Research Briefs: University of Kentucky

Superfund Research Program

Nutrition and Superfund Chemical Toxicity

Center Director: Kelly G. Pennell
Grant Number: P42ES007380
Funding Period: 1997-2025

Program Links

Research Briefs

• 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.

• 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.

• 290 - Promising Membrane Technology Reduces Chlorobenzene in Groundwater -- Alshawabkeh, Bhattacharyya
  Release Date: 02/13/2019

  A new Superfund Research Program collaboration has developed a promising groundwater cleanup technology that provides an efficient, low-maintenance method of removing chlorobenzene and other compounds from water. The method integrates electrochemical oxidation, which uses electricity to transform contaminants into non-toxic substances, and membranes containing palladium (Pd), a metal used as a catalyst in many industrial chemical synthesis applications and groundwater treatment.

• 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.

• 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.

• 257 - Using Field Data and Numerical Modeling to Assess Vapor Intrusion Risk -- Pennell
  Release Date: 05/04/2016

  A 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.

• 235 - Reducing the Risk of PCB-associated Type 2 Diabetes with Fruit and Vegetable Consumption -- Gaetke
  Release Date: 07/02/2014

  Adults with high levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in their bodies, which may increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, can reduce that risk by eating more fruits and vegetables, according to researchers from the University of Kentucky Superfund Research Program (UK SRP).

• 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.

• 198 - Chlorinated Contaminant Remediation - Dual Function Responsive Membranes -- Bhattacharyya
  Release Date: 06/01/2011

  A promising new double-stacked filter inspired by membranes found in nature may help tackle trichloroethylene (TCE)the most common organic groundwater contaminant in the United States.

• 191 - Portable Biosensing Systems -- Daunert
  Release Date: 11/03/2010

  A 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.

• 161 - PCB77 Promotes Obesity-associated Atherosclerosis -- Cassis
  Release Date: 05/07/2008
  
  
• 123 - Nanosized Metals for Organic Detoxification -- Bhattacharyya
  Release Date: 03/02/2005
  
  
• 113 - Strategies for Quantitative and Rapid Measurements of Arsenic in Water -- van Geen, Zheng, Daunert
  Release Date: 05/05/2004
  
  
• 111 - Nutrition Can Modulate PCB Toxicity -- Hennig
  Release Date: 03/03/2004
  
  
• 79 - A Cellular Biosensor to Detect Chlorocatechols -- Daunert
  Release Date: 07/03/2001
  
  
• 52 - The Effects of Nutrition on Polychlorinated Biphenyl-Mediated Endothelial Cell Activation - Implications in Atherosclerosis -- Hennig, Toborek, Robertson
  Release Date: 08/11/1999