Research Briefs by Year: 2011

Superfund Research Program

• 193 - Accelerating Pump-and-Treat Remediation at Arsenic-contaminated Sites -- Chillrud, Stute, Mailloux
  Release Date: 01/05/2011

  Pumping contaminated groundwater to the surface to filter out toxins is time-consuming and expensive. A new process makes this method more efficient by adding chemicals to stir up toxins while the water still underground.

• 194 - Sediment Caps That Degrade Contaminants -- Reible
  Release Date: 02/02/2011

  Some Superfund sites may just need a little sizzle. Researchers find that using electricity can stimulate microbial growth and help break down contaminants in underwater sediments.

• 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.

• 196 - Nanoparticles Enhance Imaging of Intracellular Bioreduction of Chromate -- Irudayaraj
  Release Date: 04/06/2011

  Researchers 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 199 - Foray Into Tackling the Toxicity of Environmental Pesticide Mixtures -- Halden
  Release Date: 07/06/2011

  Even before they are born, many babies are exposed to the pesticides chlordane and permethrin. New research offers the first demonstration of how these chemicals affect infants' fragile immune systems.

• 200 - Celebrating a Significant Milestone in Research Dissemination -- Avakian
  Release Date: 08/03/2011

  Remember when email was cutting-edge? SRP's Research Briefs have been reaching readers around the globe since those early days. We celebrate the 200th brief with a look at how SRP's science communication has evolved over nearly 15 years.

• 201 - What a Difference a Methyl Group Makes -- Swenberg
  Release Date: 09/07/2011

  Some 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.

• 202 - Size-resolved Chemical Characterization of Atmospheric Aerosols -- Betterton
  Release Date: 10/05/2011

  Some 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.

• 203 - Research Shows Arsenic Attaches to Sediments, Protects Human Health -- van Geen
  Release Date: 11/02/2011

  Scientists find arsenic can attach to sediments around deep wells, potentially reducing the risk of arsenic exposure for water users. The finding has implications for how arsenic-contaminated water sources are treated and managed.

• 204 - CALUX Generation 3 - Enhanced Sensitivity for Low Volume/Low Concentration Samples -- Denison
  Release Date: 12/07/2011

  Firefly 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.