Superfund Research Program

Exposure Assessment

Project Leader: Mary S. Wolff
Grant Number: P42ES007384
Funding Period: 1995 - 2006

Project-Specific Links

Final Progress Reports

Year:   2005 

The Exposure Assessment Core has provided analytical support for the assessment of organochlorines, lead and other contaminants in the Hudson River basin since 1998. During the past project period, the Core supported the development of the Mount Sinai World Trade Center (WTC) pregnancy cohort and directed the exposure assessment phase of this study. By having the Exposure Core in place, the Mount Sinai SBRP was able to respond to the NIEHS/EPA efforts to study human health effects in the aftermath of vast environmental contamination. They  also developed a new method for measuring multiple polyphenols in biospecimens, during the exploratory stages of the grant renewal when we were considering measurement of these compounds during the next cycle.

In 2005, this Core has made contributions to the Mount Sinai SBRP in four areas:

·          Persistent pollutants - The Exposure Assessment Core has provided analytical support for the assessment of organochlorines, lead and other contaminants in the Hudson River watershed since 1998.This work has been undertaken in close collaboration with the geochemical studies and has supported epidemiological  as well as basic biological research projects with the program. 

·          WTC Studies - During the current funding cycle, the Core supported the development of the Mount Sinai World Trade Center (WTC) pregnancy cohort and directed the exposure assessment phase of this study.  By having the Exposure Core in place, they were able to respond to the NIEHS/EPA efforts to study human health effects in the aftermath of vase environmental contamination.

·          Alkyl Phenols (APs) - The Exposure Assessment Core also developed a new method for measuring multiple polyphenols in biospecimens, as a new research direction, and reported both the method and preliminary findings in two populations. The finding of Nonyl Phenol (AP) contamination in the Hudson watershed in this grant along with the prevalence of detection in humans and their strong biologic activity contributed to our interest in this area.

·          Xenobiotic Phenols in Amniotic Fluid – As part of a pilot study to evaluate fetal outcomes in relation to Superfund exposures in utero, the Core investigated the measurement of polyphenols in amniotic fluid.

 

The presence of chlordane, DDT, and PCB residues in the Hudson River provides a fingerprint for geographic location of relevant exposures, and therefore the Exposure Assessment Core has analyzed these residues in blood sera collected in the Angler's study.   The Exposure Assessment Core completed organochlorine analyses, including DDE, DDT, PCBs and three chlordane residues, on a total of 152 samples since 1998.  From November 1998 until November 2005, 175 blood samples were processed and stored for the Anglers’ study. Of the analyses reported so far, 37 were done between12/1/98-2/22/99, 36 were done 10/30/01-11/27/01, 36 were done 01/02/03-01/09/03, another 43 in 2004 and 23 samples were done in 2005.  There are 23 samples collected in 2004 that are waiting for analysis, and 25 samples were sent to CDC in October, 2003 for analysis of PCBs, PBDEs and dioxins.