NIEHS Superfund Research Program - Research Brief Podcasts

NIEHS Superfund Research Program - Research Brief Podcasts

By NIEHS Superfund Research ProgramScienceNatural Sciences
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NIEHS Superfund Research Program - Research Brief Podcasts episodes

  • Passive Samplers Track PFAS, Show Contamination Reduction in Cape Fear River
    Common low-cost samplers may be an effective technology for tracking PFAS levels in aquatic environments, according to a study funded by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP). The research team found that frequently used passive sampling devices, which collect samples over time, can monitor how PFAS mitigation strategies affect PFAS levels along a stretch of the Cape Fear River in North Carolina. Erin Baker, Ph.D., a project leader at the Texas A SRP Center and part of the analytical core at the North Carolina State University SRP Center, led the team.
    6 min
  • Early Life Exposures May Shape Infant Immune System
    Exposure to certain chemicals during early pregnancy may influence how a baby’s immune system develops, according to a study partly funded by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP). The scientists discovered that some per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and metals may alter how an infant’s immune system responds to environmental triggers.
    5 min
  • Pyrite Improves Electrochemical System for Removing a Chemical Mixture
    Adding a common mineral, pyrite, to an electrochemical system can simultaneously remove organic and heavy metal contaminants from groundwater, according to a study funded in part by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP). Led by Akram Alshawabkeh, Ph.D., researchers at the Northeastern University SRP Center found that combining two types of remediation techniques – one that relies on applying an electrical current to destroy contaminants and one that uses minerals to adsorb contaminants – removed pollutants more effectively than either strategy alone.
    5 min
  • Environmental Factors Alter PFAS Removal by Specialized Nanomaterials
    Researchers funded by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP) revealed how characteristics of water treatment systems may alter the ability of novel nanomaterials to remove PFAS. Scientists should be aware of factors like water pH ' a measure of acidic or basic conditions ' or salt level to ensure that these nanomaterials effectively remove PFAS in aqueous environments, according to the team based at the State University of New York at Buffalo.
    5 min
  • High Seafood Diet May Lead to Increased PFAS Exposure
    A study funded by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP) found that consuming some types of commercial seafood in high quantities may increase the risk of PFAS exposure. Led by Celia Chen, Ph.D., Kate Crawford, Ph.D., and Megan Romano, Ph.D., at Dartmouth College, the research team believes their findings can support the development of consumption guidelines to protect communities from further PFAS exposure.
    5 min
  • Engineering Hydrogel Beads to Enhance Bioremediation of Groundwater Contaminant
    Oregon State University scientists and engineers developed an approach to cleaning polluted groundwater that uses tiny beads containing chemical-eating bacteria. In this study, funded by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP), the team identified a formula to maximize bead durability and bioremediation, or the removal of contaminants using bacteria.
    5 min
  • Tracking Mercury Conversion and Distribution in Aquatic Environments
    NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP)-funded researchers, led by Heileen Hsu-Kim, Ph.D., of the Duke University SRP Center, provided insight into how and at what timescale mercury changes within a wetland ecosystem. They found mercury from different sources is converted into other mercury forms that eventually have similar properties. This finding can inform environmental management or pollution control strategies.
    6 min
  • New Model Estimates the Effects of Dioxin on Liver Cholesterol
    Scientists funded partly by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP) developed a computer model to determine the health effects of exposure to dioxins. Researchers use the model to combine data on exposures and on known health outcomes to assess the overall risk chemicals could pose to health.For this study, researchers at the Michigan State University SRP Center and Emory University created a computational model to show how the highly toxic chemical 2,3,7,8- tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) affects biological processes that increase cholesterol levels in the liver.
    6 min
  • Mapping Microbe Interactions That Support PCB-Degrading Bacteria
    Researchers partially funded by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP) mapped interactions between microbes that may support the growth of certain bacteria that degrade polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a harmful contaminant. By harnessing those microbial relationships, researchers could improve the bioremediation, or bacterial breakdown, of PCBs from the environment, according to a team led by Timothy Mattes, Ph.D., University of Iowa SRP Center.
    5 min

About NIEHS Superfund Research Program - Research Brief Podcasts

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["The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Superfund Research Program (SRP) produces a monthly Research Brief Podcast that highlights the research of SRP grantees. The SRP is a…