The research by Dr. Boyes has contributed to occupational and environmental standards for a number of potentially neurotoxic materials, including toluene—commonly found in gasoline, oil-based paints, paint thinners, glues and printer ink. His work also has focused on trichloroethylene, which is found in hazardous waste sites, metal degreasers and chemical extractions, and perchloroethylene, a component of dry-cleaning fluid, consumer paint strippers and spot removers.
As a result, the EPA changed its Integrated Risk Information System, which set standards for how much contact with certain chemicals is considered dangerous. Two agency guidelines—the Neurotoxicology Risk Assessment Guidelines and the Acute Exposure Assessment Guidelines—were heavily influenced by the chemical assessment and research on eyesight done by Dr. Boyes.

Most recently, he has studied the properties of manmade nanomaterials—engineered particles. He helped develop a comprehensive framework for assessing the potential impact nanomaterials can have on both the retina and the environment.

The Environmental Health Science seminar series approach the most relevant and emerging aspects of modern Occupational and Environmental Health. They include exposure and mechanistic sciences, toxicological and epidemiological approaches linking experimental and human research to prevention and protective policy making.

Pre- and post-doctoral students and faculties of the FIU EHS Department share their studies in this series, along with prominent external speakers.