Superfund Research Program

December 2023

Paper of the Month

NIEHS-funded researchers developed a new approach to improve how environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) are generated and studied in the lab at the Louisiana State University SRP Center. This strategy addresses a deficiency in methods to simulate realistic environmental exposures in animals.

Thermal remediation — a common approach for treating organic waste — can generate particulate matter containing EPFRs that vary in chemical composition based on their source. These compounds are highly reactive and can cause oxidative stress when inhaled. However, little is known about the human health effects of EPFR exposure, in part because relevant animal models and exposure techniques are lacking.

To learn more, see the NIEHS Extramural Paper of the Month.