Superfund Research Program

Training Core

Project Leader: Agnes B. Kane
Grant Number: P42ES013660
Funding Period: 2005-2021

Project-Specific Links

Final Progress Reports

Year:   2020  2014  2008 

The societal, ethical, economic, and public health consequences of environmental and industrial contamination require interdisciplinary teams of toxicologists, engineers, social scientists, health professionals, and environmental scientists who can work together with local communities, industry, and government regulatory agencies to recognize and address these problems. Continued initiatives developed by this SBRP Training Core include interdisciplinary courses, research opportunities, and field experiences to explore complex environmental and industrial contamination, potential public health consequences, and strategies for pollution prevention and remediation.

In addition to interdisciplinary didactic courses and seminars that supplement the traditional graduate-level courses in the participating graduate programs in Engineering, Chemistry, Pathobiology, Biostatistics, and Sociology and Anthropology, the Training Core's SBRP trainees received hands-on technical training by the SBRP Molecular Pathology Core and the Analytical Chemistry Core. Paula Weston and Mary Hixon, Molecular Pathology Core Leader, provided the following training for graduate students and postdoctoral research associates supported by this SBRP grant:

• Jessica Thaxton: Histopathological and immunohistochemical assessment of placental changes induced by maternal exposure to PCBs.
• Pengpeng Yao: Scanning electron microscopy of novel carbon-based nanomaterials for capture of metals.
• Nicholas Heger: Histopathological and morphometric assessment of testicular changes induced by endocrine disrupting chemicals.
• Haley Menard: Assessment of apoptotic responses of human lung cells exposed to formaldehyde.
• Vanesa Sanchez: Electron microscopy and vibratome sectioning of granulomas induced by asbestos fibers and carbon nanomaterials.

David Murray, Director of the SBRP Analytical Chemistry Core, provided technical training in the following assays for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers working on SBRP research projects:

• Lin Guo, Aihui Yan:Analysis of bioavailable iron in carbon nanomaterials using ICP-OES.
• Xinyuan Liu: Analysis of bioavailable nickel in carbon nanotubes using Graphite Furnace AAS.
• Lorin Jakubek: Analysis of yttrium leaching from carbon nanotubes using ICP-OES.
• Love Sarin: Analysis of mercury capture by novel carbon-based nanomaterials.
• Pengpeng Yao: Analysis of heavy metals removed from contaminated water waste streams using ICP-OES.
• James Rice, Karen Dannemiller: Analysis of sVOC's and VOC's.
• Neetu Tewari: Analysis of PCB's using GC/MS/ECD.

Jean Wu, Assistant Professor of Biostatistics, and her graduate student, Yunxia Sui supported by the SBRP Training Core, have worked together with graduate students and postdoctoral research associates in Agnes Kane's lab, Principal Investigator of the Genotoxic Potential Of Mixed Dust Exposures project, and Kim Boekelheide's lab, Principal Investigator of the Testicular Sensitization and Co-Exposure Synergy project, on study design and statistical analysis of toxicogenomic data. Jean Wu also designed a new course, PHP 2620: Statistical Methods in Bioinformatics that was taken by our predoctoral trainees in the spring semester, 2008.

The most rewarding aspect of this SBRP research program is the opportunity to train graduate students and postdoctoral research associates in interdisciplinary teams:

• Xinjuan Liu (Engineering graduate student) and Ashley Smith (research technician) are studying toxicology of metallic nickel nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes as described in the Genotoxic Potential Of Mixed Dust Exposures project.
• Aihui Yan (Engineering graduate student), Bonnie Lau (an M.D. –Ph.D. student in Pathobiology), and Annette von dem Bussche, (postdoctoral research associate) are involved in design and surface functionalization of carbon nanomaterials to reduce their toxicity.
• Love Sarin (Engineering graduate student) and Vanesa Sanchez (Pathobiology graduate student) are developing and testing composite nanomaterials as scavengers for mercury pollutants.
• Xinjuan Liu and Annette von dem Bussche are also involved in a project in collaboration with QD Vision, Inc. to design and test new quantum dots for LED display applications that have minimal environmental impact and toxicity. This is one of several approaches to prevent future pollutants related to the emerging nanotechnology industry.

The SBRP Research Translation and Outreach Cores have provided the following real-world learning experiences for the graduate students working on these SBRP research projects:

• James Rice is an engineering graduate student who had the opportunity to travel to Virginia with Kelly Pennell, postdoctoral research associate and State Agencies Liaison for this SBRP Grant, to participate in an on-site vapor intrusion study. This site in Petersburg, Virginia is contaminated with waste from a manufactured gas plant. James helped with sample collection and participated in discussions with environmental consultants and state regulators about emerging issues related to vapor intrusion. Xinjuan Liu is an engineering graduate student working on carbon nanomaterials in collaboration with Robert Hurt, Principal Investigator of the Mechanisms Of Hg Adsorption From Mixed Pollutant Streams project and Agnes Kane, Principal Investigator of the Genotoxic Potential Of Mixed Dust Exposures project. This research team was invited to visit QD Vision, Inc. in Watertown, MA to initiate a collaborative project to improve safety of quantum dots fabricated for the consumer display market. This start-up firm has provided this research team with developmental samples and the Brown research team is studying environmental transformation of these nanomaterials resulting in release of toxic core metals. Annette von dem Bussche, postdoctoral research associate in Agnes Kane's laboratory, will be studying the bioavailability and toxicity of the core metals. External funding for this industry-Brown collaboration was recently awarded from an EPA STAR Grant (PI- Robert Hurt, Co-PI- Agnes Kane).
• Laure Senier, M.A., M.P.H. is a sociology graduate student who has worked with Phil Brown, SBRP Outreach Core Leader, on two community-based projects-WRWC (Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council) and ENACT (Environmental Awareness Committee of Tiverton). Elizabeth Hoover, M.A., an anthropology graduate student supported by the SBRP Training Core was also involved in these community outreach activities working with a team including undergraduates enrolled in Phil Brown's course ES172/Soc187: Environmental Sociology- An Environmental Justice Approach. This research team assisted with remediation at the Woonasquatucket River Superfund site by researching clean-up methods for dioxin-contaminated sediment at other Superfund sites. They worked with community representatives from these sites to assess their satisfaction with clean-up alternatives and helped the WRWC write an RFP for their EPA Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) and to select technical consultants and site contractor. The work of this community outreach team with ENACT has lead to increased state action on clean-up of this coal gasification site and assistance for community residents in obtaining property tax reductions and implementing an ECHO Home Equity Loan Program funded by the State of Rhode Island. Laura and Elizabeth have published in Environmental Science & Technology describing their outreach experiences in contaminated communities sponsored by this SBRP Grant. Laura is also the current recipient of the Karen Wetterhan Award.

Finally, the energy and enthusiasm of undergraduate and graduate students involved in this SBRP Grant have enriched the learning experiences of Brown students in other courses. For example, an undergraduate sequence of courses, EN 193 S07 and EN 194 S07: Entrepreneurship I and II, teaches students how to create a business from technology-based concepts. This course profited from the involvement of Kelly Pennell, post-doctoral research associate and State Agencies Liaison for this SBRP Grant. In the 2006 – 07 academic year, a team of undergraduates and an Israeli exchange student focused their efforts on developing a consumer-usable device to monitor VOC's in the home environment. They researched the available technologies, market need, and economic impact to develop a business plan and conducted surveys of consumers and local Rhode Island physicians regarding the problem of vapor intrusion and the need for home testing to prevent adverse health effects. As a result of this class project, Brown University has filed a provisional patent on the proposed product and business model.