Superfund Research Program
- 205 - Ramping Up Mixed Metals Removal -- Calo
Release Date: 01/04/2012
To remove trace metals from water, two methods may be better than one. Brown University researchers have developed an innovative two-part strategy to safely eliminate metals from water without producing toxic sludge.
- 206 - Arsenic Linked to Developmental Changes in the Heart -- Camenisch
Release Date: 02/01/2012
Adults exposed to arsenic in their drinking water are at increased risk for high blood pressure and heart disease, among other health problems. New research using mice shows these cardiovascular effects can start early in life if mice are exposed to arsenic during development.
- 207 - Particulate matter pollution: A particular problem for the young? -- Kennedy
Release Date: 03/07/2012
Newborns and infants may be uniquely susceptible to harm from tiny particles in air pollution (particulate matter), a study shows. Researchers exposed 7-day-old rats to a level of PM similar to that found in Fresno, Calif., which resulted in biological changes not found in adults rats, including markers of cellular toxicity.
- 208 - A Flurry of Arsenic Findings -- Jackson, Lu, Ahsan
Release Date: 04/04/2012
New evidence about arsenic abounds in SRP studies published recently. The studies reveal that food is an unexpected source of arsenic exposure, demonstrate adverse health effects are from low levels of exposure, show the mechanisms behind some of arsenic's health effects, and suggest a strategy for reducing exposure from well water.
- 209 - PAHs Before and After the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill -- Anderson
Release Date: 05/02/2012
Oregon State University SRP scientists used their novel passive sampling devices to make before-and-after comparisons of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) at four sites affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Their results suggest a continued need for monitoring of residual oil and dissolved PAHs in the Gulf of Mexico.
- 210 - A New Role for MicroRNAs in Neurobehavioral Development -- Tal, Tanguay
Release Date: 06/06/2012
MicroRNAs may be tiny, but these short pieces of RNA regulate important human genes. The genes they regulate are also more sensitive to environmental chemical exposures. In a new study, researchers found environmental disruption of miRNAs can affect neurobehavioral development in zebrafish.
- 211 - A New Solar-Powered Approach for Groundwater Decontamination -- Alshawabkeh
Release Date: 07/03/2012
Researchers discover a new treatment combination that delivers a one-two punch to eliminate trichloroethylene (TCE) contamination in groundwater. As an added benefit, the method can be driven by solar power for a greener approach to remediation.
- 212 - Early-life PCE Exposure Linked to Visual Impairment in Adults -- Aschengrau
Release Date: 08/01/2012
New evidence shows exposure to the chemical PCE during development can lead to visual impairment later in life. Scientists have previously linked the chemical with neurological effects like memory and attention problems.
- 213 - Widely Used Antibacterial Agents May Lead to Significant Health Concerns -- Hammock, Pessah
Release Date: 09/05/2012
Researchers at UC Davis show that triclosan, a chemical widely used in antibacterial products, impairs heart and skeletal muscle activity in animal models. Other studies link another antibacterial agent, triclocarban, to changes in regulatory pathways in mice and in human cells.
- 214 - Study First to Quantify TCE in Breast Milk -- Beamer
Release Date: 10/03/2012
Trichloroethylene (TCE), a degreasing agent, is one of the most common groundwater contaminants in the United States. A new study reveals TCE can be detected in the breast milk of women living in an area with TCE-contaminated water.
- 215 - Study Links Prenatal Mercury Exposure and Fish Intake to ADHD-Related Behavior -- Korrick
Release Date: 11/07/2012
A new study suggests an association between low-level mercury exposure and an increased risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-related behaviors. Conversely, children whose mothers ate more fish, the main non-occupational source of mercury exposure, during pregnancy had a lower risk of exhibiting ADHD-related behaviors.
- 216 - New Highly Sensitive On-Chip Nanoparticle Immunoassay -- Kennedy
Release Date: 12/05/2012
A breakthrough in bioassay technology allows detection of attomolar concentrations of biomolecules on a microchip. This new nanotechnology approach to detecting proteins and other compounds increases sensitivity more than 1,000-fold over conventional assays, and yet is affordable and easy to use.