Derek Drechsel, PhD, DABT, CIH
Project Toxicologist
Dr. Derek A. Drechsel is a Project Toxicologist with consulting experience in applied toxicology, product safety, exposure assessment, and human health risk assessment. He has provided technical expertise for numerous projects involving exposure to chemicals in a variety of occupational, environmental, and consumer settings. Dr. Drechsel has performed toxicological evaluations and quantitative exposure analyses to support human health risk assessments for a variety of substances including asbestos, talc, pesticides, solvents, heavy metals, dietary nutrients, and microbiologicals.
Dr. Drechsel’s most recent work has focused on food and consumer product safety evaluations. He is experienced in assisting clients comply with relevant regulations, including Proposition 65 and Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), as well as providing scientific support for crisis management and recall decisions. Dr. Drechsel has published nearly two-dozen peer-reviewed articles on various toxicology, consumer product safety, and risk-related issues. He has also taught graduate level toxicology courses at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Dr. Drechsel’s graduate and post-doctoral work focused on determining molecular mechanisms of neuronal damage contributing to neurodegenerative diseases, included Parkinson’s Disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Education
- Ph.D., Toxicology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Aurora, CO
- B.S., Biology and Vertebrate Physiology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
Past or Present Professional Affiliations
- Risk Assessment & Food Safety Specialty Sections
- Mechanisms Specialty Section Student Representative, 2007 - 2008
- Neurotoxicology Specialty Section Student Representative, 2009 - 2010
Registrations & Certifications
- OSHA 40-Hour HAZWOPER
- OSHA 8-Hour HAZWOPER Supervisor
- Certified Industrial Hygienist
Publications
- Monnot, A.D., K.M. Towle, E.S. Fung, R.M. Novick, D.J. Paustenbach, and D.A. Drechsel. 2019. A skin sensitization induction risk assessment of common ingredients present in commercially available cleansing conditioners. Dermatitis. In press.
- Drechsel, D.A., K.M. Towle, E. Fung., R.M. Novick., D.J. Paustenbach, A.D. Monnot. 2018. Evaluation of skin sensitization induction potential from daily exposure to fragrances in personal care products. Dermatitis 29(6): 324-331.
- Fung, E.S., D.A. Drechsel, K.M. Towle, R.M. Novick, D.J. Paustenbach, and A.D. Monnot. 2018. Tier-based skin irritation testing of hair cleansing conditioners and their constituents. Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology 26: 1-4.
- Fung, E.S., D.A. Drechsel, K.M. Towle, M.T. Hoang, R.M. Novick, C. Poteete, D.J. Paustenbach, and A.D. Monnot. 2018. Screening-level safety assessment of personal care product constituents using publicly available data. Cosmetics. 5(2):38.
- Drechsel, D.A., K.M. Towle, E. Fung., R.M. Novick., D.J. Paustenbach, A.D. Monnot. 2018. Chemical stability analysis of hair cleansing conditioners under high-heat conditions experienced during hair styling processes. Cosmetics 5(1): 23.
- Towle, K.M., Drechsel, D.A., E. Fung, R.M. Novick, D.J. Paustenbach, A.D. Monnot. 2018. A quantitative risk assessment of the skin sensitization induction potential of the Kathon CG preservative in rinse-off and leave-on personal care and cosmetic products. Dermatitis 29(3): 132-138.
- Drechsel, D.A., C.A. Barlow, J.L. Bare, N.F. Jacobs, and J.L. Henshaw. 2018. Historical evolution of regulatory standards for occupational and consumer exposures to industrial talc. Reg Tox Pharm 91: 251-267.
- Gaffney, S.H., M. Grespin, L. Garnick, D.A. Drechsel, R. Hazan, D.J. Paustenbach, and B.D. Simmons. 2017. Anthophyllite asbestos: state of the science review. J Appli Tox 37(1): 38-49.
- Drechsel, D.A., C.H. Chang, R.A. Kitson, D. Siegel, q. You, D.S. Backos, C. Ju, C.J. Moody and D.R. Ross. 2014. 19-Substituted benzoquinone ansamycin heat shock protein-90 inhibitors: biological activity and decreased off-target toxicity. Mol Pharmacol 85(6): 849-857.
- Trias, E., P. Diaz-Amarilla, D.A. Drechsel, E. Isasi, J.S. Beckman, S. Olivera-Bravo and L. Barbeito. 2013. Transdifferentation of microglia to abherrant astrocytes in an animal model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Frontiers Cell Neurosci 7: 274.
- Durazo, S.A., R.S. Kadam, D.A. Drechsel, M. Patel and U.B. Kompella. 2011. Brain mitochondrial drug delivery: influence of drug physiochemical properties. Pharm Res 28(11): 2833-2847.
- Cantu, D., R.E. Fulton, D.A. Drechsel and M. Patel. 2011. Mitochondrial aconitase knockdown attenuates paraquat-induced dopaminergic cell death via decreased cellular metabolism and release of iron and hydrogen peroxide. J Neurochem 118(1): 79-92.
- Drechsel, D.A. and M. Patel. 2010. Respiration-dependent hydrogen peroxide removal in brain mitochondria via the thioredoxin/peroxiredoxin system. J Biol Chem 285(36): 27850-27858.
- Drechsel, D.A. and M. Patel. 2009. Differential contribution of the mitochondrial respiratory chain to reactive oxygen species production by redox cycling herbicides implicated in parkinsonism. Tox Sci 112(2): 427-434.
- Drechsel, D.A. and M. Patel. 2009. Paraquat-induced production of reactive oxygen species in brain mitochondria. Methods Enzymol 456: 381-93.
- Chick, W.A., D.A. Drechsel, W. Hammond, M. Patel and T.E. Johnson. 2009. Transmission of mutant phenotypes from ES cells to adult mice. Mamm Genome 20(11-12): 734-40.
- Drechsel, D.A. and M. Patel. 2008. Role of reactive oxygen species in the neurotoxicity of environmental agents implicated in Parkinson’s disease. Free Radic Biol Med 44(11): 1873-86.
- Castello, P.R., D.A. Drechsel, B.J. Day and M. Patel. 2007. Inhibition of mitochondrial hydrogen peroxide production by lipophilic metalloporphyrins. J Pharma Exp Ther 324(3): 970-976.
- Castello, P.R., D.A. Drechsel and M. Patel. 2007. Mitochondria are a major source of paraquat-induced reactive oxygen species production in the brain. J Biol Chem 282(19): 14186-14193.
- Drechsel, D.A., L.P. Liang and M. Patel. 2007. 1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium-induced alterations of glutathione status in immortalized rat dopaminergic neurons. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 220(3): 341-348.
- Sampey, B.P., D.L. Carbone, J.A. Doorn, D.A. Drechsel and D.R. Petersen. 2007. 4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal adduction of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) and the inhibition of hepatocyte Erk-Est-like protein-1-activating protein-1 signal transduction. Mol Pharmacol 71(3): 871-883.