A large part of my research applies the methods of occupational, environmental, and molecular epidemiology to studying the health effects of chemicals. Health effects of interest include those in the central nervous (e.g., cognitive function, brain structure), peripheral nervous, cardiovascular, and renal systems. My research has focused on the health effects of metals (e.g., organic lead, inorganic lead, mercury, cadmium) and various organic compounds (e.g., polychlorinated biphenyls, hydrocarbon solvents). We are particularly interested in the importance of recent vs. lifetime cumulative dose, the timing of the dose during the lifespan and its relation to health effects, and how these each contribute to acute, reversible health effects and chronic, likely irreversible health effects. The studies are also evaluating whether genetic polymorphisms interact with chemical exposures to modify disease risk, an evaluation of gene-environment interaction. We have used several biologic markers of chemical dose in studying health effects, including some health outcomes never before studied in relation to chemicals. We have recently found that cumulative lead dose, measuring lead concentration in bone with X-ray fluorescence, is associated with persistent structural lesions in the brain (i.e., smaller volumes of brain structures and increased prevalence and severity of white matter lesions), and these, in turn, are associated with progressive declines in cognitive function as people age.

The benefits of the lead research include a better understanding of the mechanisms of the health effects of lead, and assistance with risk assessment and regulatory policy. Our research suggests that cumulative lead dose, not just recent dose, is very important to the development of health effects. This is a very important observation, because currently, all occupational lead regulations are based on blood lead levels, a measure of recent dose. Thus, although the health effects of lead may be cumulative and chronic, regulations do not require that cumulative dose be considered in the protection of the health of lead workers. We have also found that there are subgroups, characterized by the different polymorphisms, which may be more susceptible to the health effects of lead. Our research will help to address both these deficiencies.

I have become increasingly interested in the issue of global environmental sustainability, and how land use and energy use are contributing to global climate change, ecosystem degradation, biodiversity and species losses, and ultimately, posing important risks to individual and population health. We have ongoing studies of land use (the built environment) and obesity, the local food environment and local physical activity environment, and diabetes mellitus progression, abandoned mine lands and community health, and evaluating the public health risks of “after peak oil,” the notion that world petroleum production will likely soon peak then begin a steady and progressive decline. As the co-director of the Program on Global Sustainability and Health, we are developing courses and research related to these areas.

Environmental health sciences, biologic markers, cognitive functioning, gene-environment interaction, genetic susceptibility, lead intoxication, molecular epidemiology, neurobehavioral testing, occupational epidemiology, occupational safety and health, retrospective assessment of exposure, solvents, chemicals, global warming, global environmental change, the built environment, after peak oil

Phi Beta Kappa, Tufts University, 1979

Summa Cum Laude, Tufts University, 1979

Durkee Scholarship for outstanding research by an undergraduate, Tufts University, 1979

Mellon Foundation Scholarship, University of Pennsylvania, 1987-1989

Recipient, Occupational Physicians Scholarship Fund Award, 1989

Fellow, American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 1994

Advising, Mentoring, and Teaching Recognition Award, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2002

2007 to 2009:

Glass TA, Bandeen-Roche K, McAtee M, Bolla K, Todd AC, Schwartz BS. Neighborhood psychosocial hazards and the association of cumulative lead dose with cognitive function in older adults. Am J Epidemiol 2009; 169: 683-92.

Cagney KA, Glass TA, Skarupski KA, Barnes LL, Schwartz BS, Mendes de Leon CF. Neighborhood-level cohesion and disorder: measurement and validation in two older adult urban populations. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2009; 64: 415-24.

Bandeen-Roche K, Glass TA, Bolla KI, Todd AC, Schwartz BS. Cumulative lead dose and cognitive function in older adults. Epidemiology 2009; 20: 831-9.

Chen S, Wang C, Eberly LE, Caffo BS, Schwartz BS. Adaptive control of the false discovery rate in voxel-based morphometry. Human Brain Mapping 2009; 30: 2304-11.

Feng J, Glass TA, Curriero F, Stewart WF, Schwartz BS. The built environment and obesity: a systematic review of the epidemiologic evidence. Health & Place 2009; in press.

Caffo B, Chen S, Stewart W, Bolla K, Yousem D, Davatzikos C, Schwartz BS. Are brain volumes based on magnetic resonance imaging mediators of the associations of cumulative lead dose with cognitive function? Am J Epidemiol 2008; 167: 429-37.

Navas-Acien A, Schwartz BS, Rothenberg SJ, Hu H, Silbergeld EK, Guallar E. Bone lead levels and blood pressure endpoints – a meta-analysis. Epidemiol 2008; 19: 496-504.

Weaver VM, Ellis LR, Lee B-K, Todd AC, Shi W, Ahn K-D, Schwartz BS. Associations between patella lead and blood pressure in lead workers. Am J Indus Med 2008; 51: 336-43.

Theppeang K, Glass TA, Bandeen-Roche K, Todd AC, Rohde CA, Links JM, Schwartz BS. Associations of bone mineral density and lead levels in blood, tibia, and patella in urban-dwelling women. Environ Health Perspect 2008; 116: 784-790.

Theppeang K, Glass TA, Bandeen-Roche K, Todd AC, Rohde CA, Schwartz BS. Sex and race/ethnicity differences in lead dose biomarkers: predictors of lead in blood, tibia, and patella in older, community-dwelling adults in an urban setting. Am J Public Health 2008; 98: 1248-55.

Augustin T, Glass TA, James BD, Schwartz BS. Neighborhood psychosocial hazards and cardiovascular disease: the Baltimore Memory Study. Am J Public Health 2008; 98: 1664-70.

Lee BK, Glass TA, Wand GS, McAtee MJ, Bandeen-Roche K, Bolla KI, Schwartz BS. Apolipoprotein E genotype, cortisol, and cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults. Am J Psych 2008; 165: 1456-64.

Schwartz BS. Climate Change and Public Health – Overview: Climate Change, Peak Petroleum, and Public Health. Selection from APHA 2007: Emergent Issues in Public Health. A summary of climate change presentations at the 135th Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association. Conference Coverage, Medscape Public Health and Prevention, Medscape (WebMD) online 2008 (www.medscape.com/viewarticle/574087).

Schwartz BS, Hu H. Adult lead exposure: time for change. Environ Health Perspect 2007; 115: 451-4.

Hu H, Shih R, Rothenberg S, Schwartz BS. The epidemiology of lead toxicity in adults: measuring dose and consideration of other methodologic issues. Environ Health Perspect 2007; 115: 455-62.

Kosnett MJ, Wedeen RP, Rothenberg SJ, Hipkins KL, Materna BL, Schwartz BS, Hu H, Woolf A. Recommendations for medical management of adult lead exposure. Environ Health Perspect 2007; 115: 463-71.

Shih RA, Hu H, Weisskopf MG, Schwartz BS. Cumulative lead dose and cognitive function in adults: a review of studies that measured both blood lead and bone lead. Environ Health Perspect 2007; 115: 483-92.

Lee BK, Glass TA, McAtee MJ, Wand GS, Bandeen-Roche K, Bolla KI, Schwartz BS. Associations of salivary cortisol with cognitive function in the Baltimore Memory Study. Arch Gen Psych 2007; 64: 810-8.

Schwartz BS, Chen S, Caffo B, Stewart WF, Bolla KI, Yousem D, Davatzikos C. Relations of brain volumes with cognitive function in males 45 years and older with past lead exposure. NeuroImage 2007; 37: 633-41.

Stewart WF, Schwartz BS. Effects of lead on the adult brain: a 15-year exploration. Am J Ind Med 2007; 50: 729-39.

Schwartz BS, Stewart WF. Lead and cognitive function in adults: a questions and answers approach to a review of the evidence for cause, treatment, and prevention. Int Rev Psych 2007; 19: 671-92.