Anna Baetjer
Anna M. Baetjer | |
---|---|
Born | American Academy of Occupational Medicine (1974) Stokinger Award of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (1980) | July 7, 1899
Scientific career | |
Fields | Physiology, toxicology |
Institutions | Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health |
Anna Medora Baetjer (July 7, 1899 – February 21, 1984) was an American
Early life
Anna Baetjer was born in
In 1924, Baetjer joined the faculty of the School of Hygiene and Public Health, becoming an instructor in the Department of Physiological Hygiene. She became a research associate at the department in 1927.[1][2]
Baetjer's early research focused on the effects of altitude and temperature on physiology.[3] Prompted by concerns of increased lead poisoning among Baltimore children during the summer months, Baetjer conducted a study that demonstrated a link between high temperature and humidity and slower toxin excretion.[2]
In 1931, the Department of Physiological Hygiene lost its chief advocate with the retirement of William Henry Howell, a Physiological Hygiene professor who had served as the director of the School of Hygiene and Public Health. Over the next several years, the other faculty in the department departed or were fired, and in 1935, the department was finally merged into the Department of Chemical Hygiene. For the next 15 years, Baetjer would remain the only faculty member for Physiological Hygiene.[2]
World War II
In 1942, the
In 1944, the War Department issued a set of policies on pregnancy and civilian workers based on Baetjer's recommendations. The policies limited work assigned to pregnant women, prohibited work assignments that posed a threat to the health of pregnant women; and protected women's seniority and job security during pregnancy.[4]
In 1946, Baetjer published the book Women in Industry: Their Health and Efficiency containing the results of her research.[4]
Cancer research
During the 1940s, Baetjer began to investigate the incidence of cancer in a Baltimore chromium plant and waste pile. Following a number of studies, Baetjer demonstrated a direct link between chromium exposure and cancer. She subsequently worked with the World Health Organization to establish standards for industrial chromium use.[2]
Later career
Following the war, Baetjer continued her work at the School of Hygiene and Public Health, becoming an assistant professor in 1945, an associate professor in 1952, a professor in 1962, and a professor emerita in 1972. She was elected president of the American Industrial Hygiene Association in 1954.[1]
From 1966 to 1970, Baetjer served on a committee organized by the Food and Drug Administration to study pesticide residues.[1] In 1974, she demonstrated that exposure to inorganic arsenic led to increased cancer risk for workers at pesticide plants.[2]
Baetjer served as an advisor to the
In 1985, Johns Hopkins University established the Anna M. Baetjer Chair in Environmental Health Sciences.[3]
Selected publications
- Baetjer, Anna Medora (1946), Women in Industry: Their Health and Efficiency, Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders, OCLC 308330
- Baetjer, Anna Medora (1948), "Results of Influenza Vaccination in Industry during the 1947 Epidemic", Preventative Medicine and Public Health, Pittsburgh, OCLC 14661339
References
- ^ ISBN 978-0-415-92039-1
- ^ OCLC 166902844, archived from the originalon October 29, 2013, retrieved October 26, 2013
- ^ a b "History – Anna Baetjer", Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, retrieved October 26, 2013
- ^ PMID 22229336, archived from the original(PDF) on October 29, 2013, retrieved October 26, 2013
- ^ "Donald E. Cummings Memorial Award". 2016-01-28. Archived from the original on 2016-01-28. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
- ^ "Alice Hamilton Award". 2016-04-02. Archived from the original on 2016-04-02. Retrieved 2022-11-01.