Dennis Shusterman, MD, MPH

Senate Emeritus

Education:
MD, UC Davis, 1978. Rotating Internship, The Waltham Hospital, 1978-1979. FP Residency, San Jose Hospital, 1979-1981. MPH, Environmental Health Sciences, UC Berkeley, 1982. Clinical Fellowship in Environmental Medicine, UCSF, 1994-1996.

Employment:
Medical Director, Sonoma County Indian Health Project, 1981-1984. Public Health Medical Officer, CA Dept. of Health Services, 1985-1991; Cal/EPA, 1991-1994. Full-time faculty, UCSF/SFGH Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 1994-2004. Professor of Medicine and Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, 2004-2007. Chief, Hazard Evaluation Section and Information Service (HESIS), CA Dept. of Public Health, Occupational Health Branch, Richmond, CA, 2007-2014. Staff Physician, Occupational Health Clinic, University of California, Berkeley, 2014-present.

Recent research activities:
Co-PI, FAMRI Clinical Innovator Award: "Second-hand smoke and sinusitis: Effect of sidestream smoke on sinus ostial patency." Collaborated with ORL Depts. at UCSF and UW on use of acoustically stimulated nasal NO as an index of ostiomeatal complex patency. Collaborated with the ORL Dept. at Ohio State University on modeling nasal NO using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models. Collaborated with Indoor Air Quality Section at California Department of Public Health on a pilot study of nasal trigeminal irritation by microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs). Mentored OEM fellow in a systematic literature review of the the relationship between occupational rhinitis and occupational asthma. Continuing work on the toxicology and epidemiology of methylene chloride exposures. Affiliated with Human Exposure Laboratory, ZSFGH, and Director of Upper Airway Biology Laboratory, UC Berkeley / Richmond Field Station.

Publications

  1. Bernstein JS, Ware K, Zamora-Sifuentes J, Poole JA, Shusterman D. Occupational Rhinitis. Immunology and allergy clinics of North America 2025. PMID: 41241425


  2. Shusterman DJ, Salmon AG. Bhopal, Dunsmuir and TRPA1: what they have taught us about nociception. Frontiers in allergy 2025. PMID: 41089212


  3. Shusterman D. History of pollutant adjuvants in respiratory allergy. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology 2024. PMID: 38533354


  4. Johnson AJ, Shankland E, Richards T, Corrigan N, Shusterman D, Edden R, Estes A, St John T, Dager S, Kleinhans NM. Relationships between GABA, glutamate, and GABA/glutamate and social and olfactory processing in children with autism spectrum disorder. Psychiatry research. Neuroimaging 2023. PMID: 37956467


  5. Shusterman D. Trigeminal Function in Sino-Nasal Health and Disease. Biomedicines 2023. PMID: 37509418


  6. Spector BM, Shusterman DJ, Zhao K. Nasal nitric oxide flux from the paranasal sinuses. Current opinion in allergy and clinical immunology 2022. PMID: 36373691


  7. Shusterman DJ, Spector BM, Goldberg AN, Weaver EM, Otto BA, Zhao K. Use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to model observed nasal nitric oxide levels in human subjects. 2021. PMID: 34923761


  8. Grant M, Harrison R, Nuñez A, Kurtz T, Phelps S, Brokaw J, Shusterman D. Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Among Firefighters/Paramedics in San Francisco, CA. 2021. PMID: 34739446


  9. Spector BM, Shusterman DJ, Goldberg AN, Weaver EM, Farag AA, Otto BA, Zhao K. Computational modeling of nasal nitric oxide flux from the paranasal sinuses: Validation against human experiment. 2021. PMID: 34388459


  10. Hoang A, Fagan K, Cannon DL, Rayasam SDG, Harrison R, Shusterman D, Singla V. Assessment of Methylene Chloride-Related Fatalities in the United States, 1980-2018. 2021. PMID: 33871539


  11. Skirko JR, James KT, Shusterman DJ, Weaver EM. Association of Allergic Rhinitis With Change in Nasal Congestion in New Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Users. JAMA otolaryngology-- head & neck surgery 2020. PMID: 32271366


  12. Durrani T, Clapp R, Harrison R, Shusterman D. Solvent-based paint and varnish removers: a focused toxicologic review of existing and alternative constituents. Journal of applied toxicology : JAT 2020. PMID: 32342556


  13. Shusterman D. A simplified technique for evaluating nasal mucociliary clearance via saccharin transit time. International forum of allergy & rhinology 2020. PMID: 32052924


  14. Kleinhans NM, Reilly M, Blake M, Greco G, Sweigert J, Davis GE, Velasquez F, Reitz F, Shusterman D, Dager SR. FMRI correlates of olfactory processing in typically-developing school-aged children. Psychiatry research. Neuroimaging 2018. PMID: 30554128


  15. Chen W, Wang P, Ito K, Fowles J, Shusterman D, Jaques PA, Kumagai K. Measurement of heating coil temperature for e-cigarettes with a "top-coil" clearomizer. PloS one 2018. PMID: 29672571


  16. Balogun RA, Siracusa A, Shusterman D. Occupational rhinitis and occupational asthma: Association or progression? American journal of industrial medicine 2018. PMID: 29411403


  17. Shusterman D, Wang P, Kumagai K. Nasal Trigeminal Perception of Two Representative Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds (MVOCs): 1-Octen-3-ol and 3-Octanol—a Pilot Study Chem Percept 2017. PMID:


  18. Sondermeyer Cooksey GL, Wilken JA, McNary J, Gilliss D, Shusterman D, Materna BL, Vugia DJ. Dust Exposure and Coccidioidomycosis Prevention Among Solar Power Farm Construction Workers in California. Volume 107 of Issue 8. American journal of public health 2017. PMID: 28640687


  19. Wang P, Chen W, Liao J, Matsuo T, Ito K, Fowles J, Shusterman D, Mendell M, Kumagai K. A Device-Independent Evaluation of Carbonyl Emissions from Heated Electronic Cigarette Solvents. Volume 12 of Issue 1. PloS one 2017. PMID: 28076380


  20. Shusterman D, Baroody FM, Craig T, Friedlander S, Nsouli T, Silverman B. Role of the Allergist-Immunologist and Upper Airway Allergy in Sleep-Disordered Breathing. Volume 5 of Issue 3. The journal of allergy and clinical immunology. In practice 2016. PMID: 27923646


  21. Shusterman D. Nonallergic Rhinitis: Environmental Determinants. Volume 36 of Issue 2. Immunology and allergy clinics of North America 2016. PMID: 27083110


  22. Shusterman D. The nasal nitric oxide response to external acoustic energy: A pilot study of sampling dynamics Sinusitis 2015. PMID:


  23. Wilken JA, Sondermeyer G, Shusterman D, McNary J, Vugia DJ, McDowell A, Borenstein P, Gilliss D, Ancock B, Prudhomme J, Gold D, Windham GC, Lee L, Materna BL. Coccidioidomycosis among Workers Constructing Solar Power Farms, California, USA, 2011-2014. Volume 21 of Issue 11. Emerging infectious diseases 2015. PMID: 26484688


  24. Shusterman D. Occupational irritant and allergic rhinitis. Volume 14 of Issue 4. Current allergy and asthma reports 2014. PMID: 24526601


  25. Macisaac J, Harrison R, Krishnaswami J, McNary J, Suchard J, Boysen-Osborn M, Cierpich H, Styles L, Shusterman D. Fatalities due to dichloromethane in paint strippers: a continuing problem. Volume 56 of Issue 8. American journal of industrial medicine 2013. PMID: 23450690


  26. Schick SF, van den Vossenberg G, Luo A, Whitlatch A, Jacob P, Balmes J, Shusterman D. Thirty minute-exposure to aged cigarette smoke increases nasal congestion in nonsmokers. Volume 76 of Issue 10. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A 2013. PMID: 23859154


  27. Zhao YA, Shusterman D. Occupational rhinitis and other work-related upper respiratory tract conditions. Volume 33 of Issue 4. Clinics in chest medicine 2012. PMID: 23153606


  28. Shusterman DJ, Weaver EM, Goldberg AN, Schick SF, Wong HH, Balmes JR. Pilot evaluation of the nasal nitric oxide response to humming as an index of osteomeatal patency. Volume 26 of Issue 2. American journal of rhinology & allergy 2012. PMID: 22487289


  29. Roisman R, Materna B, Beckman S, Katz E, Shusterman D, Harrison R. The role of state public health agencies in national efforts to track workplace hazards and the relevance of state experiences to nanomaterial worker surveillance. Volume 53 of Issue 6 Suppl. Journal of occupational and environmental medicine 2011. PMID: 21654415


  30. Shusterman D. The effects of air pollutants and irritants on the upper airway. Volume 8 of Issue 1. Proceedings of the American Thoracic Society 2011. PMID: 21364227


  31. Shusterman D. Regarding "Transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 antagonists block the noxious effects of toxic industrial isocyanates and tear gases". FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology 2010. PMID: 20356910


  32. Materna B, Harriman K, Rosenberg J, Shusterman D, Windham G, Atwell J, Beckman S, Mortensen E, Zipprich J. MMWR Occupational transmission of Neisseria meningitidis – California, 2009 2010. PMID:


  33. Morris JB, Shusterman DJ (eds.). Toxicology of the Nose and Upper Airways. NY: Informa Healthcare Toxicology of the Nose and Upper Airways. NY: Informa Healthcare 2010. PMID:


  34. Shusterman DJ, Tilles SA. Nasal physiological reactivity of subjects with nonallergic rhinitis to cold air provocation: a pilot comparison of subgroups. Volume 23 of Issue 5. American journal of rhinology & allergy 2009. PMID: 19807979


  35. Gulati RK, Kwan-Gett T, Hampson NB, Baer A, Shusterman D, Shandro JR, Duchin JS. Carbon monoxide epidemic among immigrant populations: King County, Washington, 2006. Volume 99 of Issue 9. American journal of public health 2009. PMID: 19608962


  36. Shusterman D. Qualitative effects in nasal trigeminal chemoreception. Volume 1170. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 2009. PMID: 19686137


  37. Shusterman D, Hummel T. Symposium overview: Nasal trigeminal function: qualitative, quantitative, and temporal effects. Volume 1170. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 2009. PMID: 19686134


  38. Shusterman DJ, Jansen K, Weaver EM, Koenig JQ. Documentation of the nasal nitric oxide response to humming: methods evaluation. European journal of clinical investigation 2007. PMID: 17696966


  39. Shusterman D, Murphy MA. Nasal hyperreactivity in allergic and non-allergic rhinitis: a potential risk factor for non-specific building-related illness. Indoor air 2007. PMID: 17661929


  40. Shusterman D. Trigeminally-mediated health effects of air pollutants: sources of inter-individual variability. Human & experimental toxicology 2007. PMID: 17439917


  41. Shusterman D. Environmental nonallergic rhinitis. Volume 19. Clinical allergy and immunology 2007. PMID: 17153018


  42. Shusterman D, Matovinovic E, Salmon A. Does Haber's law apply to human sensory irritation? Volume 18 of Issue 7. Inhalation toxicology 2006. PMID: 16603477


  43. Shusterman D, Tarun A, Murphy MA, Morris J. Seasonal allergic rhinitic and normal subjects respond differentially to nasal provocation with acetic acid vapor. Volume 17 of Issue 3. Inhalation toxicology 2005. PMID: 15788375


  44. Shusterman D, Balmes J, Murphy MA, Tai CF, Baraniuk J. Chlorine inhalation produces nasal airflow limitation in allergic rhinitic subjects without evidence of neuropeptide release. Volume 38 of Issue 6. Neuropeptides 2004. PMID: 15567471


  45. Morris JB, Wilkie WS, Shusterman DJ. Acute respiratory responses of the mouse to chlorine. Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology 2004. PMID: 15548641


  46. Rigau J, Farré R, Trepat X, Shusterman D, Navajas D. Oscillometric assessment of airway obstruction in a mechanical model of vocal cord dysfunction. Volume 37 of Issue 1. Journal of biomechanics 2004. PMID: 14672566


  47. Schiffman SS, Walker JM, Dalton P, Lorig TS, Raymer JH, Shusterman D, Williams CM. Potential health effects of odor from animal operations, wastewater treatment, and recycling of byproducts. Volume 9 of Issue 2. Journal of agromedicine 2004. PMID: 19785232


  48. Shusterman D, Murphy MA, Balmes J. Influence of age, gender, and allergy status on nasal reactivity to inhaled chlorine. Volume 15 of Issue 12. Inhalation toxicology 2003. PMID: 14515221


  49. Tarun AS, Bryant B, Zhai W, Solomon C, Shusterman D. Gene expression for carbonic anhydrase isoenzymes in human nasal mucosa. Volume 28 of Issue 7. Chemical senses 2003. PMID: 14578124


  50. Shusterman D, Avila PC. Real-time monitoring of nasal mucosal pH during carbon dioxide stimulation: implications for stimulus dynamics. Chemical senses 2003. PMID: 14578121


  51. Shusterman D, Murphy MA, Balmes J. Differences in nasal irritant sensitivity by age, gender, and allergic rhinitis status. Volume 76 of Issue 8. International archives of occupational and environmental health 2003. PMID: 12920525


  52. Matovinovic E, Solberg O, Shusterman D. Epidermal growth factor receptor - but not histamine receptor - is upregulated in seasonal allergic rhinitis. Allergy 2003. PMID: 12757445


  53. Shusterman D. Toxicology of nasal irritants. Volume 3 of Issue 3. Current allergy and asthma reports 2003. PMID: 12662476


  54. Shusterman D, Balmes J, Avila PC, Murphy MA, Matovinovic E. Chlorine inhalation produces nasal congestion in allergic rhinitics without mast cell degranulation. The European respiratory journal 2003. PMID: 12762352


  55. Shusterman D, Murphy MA, Walsh P, Balmes JR. Cholinergic blockade does not alter the nasal congestive response to irritant provocation. Volume 40 of Issue 3. Rhinology 2002. PMID: 12357714


  56. Shusterman D. Review of the upper airway, including olfaction, as mediator of symptoms. Volume 110 Suppl 4. Environmental health perspectives 2002. PMID: 12194901


  57. Shusterman D. Individual factors in nasal chemesthesis. Volume 27 of Issue 6. Chemical senses 2002. PMID: 12142331


  58. Shusterman D, Solomon C, Balmes J, Blanc P. Chlorine exposure and the upper respiratory tract. The European respiratory journal 2002. PMID: 11866020


  59. Shusterman D. Odor-associated health complaints: competing explanatory models. Chemical senses 2001. PMID: 11287393


  60. Shusterman D, Murphy MA, Balmes J. The influence of sex, allergic rhinitis, and test system on nasal sensitivity to airborne irritants: a pilot study. Environmental health perspectives 2001. PMID: 11171519


  61. Avila PC, Shusterman DJ. Work-related asthma and latex allergy. Sorting out the types, causes, and consequences. Postgraduate medicine 1999. PMID: 10376049


  62. Shusterman D, Key L. Critique of the multicenter latex skin testing efficacy study. The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology 1999. PMID: 10329840


  63. Prudhomme JC, Bhatia R, Nutik JM, Shusterman DJ. Chest wall pain and possible rhabdomyolysis after chloropicrin exposure. A case series. Journal of occupational and environmental medicine 1999. PMID: 9924716


  64. Shusterman DJ, Murphy MA, Balmes JR. Subjects with seasonal allergic rhinitis and nonrhinitic subjects react differentially to nasal provocation with chlorine gas. The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology 1998. PMID: 9648699


  65. Prudhomme JC, Shusterman DJ, Blanc PD. Acute-onset persistent olfactory deficit resulting from multiple overexposures to ammonia vapor at work. Volume 11 of Issue 1. The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice 1998. PMID: 9456450


  66. Shusterman DJ, Balmes JR. A comparison of two methods for determining nasal irritant sensitivity. American journal of rhinology 1997. PMID: 9768319


  67. Shusterman D, Balmes J. Measurement of nasal irritant sensitivity to pulsed carbon dioxide: a pilot study. Archives of environmental health 1997. PMID: 9546755


  68. Shusterman D. Latex allergy. Volume 165 of Issue 3. The Western journal of medicine 1996. PMID: 8909169


  69. Harber P, Shusterman D. Medical causation analysis heuristics. Journal of occupational and environmental medicine 1996. PMID: 8794956


  70. Kreutzer RA, Hewitt DJ, Sun R, Draper W, Mangiamele D, Goldman L, Jackson R, Smith D, Shusterman D. A community-based epidemiologic study of acute health effects from a metam-sodium spill on California's Sacramento River. Toxicology and industrial health 1996. PMID: 8794539


  71. Shusterman D, Alexeeff G, Hargis C, Kaplan J, Sato R, Gelb A, Becker C, Benowitz N, Gillen M, Thollaug S, Balmes J. Predictors of carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide exposure in smoke inhalation patients. Journal of toxicology. Clinical toxicology 1996. PMID: 8632515


  72. Shusterman D, Balmes J, Cone J. Irritant-induced asthma. Journal of occupational and environmental medicine 1995. PMID: 7670910


  73. Shusterman D, Hargis C. Surrogate laboratory measures of cyanide intoxication. Annals of emergency medicine 1994. PMID: 7993438


  74. Cone JE, Wugofski L, Balmes JR, Das R, Bowler R, Alexeeff G, Shusterman D. Persistent respiratory health effects after a metam sodium pesticide spill. Chest 1994. PMID: 7774327


  75. Alexeeff GV, Shusterman DJ, Howd RA, Jackson RJ. Dose-response assessment of airborne methyl isothiocyanate (MITC) following a metam sodium spill. Risk analysis : an official publication of the Society for Risk Analysis 1994. PMID: 8008928


  76. Lipsett M, Waller K, Shusterman D, Thollaug S, Brunner W. The respiratory health impact of a large urban fire. American journal of public health 1994. PMID: 8129061


  77. Shusterman D. Neurogenic inflammation: additional points. Environmental health perspectives 1994. PMID: 19391307


  78. Shusterman DJ. Clinical smoke inhalation injury: systemic effects. Occupational medicine (Philadelphia, Pa.) 1993. PMID: 8272975


  79. Olson KR, Shusterman DJ. Mixing incompatibilities and toxic exposures. Occupational medicine (Philadelphia, Pa.) 1993. PMID: 7505954


  80. Shusterman DJ. Polymer fume fever and other fluorocarbon pyrolysis-related syndromes. Occupational medicine (Philadelphia, Pa.) 1993. PMID: 8272977


  81. Shusterman D. Trichloroethylene exposure. Volume 47 of Issue 8. American family physician 1993. PMID: 8498283


  82. Shusterman D, Windham GC, Fenster L. Employment in electronics manufacturing and risk of spontaneous abortion. Journal of occupational medicine. : official publication of the Industrial Medical Association 1993. PMID: 8487115


  83. Shusterman D, Kaplan JZ, Canabarro C. Immediate health effects of an urban wildfire. The Western journal of medicine 1993. PMID: 8434462


  84. Liu KS, Girman JR, Hayward SB, Shusterman D, Chang YL. Unintentional carbon monoxide deaths in California from charcoal grills and hibachis. Journal of exposure analysis and environmental epidemiology 1993. PMID: 9857300


  85. Shusterman D. Community health and odor pollution regulation. American journal of public health 1992. PMID: 1443313


  86. Shusterman D. Environmental odor pollution. Archives of environmental health 1992. PMID: 1444603


  87. Shusterman DJ, Sheedy JE. Occupational and environmental disorders of the special senses. Occupational medicine (Philadelphia, Pa.) 1992. PMID: 1496433


  88. Shusterman D. Critical review: the health significance of environmental odor pollution. Archives of environmental health 1992. PMID: 1540008


  89. Cone JE, Shusterman D. Health effects of indoor odorants. Environmental health perspectives 1991. PMID: 1821378


  90. Neutra R, Lipscomb J, Satin K, Shusterman D. Hypotheses to explain the higher symptom rates observed around hazardous waste sites. Environmental health perspectives 1991. PMID: 1954936


  91. Shusterman D, Lipscomb J, Neutra R, Satin K. Symptom prevalence and odor-worry interaction near hazardous waste sites. Environmental health perspectives 1991. PMID: 1954935


  92. Lipscomb JA, Fenster L, Wrensch M, Shusterman D, Swan S. Pregnancy outcomes in women potentially exposed to occupational solvents and women working in the electronics industry. Journal of occupational medicine. : official publication of the Industrial Medical Association 1991. PMID: 1870012


  93. Windham GC, Shusterman D, Swan SH, Fenster L, Eskenazi B. Exposure to organic solvents and adverse pregnancy outcome. American journal of industrial medicine 1991. PMID: 1951371


  94. Shusterman DJ, Dager SR. Prevention of psychological disability after occupational respiratory exposures. Occupational medicine (Philadelphia, Pa.) 1991. PMID: 2008632


  95. Shusterman D. Espresso maker's wrist. Volume 152 of Issue 6. The Western journal of medicine 1990. PMID: 2353484


  96. Shusterman D, Quinlan P, Lowengart R, Cone J. Methylene chloride intoxication in a furniture refinisher. A comparison of exposure estimates utilizing workplace air sampling and blood carboxyhemoglobin measurements. Journal of occupational medicine. : official publication of the Industrial Medical Association 1990. PMID: 2348262


  97. Wrensch M, Swan S, Lipscomb J, Epstein D, Fenster L, Claxton K, Murphy PJ, Shusterman D, Neutra R. Pregnancy outcomes in women potentially exposed to solvent-contaminated drinking water in San Jose, California. American journal of epidemiology 1990. PMID: 2296981


  98. Shusterman D, Balmes J, Cone J. Behavioral sensitization to irritants/odorants after acute overexposures. Journal of occupational medicine. : official publication of the Industrial Medical Association 1988. PMID: 3397783


  99. Shusterman D. Workers' compensation. Volume 38 of Issue 1. American family physician 1988. PMID: 2969181


  100. Shusterman D, Neal E. Skeletal muscle and myocardial injury associated with metal fume fever. The Journal of family practice 1986. PMID: 3734720


  101. Shusterman D, Neal E. Prolonged fever associated with inhalation of multiple pyrolysis products. Annals of emergency medicine 1986. PMID: 3729107


  102. Shusterman D. Criticism of mathematical approach to compensatory issue. Journal of occupational medicine. : official publication of the Industrial Medical Association 1985. PMID: 2935601


  103. Shusterman D. Problem-solving techniques in occupational medicine. The Journal of family practice 1985. PMID: 3161991


  104. Brodersen R, Cashore WJ, Wennberg RP, Ahlfors CE, Rasmussen LF, Shusterman D. Kinetics of bilirubin oxidation with peroxidase, as applied to studies of bilirubin-albumin binding. Volume 39 of Issue 2. Scandinavian journal of clinical and laboratory investigation 1979. PMID: 523962