
Roles: Assess screening, isolation and reporting procedures in public hospitals and health facilities; monitor biohazard waste segregation and appropriate use of PPE; train national staff and nurses.
2011-2015
WEST VIRGINIA UNIV.
Adjunct Professor of Industrial Hygiene, West Virginia University.
Roles: Taught Industrial Hygiene and Sampling courses in the Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering; served on committees for MS and PhD students.
2011
THE UNIV. OF IOWA
Postdoctoral Research Fellow.
Projects: Deposition velocity of diesel-exhaust nanoparticles. Exposure assessment and toxicity of airborne particles generated during abrasion of consumer products containing engineered nanomaterials. Efficiency of respirators with nanomaterials.
2010 - Present
CONSULTING
Industrial Hygiene Consulting.Â
Consultant on industrial hygiene techniques, aerosol sampling, exposure, electron microscopy and data analysis for physicochemical characterization of nanomaterials.
Peer-Reviewed Journal Publications
2021
M. Carrieri, L. Cena. Occupational exposure to crystalline silica in artificial stone processing. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene (2021)
2021
K. Fraser, V. Kodali, N. Yanamala, M. Birch, L. Cena, G. Casuccio, … L. Sargent, A. Erdely. Part II: Cytotoxicity and inflammatory potential of the broad class of carbon nanotubes and nanofibers used or produced in U.S. facilities. (Particle and Fiber Toxicology, pending review)
2020
M. Carrieri, C. Guzzardo, D. Farcas, L. Cena. Characterization of Silica Exposure During Manufacturing of Artificial Stone Countertops. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 2020, 17, 4489; DOI:10.3390/ijerph17124489; Impact Factor: 2.9
2020
K. Fraser, V. Kodali, N. Yanamala, M. Birch, L. Cena, … L. Sargent, A. Erdely. Physicochemical characterization and genotoxicity of the broad class of carbon nanotubes and nanofibers used or produced in U.S. facilities. Part. and Fibre Tox. 2020, 17:62; DOI 10.1186/s12989-020-00392-w; Impact Factor: 7.5
2020
E. Lee, L. Cena, J. Kwon, A. Afshari, H. Park, G. Casuccio, K. Bunker, T. Lersch, A. Gall, H. Pham, A. Wagner, S. Agarwal, C. Zoica Dinu, R. Gupta, S. Friend, T. Stueckle. Characterization of aerosolized particles from nanoclay-enabled composites during manipulation processes. Env. Science: Nano, 2020, 7(5); DOI:10.1039/C9EN01211G; Impact Factor: 7.7
2019
Siegrist, K.J., Reynolds, S.H., Porter, D.W., Mercer, R.R., Bauer, A.K., Lowry, D., Cena, L., et al. (2019) Mitsui-7, heat-treated, and nitrogen-doped multi-walled carbon nanotubes elicit genotoxicity in human lung epithelial cells. Part. Fibre Toxicol. (2019) 16(36); Impact Factor: 7.5
2017
Bishop, L., Cena, L., Orandle, M., Yanamala, Y., Dahm, M., Birch, E., Kodali, V., Eye, T., Batelli, L., Zeidler-Erdely, P., Casuccio, G., Bunker, K., Stefaniak, A., Afshari, A., Schwegler-Berry, D., Kang, J., Siegrist, K., Mitchell, C., Kashon, M., Mercer, R., Schubauer-Berigan, M., Sargent, L., Erdely, A. (2017). In Vivo Toxicity Assessment of Occupational Components of the Carbon Nanotube Life Cycle to Provide Context to Potential Health Effects. ACS Nano, 2017, 11 (9), pp 8849–8863; Impact Factor: 14.6
2016
Kang, J, Erdely, A., Afshari, A., Casuccio, A., Bunker, A., Lersch, T., Dahm, M.M., Farcas, D., and Cena, L. (2016). Generation and Characterization of Aerosols Released from Sanding Composite Nanomaterials in Industrial Scenarios. NanoImpact 5(1), 41-50; Impact Factor: 5.5
2016
Cena, L., Chen, B.T. and Keane, M.J. (2016). Welding-Fume Aerosols' Evolution with Time and Distance from the Source. AWS Welding Journal 95, pp. 280s-285s
2015
Cena, L., Chisholm, W.P., Keane, M. J. and Chen, B.T. (2015). A Field Study on the Chemical Composition of the Nano-Sized Fraction of Mild and Stainless Steel Welding Fumes. Journal of Occupational & Environmental Hygiene12(10), pp. 721-728
2014
Cena, L. Chisholm. W.P., Keane, M.J., Cumpston, A., and Chen, B.T. (2014) Size Distribution and Estimated Respiratory Deposition of Total Chromium, Hexavalent Chromium, Manganese and Nickel in Gas Metal Arc Welding Fume Aerosols. Aerosol Science and Technology 48(12)
2014
Cena, L., Keane, M.J., Chisholm. W.P., Harper, M., and Chen, B.T. (2014). A Novel Method for Assessing Respiratory Deposition of Welding Fume Nanoparticles. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene 11(12), pp 771-780
2014
Siergist, K.J., , Reynolds, S.H., Kashon, M.L., Lowry, D.T., Dong, C., Hubbs, A.F., Young, S.H., Salisbury, J.L., Porter, D.W., Benkovic, S.A., McCawley, M., Keane, M.J., Mastovich, J.T., Bunker, K., Cena, L., Sparrow, M.C., Sturgeon, J.L., Dinu, C.Z., and Sargent, L.M. (2014). Genotoxicity of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes at Occupationally Relevant Doses. Particle and Fiber Toxicology 11(6)
2013
Hirth. S., Cena, L., Cox, G., Tomovic, Z., Peters, T.M., Wohlleben, W. (2013). Scenarios and Methods that Induce Protruding or Released CNTs after Degradation of Composite Materials. Journal of Nanoparticle Research 15(1504), DOI 10.1007/s11051-013-1504-x
2012
Huang, G., Park, J.H., Cena, L., Shelton, B., Peters, T.M. (2012). Evaluation of Airborne Particle Emission from Commercial Products Containing Carbon Nanotubes. Journal of Nanoparticle Research 14, pp 1231-1238
2012
Cena, L., Ku, B.K., Peters, T.M. (2012). Particle Collection Efficiency for Nylon Mesh Screens. Aerosol Science and Technol. 46(2), pp 214-221
2011
Cena, L., Anthony, T.R., and Peters, T.M. (2011) A Personal Nanoparticle Respiratory Deposition (NRD) Sampler. Environmental Science & Technology 45(15), pp 6483-6490
2011
Cena, L., Peters, T.M. (2011) Characterization of Airborne Particles Emitted During Production of Epoxy/Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposites. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene. 8, pp 86-92
2011
Cena, L., Keren, N., Li, W., Carriquiry, A.L., Pawlovich, M.A., Freeman, S.A. (2011). A Bayesian Assessment of the Effect of Highway Bypasses in Iowa on Crashes and Crash Rate. Journal of Safety Research42(4), pp 241-252
2009
Sheehan, M.J., Peters, T.M., Cena, L., O’Shaughnessy, P.T., Gussman, R.A. (2009). Generation of Nanoparticles with a Nebulizer-Cyclone System. Aerosol Science and Technology, 43 (11), pp 1091-1098
Books
2021
Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST) Exam Essential Practice Simply and Thoroughly Explained. D. Farcas, M. McCawley, L. Cena. Publisher: APub, Seattle, WA, 2021;Â
ISBN-13:Â 979-8747146815
2020
Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) Exam Essential Practice Simply and Thoroughly ExplainedÂ
D. Farcas, D. Hammond, L. Cena. Publisher: APub, Seattle, WA, 2020; ISBN-13: 979-8646185878
2020
Certified Safety Professional (CSP) Exam Essential Practice Simply and Thoroughly Explained
D. Farcas, D. Hammond, L. Cena. Publisher: APub, Seattle, WA, 2020; ISBN-13: 979-8675927364
2020
Certified Hazardous Material Manager (CHMM) Exam Essential Practice Simply and Thoroughly Explained. D. Farcas, D. Hammond, L. Cena. Publisher: APub, Seattle, WA, 2020;
ISBN-13:Â 979-8556683082