Superfund Research Program

Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Exposure Assessment of Metals

Project Leader: Margaret R. Karagas
Grant Number: P42ES007373
Funding Period: 1995-2021

Project-Specific Links

Final Progress Reports

Year:   2020  2013  2007  2004  1999 

Aims: The goal of this project is to investigate the health effects of environmental relevant levels of arsenic in a USA population of which 40% rely on private drinking water systems (bedrock wells) that often contain arsenic above the current MCL. A major component of this project is a prospective pregnancy cohort study investigating the effects of arsenic and other exposures on birth outcomes, and whether lifestyle or host factors influence susceptibility to these exposures.

Studies and results: The goal of this project is to investigate the health effects of environmental relevant levels of arsenic in a USA population of which 40% rely on private drinking water systems (bedrock wells) that often contain arsenic above the current MCL. A major component of this project is a prospective pregnancy cohort study investigating the effects of arsenic and other exposures on birth outcomes, and whether lifestyle or host factors influence susceptibility to these exposures.

During this reporting period Dr. Karagas and her research team exceeded their accrual goal of enrolling over 1,000 mother-infant pairs in the cohort study. They continued their extensive data collection to assess variables such as maternal health and lifestyle, samples i.e., of household tap water, maternal blood, hair, and toenails, cord blood, and maternal and infant medical records and continued to collaborate with the Trace Element Analysis Core to determine optimal ways to measure exposures during pregnancy. The team continues to leverage the valuable data and samples from this cohort to conduct collaborative studies of early biologic response markers that may be indicative of risk of adverse birth outcomes and later health effects. This includes placental gene expression and epigenetics as well as dietary sources of maternal, fetal and infant arsenic exposure through the NIHES/EPA funded formative Children Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research Center. Further, the team is evaluating immune markers in newborns through a R21 in collaboration with Stanford University. They continue their extensive array of collaborative studies building on the parent bladder cancer study.

One of the team's postdoctoral trainees, Dr. Shohreh Farzan, was awarded a 2013 KC Donnelly Externship Award to pursue research into the cardiovascular effects of arsenic under the guidance of Dr. Yu Chen, a member of the Columbia Superfund Research Program. Dr. Farzan's work with Dr. Chen has explored the hypothesis that As exposure may increase the risk of elevated blood pressure in two As exposed study populations--the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study in Bangladesh and the New Hampshire Birth Cohort. Dr. Farzan and Dr. Karagas attended the Annual Superfund Research Program Meeting this October in Baton Rouge, LA, where Dr. Farzan presented preliminary results related to her KC Donnelly Externship project.

Significance: To the team's best knowledge, the study represents among the first molecular epidemiologic investigations of early life exposure to mercury and arsenic. Their goal is to inform risk assessment and management of toxic metal exposure in the US, and to aid in the development of early intervention strategies to prevent adverse health effects from these exposures.

Plans: The research team will begin to conduct studies proposed in the new aims of the renewal application.