The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Superfund Research Program (SRP) produces a monthly Research Brief Podcast that highlights the research of SRP grantees. The SRP is a network of university grants that seek solutions to the complex health and environmental issues associated with the nation's hazardous waste sites. The research conducted by the SRP is a coordinated effort with the Environmental Protection Agency, which is the federal entity charged with cleaning ...
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User-friendly Technology Detects NDMA in Water
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A new technology, developed by researchers at the NIEHS-funded Massachusetts Institute of Technology Superfund Research Program Center, can detect the contaminant N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in water. This breakthrough tool offers a quick way to monitor NDMA by triggering a visible color change when light interacts with the contaminated solution.…
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Passive Samplers Track PFAS, Show Contamination Reduction in Cape Fear River
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Common low-cost samplers may be an effective technology for tracking PFAS levels in aquatic environments, according to a study funded by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP). The research team found that frequently used passive sampling devices, which collect samples over time, can monitor how PFAS mitigation strategies affect PFAS levels alo…
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Early Life Exposures May Shape Infant Immune System
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Exposure to certain chemicals during early pregnancy may influence how a baby’s immune system develops, according to a study partly funded by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP). The scientists discovered that some per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and metals may alter how an infant’s immune system responds to environmental triggers…
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Pyrite Improves Electrochemical System for Removing a Chemical Mixture
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Adding a common mineral, pyrite, to an electrochemical system can simultaneously remove organic and heavy metal contaminants from groundwater, according to a study funded in part by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP). Led by Akram Alshawabkeh, Ph.D., researchers at the Northeastern University SRP Center found that combining two types of rem…
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Environmental Factors Alter PFAS Removal by Specialized Nanomaterials
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Researchers funded by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP) revealed how characteristics of water treatment systems may alter the ability of novel nanomaterials to remove PFAS. Scientists should be aware of factors like water pH ' a measure of acidic or basic conditions ' or salt level to ensure that these nanomaterials effectively remove PFAS…
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High Seafood Diet May Lead to Increased PFAS Exposure
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A study funded by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP) found that consuming some types of commercial seafood in high quantities may increase the risk of PFAS exposure. Led by Celia Chen, Ph.D., Kate Crawford, Ph.D., and Megan Romano, Ph.D., at Dartmouth College, the research team believes their findings can support the development of consumpt…
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Engineering Hydrogel Beads to Enhance Bioremediation of Groundwater Contaminant
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Oregon State University scientists and engineers developed an approach to cleaning polluted groundwater that uses tiny beads containing chemical-eating bacteria. In this study, funded by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP), the team identified a formula to maximize bead durability and bioremediation, or the removal of contaminants using bact…
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Tracking Mercury Conversion and Distribution in Aquatic Environments
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NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP)-funded researchers, led by Heileen Hsu-Kim, Ph.D., of the Duke University SRP Center, provided insight into how and at what timescale mercury changes within a wetland ecosystem. They found mercury from different sources is converted into other mercury forms that eventually have similar properties. This finding…
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Using Earth Materials to Remove Metals Near Abandoned Mines
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NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP)-funded researchers developed a new strategy that uses limestone and a naturally occurring mineral to clean up water contaminated with arsenic and uranium — two of the most frequently detected drinking water pollutants in Tribal communities.Af Superfund Research Program
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New Model Estimates the Effects of Dioxin on Liver Cholesterol
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Scientists funded partly by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP) developed a computer model to determine the health effects of exposure to dioxins. Researchers use the model to combine data on exposures and on known health outcomes to assess the overall risk chemicals could pose to health.For this study, researchers at the Michigan State Univ…
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Mapping Microbe Interactions That Support PCB-Degrading Bacteria
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Researchers partially funded by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP) mapped interactions between microbes that may support the growth of certain bacteria that degrade polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a harmful contaminant. By harnessing those microbial relationships, researchers could improve the bioremediation, or bacterial breakdown, of PC…
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Environmentally Persistent Free Radicals, PAHs Interact to Increase Toxicity of Particulate Mixtures
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Toxic air pollutants called environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) may react with certain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on the surface of airborne particles to form more toxic chemicals, according to researchers funded by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP). The study, led by Slawomir Lomnicki, Ph.D., of the Louisiana Sta…
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High-Temperature Biochar for Arsenic Remediation
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Adding biochar produced at a high temperature may be an effective way to immobilize arsenic in sediment, according to researchers partially funded by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP). The study, led by Owen Duckworth, Ph.D., of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill SRP Center, in partnership with researchers from the Luiz de Que…
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Mechanism of Cadmium-induced Neurotoxicity, Potential Treatment Revealed
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A particular class of extracellular vesicles protects against neurotoxicity caused by cadmium exposure, according to an NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP)-funded study. Extracellular vesicles are small packages of fats, nucleic acids, or proteins that allow cells to communicate with each other and support numerous cellular functions.…
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Modified Iron Particles Could Improve Bioremediation of PFAS
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Iron particles coated in a nontoxic material may enhance PFAS degradation by a certain bacterium, according to researchers funded by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program. The study could inform bioremediation efforts that harness the microbe, known as Acidimicrobium Strain A6, for cleaning up contaminated soil, sediments, and aquifers.…
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Benzene Exposure During Pregnancy Affects Later-Life Metabolic Health
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Prenatal exposure to the air pollutant benzene may lead to a higher risk of metabolic diseases later in life,according to a study in mice partially funded by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP). Benzene affectsneurodevelopment, predisposing offspring to harmful metabolic effects, according to a research team led byMarianna Sadagurski, Ph.D.,…
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Cadmium-Linked Inflammation Increases the Severity of Lung Infection
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Researchers funded in part by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP) uncovered a key mechanism explaining how inflammation caused by cadmium exposure makes lung infections more severe and deadly.Af Superfund Research Program
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Exposure to PCBs During Nursing Leads to Temporary Diabetes-Related Health Effect
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Exposure to synthetic chemicals called polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) through a mother's milk could cause short-term glucose intolerance in offspring, according to a study by researchers from the University of Kentucky (UK) and funded by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP). Intolerance to glucose, signified by high blood levels of the suga…
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Fighting Fluorine with Fluorine: New Materials Remove PFAS from Groundwater
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Researchers funded by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP) created a novel class of materials that can attract and remove per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from water. According to the authors, the new technology — called Fluor Mop — can be regenerated, reused, and is potentially less expensive than current remediation strategies.…
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Mimicking Molecules Made by Bacteria to Remove Metals From Water
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NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP)-funded scientists developed a method to extract metals from water using synthetic molecules inspired by those produced by bacteria. The biodegradable molecules, called rhamnolipids, could one day be used to remove toxic metals or extract rare and valuable elements from aqueous mining and industrial waste.…
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New Model Estimates PFAS Exposures From Contaminated Drinking Water
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Researchers partially funded by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP) developed a model to estimate individual exposure to four per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) commonly found in drinking water. The model integrates published data from multiple studies on PFAS levels in human blood along with measured PFAS concentrations in drinking …
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Combining Analytical Chemistry and Machine Learning to Detangle Mixtures
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NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP)-funded researchers demonstrated a significant step toward identifying individual chemical components in complex mixtures. Their approach uses advanced analytical techniques and sophisticated machine learning approaches while overcoming the time-consuming separation steps that preceded traditional chemical anal…
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Dioxin Disrupts Liver Cells in Mice, Potential Link with Liver Disease
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An NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP)-funded study in mice reported that exposure to a type of dioxin can alter cells in the liver, their metabolic characteristics, and how they are organized within the liver. According to the researchers, these changes in cell behavior and organization play a role in the development of dioxin-induced liver dis…
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Sampling Device Harnesses Powerful Molecular Interactions, Overcomes Barriers in Detecting Volatile Contaminants
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A NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP)-funded study showed how unique microsensors that harness powerful molecular interactions can selectively detect trace amounts of aromatic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the environment.Af Superfund Research Program
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PFAS Exposure Associated with Elevated Cholesterol in North Carolina Community
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NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP)-funded researchers found that elevated levels of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the blood of participants of the GenX Exposure Study were associated with higher cholesterol. Led by Jane Hoppin, ScD., of the North Carolina State University SRP Center, the study started in 2017 in response to the c…
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Disentangling Relationships Between Arsenic and the Gut Microbiome
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Using an innovative method to simulate the gastrointestinal (GI) system, an NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP)-funded study revealed the interplay between arsenic exposure and the gut microbiome. The scientists assessed how arsenic alters the microbiome and how much arsenic can be dissolved into the bloodstream after being broken down by the gu…
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Combining Arsenic Data Across Populations Sheds Light on Exposure Sources
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By combining data across three different populations, NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP) researchers were able to better characterize sources of arsenic exposure that should be included in risk assessments. The study was a collaboration among the University of California (UC), Berkeley, University of New Mexico (UNM), and Columbia University SR…
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Improving How Microbes Break Down PFAS
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NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP) grantees demonstrated a method to break down per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) into smaller, non-toxic molecules. Led by Yujie Men, Ph.D., of the University of California, Riverside, the team also showed that some types of PFAS can be more easily degraded than others.…
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Emerging PFAS Can Cause Changes in Gene Expression and Lipid Accumulation in Human Liver Cells
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New types of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) can induce significant increases in gene expression and lipid accumulation in human liver cells at lower concentrations compared to PFAS no longer in use, according to researchers funded by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP).Af Superfund Research Program
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Study Sheds Light on Breakdown Products of PCBs in the Environment
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NIEHS Superfund Research program (SRP) grantees discovered toxic breakdown products of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in contaminated sediments at proportionally higher levels than found in commercial PCB mixtures.Af Superfund Research Program
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Protein Provides Insight into Respiratory Toxicity of Cadmium
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A protein called fibrinogen can be an indicator of cadmium exposure in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a study led by Veena Antony, M.D., director of the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP) Center at the University of Alabama, Birmingham.Af Superfund Research Program
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Sampling Device May Predict Methylmercury Accumulation in Wetlands
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NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP)-funded researchers, led by Heileen Hsu-Kim, Ph.D., of the Duke University SRP Center, showed that a small plastic sampling device can efficiently predict the potential for methylmercury — an environmental contaminant — to form in freshwater wetlands and to accumulate in organisms living there.…
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Leveraging Machine Learning to Predict Toxicity
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NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP) grantees developed a new computational approach to predict how hazardous substances may affect health based on key changes in cells. Led by April Z. Gu, Ph.D., of the Northeastern University Puerto Rico Testsite for Exploring Contamination Threats (PROTECT) SRP Center, researchers used machine learning and adv…
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New Technique Yields Promising Results for Uranium Removal in the Field
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A technology developed by NIEHS-funded Superfund Research Program (SRP) researchers may remove uranium and other heavy metals from groundwater near abandoned mines. Small business GlycoSurf, LLC worked with partners at the University of Arizona SRP Center to determine the best environmental conditions for effectively removing uranium from contamina…
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Biosensor Helps Characterize Contaminants and Health Risks Following Disasters
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A sophisticated biosensor may provide information about contaminant distribution in the aftermath of natural disasters, according to an NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP)-funded study. Led by former Texas A&M University SRP Center trainee Krisa Camargo and Michael Unger, Ph.D., from the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences, the team demonstrat…
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Combined Approach Sheds Light on Global Cancer Risk
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About 90 percent of the global lung cancer risk from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, does not come from benzo(a)pyrene, according to a study funded by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP). Some of these compounds are not regularly monitored.Af Superfund Research Program
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Researchers from the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP)-funded centers at the University of Rhode Island (URI) and Brown University developed a new type of passive sampling device for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Their new tool overcomes many limitations to traditional approaches, such as detecting short-chain PFAS and low concen…
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Helping Communities Monitor Air Pollution Using Plants
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An NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP)-funded study revealed that certain plants can be used to effectively monitor metals and other pollutants in air. Community members collected environmental data used in the study as part of the Gardenroots project, which involves residents in research activities to evaluate human and environmental health eff…
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First-of-its-Kind Arsenic Meta-Analysis Paves the Way for Future Data Integration
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Researchers from NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP) centers at the University of California (UC), Berkeley and Columbia University used advanced analysis techniques to combine data from populations in Chile and Bangladesh. The purpose was to detect common DNA methylation (DNAm) signatures associated with arsenic exposure.…
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Characterizing Arsenic Exposure in Public Water Supplies and Private Wells
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A recent NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP)-funded study revealed that while arsenic concentrations in community water systems (CWS) have decreased over time, certain populations are still vulnerable to elevated levels of arsenic.Af Superfund Research Program
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Analyzing Chemicals and Genes Yields Novel Insight into PAH Behavior
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A new NIEHS Superfund Research Program-funded study revealed how polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) breakdown and transform in the presence of ultraviolet A (UVA) light and titanium dioxide nanoparticle pollutants. Their findings have important implications for PAH cleanup, which may not consider how PAHs transform in diverse environments.…
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Combined Approach Sheds Light on Factors Controlling Stream Recovery
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Improved water quality and stream ecosystem recovery following treatment of mine waste depends on a mix of physical, chemical, and biological factors, according to a new study funded by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program at the Colorado School of Mines. William Clements, Ph.D., professor at Colorado State University, and two doctoral students, le…
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New Technique Sheds Light on PFAS in Coastal Watersheds
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A new analytical workflow, developed by NIEHS Superfund Research Program grantees, can identify and characterize previously undetected per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds, or PFAS, in contaminated watersheds.Af Superfund Research Program
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Arsenic Exposure Before Conception May Trigger Diabetes in Male Offspring
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Exposure to inorganic arsenic before conception can alter metabolic outcomes in the offspring of mice, with different effects among males and females, according to a new study. Researchers reported, for the first time, a link between changes in gene expression in parents’ reproductive cells and diabetic indicators in offspring.…
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Modeling and Field Tests Yield Promising Results for Aquifer Clean Up
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NIEHS Superfund Research Program grantees have developed novel, slow-release oxidant-paraffin candles that dissolve and degrade chlorinated contaminants in underground aquifers. The grant recipient, small business AirLift Environmental, worked with partners at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) to optimize this groundwater clean-up method and…
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Triclosan and a High-fat Diet Worsen Liver Disease in Mice
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A new study funded by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP) shows triclosan exposure, in combination with a high-fat diet, can worsen nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Led by Robert Tukey, Ph.D., researchers at the University of California San Diego SRP Center described the molecular mechanisms by which triclosan alters metabolism and gut micr…
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New Model to Examine PFAS Sheds Light on Lipid Disruption Mechanisms
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Researchers from the Boston University Superfund Research Program Center developed a novel study design that generated new insight on the effects of perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, on cholesterol regulation in the liver. Led by Jennifer Schlezinger, Ph.D., the team also investigated the effects of PFOA on the human peroxisome proliferator activate…
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Improved Sequencing Method Leads to Advancements in Toxicology Research
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NIEHS-funded Superfund Research Program (SRP) scientists are employing a new RNA sequencing method to assess mechanisms of toxicity on a finer and more accessible scale. Researchers in SRP grantee Tim Zacharewski’s Lab at the Michigan State University (MSU) SRP Center conducted the study.Af Superfund Research Program
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Edible Sorbents May Protect Against Metal Toxicity
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A new study from NIEHS-funded Superfund Research Program Center researchers suggests that edible sorbents may be an effective treatment to reduce heavy metal exposure from consumption of contaminated water and food. According to the researchers, this is the first evidence that edible sorbents can bind heavy metal mixtures and protect against their …
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New Tool Monitors a Flame Retardant in Sediment
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Researchers at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) Superfund Research Program (SRP) Center developed a new, inexpensive tool to reliably detect small amounts of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) in environmental samples. TBBPA is a flame retardant commonly found in household dust, soil, water, sewage, sludge, and sediments.…
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