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

  • Environmentally Persistent Free Radicals, PAHs Interact to Increase Toxicity of Particulate Mixtures
    Toxic air pollutants called environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) may react with certain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on the surface of airborne particles to form more toxic chemicals, according to researchers funded by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP). The study, led by Slawomir Lomnicki, Ph.D., of the Louisiana State University SRP Center, demonstrated that interactions between components of fine particulate matter mixtures may enhance their overall toxicity.
    5 min
  • High-Temperature Biochar for Arsenic Remediation
    Adding biochar produced at a high temperature may be an effective way to immobilize arsenic in sediment, according to researchers partially funded by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP). The study, led by Owen Duckworth, Ph.D., of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill SRP Center, in partnership with researchers from the Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Brazil, also provided further insight into the conditions that influenced the effectiveness of biochar for soil remediation.
    5 min
  • Modified Iron Particles Could Improve Bioremediation of PFAS
    Iron particles coated in a nontoxic material may enhance PFAS degradation by a certain bacterium, according to researchers funded by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program. The study could inform bioremediation efforts that harness the microbe, known as Strain A6, for cleaning up contaminated soil, sediments, and aquifers.
    6 min
  • Benzene Exposure During Pregnancy Affects Later-Life Metabolic Health
    Prenatal exposure to the air pollutant benzene may lead to a higher risk of metabolic diseases later in life,
    according to a study in mice partially funded by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP). Benzene affects
    neurodevelopment, predisposing offspring to harmful metabolic effects, according to a research team led by
    Marianna Sadagurski, Ph.D., of the Wayne State University SRP Center.
    5 min
  • Exposure to PCBs During Nursing Leads to Temporary Diabetes-Related Health Effect
    Exposure to synthetic chemicals called polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) through a mother's milk could cause short-term glucose intolerance in offspring, according to a study by researchers from the University of Kentucky (UK) and funded by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP). Intolerance to glucose, signified by high blood levels of the sugar, is a hallmark of diabetes. The study, conducted with mice, builds on earlier SRP-funded work by the same group that found connections between maternal PCB exposure and diabetes risk factors in progeny.
    10 min
  • Fighting Fluorine with Fluorine: New Materials Remove PFAS from Groundwater
    Researchers funded by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP) created a novel class of materials that can attract and remove per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from water. According to the authors, the new technology — called Fluor Mop — can be regenerated, reused, and is potentially less expensive than current remediation strategies.
    7 min
  • Mimicking Molecules Made by Bacteria to Remove Metals From Water
    NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP)-funded scientists developed a method to extract metals from water using synthetic molecules inspired by those produced by bacteria. The biodegradable molecules, called rhamnolipids, could one day be used to remove toxic metals or extract rare and valuable elements from aqueous mining and industrial waste.
    5 min
  • New Model Estimates PFAS Exposures From Contaminated Drinking Water
    Researchers partially funded by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP) developed a model to estimate individual exposure to four per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) commonly found in drinking water. The model integrates published data from multiple studies on PFAS levels in human blood along with measured PFAS concentrations in drinking water. Tools for estimating PFAS exposure from contaminated drinking water can inform public health risk assessments and advisories.
    7 min

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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…