Project Summary (2000-2005)

The goal of this project is to provide sensitive, selective, rapid and cost-effective immunoassay methods for monitoring human and environmental exposures to hazardous chemicals. The first objective is to develop and validate single compound and class-selective immunoassays for urinary metabolites of hazardous compounds, for use as a biomarker of internal exposure to these compounds. The hazardous chemical classes targeted are the triazine herbicides, organophosphate and pyrethroid insecticides, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The second objective is to develop and implement immunoassays for parent compounds. The target compounds are dioxin, pyrethroid insecticides and perchlorate anions. These assays are useful in environmental monitoring. The third objective is to evaluate new technologies as they relate to immunoassays, including development of biosensors designed for use with immunoarrays, improved reporter labels and more rugged and versatile formats. The final objective is a series of collaborations with other projects in the UCD Superfund program. These collaborations include validation of urinary biomarkers of low-dose exposure. These biomarkers of reproductive effect will be used to evaluate the relationship between exposure and effect of compounds such as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), pyrethroid insecticides and octyl/nonyl phenol and bisphenol A.