Project Summary (1995-2000)

Support for development of immunoassays, biomarker methods, and waste remediation processes are continuing during the current program. Much of this effort is directed at development of immunoassays for mercapturic acids which are urinary metabolites indicative of exposures to toxins. Efforts continue in the area of probing how some toxic chemicals interfere with the function of enzymes that help break down these toxins. An important new area for the Analytical Core is the development of inexpensive methods for determining the various chemical forms of chromium in byproducts of combustion. Electrochemical, spectrophotometric, chromatographic, and mass spectrometric methods are being developed to validate rapid and accurate assessments of toxic risks posed by chromium in combustion aerosols. A novel laser desorption mass spectrometer is being used to measure the occurrence of mutagenic nitroaromatic compounds in airborne particulates at a cost far below prevailing analytical methods.