Research Briefs By Category: Health Effects - Animal Studies

Superfund Research Program

• 313 - New Model to Examine PFAS Sheds Light on Lipid Disruption Mechanisms -- Schlezinger, Puckett, Oliver, Nielsen, Heiger-Bernays, Webster
  Release Date: 01/13/2021

  Researchers 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.

• 311 - Edible Sorbents May Protect Against Metal Toxicity -- Phillips
  Release Date: 11/04/2020

  A new study from NIEHS-funded Superfund Research Program (SRP) Center researchers suggests that edible sorbents may be an effective treatment to reduce heavy metal exposure from consumption of contaminated water and food. According to the researchers, this is the first evidence that edible sorbents can bind heavy metal mixtures and protect against their toxicity in a living organism.

• 303 - High-Fiber Diet May Protect Against Harmful Health Effects of PCBs -- Hennig
  Release Date: 03/04/2020

  Two new NIEHS-funded Superfund Research Program (SRP) studies showed how a type of dietary fiber, inulin, may protect against heart disease, including heart disease resulting from exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). According to University of Kentucky SRP Center researchers, a diet high in inulin may reduce or modify certain lipids associated with an increased chance of developing cardiovascular problems and may protect against adverse cardiovascular effects caused by environmental toxicants.

• 302 - PAH and Hypoxia Exposure Result in Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Fish -- Di Giulio
  Release Date: 02/05/2020

  Zebrafish exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water with inadequate oxygen, or hypoxia, can experience a broad range of effects on the mitochondria, according to an NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP)-funded study. Changes to the function and integrity of mitochondria, which are organelles that make energy for the cell, can disrupt metabolism and reduce organism fitness and performance.

• 301 - Cadmium Exposure Impairs Production of Neurons Responsible for Learning and Memory -- Xia
  Release Date: 01/08/2020

  A new study funded by the Superfund Research Program (SRP) shows cadmium exposure can impair new neurons from forming and maturing in the hippocampus region of the brain. Led by Zhengui Xia, Ph.D., the researchers at the University of Washington (UW) SRP Center also found that cadmium can lead to the death of stem cells that produce these neurons. In people, learning and memory formation depends on the production of new neurons in this region of the brain.

• 298 - Collaborative Cross Mice Can Fill Data Gaps in Risk Assessment -- Rusyn
  Release Date: 10/02/2019

  NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP) grantees showed how the Collaborative Cross (CC) mouse model, which uses genetically diverse mice to capture over 90% of known mouse genetic variations, can account for individual differences in susceptibility to environmental chemicals. Led by Ivan Rusyn, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Texas A&M University SRP Center, researchers measured variability in kidney toxicity and metabolism in CC mice after exposing them to tetrachloroethylene (PERC).

• 296 - PCBs Alter Glucose Regulation Differently in Males and Females -- Cassis
  Release Date: 08/07/2019

  Exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) affects glucose regulation during weight loss differently in male and female mice, according to a new Superfund Research Program (SRP) study. The researchers discovered that differences were related to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a protein involved in the regulation of various biological responses and cell maintenance in the body.

• 288 - Alternative Flame Retardants May Lead to Neurobehavioral Effects -- Levin
  Release Date: 12/05/2018

  Organophosphate flame retardant (OPFR) exposure early in life may be linked to behavioral impacts into adulthood, according to a new study in zebrafish. The results provide evidence that OPFRs, which have been introduced in commercial products in the past decade, may not be a safe alternative to brominated flame retardants, which were phased out because they were found to be harmful to normal development.

• 287 - PCBs Increase Inflammation, Disrupt Gut Microbiome, and Alter Metabolism -- Hennig
  Release Date: 11/07/2018

  Researchers have discovered that exposure to certain polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) can increase inflammation in the intestines, alter normal gut microbiota, and disrupt metabolism. They suggest that some of the observed health impacts of PCBs may be initiated in the gut and that changes in the gut microbiota may offer a marker for pollutant exposures.

• 284 - Researchers Pinpoint Molecule Fueling Liver Cancer Development -- Karin
  Release Date: 08/01/2018

  New research out of the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Superfund Research Program (SRP) Center explains how liver cells with DNA damage manage to survive and divide, fueling liver cancer. The study highlights the importance of a family of molecules called CD44 proteins, which are located on the surface of cells.

• 283 - Researchers Identify Compounds that Reduce Abnormal Blood Vessel Growth in the Eye -- Hammock
  Release Date: 07/11/2018

  Scientists have identified key compounds produced when the body metabolizes omega fatty acids that can reduce the severity of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in mice. By increasing these lipid metabolites and preventing them from degrading, the researchers reduced abnormal blood vessel growth, in part by regulating the movement of inflammatory immune cells into the retina.

• 282 - Dust from Mine Waste in Navajo Nation May Harm Lungs and Heart -- Campen
  Release Date: 06/06/2018

  Particles in dust from abandoned uranium mines may be damaging to the lungs and heart, according to new research from the University of New Mexico Superfund Research Program (UNM SRP) Center. The researchers showed that exposure to particles less than 10 micrometers in diameter (PM10) from an old uranium mine, compared to PM10 from an area not impacted by a mine, led to increased pulmonary and cardiac toxicity in mice, as well as higher levels of inflammation and oxidative stress in cells.

• 281 - AHR is Required for Normal Organ Development and Behavioral Responses in Zebrafish -- Tanguay
  Release Date: 05/02/2018

  New research demonstrates the important function of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) in normal organ development, reproduction, fertility, and behavior. The results of the study, out of the Oregon State University Superfund Research Program Center (OSU SRP Center), may help researchers understand the target organs and molecular mechanisms involved in toxicity to environmental contaminants that require AHR, a protein required for organisms to develop properly.

• 275 - Activated Carbon Reduces the Effects of TCDD on the Immune System and Gut Microbiome in a Mammalian Model -- Boyd, Hashsham
  Release Date: 11/01/2017

  Breakthroughs from the Michigan State University Superfund Research Program (MSU SRP) Center provide new evidence that activated carbon may be used to reduce health risks resulting from dioxin contamination.

• 272 - TBT Alters Bone Marrow Microenvironment and Suppresses Important Immune Cells -- Schlezinger
  Release Date: 08/02/2017

  Researchers at the Boston University Superfund Research Program (BU SRP) Center reported that tributyltin (TBT) may promote aging-related problems in immune health. The team, led by Jennifer Schlezinger, Ph.D., found that TBT impacts bone marrow B cells directly by triggering cell death and indirectly by changing the microenvironment of bone marrow vital for supporting immune health.

• 271 - New 3D Fish Liver Model for Aquatic Toxicology -- Kane
  Release Date: 07/12/2017

  Researchers at the Brown University Superfund Research Program (SRP) Center have developed a new 3D liver cell model that can be used to screen chemicals for toxicity in fish. The new model uses fish liver cells cultured to form 3D microtissue, so researchers can assess liver toxicants over time and after single and repeated exposures.

• 269 - Platform Allows Rapid Analysis of Antioxidant Genes in Zebrafish -- Gallagher
  Release Date: 05/03/2017

  A newly developed panel of zebrafish genes can be combined with a rapid testing platform to identify chemicals that induce oxidative stress, according to researchers at the University of Washington (UW) Superfund Research Program (SRP) Center. The method, optimized for use on larval zebrafish by UW SRP Center researchers, is cost-effective and can be performed more quickly and with less tissue than conventional methods.

• 265 - The Genetics Behind the Killifish's Adaptation to Pollution -- Hahn
  Release Date: 01/04/2017

  Killifish living in four polluted East Coast estuaries have adapted quickly to survive high levels of toxic industrial pollutants. In a new study, researchers explored the complex genetics involved in the Atlantic killifish’s resilience, bringing us one step closer to understanding how they rapidly evolved to tolerate normally lethal levels of environmental contaminants. Exploring the evolutionary basis for these genetic changes may provide new information about the mechanisms of environmental chemical toxicity in both animals and humans.

• 263 - A Link Between Exposure to PCBs, Diet, and Cardiovascular Disease -- Hennig
  Release Date: 11/02/2016

  Researchers at the University of Kentucky Superfund Research Program (UK SRP) Center have identified a new mechanism linking exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). They revealed that PCBs can lead to increased production of a biological marker of CVD, which is also linked to consumption of red meat and other animal products, revealing a novel diet-toxicant interaction associated with CVD risk.

• 262 - Environmental Exposures and AhR in Oral Cancer Development and Progression -- Sherr
  Release Date: 10/05/2016

  The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) plays an important role in oral cancer, and environmental chemicals and bacteria that activate the AhR may worsen oral cancer development and progression, according to a recent study from the Boston University Superfund Research Program (SRP) Center.

• 258 - New Breakthrough in Understanding Gene Regulation -- Swenberg
  Release Date: 06/01/2016

  A team of researchers at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Superfund Research Program (UNC SRP) Center and Yale University developed a new method to study DNA modifications that led them to a paradigm-shifting discovery of a new mechanism of gene regulation in mouse cells. The new method and resulting discoveries are important breakthroughs that open new possibilities for understanding gene regulation in mice and humans, particularly during development.

• 253 - Mapping Protein Targets of Environmental Chemicals Using Chemoproteomic Platforms -- Nomura
  Release Date: 01/06/2016

  Using a platform to map the reactivity of environmental chemicals across the proteome may uncover new ways environmental chemicals interact in humans, according to a study from the University of California (UC) Berkeley Superfund Research Program (SRP) Center. Researchers use reactivity-based strategies that mine for distinct sets of proteins throughout the proteome that may be particularly sensitive to environmental chemicals.

• 250 - Intestinal Microbes Protect the Liver and Prevent Liver Fibrosis -- Brenner
  Release Date: 10/07/2015

  Bacteria and other microbes in the intestines prevent liver fibrosis, or scarring, upon chronic liver injury in mice, according to a new study from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). The research, funded in part by the Superfund Research Program (SRP), is the first to show a beneficial role of intestinal microbiota in maintaining liver homeostasis and preventing liver fibrosis resulting from chronic damage to the liver.

• 249 - Newly Discovered Cells Regenerate Liver Tissue Without Forming Tumors -- Karin
  Release Date: 09/02/2015

  Researchers, through the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Superfund Research Program (SRP) Center, have discovered a population of liver cells that are better at regenerating liver tissue than ordinary liver cells, or hepatocytes. The study is the first to identify these so-called "hybrid hepatocytes" and show that they are able to regenerate liver tissue without giving rise to cancer. While most of the work described in the study was done in mouse models, the researchers also found similar cells in human livers.

• 241 - SRP Researchers Determine that Triclosan Promotes Liver Tumor Growth in Mice -- Tukey, Hammock
  Release Date: 01/07/2015

  A collaborative study showed that long-term exposure to triclosan promotes the growth of liver tumors in laboratory mice, raising concerns about its safety for humans. Triclosan is a common antibacterial chemical used in a wide variety of consumer products such as cosmetics, soaps, detergents, and toothpaste.

• 240 - Linking Phthalate Exposure and Oxidative Stress in Pregnancy -- Meeker
  Release Date: 12/03/2014

  In a recent study from the University of Michigan School of Public Health, NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP), scientists reported that in pregnant women, exposure to phthalates, found in plastics and personal care products, was associated with increased levels of oxidative stress, which damages the body's proteins, lipids, and DNA. The findings may help scientists better understand the mechanisms involved in pregnancy complications, such as preterm birth, which are associated with exposure to phthalates.

• 232 - Understanding the Movement of Inhaled PCBs in the Body -- Thorne
  Release Date: 04/02/2014

  Researchers at the University of Iowa Superfund Research Program (Iowa SRP) have found that a form of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), known as PCB11, is completely absorbed and then rapidly eliminated from the body when inhaled. They also identified the PCB11 metabolites that would best serve as markers of exposure to the chemical in urine.

• 230 - Combined Exposure to Glucocorticoids and Chlorpyrifos Influences Neurobehavioral Development -- Levin, Slotkin
  Release Date: 02/05/2014

  Prenatal glucocorticoid treatment, used to speed up the development of a preterm infant's lungs, has the potential to worsen the outcome of later exposures to toxins, according to findings by the Duke University Superfund Research Program (SRP). The study in rats, led by Ed Levin, Ph.D., and Ted Slotkin, Ph.D., explored how exposure to glucocorticoids, a type of steroid, before birth changes the effect of the insecticide chlorpyrifos on behavioral development.

• 225 - Commercial Paper and Rubber Products Contain Activators of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor -- Denison, Di Giulio
  Release Date: 09/04/2013

  Common commercial and consumer products, including newspapers and rubber bands, contain chemicals that are recognized by the body as toxins, according to a collaborative study by researchers at the Duke University and University of California, Davis Superfund Research Program (SRP) Centers.

• 224 - Effects of Cadmium and Copper on the Fish Olfactory System -- Gallagher
  Release Date: 08/07/2013

  A series of studies from a research group led by University of Washington (UW) grantee Evan Gallagher, Ph.D., provide insight into the mechanisms underlying injury to the olfactory system of fish exposed to cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu) including concentrations seen in the environment.

• 221 - Novel Method Identifies Potential Key Pathway in Arsenic-Induced Birth Defects -- Fry
  Release Date: 05/01/2013

  Blocking the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) pathway in a chick embryo model prevents structural birth defects induced by arsenic, according to a 2013 NIEHS-funded study at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Superfund Research Program (UNC SRP). The laboratory study was performed after computationally predicting the association between the GR pathway and metal-induced birth defects with a novel approach to identify targeted biological pathways.

• 220 - Commonly Manufactured Nanomaterial Induces Neurovascular Toxicity -- Toborek
  Release Date: 04/03/2013

  Nanoalumina, a widely manufactured nanomaterial, was shown to accumulate in brain cells, inducing nerve and blood vessel damage and protein degradation in the brain. Study results also suggest that exposure to nanoalumina disrupts the blood-brain barrier and may worsen the outcomes of neurological disorders such as stroke.

• 213 - Widely Used Antibacterial Agents May Lead to Significant Health Concerns -- Hammock, Pessah
  Release Date: 09/05/2012

  Researchers at UC Davis show that triclosan, a chemical widely used in antibacterial products, impairs heart and skeletal muscle activity in animal models. Other studies link another antibacterial agent, triclocarban, to changes in regulatory pathways in mice and in human cells.

• 210 - A New Role for MicroRNAs in Neurobehavioral Development -- Tal, Tanguay
  Release Date: 06/06/2012

  MicroRNAs may be tiny, but these short pieces of RNA regulate important human genes. The genes they regulate are also more sensitive to environmental chemical exposures. In a new study, researchers found environmental disruption of miRNAs can affect neurobehavioral development in zebrafish.

• 207 - Particulate matter pollution: A particular problem for the young? -- Kennedy
  Release Date: 03/07/2012

  Newborns and infants may be uniquely susceptible to harm from tiny particles in air pollution (particulate matter), a study shows. Researchers exposed 7-day-old rats to a level of PM similar to that found in Fresno, Calif., which resulted in biological changes not found in adults rats, including markers of cellular toxicity.

• 206 - Arsenic Linked to Developmental Changes in the Heart -- Camenisch
  Release Date: 02/01/2012

  Adults exposed to arsenic in their drinking water are at increased risk for high blood pressure and heart disease, among other health problems. New research using mice shows these cardiovascular effects can start early in life if mice are exposed to arsenic during development.

• 195 - Mechanism of Resistance to PCB Toxicity in Fish -- Wirgin, Hahn
  Release Date: 03/02/2011

  A team unravels the mystery of how Atlantic tomcod living in waters contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) not only survive in their polluted environment, but thrive.

• 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.

• 185 - Childhood Exposures to Pesticides May Contribute to Obesity and Diabetes in Adults -- Slotkin
  Release Date: 05/05/2010

  Organophosphates represent nearly 50 percent of worldwide insecticide use. Unfortunately, they may also contribute to another statistic: the increased incidence of obesity and diabetes.

• 184 - Linking Site Specific Contaminant Mixtures to Biological Responses -- Anderson
  Release Date: 04/05/2010

  New tools could help Superfund site managers evaluate the nuances of chemical mixtures and identify the most pressing threats to ecosystem and human health.

• 175 - Do Mirror Differences Among Non-coplanar PCBs Influence Their Developmental Neurotoxicity? -- Lehmler, Pessah
  Release Date: 07/01/2009
  
  
• 174 - Gene-Environment Interactions: PCB Exposures and Adverse Effects on Pregnancy -- Sharma
  Release Date: 06/03/2009
  
  
• 170 - Biomarkers to Investigate the Toxicity and Carcinogenicity of PHAHs -- Swenberg
  Release Date: 02/04/2009
  
  
• 162 - Toxicogenomics Studies Focus on Largemouth Bass -- Denslow
  Release Date: 06/04/2008
  
  
• 161 - PCB77 Promotes Obesity-associated Atherosclerosis -- Cassis
  Release Date: 05/07/2008
  
  
• 159 - Research Brief 159: In utero and Early Postnatal Exposure to Arsenic May Alter Pulmonary Function -- Lantz
  Release Date: 03/05/2008
  
  
• 157 - SBRP Investigators Find Evidence Suggesting a New Type of Endocrine Disruptor -- Lasley, Chen
  Release Date: 01/02/2008
  
  
• 154 - Understanding the Underlying Mechanism of Asbestos Carcinogenesis -- Hei
  Release Date: 10/03/2007
  
  
• 141 - MMA(III) - a Role in Arsenic Carcinogenesis -- Gandolfi
  Release Date: 09/06/2006
  
  
• 124 - DNA Damage Index: A New Tool for Assessing Toxic Effects of Contaminants -- Malins, Stegeman
  Release Date: 04/06/2005
  
  
• 122 - Factors Affecting the Impact of Exposures to Metals -- Costa, Rossman
  Release Date: 02/02/2005
  
  
• 116 - Investigating the Impact of Organic Mixtures on Cardiac Development of the Killifish -- Di Giulio
  Release Date: 08/04/2004
  
  
• 106 - The Effects of Chlorinated Hydrocarbons on Wildlife -- Gross, Sepulveda
  Release Date: 10/01/2003
  
  
• 102 - Multidisciplinary Research to Develop Models to Study the Impacts of Exposure to Chlorpyrifos -- Levin, Linney
  Release Date: 06/04/2003
  
  
• 94 - Anthrax invades and evades the immune system to cause widespread infection -- Karin
  Release Date: 10/02/2002
  
  
• 92 - Biomarkers of Chromogenic Solvent Exposure & Neurodegeneration -- Sabri
  Release Date: 08/07/2002
  
  
• 81 - Developmental Neurotoxicity of Xenoestrogens in Zebrafish -- Callard
  Release Date: 09/05/2001
  
  
• 80 - Mechanisms of Chlorpyrifos Developmental Neurotoxicity -- Slotkin
  Release Date: 08/01/2001
  
  
• 78 - Role of Oxyradicals in Genotoxicity of Arsenic -- Hei
  Release Date: 06/06/2001
  
  
• 72 - An Investigation of the Behavioral Toxicity of Lead -- Strupp
  Release Date: 12/06/2000
  
  
• 63 - Stage-specific Actions of Cadmium During Spermatogenesis -- Callard
  Release Date: 02/02/2000
  
  
• 58 - Mechanisms Underlying Arsenic-Induced Vascular Disease -- Barchowsky
  Release Date: 11/11/1999
  
  
• 55 - Potent Inhibitors are Discovered for Soluble Epoxide Hydrolases, Enzymes That Have an Important Role in the Metabolism of Environmental Contaminants -- Hammock
  Release Date: 09/22/1999
  
  
• 52 - The Effects of Nutrition on Polychlorinated Biphenyl-Mediated Endothelial Cell Activation - Implications in Atherosclerosis -- Hennig, Toborek, Robertson
  Release Date: 08/11/1999
  
  
• 51 - Diversity of Inorganic Arsenic Metabolism -- Aposhian
  Release Date: 07/28/1999
  
  
• 49 - Exploring the Mechanisms of Neurotoxicity Caused by Exposure to Polychlorinated Biphenyls -- Carpenter
  Release Date: 06/30/1999
  
  
• 48 - Mechanisms of Vanadium Toxicity in the Respiratory System -- Godleski
  Release Date: 06/16/1999
  
  
• 44 - Studies Examine the Mechanisms of Chromium Mutagenesis -- Dixon
  Release Date: 04/21/1999
  
  
• 42 - Mechanisms and Consequences of Neutrophil Activation by Polychlorinated Biphenyls -- Ganey
  Release Date: 03/24/1999
  
  
• 40 - The Effects of Organophosphate Compounds on the Developing Eye -- Hinton
  Release Date: 02/24/1999
  
  
• 39 - Tracking Down the Mechanisms of Trichloroethylene-Induced Toxicity -- Waxman
  Release Date: 02/10/1999
  
  
• 30 - Understanding the Molecular Basis for Metal-Induced Cancers -- Hamilton
  Release Date: 09/30/1998
  
  
• 25 - Comparative Metabolism Studies of Dichloroacetate -- Stacpoole
  Release Date: 07/22/1998
  
  
• 14 - Studies Examine Cardiac Teratogenicity of a Common Drinking Water Contaminant -- Johnson
  Release Date: 02/18/1998
  
  
• 3 - Low Levels of Arsenite Found to Decrease Hepatic Cytochrome P450 Activity -- Sinclair
  Release Date: 09/03/1997