Main Body
Research Areas
Environmental Health Science
- Toxicology
- Differences in how chemicals are metabolized can be explained, in part, by an organism's own genetic make-up. Variant forms of enzymes that bioactivate foreign compounds, whether therapeutic drugs or environmental pollutants, can predispose individuals to toxic or beneficial effects. Wadsworth scientists study variants of a complex metabolizing system known as cytochromes P450. They investigate the influence of metals, fluoride, nanoparticles and other foreign substances on P450 function, and study the enzyme's differential expression in multiple tissues. Other efforts to identify environmental triggers of disease examine alterations in nervous system function produced by exposure to such contaminants as PCBs, pesticides and methylmercury. A trace element program both conducts research on non-invasive in vivo bone lead measurements, and performs trace metal analyses in support of public health lead screening programs.
- Biomonitoring
- Biomonitoring measures personal environmental exposures, rather than inferring exposure from chemical concentrations in air, water or soil. This new approach directly quantifies the suspect chemical or its metabolites in human specimens. Wadsworth scientists are developing non-invasive methods to measure biomarkers in blood, urine and breath in order to identify individuals at risk, and then intervene using disease prevention and early detection strategies. Biomonitoring can help determine the relationship between exposure and disease, and target prevention or remediation efforts more appropriately. For example, an objective measure of exposure to emissions from the World Trade Center disaster in state employees and National Guardsmen will support investigations of future health effects.
- Nuclear, Environmental and Analytic Chemistry
- Accurate measurement of radioactivity and chemical contaminants is essential for surveillance of drinking water supplies, nuclear power plants and indoor air, or for response to public health emergencies. Programs to characterize occurrence and exposure to natural radioactivity largely focus on radon, with the development of township-level maps indicating indoor radon-potential. Community water supplies around nuclear power reactors are monitored for radioactivity, and preparedness drills are conducted to improve response to potential accidents or terrorism. In addition to monitoring regulated chemicals in the environment, Wadsworth scientists develop novel methods to detect contaminants of concern, such as flame retardants, pesticides and pharmaceuticals present in the environment and food. Studies aim to evaluate the bioaccumulation, food-chain transfer, and human exposures of emerging chemical toxicants, and to develop biomarkers of human exposure.
- Microbiology and Aquatic Chemistry
- Stressed ecosystems have exacerbated the proliferation of exotic aquatic species and facilitated waterborne exposure to chemical and microbiological contaminants. Wadsworth scientists focus on understanding the environmental factors that promote the establishment of non-native species in waterways, a critical first step in mitigating their economic and ecological impact. They also develop state-of-the-art methods to quantify the sources, distribution, fate and transport of waterborne toxicants, including persistent organic pollutants (e.g., PCBs and dioxins) and perfluorinated compounds. These rapid and accurate analytical tools aid routine monitoring of water resources and improve response to public health emergencies. Examples are a molecular method to discriminate between human and agricultural sources of fecal pollution in watersheds, and a rapid assay to differentiate between toxin-producing species of blue green algae and their non-toxic counterparts.
- Atmospheric Science
- The earth's atmosphere is a mixture of particles and gases from natural and manmade sources, including airborne products of combustion and manufacturing. Ultra-fine particles are a special concern for their association with cardiac and pulmonary disease, reduced visibility and climate change. Wadsworth scientists identify the chemical constituents of these fine particles and identify their source. Secondary aerosols formed from chemical reactions also affect air quality, produce acid rain and alter ozone levels. Wadsworth researchers study reactions in cloud, ice and snow environments to understand the production of stratospheric ozone; analyze clouds for the occurrence and production of acidic sulfate, the cause of acid rain; and characterize indoor pollutants to understand the relationship between chemical exposure and asthma.