Departmental Affiliations
Mary Fox, PhD '01, MPH, develops cumulative risk assessments that consider how biological, chemical, environmental, and social factors together affect the public's health.
Research Interests
environmental health; risk assessment; cumulative impact and risk; public policy; community and worker health
Additional Links
Experiences & Accomplishments
My research exploits the complementary aspects of the epidemiological, toxicological, and environmental sciences to develop and refine quantitative risk assessment methods to improve the public’s health. The new concepts of cumulative risk assessment present an opportunity to create interdisciplinary approaches to public and environmental health because of the multiple determinants of health framework that serves as its foundation. My work addresses the health effects of exposure to chemical mixtures including whether differential exposure to mixtures contributes to racial and ethnic health disparities. Current US environmental policies address one chemical at a time while actual exposures occur as multiple chemical mixtures. Through my research I seek to inform environmental policies that account for multiple chemical and non chemical exposures.
Honors & Awards
Bloomberg American Health Initiative Spark Award, 2021
Bloomberg American Health Initiative Translation and Dissemination Award, 2017
American Association for the Advancement of Science Risk Policy Fellowship, 2001
Centers for Disease Control Dissertation Grant, 1999
Risk Sciences and Public Policy Institute Scholarship, 1999
Society for Risk Analysis Student Abstract Award, 1998
Avoca Rod and Gun Club Environmental Scholarship, 1996
Phi Beta Kappa, 1987
Select Publications
Highlights of recent work advancing environmental public health in communities and the science and practice of risk assessment.
Sheehan, M.C., Boned-Ombuena, A., Cash-Gibson, L., Damis-Wulff, A., Fox, M.A. A global assessment of urban extreme weather early warning systems and public health engagement. Bull World Health Organ. 2025 May 1;103(5):294-303. doi: 10.2471/BLT.24.292205.
Fox, M.A., Agarwalla, V., Iuliano, K.R., Munroe, J.H., Nachman, K.E., Burke, T.A. (2024) Applying user-centered design to improve drinking water consumer confidence reports: A Baltimore case study. PLOS Water 3(4): e0000162. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pwat.0000162
Fox, M.A., Sinkar, S., Bechard, M. (2023) Health and Equity in Transportation Health Impact Assessments: A Retrospective Analysis. Journal of Transport & Health https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2023.101675
Fox, M.A., Penbrooke, T.L., Farzaneh, R., Rahman, M., Ramani, T., Zietsman, J. (2022) Pilot study and cumulative risk framework to advance long-haul driver health. Journal of Healthy Eating and Active Living 2(2):88-96. https://doi.org/10.51250/jheal.v2i2.43
Fox, M.A., Niemeier, R.T., Hudson, N., Siegel, M.R., Dotson, G.S. (2021) Cumulative risks from stressor exposures and personal risk factors in the workplace: Examples from a scoping review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (18): 5850 https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18115850