News Items: Columbia University

Superfund Research Program

Center Director: Ana Navas-Acien
Grant Number: P42ES010349
Funding Period: 2000-2021

Extramural Paper of the Month: Health Intervention Shows Reduced Arsenic Exposures Among Tribes
Paper of the Month - July 2024
Exposure to arsenic from private wells declined among American Indian communities that received free kitchen faucet filters and periodic health check-ins through phone calls and home visits, according to researchers at the Columbia University Northern Plains SRP Center.

Extramural Paper of the Month: Tropical Cyclones Linked to Rise in U.S. Deaths
SRP News Page - May 2022
Over the last three decades, tropical cyclones in the U.S. were associated with higher death rates in subsequent months, according to a study by the Columbia University SRP Center. The study included data on deaths in U.S. counties that experienced at least one tropical cyclone between 1988 and 2018.

Uncovering the Link Between Metals and Disease
SRP News Page - April 2022
Tiffany Sanchez, Ph.D., a former trainee at the Columbia University SRP Center, reflected on her experience as a trainee working with large cohorts, or groups of participants, to understand the connections between metal exposures and disease.

Arsenic, uranium mix may increase diabetes risk in American Indians
Environmental Factor - November 2021
Analyzing how toxic metals interact to affect metabolism, NIEHS-funded researchers find that co-exposures may pave way for disease.

First-of-its-Kind Arsenic Meta-Analysis Paves the Way for Future Data Integration
Research Brief - September 2021
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.

Scientific art competition showcases trainees' research, imagination
Environmental Factor - September 2021
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced university laboratories to shut down or go remote, the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP) created an opportunity for trainees to celebrate their research efforts and the stories behind them. Led by SRP Health Scientist Administrator Danielle Carlin, Ph.D., SRP hosted a scientific art competition for trainees.

Characterizing Arsenic Exposure in Public Water Supplies and Private Wells
Research Brief - August 2021
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.

Data sharing key to environmental health research, experts say
Environmental Factor - June 2021
Three NIEHS Superfund Research Program events focus on how data science can be harnessed to better study contaminants.

Hospitalization following extreme weather, opportunities for resilience
Paper of the Month - May 2021
NIEHS-funded researchers observed an increase in respiratory disease and other hospitalizations among older adults following exposure to tropical cyclones, which may help hospitals become better prepared in the future. Tropical cyclone is a generic term used to describe tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes.

K.C. Donnelly Externships awarded to outstanding Superfund trainees
Environmental Factor - August 2020
Eleven outstanding trainees in the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP) have won K.C. Donnelly Externship Award Supplements. The annual awards allow trainees to work side-by-side with experts at an outside institution to learn new methods and techniques to enrich their research.

Clay Layers May Worsen Arsenic Contamination
Research Brief - July 2020
Layers of clay are widely thought to protect groundwater aquifers from above-ground contaminants. But according to a new NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP) study, these clay layers may play a role in increasing groundwater arsenic contamination.