Research Briefs: University of Iowa

Superfund Research Program

Airborne PCBs: Sources, Exposures, Toxicities, Remediation

Center Director: Keri C. Hornbuckle
Grant Number: P42ES013661
Funding Period: 2006-2025

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Research Briefs

• 293 - Study Sheds Light on Breakdown of PCBs to Potentially Harmful Metabolites in Humans -- Lehmler
  Release Date: 05/01/2019

  New research out of the University of Iowa Superfund Research Program (SRP) Center identified specific cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes and underlying mechanisms involved in the breakdown, or metabolism, of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) into compounds that may be more toxic.

• 291 - Passive Samplers Tackle PCB Flux -- Hornbuckle
  Release Date: 03/06/2019

  Researchers 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.

• 244 - Switchgrass and Bacteria Work Together to Remove PCBs from Soil -- Schnoor, Mattes
  Release Date: 04/01/2015

  Researchers at the University of Iowa Superfund Research Program (Iowa SRP) Center have found that switchgrass, a plant native to central North America, can effectively remove polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from contaminated soil. When PCB-degrading bacteria is added, removal of PCBs from the soil can increase further. This phytoremediation method may be an efficient and sustainable strategy to removing PCBs from hazardous waste sites.

• 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.

• 197 - Poplars are Choosy about PCBs -- Schnoor
  Release Date: 05/04/2011

  Could trees be the world's biggest vacuum cleaners? Scientists study how poplar trees help clean up some polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and reduce the risk of human exposures.

• 182 - Can Phytoremediation Work for PCBs? -- Schnoor
  Release Date: 02/03/2010

  A study offers the first evidence that whole plants can take up and metabolize polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), suggesting plants could be used to help clean up PCB-contaminated sites.

• 175 - Do Mirror Differences Among Non-coplanar PCBs Influence Their Developmental Neurotoxicity? -- Lehmler, Pessah
  Release Date: 07/01/2009
  
  
• 167 - SBRP Researcher Finds Previously Unidentified PCB in Urban Airshed -- Hornbuckle
  Release Date: 11/05/2008