Anila Bello

Research Interests

• Quantitative exposure assessment for environmental epidemiology and hazard control
• Exposure data analysis
• Intervention research in high risk industries, including construction, and hospitals
• Biomonitoring in occupational and environmental health research
• Prevention through design and green chemistry
• Mixed and total exposures; cleaners and disinfectants; crystalline silica; isocyanates; epoxies; engineered nanomaterials

Education

• Post-doc (2011) Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health
• Sc.D (2008) Exposure Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell
• M.Sc (2003) Occupational Hygiene, University of Massachusetts Lowell
• B.S (1993) Industrial Chemistry, University of Tirana, Albania

Biosketch

Anila Bello Sc.D. is a research faculty in the Department of Public Health. She holds a Doctor of Science degree in Exposure Sciences and a Master of Science degree in Occupational Health/Hygiene from UMass Lowell, as well as a BSc in industrial chemistry. She started her career as a chemist and chemical engineer. She has more than fifteen years of research experience in quantitative exposure assessment for health and intervention research, workplace compliance monitoring, identification and evaluation of exposure controls, and promotion of safer alternatives. Her current work focuses on complex chemical exposures and their impact on health. Bello is a past recipient of The Barry Commoner Award (excellence in pollution prevention), the W. Hardie Shepard Memorial Prize, and the Harvard-NIOSH Education and Research Center (ERC) Award, among others. She has published over 20 peer-reviewed publications in leading professional journals in her field, including  Environmental Health, International Journal of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Annals of Work Exposures and Health, and Environment International. Bello's broader research goals are to reduce or eliminate exposures to toxic chemicals in workplaces by promoting data-driven intervention research, greener alternatives, and better work practices.

Selected Publications

• Bello A, Xue Y, Gore R, Woskie S, Bello D. [2019] Assessment and control of exposures to polymeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (pMDI) in spray polyurethane foam applicators. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health. 222 (5), 804-815, PMID: 31076286 doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2019.04.014
• Mellette M, Xue.Y, Bello A, Bello D, Woskie S. [2019] Evaluation of disposable protective garments against isocyanate permeation using fixed-position spray application method for Polyurethane anti-corrosion coating. Annals of Work Exposures and Health. 63 (5), 592-603 doi: 10.1093/annweh/wxz032
• Bello A, Xue Y, Gore R, Woskie S, Bello D. [2019] Assessment and control of exposures to polymeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (pMDI) in spray polyurethane foam applicators. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health. PMID: 31076286 doi:10.1016/j.ijheh.2019.04.014
• Mellette M, Xue.Y, Bello A, Bello D, Woskie S. [2019] Evaluation of disposable protective garments against isocyanate permeation and penetration from polyurethane anti-corrosion coatings. Annals of Work Exposures and Health. doi.org/10.1093/annweh/wxz032
• Bello A, Shepherd S, Mugford C, Murray A, Woskie S. [2019] Characterization of Occupational Exposures to Respirable Silica and Dust in Demolition, Crushing, and Chipping Activities, Annals of Work Exposures and Health, Vol 63, Issue 1, 34–44 PMID: 30379992 doi: 10.1093/annweh/wxy089
• Bello A, Carignan C, Xue Y, Stapleton HM, Bello D [2018] Exposure to organophosphate flame retardants in spray polyurethane foam applicators: Role of dermal exposure: Environment International 113, 55–65. PMID: 29421408 doi:10.1016/j.envint.2018.01.020
• Mellette M, Bello D. Xue Y, Yost Y, Bello A, Woskie S. [2018] Testing of disposable protective garments against isocyanate permeation from spray polyurethane foam insulation. Annals of Work Exposures and Health. 62 (6), 754–764 PMID: 29762654 doi: 10.1093/annweh/wxy030
• Bello A, Woskie S, Gore R, Dale S, Schmidt S, Kamel F. [2017] Retrospective assessment of occupational exposures for the GENEVA study of ALS among military veterans. Annals of Work Exposures and Health; 61(3):299-310 PMID: 28355414 doi:10.1093/annweh/wxw028
• Saleh S, Woskie S, Bello A. [2017] The Use of Noise Dampening Mats to Reduce Heavy-Equipment Noise Exposures in Construction. Safe Health Work. 8(2):226-230 PMID: 28593081 doi: 10.1016/j.shaw.2016.09.006
• Bello A, McCarthy A, Bello D. [2017] Spray polyurethane foam and sustainable construction: challenges and opportunities. In: Velazquez, LE, ed. International Sustainability Stories: Enhancing Good Practices. 1st ed. Sonora, México. Universidad de Sonora, pp. 42-60 Book chapter.
• Khatri M, Bello D, Martin J, Bello A, R Gore, P. Demokritou, P Gaines. [2017] Chronic upper airway inflammation and oxidative stress in photocopier operators: Mechanistic insights. NanoImpact: 5:133–145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.impact.2017.01.007
• Cifuentes M, Qin J, Flumer S, Bello A. [2015] Facilitators and barriers to using treadmill workstations under real working conditions. American Journal of Health Promotion; 30 (2):93-100 PMID: 25615705 DOI: 10.4278/ajhp.140123-QUAL-43
• Bello A, Quinn M.M. [2013] Response to letter to the editor by Jeff Kelsey, Chemsage LTD on 2-butoxyethanol health effects. The Annals of Occupational Hygiene; 57(8):1089 PMID:24278991 doi: 10.1093/annhyg/met057
• Bello A, Quinn M.M, Milton K.D, Perry J.M. [2012] Determinants of exposure to 2-butoxyethanol from cleaning tasks, a quasi-experimental study. The Annals of Occupational Hygiene; 57(1):125-135 PMID: 22997411 doi: 10.1093/annhyg/mes054
• Bello A, Quinn M.M, Perry J.M, Milton K.D.[2010] Quantitative assessment of airborne exposures generated during common cleaning tasks: a pilot study. Environmental Health; 9:76 PMID: 21118559 doi: 10.1186/1476-069X-9-76
• Bello A, Quinn M.M, Perry J.M, Milton K.D. [2009] Characterization of occupational exposures to cleaning products used for common cleaning tasks–a pilot study of hospital cleaners. Environmental Health; 8:11 PMID: 19327131 10.1186/1476-069X-8-11
• Markkanen P., Quinn M.M., Galligan C., Bello A. [2009] Cleaning in healthcare facilities: Reducing human health effects and environmental impacts. Health care research collaborative. White paper
• Markkanen P., Chalupka S., Galligan C., Sama S., Gore R., Kim H., Bello A., Kriebel D., Quinn M.M. [2008] Studying home health care nurses and aides: research design and challenges. Journal of Research in Nursing 13 (6): 480-495 https://doi.org/10.1177/1744987108092055
• Quinn M., Fuller T., Bello A, Galligan C. [2006] Pollution Prevention-Occupational Safety and Health in Hospitals: Alternatives and Interventions. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene; 3(4): 182-93 PMID: 16531291 doi: 10.1080/15459620600584295

Selected Presentations

• Bello A, Xue Y, Zhang Y, Woskie S, Bello D. [2019] Characterization of isocyanate exposures among painters during metal structure coating tasks.  American Industrial Hygiene Conference (AIHce), Minneapolis, MN. May 23, 2019
• Bello A, Xue Y, Woskie S, Gore R, Bello D. [2017] Exposures and urinary biomarkers of MDI in spray foam applicators. British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) conference. Harrogate, England. April 26, 2017.
• Bello A. [2016] Invited seminar on special issues in environmental sustainability: ‘Spray polyurethane foams and coatings in construction: challenges and opportunities’ Univ. of Sonora, Mexico. March 17, 2017
• Bello A, Xue Y, Woskie S, Bello D. [2016] Assessment and Control of Exposures to Reactive Chemical Resins in Construction: the case of SPF. Poster presentation at the annual MODERNET (Monitoring Occupational Diseases and Tracing New and Emerging Risks in a NETwork), Prague, Czech Republic. October 20-21, 2016.
• Bello A. [2013] Characterization of airborne exposures to cleaning products used for common cleaning tasks. Invited Speaker. Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS). Utrecht University. July 10, 2013.
• Bello A, Davis M, Smith TJ. [2012] Effects of wind direction and speed on real time total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) concentrations at truck freight terminals. International Conference on the Science of Exposure Assessment, Edinburgh, UK. July 2-5, 2012.
• Bello A, Milton D, Perry M, Quinn M. [2009] Predictors of Airborne Concentrations of 2-Butoxyethanol Generated from Cleaning Tasks—a Quasi-Experimental Study. American Industrial Hygiene Conference (AIHce). Toronto, Canada. June 2, 2009. 
• Bello A, Perry M, Milton S. Quinn M. [2008] Exposure assessment to volatile organic compounds from cleaning agents. National Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health, NIOSH Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, West Virginia. July 8, 2008.
• Bello A, Perry M, Milton S. Quinn M. [2008] Assessment to airborne and dermal exposures related to the use of cleaning agents.  National Institute of Health (NIH). Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics. Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch. Rockville MD. June 26, 2008.