SILVERMAN, LESLIE

SILVERMAN, LESLIE (1914–1966), U.S. engineer. Born in Chicago, Silverman was a member of the Department of Industrial Hygiene at Harvard University in 1937 where he was professor from 1958 and department head from 1961. This department pioneered studies in industrial hygiene and occupational medicine in the U.S. Silverman's research interests mainly concerned the analysis of airborne dust. During World War II he was responsible for the engineering aspects of programs which developed oxygen provision during high altitude flight and protective gas masks. His engineering and supervisory work after the war included radiological safety, solid waste management, and controlling air pollution. He was a consultant to the Atomic Energy Commission. His books Industrial Air Sampling and Analysis (1947) and Handbook on Aircleaning (1952) were standard texts. (Michael Denman (2nd ed.)