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

  • Collaborative Cross Mice Can Fill Data Gaps in Risk Assessment
    NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP) grantees showed how the Collaborative Cross (CC) mouse model, which uses genetically diverse mice to capture over 90% of known mouse genetic variations, can account for individual differences in susceptibility to environmental chemicals. Led by Ivan Rusyn, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Texas AM University SRP Center, researchers measured variability in kidney toxicity and metabolism in CC mice after exposing them to tetrachloroethylene (PERC).
    7 min
  • Identifying Key Characteristics of Chemicals that Harm Male and Female Reproduction
    Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) Superfund Research Program (SRP) Center developed and applied a “key characteristics” framework to help risk assessors better identify, organize, and summarize the potential reproductive health risks of different chemicals. By understanding specific events that lead to toxicity, they also may be able to systematically predict whether less studied chemicals may be reproductive toxicants and prioritize them for additional study.
    6 min
  • PCBs Alter Glucose Regulation Differently in Males and Females
    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.
    6 min
  • Model Predicts PAH Levels in Important Tribal Food Source
    A sediment passive sampling model can be used to accurately predict the concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in butter clams, according to a recent Superfund Research Program (SRP) study. Led by Kim Anderson, Ph.D., of the Oregon State University (OSU) SRP Center, the research team worked closely with tribal leaders to better predict PAH levels in butter clams while having a minimal impact on this important resource.
    7 min
  • New Method Quickly Screens Chemicals for Cancer Risk
    Boston University (BU) researchers, in collaboration with researchers at the National Toxicology Program (NTP) and the Broad Institute, have developed and evaluated a new approach to assess whether exposure to a chemical increases a person’s long-term cancer risk. The fast, cost-effective method uses gene expression profiling, which measures the activity of a thousand or more genes to capture what is happening in a cell. Based on gene expression profiling data, the researchers were able to infer specific biological changes at the cellular level and predict potential carcinogenicity of chemicals, or the ability of chemicals to cause cancer.
    6 min
  • Nitrous Oxide Halts Breakdown of Chlorinated Compounds
    A new Superfund Research Program (SRP) study showed that nitrous oxide (N2O), a groundwater contaminant commonly generated from agricultural runoff, inhibits bacterial degradation of certain chlorinated contaminants, including tetrachloroethene (PCE). The study may explain why bioremediation, or the use of bacteria to break down compounds, can stall at some hazardous waste sites
    6 min
  • Passive Samplers Tackle PCB Flux
    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.
    6 min
  • Promising Membrane Technology Reduces Chlorobenzene in Groundwater
    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.
    5 min
  • Study Sheds Light on Respiratory Toxicity of EPFRs
    A new Superfund Research Program (SRP) study explains how particulate matter (PM) containing environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) activate the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). AhR is known to play an important role in detecting and responding to a variety of pollutants. These findings could prove useful in understanding the underlying mechanism of diseases known to be associated with inhalation of PM, such as cardiovascular disease.
    5 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…