Dr. Alberto J. Caban-Martinez Appointed to New Committee Formed by NASEM
The interdisciplinary team will guide clinical actions for a community exposed to Jet Propellant 5 aviation fuel.
Alberto J. Caban-Martinez, D.O., Ph.D., M.P.H., is turning his attention from fire to fuel.
The deputy director of the Sylvester Firefighter Cancer Initiative (SFCI) and professor of public health sciences at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine was recently appointed to The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) Committee for Clinical Follow-Up and Care for Those Impacted by the JP-5 Releases at Red Hill Related Waste. The interdisciplinary team of toxicologist, biochemist, policy and environmental and occupational health experts will guide clinical actions for a community exposed to Jet Propellant 5 (JP-5) aviation fuel from the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility into the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam water distribution system.
A Career Dedicated to Environment and Health
In addition to his leadership at SFCI, which studies cancer prevalence among firefighters and identifies evidence-based methods for reducing risk, Dr. Caban-Martinez has more than 10 years of domestic and international research expertise in environmental and occupational epidemiology. His research work with first responders and construction workers led him to serve on the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) committee, setting the national research agenda on worker health and safety. Dr. Caban-Martinez hopes to use his skills in epidemiology and exposure assessment to accurately evaluate and calculate the possible health effects of JP-5 exposure.
“I really care about how work and home environments can be leveraged to improve health. It’s especially incredible to practice in South Florida, with so many different environmental factors,” Dr. Caban-Martinez shared. “I’m proud to represent the Miller School nationally and internationally with this prestigious appointment.”
Assessing Contaminated Drinking Water
In November 2021, 93,000 people were potentially exposed to contaminated drinking water due to the accidental release of JP-5 into the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam water distribution system in Honolulu. NASEM formed the committee to assess the exposed individuals’ health risks and make clinical recommendations to the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The committee will work for two years to provide a framework for those affected by this one-time chemical hazard event. Their recommendations will extend beyond long-term health effects to cover a range of topics, including liability and insurance coverage, and could ultimately influence both local and federal policy.
“I’m excited to work on this committee with such a great group of professionals. Hopefully our findings will help prevent future incidents or lead to better health outcomes if similar incidents occur,” said Dr. Caban-Martinez.
The committee will begin by reviewing existing human and animal studies on JP-5 exposure and the current clinical recommendations before engaging with the individuals exposed in this incident to learn about their symptoms, health conditions and experiences with clinical care thus far.
The team will consider the evidence to determine the benefits, harm and need for increased clinical follow-up for exposed patients, as well as how individuals’ different exposure levels affect their health and clinical decision making. Identifying the research needed to form best practices for clinical surveillance, testing and treatment can have a significant impact in developing future public health response protocols.
Dr. Caban-Martinez’s worked with NASEM previously when he studied symptoms of veterans returning from the Gulf War theater, as well as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) levels in military personnel and firefighters.
Dr. Caban-Martinez’s selection to this committee is a testament to his role in the Miller School’s world-class public health program.
“Teaching and encouraging medical students to consider the environmental and occupational aspects of medicine is so important because, unfortunately, accidents do happen, and those affected need strong medical support,” he said. “I hope the next generation of physicians see service on these NASEM committees as a way to give back to their communities throughout their medical careers.”
Tags: Department of Public Health Sciences, Dr. Alberto Caban-Martinez, public health