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National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

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Your Environment. Your Health.

Final Progress Reports: Louisiana State University: Oxidative Stress Core (ARRA Funded)

Superfund Research Program

Oxidative Stress Core (ARRA Funded)

Project Leader: Tammy R. Dugas
Grant Number: P42ES013648
Funding Period: 2009-2011

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Final Progress Reports

Year:   2010 

The Oxidative Stress Core supports the biomedical projects investigators in identifying the role of radical-particle systems in generating reactive oxygen species and inducing oxidative stress. Particulate matter at Superfund sites is frequently contaminated with hazardous substances. Exposure to these particles may present health hazards, such as the induction or exacerbation of pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases. The overall goal of the Program includes determining the involvement of particle-generated reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress mechanisms in toxicities observed within the target tissues. The Oxidative Stress Core provides support for both non-biomedical projects and biomedical projects.

Incineration of organic waste produces airborne pollutants including fine and ultrafine particles. Exposure to this particulate matter may result in adverse effects, such as exacerbation of pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases. Though the mechanism of toxicity is unknown, oxidative stress may play a role. The Core’s objective is to investigate whether environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) generate reactive oxygen species independent of interaction with biological systems.

In their studies to date, the researchers have demonstrated that transition metal-containing particles can induce the formation of EPFRs which are sufficiently persistent to be biologically active. Importantly, the transition metals are reduced to a more biologically active form. Together, the EPFRs and reduced transition metals can participate in long chain redox cycles in the biological host to generate ROS, which in turn, may exacerbate cardiopulmonary disease. These results suggest a possible new paradigm for the toxicity of PM in which the pollutant and particle must be considered an integrated chemical system whose toxicity is greater than its individual components.

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