1. Sponsor Organization: NIH/NIEHS

2. Project Title: 04911-09 HEALTH HAZARDS FROM GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION

3. Project Focus:

• Project Primary Focus: Human Health Effects
• Project Secondary Focus: Exposure Assessment

4. Description:

Research is directed toward a better understanding of potential health hazards arising from contamination of groundwater and soils with chemicals commonly found at hazardous waste sites. The pollutants under investigation include volatile organic solvents such as benzene and trichloroethylene and environmentally persistent compounds such as PCBs and PAHs. The transport of volatile organic compounds in the subsurface is studied experimentally and refined mathematical models describing this movement are being developed for use in predicting environmental concentrations before and after clean-up. Biomedical scientists are examining the mechanisms of toxicity of the same selected group of chemicals. Included will be studies of chemical-induced toxicity involving neutrophils, the reproductive system, and inhibition of intercellular communication and other fundamental cellular regulation processes. In addition, various biological systems are employed to determine the potential toxicity of products produced during ecoengineering studies of bacterial and chemical degradation. A novel system to assess the biological activity of mixtures of PCBs and PAHs will be developed using genetic engineering techniques. The study will produce several new, sensitive bioassay/biomarker systems for detection and monitoring of halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons.

5. References:

6. Inventory Category:

• Primary: Methods
• Secondary:

7. Inventory Subcategory:

• Primary: Basic Research
• Secondary:

8. Keywords for Experimental System/Species:

• Species:
• Study Type:
  • Field Study
  • Laboratory Study
• Fate and Transport:

9. Keywords for Experimental Endpoints:

• Health Effect:
  • Reproductive
• Hormonal Measures:
• Level Of Study:
• Chemistry Metabolism:
  • Toxicokinetics
  • Exposure Monitoring
• Life Stage:
• Risk Assessment:

10. Chemical Agents:

• Pahs
• Pcbs
• Benzene, Trichloroethylene

11. Performing Institution:

• MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

12. Contact:

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