Superfund Research Program
- 340 - Mimicking Molecules Made by Bacteria to Remove Metals From Water -- Maier
Release Date: 04/05/2023NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP)-funded scientists developed a method to extract metals from water using synthetic molecules inspired by those produced by bacteria. The biodegradable molecules, called rhamnolipids, could one day be used to remove toxic metals or extract rare and valuable elements from aqueous mining and industrial waste.
- 338 - Combining Analytical Chemistry and Machine Learning to Detangle Mixtures -- Halas
Release Date: 02/01/2023NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP)-funded researchers demonstrated a significant step toward identifying individual chemical components in complex mixtures. Their approach uses advanced analytical techniques and sophisticated machine learning approaches while overcoming the time-consuming separation steps that preceded traditional chemical analysis.
- 336 - Sampling Device Harnesses Powerful Molecular Interactions, Overcomes Barriers in Detecting Volatile Contaminants -- Nantz
Release Date: 12/07/2022A NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP)-funded study showed how unique microsensors that harness powerful molecular interactions can selectively detect trace amounts of aromatic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the environment.
- 335 - PFAS Exposure Associated with Elevated Cholesterol in North Carolina Community -- Hoppin
Release Date: 11/02/2022NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP)-funded researchers found that elevated levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the blood of participants of the GenX Exposure Study were associated with higher cholesterol. Led by Jane Hoppin, ScD., of the North Carolina State University SRP Center, the study started in 2017 in response to the concerns of residents of Wilmington, North Carolina, about PFAS in their drinking water.
- 323 - New Passive Sampling Device for PFAS -- Lohmann, Hurt
Release Date: 11/03/2021Researchers from the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP)-funded centers at the University of Rhode Island (URI) and Brown University developed a new type of passive sampling device for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Their new tool overcomes many limitations to traditional approaches, such as detecting short-chain PFAS and low concentrations of the chemicals in water.
- 321 - First-of-its-Kind Arsenic Meta-Analysis Paves the Way for Future Data Integration -- Cardenas, Gamble
Release Date: 09/01/2021Researchers from NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP) centers at the University of California (UC), Berkeley and Columbia University used advanced analysis techniques to combine data from populations in Chile and Bangladesh. The purpose was to detect common DNA methylation (DNAm) signatures associated with arsenic exposure.
- 319 - Analyzing Chemicals and Genes Yields Novel Insight into PAH Behavior -- Simonich
Release Date: 07/07/2021A new NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP)-funded study revealed how polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) breakdown and transform in the presence of ultraviolet A (UVA) light and titanium dioxide nanoparticle pollutants. Their findings have important implications for PAH cleanup, which may not consider how PAHs transform in diverse environments.
- 317 - New Technique Sheds Light on PFAS in Coastal Watersheds -- Sunderland
Release Date: 05/05/2021A new analytical workflow, developed by NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP) grantees, can identify and characterize previously undetected per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) compounds in contaminated watersheds. The team is led by Elsie Sunderland, Ph.D., of the University of Rhode Island SRP Center, and SRP trainee Bridger Ruyle, a doctoral student at Harvard.
- 313 - New Model to Examine PFAS Sheds Light on Lipid Disruption Mechanisms -- Schlezinger, Webster
Release Date: 01/13/2021Researchers from the Boston University (BU) Superfund Research Program (SRP) Center developed a novel study design that generated new insight on the effects of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) on cholesterol regulation in the liver. Led by Jennifer Schlezinger, Ph.D., the team also investigated the molecular mechanisms of action, focusing on effects of PFOA on the human peroxisome proliferator activated receptor α (hPPARα), a transcription factor that regulates lipid homeostasis.
- 312 - Improved Sequencing Method Leads to Advancements in Toxicology Research -- Zacharewski
Release Date: 12/02/2020NIEHS-funded Superfund Research Program (SRP) scientists are employing a new RNA sequencing method to assess mechanisms of toxicity on a finer and more accessible scale. Researchers in SRP grantee Tim Zacharewski's Lab at the Michigan State University (MSU) SRP Center conducted the study.
- 310 - New Tool Monitors a Flame Retardant in Sediment -- Hammock
Release Date: 10/07/2020Researchers at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) Superfund Research Program (SRP) Center developed a new, inexpensive tool to reliably detect small amounts of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) in environmental samples. TBBPA is a flame retardant commonly found in household dust, soil, water, sewage, sludge, and sediments.
- 309 - Treating Water with Chemical Oxidation May Produce Harmful By-Products -- Sedlak
Release Date: 09/02/2020Chemical oxidation is a process commonly used to treat water contaminated with aromatic compounds like benzene. But, unexpected and potentially harmful breakdown products may result from this treatment process, according to a recent study from the NIEHS-funded University of California, Berkeley Superfund Research Program Center.
- 307 - Clay Layers May Worsen Arsenic Contamination -- van Geen
Release Date: 07/08/2020Layers of clay are widely thought to protect groundwater aquifers from above-ground contaminants. But according to a new NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP) study, these clay layers may play a role in increasing groundwater arsenic contamination.
- 300 - Nanotube Sensor Detects Nitrosamines in Air -- Swager
Release Date: 12/04/2019Massachusetts Institute of Technology Superfund Research Program researchers have developed a sensitive and inexpensive carbon nanotube-based sensor that can measure N-nitrosamines in air.
- 295 - Model Predicts PAH Levels in Important Tribal Food Source -- Anderson
Release Date: 07/10/2019A sediment passive sampling model can be used to accurately predict the concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in butter clams, according to a recent Superfund Research Program (SRP) study. Led by Kim Anderson, Ph.D., of the Oregon State University (OSU) SRP Center, the research team worked closely with tribal leaders to better predict PAH levels in butter clams while having a minimal impact on this important resource.
- 291 - Passive Samplers Tackle PCB Flux -- Hornbuckle
Release Date: 03/06/2019Researchers from the University of Iowa Superfund Research Program (SRP) Center have developed a method to measure the movement, or flux, of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from water to air using passive sampling devices.
- 264 - The Porous Extraction Paddle: A Non-Targeted Sampling Device to Detect Contaminants in Urine -- Giese
Release Date: 12/07/2016A new tool and accompanying method provides an easy way to extract substances from urine, even where resources are limited. The non-targeted technique, developed by researchers at the Northeastern University Superfund Research Program, can reveal large numbers of exposures to substances foreign to the body, called xenobiotics, from a sample of urine.
- 257 - Using Field Data and Numerical Modeling to Assess Vapor Intrusion Risk -- Pennell
Release Date: 05/04/2016A recent Superfund Research Program (SRP) study reveals that measurements of chemical concentrations in groundwater may not be a good indicator of whether the chemicals are seeping into buildings and contaminating indoor air. The findings provide insight into how an approach incorporating multiple lines of evidence, including soil gas measurements and a 3-D model, can be used to better evaluate exposure risks from vapor intrusion into homes and buildings.
- 256 - A New Dilution Tool to Facilitate High-Throughput Assay Techniques -- Pan
Release Date: 04/06/2016A new tool provides a quick and easy way to dilute samples for biochemical and biological analyses. The microfluidic dilution generator, developed by researchers led by Tingrui Pan, Ph.D., at the University of California, Davis Superfund Research Program Center, can serve as a simple dilution device in research laboratories, point-of-care clinical settings, and low-resource environments.
- 243 - Detecting Environmental Chemicals with Novel Immunoassay Technology -- Pan
Release Date: 03/04/2015A new low-cost portable device uses a smart phone to detect the presence and concentrations of BDE-47 (2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether), a type of flame retardant and widespread environmental contaminant. The device uses a lab-on-a-chip (LOC) platform to perform microscale enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), a popular lab technique that uses antibodies designed to measure a specific substance in a sample. The LOC platform performed comparably to the standard ELISA laboratory protocol but in much less time and with much smaller sample sizes.
- 238 - Measuring Vapor Intrusion to Estimate Underground Contamination -- Suuberg
Release Date: 10/01/2014Scientists from the Brown University Superfund Research Program (Brown SRP) have taken a step toward providing a simpler, accurate screening method to determine whether chemicals in underground sources are seeping into buildings and contaminating indoor air. Led by Eric Suuberg, Sc.D., P.E., the researchers developed process models, basically numerical equations, to predict the concentrations of vapors that enter indoor environments. Published in a series of three papers, results from the process models were consistent with advanced computer modeling techniques.
- 236 - Developments toward Low-Cost, Unattended Vapor Intrusion Monitoring -- Patel
Release Date: 08/06/2014NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP)-funded scientists from the chemical sensor company Seacoast Science are developing an inexpensive vapor intrusion monitoring system. The system can operate repeatedly without user intervention and detect typical vapor intrusion chemicals at low detection limits, allowing many more sites to be monitored over longer periods.
- 216 - New Highly Sensitive On-Chip Nanoparticle Immunoassay -- Kennedy
Release Date: 12/05/2012A breakthrough in bioassay technology allows detection of attomolar concentrations of biomolecules on a microchip. This new nanotechnology approach to detecting proteins and other compounds increases sensitivity more than 1,000-fold over conventional assays, and yet is affordable and easy to use.
- 214 - Study First to Quantify TCE in Breast Milk -- Beamer
Release Date: 10/03/2012Trichloroethylene (TCE), a degreasing agent, is one of the most common groundwater contaminants in the United States. A new study reveals TCE can be detected in the breast milk of women living in an area with TCE-contaminated water.
- 209 - PAHs Before and After the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill -- Anderson
Release Date: 05/02/2012Oregon State University SRP scientists used their novel passive sampling devices to make before-and-after comparisons of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) at four sites affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Their results suggest a continued need for monitoring of residual oil and dissolved PAHs in the Gulf of Mexico.
- 204 - CALUX Generation 3 - Enhanced Sensitivity for Low Volume/Low Concentration Samples -- Denison
Release Date: 12/07/2011Firefly genes make the CALUX contaminant detection tool literally light up in the presence of dioxin and related chemicals. New advances make the tool 10- to 100 times more sensitive.
- 202 - Size-resolved Chemical Characterization of Atmospheric Aerosols -- Betterton
Release Date: 10/05/2011Some mining operations release dust containing hazardous elements like arsenic and lead into the air. Scientists have developed a new approach for detecting these airborne pollutants, assessing their potential health impacts and reducing human exposures.
- 201 - What a Difference a Methyl Group Makes -- Swenberg
Release Date: 09/07/2011Some proteins can turn genes on or off, like a light switch, by adding or removing a methyl group. Scientists are uncovering how these switches are wired, offering new insights for research on stem cells and cancer.
- 196 - Nanoparticles Enhance Imaging of Intracellular Bioreduction of Chromate -- Irudayaraj
Release Date: 04/06/2011Researchers send tiny gold balls into bacterial cells on a mission to reveal how the cells process Chromium (VI). The bacteria's ability to transform this harmful metal to a less toxic form could make it an important ally in cleaning up Superfund sites.
- 191 - Portable Biosensing Systems -- Daunert
Release Date: 11/03/2010A team of scientists deploys bacterial detectors that light up in the presence of contaminants such as arsenic and zinc. In spore form, the bacteria can survive extreme conditions and be resurrected in minutes.
- 188 - TCDD May Contribute to Immune System Instability -- Kaminski
Release Date: 08/04/2010 A new computational model shows how the environmental contaminant TCDD causes immune system mayhem by interfering with the activation of crucial B cells. - 181 - Enhanced Detection of Toxic Substances with Phage Library-Enhanced Immunoassays -- Hammock, Gee
Release Date: 01/05/2010U.S. researchers partner with scientists in Uruguay to develop super-sensitive immunoassays, enhancing the ability to detect contaminants in the environment and in exposed individuals.
- 176 - A New Analytical Method to Support Studies of Mercury Bioavailability/Bioaccumulation in Aquatic Ecosystems -- Taylor, Chen, Jackson
Release Date: 08/05/2009 - 170 - Biomarkers to Investigate the Toxicity and Carcinogenicity of PHAHs -- Swenberg
Release Date: 02/04/2009 - 169 - First Glimpse of the Human Fetal Proteome Signals Early Effects from in utero Toxic Exposures -- Halden
Release Date: 01/07/2009 - 167 - SBRP Researcher Finds Previously Unidentified PCB in Urban Airshed -- Hornbuckle
Release Date: 11/05/2008 - 166 - Understanding Dermal Exposure - a Critical Step in Exposure Assessment -- Nylander-French
Release Date: 10/01/2008 - 165 - PON1 as a Potential Treatment for Organophosphate Poisoning -- Furlong
Release Date: 09/03/2008 - 162 - Toxicogenomics Studies Focus on Largemouth Bass -- Denslow
Release Date: 06/04/2008 - 159 - Research Brief 159: In utero and Early Postnatal Exposure to Arsenic May Alter Pulmonary Function -- Lantz
Release Date: 03/05/2008 - 158 - A Screening Tool to Identify Developmental Neurotoxicants -- Slotkin
Release Date: 02/06/2008 - 157 - SBRP Investigators Find Evidence Suggesting a New Type of Endocrine Disruptor -- Lasley, Chen
Release Date: 01/02/2008 - 152 - Folic Acid Supplementation Lowers Blood Arsenic by Increasing Arsenic Methylation -- Gamble
Release Date: 08/01/2007 - 150 - A New USEPA SW-846 Method 4435 for HAH Analysis -- Denison, Clark
Release Date: 06/06/2007 - 148 - Dual Role for Vitamin C in Cr(VI) Toxicity -- Zhitkovich
Release Date: 04/04/2007 - 144 - A Comparative Toxicology Study of Metal Mixtures -- Folt, Chen
Release Date: 12/06/2006 - 143 - Toxicological Assessment of Remediated Environmental Chemicals -- Trosko
Release Date: 11/01/2006 - 142 - Nanoparticle Immunoassays - Advances & Spin-offs -- Kennedy, Hammock
Release Date: 10/04/2006 - 133 - Microelectrodes for Environmental Monitoring -- Bishop, Timmons
Release Date: 01/04/2006 - 127 - Using Laser Technology to Detect Lead in Soil -- Koshland
Release Date: 07/06/2005 - 117 - Analysis of PAHs in Air Samples Collected After the WTC Disaster and Estimation of Increase in Lifetime Cancer Risk -- Rappaport
Release Date: 09/01/2004 - 114 - Fish as Sentinels of Persistent Organic Pollutants -- Wirgin
Release Date: 06/02/2004 - 113 - Strategies for Quantitative and Rapid Measurements of Arsenic in Water -- van Geen, Zheng, Daunert
Release Date: 05/05/2004 - 102 - Multidisciplinary Research to Develop Models to Study the Impacts of Exposure to Chlorpyrifos -- Levin, Linney
Release Date: 06/04/2003 - 96 - DNA Adducts as Biomarkers of Exposure and Effect -- Swenberg
Release Date: 12/04/2002 - 92 - Biomarkers of Chromogenic Solvent Exposure & Neurodegeneration -- Sabri
Release Date: 08/07/2002 - 90 - The Impact of Chlorine on Hexavalent Chromium Emissions -- Kennedy
Release Date: 06/05/2002 - 86 - Development of a Biomarker of Exposure to Benzene -- Rappaport
Release Date: 02/06/2002 - 79 - A Cellular Biosensor to Detect Chlorocatechols -- Daunert
Release Date: 07/03/2001 - 67 - Optimization of the CALUX Bioassay for Use in Detecting Dioxin and Related Chemicals in Serum -- Denison
Release Date: 06/07/2000 - 66 - Development of a Biomarker to Detect Arsenic in Aquatic Ecosystems -- Folt
Release Date: 05/03/2000 - 34 - Advanced Analytical Technique Developed for Detecting Metals in Biological and Environmental Samples -- Aposhian
Release Date: 11/25/1998 - 25 - Comparative Metabolism Studies of Dichloroacetate -- Stacpoole
Release Date: 07/22/1998 - 18 - Characterization of Contaminants in New York City -- Chillrud, Bopp
Release Date: 04/15/1998 - 15 - Urinary FSH Assay Developed to Assess Reproductive Health of Both Men and Women -- Lasley
Release Date: 03/04/1998 - 1 - Bioassay Developed for Detection of Dioxin-Like Chemicals -- Denison
Release Date: 08/07/1997