Toxicology Commons^™

Low Concentrations Of Hexavalent Chromium In Drinking Water Induce Alzheimer’S Disease Neuropathology: Using A Toxic Aging Coin Approach To Assess Hexavalent Chromium Neurotoxicity, Liam Buchanan, Samuel Vielee, Spencer Roof, Haiyan Lu, Jamie L Young, Idoia Meaza Isusi, Aggie Williams, Joseph Kouokam, Sandra Wise, Luping Guo, Jun Cai, John Wise, John P. Wise Jr.

The Cardinal Edge

Introduction: We are currently facing an aging crisis, as 20% of the U.S. population will be geriatric (65+) by 2030. This growing geriatric population will result in increasing prevalence of age-related diseases, coinciding with increasingly prevalent environmental pollution. Environmental pollution is a ubiquitous health threat that affects people at all ages and contributes to aging pathology. However, geriatric individuals are likely more susceptible to the negative health effects from environmental pollution. The distinct effects of environmental pollutants across age groups are currently understudied. We use a Toxic Aging Coin approach to investigate: 1) how age impacts toxicity (heads), …

Anti-Aging Properties Of Cosmetics, Anna Lipinski

The Cardinal Edge

It is well established that external factors, specifically UV exposure, are among the highest contributors to the biological aging of the skin. Prolonged exposure may disrupt skin cell homeostasis through shifts in proteostasis, accumulation of reactive oxidative species, premature cellular senescence, and inflammatory pathways. Cosmetic companies have responded to this by producing products marketed as "youthful" and "anti-aging" by including specific compounds into formulas to combat skin aging. This review discusses the specific mechanisms of anti-aging formulas, including polyphenols as senotherapeutic agents and L-ascorbic acid as an anti-inflammatory compound, in resisting the biological aging of the skin.

Influences Of Quality Of Maternal Care And Environmental Enrichment On Associative Memory Function In Rats With Early Life Lead Exposure, Jay S. Schneider, Courtney Williams, Shamaila Zafar, Jaehyun Joo, Blanca E. Himes

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: Children in low socioeconomic status (SES) communities are at higher risk of exposure to lead (Pb) and potentially more severe adverse outcomes from Pb exposures. While the factors encompassing SES are complex, low SES households often have less enriching home environments and parent-child interactions. This study investigated the extent to which environmental/behavioral factors (quality of maternal care and richness of the postnatal environment) may modify adverse effects from Pb exposure.

METHODS: Long-Evans female rats were randomly assigned to Control (no Pb), Early Postnatal (EPN: birth through weaning), or Perinatal (PERI: 14 days pre-mating through weaning) Pb exposure groups. From …

Influence Of Four Veterinary Antibiotics On Constructed Treatment Wetland Nitrogen Transformation, Matthew Russell, Tiffany L. Messer, Deborah A. Report, Richard L. Smith, Shannon L. Bartelt-Hunt, Daniel D. Snow, Ariel P. Reed

UK CARES Faculty Publications

The use of wetlands as a treatment approach for nitrogen in runoff is a common practice in agroecosystems. However, nitrate is not the sole constituent present in agricultural runoff and other biologically active contaminants have the potential to affect nitrate removal efficiency. In this study, the impacts of the combined effects of four common veterinary antibiotics (chlortetracycline, sulfamethazine, lincomycin, monensin) on nitrate-N treatment efficiency in saturated sediments and wetlands were evaluated in a coupled microcosm/mesocosm scale experiment. Veterinary antibiotics were hypothesized to significantly impact nitrogen speciation (e.g., nitrate and ammonium) and nitrogen uptake and transformation processes (e.g., plant uptake and …

The Role Of B Cell Activation State And Sex In Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Mediated Induction Of Chemokine Receptor 9 And Alpha4beta7 Expression In Vitro, Logan Bauerle

Master's Theses

Defense of mucosal tissues from microbial infection and allergy is reliant on continual production of antibodies. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is known to regulate B cell development and is associated with suppression of systemic humoral immunity. Recent attention has been paid to the role of the AhR in altering expression of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs). B cells express CAMs and chemokine receptors to migrate around the body for localized secretion of antibodies. AhR agonists promote B cell migration to the small intestine through upregulation of chemokine receptor 9 (CCR9) and integrin α₄β₇. Both the AhR …

Toxicological Effects And Treatment Of Accidental Ingestion Of Simparica Trio® In Felis Catus: An Investigative Review, Aussia M. Stander

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Simparica TRIO^®, a canine endectocide manufactured by Zoetis, contains sarolaner, moxidectin, and pyrantel pamoate salt in an orally administered chewable tablet. These compounds are all toxic to both cats and dogs in sufficient amounts. As Simparica TRIO^® rises in popularity among pet owners, Felis catus (felines, cats) in multi-pet households (households with both cats and dogs) are at increased risk of overdosage and toxicosis from accidental ingestion of Simparica TRIO^® due to their smaller weight.

Simparica TRIO^® is not for feline use and little literature exists on the symptoms of and treatment for accidental ingestion …

Assessment Of Potentially Toxic And Mineral Elements In Paddy Soils And Their Uptake By Rice (Oryza Sativa L) With Associated Health Hazards In District Malakand, Pakistan, Asghar Khan, Muhammad Saleem Khan, Munib Ahmed Shafique, Qaisar Khan, Ghulam Saddiq

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Rice, a primary food source in many countries of the world accumulate potentially harmful elements which pose a significant health hazard to consumers. The current study aimed to evaluate potentially toxic and mineral elements in both paddy soils and rice grains associated with allied health risks in Malakand, Pakistan. Rice plants with intact root soil were randomly collected from paddy fields and analyzed for mineral and potentially toxic elements (PTEs) through inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP‒OES). Through deterministic and probabilistic risk assessment models, the daily intake of PTEs with allied health risks from consumption of rice were estimated …

Adsorbents From Rice Husk And Shrimp Shell For Effective Removal Of Heavy Metals And Reactive Dyes In Water, Md Ibrahim H Mondal, Shovra Chandra Chakraborty, Md Saifur Rahman, Shaik Merkatur Hakim Marjuban, Firoz Ahmed, John L Zhou, Mohammad Boshir Ahmed, Masoumeh Zargar

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Widespread contamination by heavy metals (HMs) and dyes poses a major health risk to people and ecosystems requiring effective treatment. In this work, rice husk (RH) and shrimp shells were extracted to obtain amorphous silica and chitosan, respectively, which were utilized to produce nano-chitosan-coated silica (NCCS). To ensure the stability of the nanoparticles, silica was freeze-dried after being coated with nano-chitosan. Functional groups (-NH

Safety Of Potentised Dilutions Of Rhus Toxicodendron In Wistar Albino Rats, Abanti Goswami, Narasimha Kumar Gv, Vara Prasad Saka, Pankaj Gupta, Bibaswan Biswas, Digvijay Verma

Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy

Background: Rhus toxicodendron (Rhus tox.) is a well-known homoeopathic medicine used to treat inflammatory disorders supported by historical and modern scientific evidence. Objective: The safety testing of 6C, 30C and 200C potencies of Rhus tox. through acute and sub-acute oral toxicity tests as per the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development test guidelines. Methods: For the acute oral toxicity study, Rhus tox. (2000 μL/kg) was administered to rats and observed for 14 days. For the subacute oral toxicity study, Rhus tox. (200 μL/kg) was administered for 28 days and additional recovery groups were included to monitor reversibility, persistence, or delayed …

Aloe Vera Assisted Green Synthesis Of Ag And Cu Co-Doped Zno Nanoparticles And A Comprehensive Analysis Of Their Structural, Morphological, Optical, Electrical And Antibacterial Properties, Md Hasnat Rashid, Saiful Islam Sujoy, Md Saifur Rahman, Md Jahidul Haque

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This study investigates the potential of utilizing Aloe vera-assisted green synthesis with transition metal dopants of Ag and Cu for greater efficiency and sustainability in advanced scientific applications utilizing ZnO nanoparticles. Samples were prepared using the co-precipitation method, maintaining a basic pH media of 10. Aloe vera gel extract was chosen for its acclaimed role as a stabilizing and reducing agent and its proven antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer properties. The XRD report revealed the hexagonal Wurtzite crystal structure of nanoparticles, exhibiting a crystallite size range of 17-23 nm with substantial alterations in lattice parameters, dislocation density, and bond lengths when …

Protecting Human And Animal Health: The Road From Animal Models To New Approach Methods, Barbara L F Kaplan, Alan M Hoberman, William Slikker, Mary Alice Smith, Emanuela Corsini, Thomas B Knudsen, M Sue Marty, Sonya K Sobrian, Suzanne C Fitzpatrick, Marcia H Ratner, Donna L Mendrick

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Animals and animal models have been invaluable for our current understanding of human and animal biology, including physiology, pharmacology, biochemistry, and disease pathology. However, there are increasing concerns with continued use of animals in basic biomedical, pharmacological, and regulatory research to provide safety assessments for drugs and chemicals. There are concerns that animals do not provide sufficient information on toxicity and/or efficacy to protect the target population, so scientists are utilizing the principles of replacement, reduction, and refinement (the 3Rs) and increasing the development and application of new approach methods (NAMs). NAMs are any technology, methodology, approach, or assay used …

The E-Liquid Flavorings Cinnamaldehyde, Vanillin, And Ethyl Vanillin Induce Cellular Stress Responses In Human Proximal Tubule (Hk-2) Epithelial Cells, Ashley J. Cox

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) has become popular in recent years as an alternative to traditional cigarettes. These devices heat and subsequently vaporize e-liquids for inhalation by the user, which allows for the delivery of ingredients such as flavorings, nicotine, and solvents through the vapor. Flavorings used in e-liquids are “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) for consumption by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), however there are currently no recommendations on safety regarding the inhalation of flavoring agents. While research characterizing effects of e-liquids and their flavorings is abundant in lung and respiratory tract models, few studies …

Nanotoxicology Of Cdse/Zns Quantum Dot Alternatives In Thle-2 And Hepg2 Liver Cells, Seth Harris

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Fluorescent nanoparticles known as quantum dots (QDs) have unique properties that make them useful in biomedicine. Specifically, CdSe/ZnS QDs, while good at fluorescing, show toxicity. Due to this, safer alternatives have been developed. This study uses an XTT viability assay, ROS fluorescent imaging, and apoptosis to investigate the effect of QD alternatives InP/ZnS, CuInS₂/ZnS, and carbon dots (NCD) in liver cells. The liver is a possible destination for accumulation of QDs making it an appropriate model for testing. A cancerous liver cell line known as HepG2, and an immortalized liver cell line known as THLE-2 were used. At …

Exposition Professionnelle Des Femmes Aux Substances Chimiques : Amélioration D’Une Matrice Emploi Exposition Existante Pour Fournir Des Estimations Spécifiques Au Sexe : Rapport Abrégé, Vikki Ho, Chelsea Almadin, France Labrèche, Mark Goldberg, Marie-Élise Parent, Jack Siemiatycki, Jérôme Lavoué

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Il est reconnu que les femmes et les hommes ont des profils professionnels différents qui peuvent donc se traduire par des risques de maladie professionnelle différents. Pourtant, la plupart de nos connaissances actuelles sur les maladies professionnelles découlent d'études menées auprès des hommes. Or, les femmes représentent actuellement 48 % de la population active au Québec. La santé des femmes dans l’environnement de travail demeure un domaine sous-étudié et nous sommes particulièrement freinés par le manque de compréhension de l'impact du genre sur l'exposition en milieu de travail. Il a été démontré que l'attribution des tâches et les conditions de …

Occupational Exposures Of Women To Chemical Substances: Improvement Of An Existing Job Exposure Matrix To Provide Sex-Specific Estimations Of Exposure, Vikki Ho, Chelsea Almadin, France Labrèche, Mark Goldberg, Marie-Élise Parent, Jack Siemiatycki, Jérôme Lavoué

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Il est reconnu que les femmes et les hommes ont des profils professionnels différents qui peuvent donc se traduire par des risques de maladie professionnelle différents. Pourtant, la plupart de nos connaissances actuelles sur les maladies professionnelles découlent d'études menées auprès des hommes. Or, les femmes représentent actuellement 48 % de la population active au Québec. La santé des femmes dans l’environnement de travail demeure un domaine sous-étudié et nous sommes particulièrement freinés par le manque de compréhension de l'impact du genre sur l'exposition en milieu de travail. Il a été démontré que l'attribution des tâches et les conditions de …

Lead Bioaccessibility And Commonly Measured Soil Characteristics (Detroit, Mi, Usa) – Phase 1, Sabrina R. Good, Allison R. Harris, Patrick Crouch, Conor T. Gowan, William D. Shuster, Shawn P. Mcelmurry

Open Data at Wayne State

Contaminated urban soil is one of the major contributors to child Pb exposure. To gain a better understanding of Pb risk in urban areas, composite samples were collected from 142 residential, privately owned, parcels in Detroit, Hamtramck, and Highland Park, Michigan, with approval from the property owners. The proximity of soil sampling and former smelter locations were also reported. Sample were collected from areas covered with turf grass. Four samples were collected, one from each cardinal direction (north, south, east, and west), 20 cm from an aluminum tent stake driven into the center of the sampling site. Soils were collected …

Observed Effects Of Physiological Melatonin Dosing On Mda-Mb-231 Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation, Wenli Wu

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project seeks to evaluate pharmacological dosing of melatonin on the cell proliferation of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line in culture, using the two solubility carriers: DMSO/water and ethanol. This experiment is a component of ongoing research at the Eaton lab which will elucidate melatonin dose-response toxicology in zebrafish and a possible breast cancer xenograft model for novel treatment therapies.

Enhancing Translation: A Need To Leverage Complex Preclinical Models Of Addictive Drugs To Accelerate Substance Use Treatment Options, Christa Corley, Ashley Craig, Safiyah M. Sadek, Julie A. Marusich, Samar N. Chehimi, Ashley M. White, Lexi J. Holdiness, Benjamin C. Reiner, Cassandra D. Gipson

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Preclinical models of addictive drugs have been developed for decades to model aspects of the clinical experience in substance use disorders (SUDs). These include passive exposure as well as volitional intake models across addictive drugs and have been utilized to also measure withdrawal symptomatology and potential neuro- behavioral mechanisms underlying relapse to drug seeking or taking. There are a number of Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved medications for SUDs, however, many demonstrate low clinical efficacy as well as potential sex differences, and we also note gaps in the continuum of care for certain aspects of clinical ex- periences in individuals …

Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid Exposure Leads To Downregulation Of 3-Hydroxy-3-Methylglutaryl-Coa Synthase 2 Expression And Upregulation Of Markers Associated With Intestinal Carcinogenesis In Mouse Intestinal Tissues, Josiane Weber Tessmann, Pan Deng, Jerika Durham, Chang Li, Moumita Banerjee, Qingding Wang, Ryan A. Goettl, Daheng He, Chi Wang, Eun Y. Lee, B. Mark Evers, Bernhard Hennig, Yekaterina Y. Zaytseva

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) is a widely recognized environment pollutant known for its high bio- accumulation potential and a long elimination half-life. Several studies have shown that PFOS can alter multiple biological pathways and negatively affect human health. Considering the direct exposure to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to environmental pollutants, PFOS can potentially disrupt intestinal homeostasis. However, there is limited knowledge about the effect of PFOS exposure on normal intestinal tissues, and its contribution to GI- associated diseases remains to be determined. In this study, we examined the effect of PFOS exposure on the gene expression profile of intestinal tissues of …

Neurodevelopmental Vulnerability To Gestational Ozone Exposure, Vishnupriya Alavala, Sarah E. Brent, Christopher G. Canal, Joseph Wang, Russell P. Hunter, Matthew J. Campen, Andrew K. Ottens

UROP Posters

Ambient air pollution accounts for about 4.2 million premature deaths annually per the World Health Organization. Ozone (O3) is a highly reactive air pollutant found in smog and is implicated in cellular damage leading to organ dysfunction. Ambient air pollution is associated with neurodevelopmental, behavioral, and cognitive disorders though ozone’s role is unknown. Studies here look at ozone exposure shortly after implantation vs. shortly before term to evaluate differences in neurodevelopmental susceptibility over time.

To inquire on the effects of ozone on the fetal brain, pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed once to 0.3 ppm of O3 or filtered air (FA) …

Quantum Dots' Toxicity: A Multi-Level Investigation On The Impact Of Quantum Dots On The Actin Cytoskeleton, Nhi Le

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Quantum dots (QDs) are fluorescence nanomaterials with unique optical and physical properties. As such, they are highly sought after for their potential use in several biomedical and industrial applications. Despite their vast potential, recent studies have suggested that quantum dots are toxic to cells. Yet, the mechanism of quantum dots’ toxicity remains unclear. As such, my thesis aims to comprehensively examine the mechanism of quantum dots’ toxicity, emphasizing how quantum dots disrupt the actin cytoskeleton. In this study, I used RNA sequencing and mass spectrometry to investigate the influence of CdSe/ZnS QDs on the transcriptomic proteomic level of Saccharomyces cerevisiae …

Synthetic Contraceptive Hormones Occlude The Ability Of Nicotine To Reduce Ethanol Consumption In Ovary-Intact Female Rats, Erin E. Maher, Ashley M. White, Ashley Craig, Shailesh N. Khatri, Percell T. Kendrick Jr., Mary E. Matocha, Emma O. Bondy, Nikhil Pallem, Grace W. Breakfield, Madison Botkins, Olivia Sweatt, William C. Griffin, Brent A. Kaplan, Jessica Jane Weafer, Joshua S. Beckmann, Cassandra D. Gipson

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Rates of tobacco and alcohol use in women are rising, and women are more vulnerable than men to escalating tobacco and alcohol use. Many women use hormonal birth control, with the oral contraceptive pill being the most prevalent. Oral contraceptives contain both a progestin (synthetic progesterone) and a synthetic estrogen (ethinyl estradiol; EE) and are contraindicated for women over 35 years who smoke. Despite this, no studies have examined how synthetic contraceptive hormones impact this pattern of polysubstance use in females. To address this critical gap in the field, we treated ovary-intact female rats with either sesame oil (vehicle), the …

Évaluation De L’Impact De La Coexposition Sur Les Biomarqueurs D’Exposition Aux Pesticides Pyréthrinoïdes Chez Les Travailleurs Agricoles, Michèle Bouchard, Marc Bossou, Jonathan Côté

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Il existe peu de données publiées sur l'impact de la coexposition sur la toxicocinétique des pesticides chez les travailleurs agricoles, nécessaires pour une interprétation adéquate des données de biosurveillance de l’exposition. La présente recherche a visé à évaluer l’impact de la coexposition sur les niveaux de biomarqueurs d’exposition aux pesticides pyréthrinoïdes chez les travailleurs agricoles. Le pyréthrinoïde lambda-cyhalothrine (LCT) et le fongicide captane ont été utilisés comme pesticides sentinelles, puisqu’ils sont largement employés en culture agricole.

Dans le volet 1, les profils temporels individuels des biomarqueurs d'exposition à la lambda-cyhalothrine ont été comparés chez des opérateurs après un épisode …

International Conference On Cancer Health Disparities, Juhi Rais, Asif Jafri, Neelam Shivnath, Habiba Khan, Md Arshad

Research Symposium

Background: Biochanin A, an isoflavone that is mainly present in red clover, has potent chemopreventive properties against many cancers. Ovarian carcinoma is fifth most common and deadliest gynaecological malignancy that causes the highest mortality in females worldwide. Hence a substantial need for new therapies for combating this gynaecological malignancy arises.

Methods: The present study aimed to investigate anti-cancerous potentials of biochanin A on cultured human ovarian carcinoma PA-1 cells through the cell viability assay, cellular apoptosis, disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), involvement of ROS, cell cycle kinetics, and expression of apoptosis-related genes namely, p53, Bax, Bcl-2, Noxa and Puma. …

Effects Of Environmental Pollutants On Liver Disease: Role Of The Gut-Liver Axis., Ngozi Victoria Adiele

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polystyrene (PS) microplastics are environmental pollutants associated with various diseases including toxicant associated fatty liver disease (TAFLD). Previously, exposure to Aroclor 1260 (a PCB mixture) has been shown to exacerbate TAFLD, partly through Aroclor 1260 induced gut dysbiosis. Studies has also demonstrated that PS exposure alters gut microbiome composition and induced obesity. However, the effects of Aroclor 1260 on the gut and the effects of PS on the liver are still understudied. Therefore, we hypothesize that environmental pollutants will disrupt the gut-liver axis through changes in gut and its microbiome as well as changes in liver …

Pcb126 Exposure During Pregnancy Alters Maternal And Fetal Gene Expression, Cetewayo S. Rashid, Joshua D. Preston, Sara Y. Ngo Tenlep, Marissa K. Cook, Eric M. Blalock, Changcheng Zhou, Hollie I. Swanson, Kevin J. Pearson

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are organic pollutants that can have lasting impacts on offspring health. Here, we sought to examine maternal and fetal gene expression differences of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR)- regulated genes in a mouse model of prenatal PCB126 exposure. Female mice were bred and gavaged with 1 μmole/kg bodyweight PCB126 or vehicle control on embryonic days 0 and 14, and maternal and fetal tissues were collected on embryonic day 18.5. Total RNAs were isolated, and gene expression levels were analyzed in both maternal and fetal tissues using the NanoString nCounter system. Interestingly, we found that the expression levels of …

The Role Of E-Liquid Constituents In E-Cigarette-Induced Cardiac Arrhythmia And Autonomic Imbalance., Cory Kucera

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction. Accumulating evidence indicates that exposure to electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) promotes sympathetic dominance and electrophysiologic instability in the heart, potentially culminating in arrhythmogenesis. E-liquids contain various formulations of nicotine and flavorings, but the effects of specific e-liquid constituents and their concentrations on e-cig-induced autonomic imbalance and electrical dysfunction are unresolved. To that end, we tested the hypothesis that e-cigs modify cardiac autonomic balance and ventricular arrhythmogenesis in mice dependent on e-liquid constituent type and concentration. Methods. Using a crossover design and a serial exposure regimen, ECG-telemetered male C57BL/6J mice underwent whole-body exposure to e-cig aerosols generated from e-liquids containing different …

Lung And Colorectal Cancer Disparities In Appalachian Kentucky: Spatial Analysis On The Influence Of Education And Literacy, Nicole Robertson Mph, Todd Burus, Lauren Hudson, Pamela C. Hull, Lee Park, Nathan L. Vanderford

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Low educational attainment and high cancer incidence and mortality rates have long been a challenge in Appalachian Kentucky. Prior studies have reported disparities in cancer incidence and mortality between Appalachian and non-Appalachian populations, but the influence of education on this disparity has not been extensively studied. Herein, all cancers and two cancer sites with available screenings (colorectal and lung) were joined with education indicators (educational attainment and literacy) and one geographic indicator across all 120 Kentucky counties. This dataset was used to build choropleth maps and perform simple linear and spatial regression to assess statistical significance and to measure the …

Data To Action: Community-Based Participatory Research To Address Concerns About Metal Air Pollution In Overburdened Neighborhoods Near Metal Recycling Facilities In Houston, Elaine Symanski, Heyreoun An Han, Sheryl Mccurdy, Loren Hopkins, Juan Flores, Inkyu Han, Mary Ann Smith, James Caldwell, Cecelia Fontenot, Bobbie Wyatt, Christine Markham

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Exposures to environmental contaminants can be influenced by social determinants of health. As a result, persons living in socially disadvantaged communities may experience disproportionate health risks from environmental exposures. Mixed methods research can be used to understand community-level and individual-level exposures to chemical and nonchemical stressors contributing to environmental health disparities. Furthermore, community-based participatory research (CBPR) approaches can lead to more effective interventions.

OBJECTIVES: We applied mixed methods to identify environmental health perceptions and needs among metal recyclers and residents living in disadvantaged neighborhoods near metal recycling facilities in Houston, Texas, in a CBPR study, Metal Air Pollution Partnership …

Maternal Polychlorinated Biphenyl 126 (Pcb 126) Exposure Modulates Offspring Gut Microbiota Irrespective Of Diet And Exercise, Manisha Agarwal, Jessie Hoffman, Sara Y. Ngo Tenlep, Sara Santarossa, Kevin J. Pearson, Alexandra R. Sitarik, Andrea E. Cassidy-Bushrow, Michael C. Petriello

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

The gut microbiota plays an important role throughout the lifespan in maintaining host health, and several factors can modulate microbiota composition including diet, exercise, and environmental exposures. Maternal microbiota is transferred to offspring during early life; thus, environmental exposures before gestation may also modulate offspring microbiota. Here we aimed to investigate the effects of maternal exposure to dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on the microbiota of aged offspring and to determine if lifestyle factors, including maternal exercise or offspring high-fat feeding alter these associations. To test this, dams were exposed to PCB 126 (0.5 μmole/kg body weight) or vehicle oil by …