Faculty Profile

Alfred Franzblau, M.D.

Alfred Franzblau, M.D.

  • Professor, Environmental Health Sciences
  • Associate Professor, Emergency Medicine
  • Associate Research Scientist, Center for Ergonomics
  • 6611A SPH I
  • 1415 Washington Heights
  • Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2029

Dr. Franzblau graduated from the University of California School of Medicine in San Diego, completed residency training in Internal Medicine at the University of Washington, and had advanced training in Occupational and Environmental Medicine at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York before joining the faculty at the University of Michigan School of Public Health in 1989. He also holds academic appointments at the University of Michigan Medical School and College of Engineering. He served as Associate Dean for Research of the University of Michigan School of Public Health (January, 2011 to May 2013), and then served as Vice Provost for Academic and Budgetary Affairs for the University of Michigan (May 2013 to December 2015). He is board certified in both Internal Medicine and Preventive/Occupational Medicine. His professional/academic activities have included teaching, research, and the clinical practice of occupational and environmental medicine. Research interests include occupational and environmental lung disease and their radiological techniques (e.g., asbestosis, asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis), evaluation of chemical exposures in the workplace and general environment (e.g., dioxins and metals), and work-related musculoskeletal disorders (e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis and osteoarthritis). From 2003-2006 he co-chaired the Health IRB at the University of Michigan, and from 2001-2009 he served as a scientific advisor to the UAW-GM National Joint Committee for Health and Safety. He was a member of the USEPA Science Advisory Board Exposure and Human Health Committee, and he has served as a reviewer for numerous scientific journals, government agencies and the Institute of Medicine.

  • M.D., , University of California, San Diego, 1983
  • M.S., Mathematics, Stanford University, 1978
  • B.A., Mathematics, Northwestern University, 1975

Research interests include occupational and environmental lung disease and their radiological techniques (e.g., asbestosis, asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis), evaluation of chemical exposures in the workplace and general environment (e.g., dioxins and metals), and work-related musculoskeletal disorders (e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis and osteoarthritis).

  • Franzblau A, Gerr F and Werner RA (2019). Reliability of common provocative tests for shoulder tendinitis by Doxey et al – Letter to the Editor. J Occup Environ Med. 61(6):e300-e301.
  • Werner RA and Franzblau A (2018). How can we best estimate the incidence and prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome? (invited editorial) Muscle & Nerve. 58:467-469.
  • Franzblau A, Antao VC, Pinheiro G and Larson T (2018). Pleural abnormalities in the Framingham Heart Study: prevalence and CT image features, by Araki et al. (letter to the editor). Occup Environ Med. 2018;75(1):77.
  • Franzblau A, teWaterNaude J, Sen A, d'Arcy H, Smilg JS, Mashao KS, Meyer CA,
    Lockey JE and Ehrlich RI (2018). Comparison of digital and film chest radiography for detection and medical surveillance of silicosis in a setting with a high burden of tuberculosis. Amer J Ind Med. 61(3):229-238.
  • Ehrlich R, Franzblau A, Meyer C and teWaterNaude J (2018). Digital radiological surveillance of silicosis and related tuberculosis in the South African mining industry: practical and technical considerations. Occup Hlth Southern Africa. 24(2):38-42.
  • Wu J, Franzblau A and Xi C (2016). Molecular characterization of microbial communities and quantification of Mycobacterium immunogenum in metal removal fluids and their associated biofilms. Environ Sci Pollut Res. 23(5):4086-4094.
  • Goodrich JM, Chou HN, Gruninger SE, Franzblau A and Basu N (2016). Exposures of Dental Professionals to Elemental Mercury and Methylmercury. J Exposure Sci and Environ Epid. 26(1):78-85.
  • Parajuli RP, Goodrich JM, Chou HN, Gruninger SE, Dolinoy DC, Franzblau A and Basu N (2016). Genetic polymorphisms are associated with hair, blood, and urine mercury levels in the American Dental Association (ADA) study participants. Environmental
    Research. 149:247-258.
  • Evanoff B, Gardner BT, Strickland JR, Buckner-Petty S, Franzblau A and Dale AM (2016) Long term symptomatic, functional, and work outcomes of carpal tunnel syndrome among construction workers. Am J Ind Med. 59(5):357-368.
  • Siedlikowski M, Bradley M, Kubow S, Goodrich JM, Franzblau A and Basu N (2016). Bioaccessibility and bioavailability of methylmercury from seafood commonly consumed in North America: In vitro and epidemiological studies. Environ Res.
    149:266-273.