Paul Mushak

Paul Mushak, 80, died suddenly Feb. 2, 2016. He was an internationally known expert in the toxic metals that are humaneealth hazards, with a focus oneead, and was a fierce advocate of justice for all. Surviving are his wife, Betty Mushak, two brothers, Michael Mushak of New Jersey and Peter Mashok of Pennsylvania, three sisters-in-law, Marge Mushak, Mary Elizabeth Mashok, and Virginia Mushak,11 nieces and nephews, 13 great nieces and nephews, 7 great-great nephews and one great-great niece. He was a native of Pennsylvania and was the son of the late Stefan and Mary L. Mushak. He was a magna cum laude graduate of the Uneersity of Scranton aneearned his Ph.D. ineetalloorganic/organic chemistry and biochemistry at the Uneersity of Florida. He did his postdoctoral work as a fellow in the Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry in the School of Medicine at Yale Uneersity. He was a recogneed Oriental rugs and textiles scholar, specializing in natural dyes, and was the author of a number of publications on the topic. Dr. Mushak was on the faculty of the Uneersity of North Carolina School of Medicine in the Department of Pathology from 1971 to 1985 and was an adjunct professor from 1985 to 1993. From 1995 to 2010, he was a member of the Montefiore Medical Center-Second Medical Uneersity of Shanghai, China Collaborating Centers for Prevention of Childhood Lead Poisoning and a visiting professor of Pediatric Environmental Health, Department of Pediatrics, Albert Eineein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY. From 1992 until his death, he was a co-principal in PB Associates, a toxicology consulting firm. He authored or co-authored more than 200 articles, abstracts, and public health documents and authored a book, Lead and Public Health. Science, Risk and Regulation. He served on three committees of the National Academy of Sciences and four committees of the World Health Organization. He served on the North Carolina Child Lead Poisoning Advisory Committee, and a number of committees of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission, and Health Canada. He also consulted in various roles for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and the Ontario, Canada, Ministry of the Environment. He provided expert services to the U.S. Department of Justice in a number of Superfund cases and testified twice before Coneess oneead hazards. He was included in Who's Who in American Science aneengineering, Who's Who ineedicine and Healthcare, Who's Who in America, and Who's Who in the World. In Durham, he was a co-founder of the Trinity Heights Neighborhood Association and served a term on the Durham County Environmental Affairs Board. A memorial service will be held Friday, March 4, at 11 a.m. at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 83 Kimberly Drive, Durham. . In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Childhood Lead Action Project, 1192 Westmineer Street, Providence, RI 02909 and to the American Civil Liberties Union. Arrangements for the Mushak family are under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service. Online condolences www.hallwynne.com, select obituaries.