Education

  • Georgia Institute of Technology, MS Health Physics, 1988
  • University of Tennessee, Ph.D., Zoology (now called Biochemistry, Cellular, and Molecular Biology), 1981
  • University of Tennessee, M.S., Radiation Biology ,1977

Background

Dr. Paul Charp is health physicist with a varied background both in the nuclear/radiological world and the biochemical world. He has been employed by the U.S Government for over 30 years. During this time, he has evaluated the impacts of radiological contamination to the environment and its impact on public health through series of public health assessments and related documents. Many of these evaluations have involved both the nuclear weapons complex and the conventional military complex. He has worked with Tribal Nations that have been impacted by historical uranium mining operations in tribal lands and reservations. Some of his reports have directly resulted in contaminated areas being placed on the Superfund’s National Priorities List of highly contaminated sites. These sites require immediate removal of contaminants and remediation to protect communities from either high concentrations of chemical contaminants or high radiation exposures. Outside of these activities he has served as a Radiation Safety Officer during parts of his government tenure.

Dr. Charp is also involved with emergency response and capabilities within the government. He is a member of National Advisory Team for Environment, Food, and Health comprised of representatives of the US Environmental Protection Agency, the US Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These agencies advise and make recommendations to other federal agencies, state, local, and tribal organizations that may be impacted during nuclear and radiological emergencies. He is also Radiological Operations Support Specialist (ROSS) with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The ROSS helps identify and provide critical information to emergency responders, leaders, and decision makers.

He has been associated with Georgia Tech for over 15 years. During this time, he has taught Health Physics, Radiation Biology, Radioanalytical Chemistry, and predominantly Medical Physics, Environmental Assessment and Waste Management.

His activities with the National Health Physics Society where he is a Fellow of the Society include memberships on various committees and sections, and he serves as the Ultraviolet, Infrared, and Laser Topic Editor, Ask the Expert (http://hps.org/aboutthesociety/people/editors.html).

Research Interests

Although Dr. Charp does not have a research program with Georgia Tech, his applied research interests include both health physics and medical physics, environmental impacts of radiological contamination on the health and well-being of the public, biological effects of non-ionizing radiation, and emergency response to radiological and nuclear events.

Recent Journal and Government Publications

Anderson, JL, Failla G, Finklea, LR, Charp, P, and Ansari, AJ (2019). Radiation Exposure of Workers and Volunteers in Shelters and Community Recepption Centers in the Aftermath of a Nuclear Detonation. Health Physics 116:619-624.

Charp, P (2012) Health Consultation – Former Wolff-Alport Chemical Corporation. 1125-1139 Irving Avenue, Queens, New York, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

Charp, P (2014) Health Consultation – Former Wolff-Alport Chemical Corporation. 1125-1139 Irving Avenue, Queens, New York, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

Charp, P (2015). Health Consultation - An Evaluation of Radiation in Groundwater and Air. West Lake Landfill Operable Unit I. Bridgeton, St. Louis County, Missouri.  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

Charp, PA, Dyken, JJ, Trubiano, A, and Young, P (2018). Public Health Assessment - Jackpile-Paguate Uranium Mine. Laguna Pueblo Laguna, Cibola County, New Mexico. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

Dyken, JJ, Evans, E, Trubiano, A, and Charp, P, (2019). Public Health Assessment - Evaluation of Community Exposures Related to Coldwater Creek. St. Louis Airport/Hazelwood Interim Storage Site (HISS)/Futura Coatings NPL Site. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

Mitchell, M. And Charp, PA (2022) Public Health Assessment - San Mateo Creek Basin (in preparation).

Orloff, KG, Mistry, K, Charp, P, Metcalf, S, Marino, R, Shelly, T, Melaro, E, Donohoe, AM, and Jones, RL (2004). Human Exposure to Uranium in Groundwater. Environmental Research 94: 319-326.