Superfund Research Program

Kelly G. Pennell

University of Kentucky
161 Oliver H. Raymond Building, Office 363
Lexington, Kentucky 40506
Phone: 859-218-2540
Email: kellypennell@uky.edu

Projects

• Brown University: Low Concentration Vapor Exposures in Complex Systems and the Problem of Vapor Intrusion (2009-2021)
• University of Kentucky: Administrative Core (2000-2025)
• University of Kentucky: Administrative Core - Research Translation (2020-2025)
• University of Kentucky: Data Management and Analysis Core (2020-2025)
• University of Kentucky: Fate and Transport of Contaminants in Aging Piping Systems (2020-2025)
• University of Kentucky: Research Translation Core (2005-2019)

Research Briefs

• 257 - Using Field Data and Numerical Modeling to Assess Vapor Intrusion Risk

Hazardous Waste Sites

50 Tufts Street

• Brown University: Toxicant Exposures in Rhode Island: Past, Present, and Future

Hill Airforce Base Superfund Site

• University of Kentucky: Fate and Transport of Contaminants in Aging Piping Systems

MEW Superfund Area

• University of Kentucky: Fate and Transport of Contaminants in Aging Piping Systems

Shamrock Technologies Location Henderson Kentucky

• University of Kentucky: Nutrition and Superfund Chemical Toxicity

Publications

2024

• Tay H, Rezaei N, Hoover AG, Pennell KG. 2024. Social ecological system framework as a decision-making tool for risk mitigation: a Superfund site case study. Sci Total Environ 939:doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173595 PMID:38810738 PMCID:11224932

2023

• Martin KV, Hilbert TJ, Reilly M, Christian WJ, Hoover AG, Pennell KG, Ding QX, Haynes E. 2023. PFAS soil concentrations surrounding a hazardous waste incinerator in East Liverpool, Ohio, an environmental justice community. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int doi:10.1007/s11356-023-27880-8 PMID:37300732
• Nault R, Cave MC, Ludewig G, Moseley HN, Pennell KG, Zacharewski TR. 2023. A case for accelerating standards to achieve the FAIR principles of environmental health research experimental data. Environ Health Perspect 131(6):65001. doi:10.1289/EHP11484 PMID:37352010 PMCID:PMC10289218
• Ojha S, Thompson PT, Powell CD, Moseley HN, Pennell KG. 2023. Identifying and sharing per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances hot-spot areas and exposures in drinking water. Sci Data 10(1):388. doi:10.1038/s41597-023-02277-x PMID:37328532 PMCID:PMC10275912
• Thompson PT, Ojha S, Powell CD, Pennell KG, Moseley HN. 2023. A proposed FAIR approach for disseminating geospatial information system maps. Sci Data 10(1):389. doi:10.1038/s41597-023-02281-1 PMID:37328607 PMCID:PMC10275873

2022

• Noh Y, Shannahan JH, Hoover AG, Pennell KG, Weir M, Whelton A. 2022. Bystander chemical exposures and injuries associated with nearby plastic sewer pipe manufacture: public health practice and lessons. J Environ Health 85:22-31.
• Ojha S, Li Y, Rezaei N, Robinson A, Hoover AG, Pennell KG. 2022. A geospatial and binomial logistic regression model to prioritize sampling for per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances in public water systems. Integr Environ Assess Manag doi:10.1002/ieam.4614 PMID:35373458
• Ojha S, Thompson PT, Powell CD, Moseley HN, Pennell KG. 2022. A FAIR approach for detecting and sharing PFAS hot-spot areas and water systems. ChemRxiv doi:10.26434/chemrxiv-2022-bt3f6

2021

• Hoover AG, Heiger-Bernays WJ, Ojha S, Pennell KG. 2021. Balancing incomplete COVID-19 evidence and local priorities: Risk communication and stakeholder engagement strategies for school re-opening. Rev Environ Health 36:27-37. doi:10.1515/reveh-2020-0092 PMID:33001857 PMCID:PMC7933073
• Mottaleb MA, Ding QX, Pennell KG, Haynes E, Morris AJ. 2021. Direct injection analysis of per and polyfluoroalkyl substances in surface and drinking water by sample filtration and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr A 1653:5. doi:10.1016/j.chroma.2021.462426 PMID:34352431
• Roghani M, Li Y, Rezaei N, Robinson A, Shirazi E, Pennell KG. 2021. Modeling fate and transport of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) inside sewer systems. Ground Water Monit Remediat 41:doi:10.1111/gwmr.12449 PMID:35018089 PMCID:PMC8744132

2020

• Brewer D, Travis E, Koempel A, Ormsbee LE, Pennell KG. 2020. Community forum identifies opportunities to engage with community leaders about chronic disease and environmental pollution in Eastern Kentucky. Appl Environ Educ Commun 19:187-204. doi:10.1080/1533015X.2019.1597660 PMID:32973411 PMCID:PMC7510481
• Hoover AG, Koempel A, Christian WJ, Tumlin KI, Pennell KG. 2020. Appalachian environmental health literacy: Building knowledge and skills to protect health. J Appalach Health 2:doi:10.13023/jah.0201.06
• Shirazi E, Hawk GS, Holton C, Stromberg AJ, Pennell KG. 2020. Comparison of modeled and measured indoor air trichloroethene (TCE) concentrations at a vapor intrusion site: influence of wind, temperature, and building characteristics. Environ Sci Process Impacts 22:802-811. doi:10.1039/C9EM00567F PMID:32129346 PMCID:PMC7153494

2019

• Shirazi E, Ojha S, Pennell KG. 2019. Building science approaches for vapor intrusion studies. Rev Environ Health 34(3):245-250. doi:10.1515/reveh-2019-0015 PMID:31494643 PMCID:PMC6944199

2018

• Roghani M, Jacobs OP, Miller A, Willett EJ, Jacobs JA, Viteri CR, Shirazi E, Pennell KG. 2018. Occurrence of chlorinated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in a sanitary sewer system: implications for assessing vapor intrusion alternative pathways. Sci Total Environ 616:1149-1162. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.10.205 PMID:29146079 PMCID:PMC5752621

2017

• Little PC, Pennell KG. 2017. Measuring vapor intrusion: from source science politics to a transdisciplinary approach. Environ Sociol 3(2):145-154. doi:10.1080/23251042.2016.1224528 PMID:28367475 PMCID:PMC5370174
• Pennell KG. 2017. Three-dimensional vapor intrusion modeling approach that combines wind and stack effects on indoor, atmospheric, and subsurface domains. Environ Sci Process Impacts 19:1594-1607. doi:10.1039/c7em00423k PMID:29210407
• Reichman R, Roghani M, Willett Jones E, Shirazi E, Pennell KG. 2017. Air exchange rates and alternative vapor entry pathways to inform vapor intrusion exposure risk assessments. Rev Environ Health 32(1-2):27-33. doi:10.1515/reveh-2016-0039 PMID:27837600
• Reichman R, Shirazi E, Colliver DG, Pennell KG. 2017. US residential building air exchange rates: new perspectives to improve decision making at vapor intrusion sites. Environ Sci Process Impacts 19(2):87-100. doi:10.1039/c6em00504g PMID:28186210 PMCID:PMC5369024

2016

• McAlary T, McHugh T, Eklund B, Lutes C, Suuberg EM, Hayes H, Pennell KG, Folkes D, Dawson H, Truesdale R, Beckley L, Holton C. 2016. Comments and corrections to: “The Emperor's Old Clothes: An Inconvenient Truth About Currently Accepted Vapor Intrusion Assessment Methods,” and “Emperor's Old Clothes Revisited,” two recent editorials by Mark Kram. Ground Water Monit Remediat 36:84-87. doi:10.1111/gwmr.12166
• Pennell KG, Scammell MK, McClean MD, Suuberg EM, Moradi A, Moradi A, Roghani M, Ames J, Friguglietti L, Indeglia PA, Shen R, Yao Y, Heiger-Bernays WJ. 2016. Field data and numerical modeling: a multiple lines of evidence approach for assessing vapor intrusion exposure risks. Sci Total Environ 556:291-301. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.02.185 PMID:26977535 PMCID:PMC4844003

2015

• Moradi A, Tootkaboni M, Pennell KG. 2015. A variance decomposition approach to uncertainty quantification and sensitivity analysis of the Johnson and Ettinger model. J Air Waste Manag Assoc 65(2):154-164. doi:10.1080/10962247.2014.980469 PMID:25947051 PMCID:PMC4425250

2014

• Shen R, Pennell KG, Suuberg EM. 2014. Analytical modeling of the subsurface volatile organic vapor concentration in vapor intrusion. Chemosphere 95:140-149. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2013.08.051 PMID:24034829 PMCID:PMC3941444

2013

• Dannemiller KC, Murphy JS, Dixon SL, Pennell KG, Suuberg EM, Jacobs DE, Sandel M. 2013. Formaldehyde concentrations in household air of asthma patients determined using colorimetric detector tubes. Indoor Air 23(4):285-294. doi:10.1111/ina.12024 PMID:23278296 PMCID:PMC3710296
• Pennell KG, Scammell MK, McClean MD, Ames J, Weldon B, Friguglietti L, Suuberg EM, Shen R, Indeglia PA, Heiger-Bernays WJ. 2013. Sewer gas: An indoor air source of PCE to consider during vapor intrusion investigations. Ground Water Monit Remediat 33(3):119-126. PMID:23950637 PMCID:PMC3740581
• Perron MM, Burgess RM, Suuberg EM, Cantwell MG, Pennell KG. 2013. Performance of passive samplers for monitoring estuarine water column concentrations: 1. Contaminants of concern. Environ Toxicol Chem 32(10):2182-2189. doi:10.1002/etc.2321 PMID:23832638 PMCID:PMC3979968
• Shen R, Yao Y, Pennell KG, Suuberg EM. 2013. Modeling quantification of the influence of soil moisture on subslab vapor concentration. Environ Sci Process Impacts 15:1444-1451. doi:10.1039/c3em00225j PMID:23752876 PMCID:PMC3756691
• Yao Y, Pennell KG, Suuberg EM. 2013. Simulating the effect of slab features on vapor intrusion of crack entry. Build Environ 59:417-425. doi:10.1016/j.buildenv.2012.09.007 PMID:23359620 PMCID:PMC3555425
• Yao Y, Shen R, Pennell KG, Suuberg EM. 2013. A numerical investigation of oxygen concentration dependence on biodegradation rate laws in vapor intrusion. Environ Sci Process Impacts 15(12):2345-2354. doi:10.1039/c3em00421j PMID:24197079 PMCID:PMC3897126
• Yao Y, Shen R, Pennell KG, Suuberg EM. 2013. A review of vapor intrusion models. Environ Sci Technol 47(6):2457-2470. doi:10.1021/es302714g PMID:23360069 PMCID:PMC3604123
• Yao Y, Shen R, Pennell KG, Suuberg EM. 2013. Estimation of contaminant subslab concentration in vapor intrusion including lateral source-building separation. Vadose Zone Journal 12(3):doi:10.2136/vzj2012.0157 PMID:24795543 PMCID:PMC4006780
• Yao Y, Shen R, Pennell KG, Suuberg EM. 2013. Examination of the influence of environmental factors on contaminant vapor concentration attenuation factors using the U.S. EPA's vapor intrusion database. Environ Sci Technol 47:906-913. doi:10.1021/es303441x PMID:23252837 PMCID:PMC3557812
• Yao Y, Shen R, Pennell KG, Suuberg EM. 2013. Examination of the U.S. EPA's vapor intrusion database based on models. Environ Sci Technol 47:1425-1433. doi:10.1021/es304546f PMID:23293835 PMCID:PMC3565061

2012

• Shen R, Pennell KG, Suuberg EM. 2012. A numerical investigation of vapor intrusion- The dynamic response of contaminant vapors to rainfall events. Sci Total Environ 437:110-120. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.07.054 PMID:22922135 PMCID:PMC3756695
• Yao Y, Pennell KG, Suuberg EM. 2012. Estimation of contaminant subslab concentration in vapor intrusion. J Hazard Mater 231-232:10-7. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2012.06.016 PMID:22776832 PMCID:PMC3439146

2011

• Liu J, Pennell KG, Hurt RH. 2011. Kinetics and mechanisms of nanosilver oxysulfidation. Environ Sci Technol 45(17):7345–7353. doi:10.1021/es201539s PMID:21770469 PMCID:PMC3164758 (Completed with ARRA Funds)
• Yao Y, Pennell KG, Suuberg EM. 2011. Vapor intrusion in urban settings: Effect of foundation features and source location. Procedia Environ Sci 4:245-250. doi:10.1016/j.proenv.2011.03.029 PMID:24619471 PMCID:PMC3947568
• Yao Y, Shen R, Pennell KG, Suuberg EM. 2011. Comparison of the Johnson-Ettinger vapor intrusion screening model predictions with full three-dimensional model results. Environ Sci Technol 46(6):2227–2235. doi:10.1021/es102602s PMID:21344848 PMCID:PMC3664551 (Completed with ARRA Funds)

2009

• Bozkurt O, Pennell KG, Suuberg EM. 2009. Simulation of the vapor intrusion process for non-homogeneous soils using a three-dimensional numerical model. Ground Water Monit Remediat 29(1):92-104. doi:10.1111/j.1745-6592.2008.01218.x PMID:20664816 PMCID:PMC2907115
• Pennell KG, Bozkurt O, Suuberg EM. 2009. Development and application of a three-dimensional finite element vapor intrusion model. J Air Waste Manag Assoc 59(4):447-460. PMID:19418819

2008

• Bozkurt O, Pennell KG, Suuberg EM. 2008. Evaluation of vapor intrusion potentials using a three- dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model. In: Proc. AWMA Conference on Vapor Intrusion.