1. Sponsor Organization: NIH/NIEHS

2. Project Title: 07381-03 SUPERFUND BASIC RESEARCH CENTER AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY

3. Project Focus:

• Project Primary Focus: Human Health Effects
• Project Secondary Focus: Ecological Effects

4. Description:

This is a multidisciplinary study. Three epidemiology projects study etiologic factors in breast cancer. Project 1 is a population-based case-control study of breast cancer risk and exposure to tetrachloroethylene (PCE) in drinking water on the Upper Cape. Project 2 applies new methods and technologies for environmental epidemiology, specifically, several new methods to detect and verify spatial aggregation ("hot spots" or cluster). Project 3 is a nested case-control study within three cohorts of Danish women who had serum samples taken between 1976 and 1982. Approximately 215 of these women have since gone on to develop breast cancer. Comparison between cases and controlswill be made for DDE and specific PCB congener. Four projects will carry out detailed mechanistic studies on topic related to the epidemiological studies. Projects 4-6 examine mechanisms by which certain classes of xenobiotics induce transcription of specific genes encoding the cytochrome P450 mixed function oxidases, enzymes important in the metabolism of a range of compounds, including PVBs, DDE and PCE. Project 7 explores effects on male reproductive biology of xenobiotics using a unique in vitro model of spermatogenesis. Two projects examine the influence of contaminated groundwater on surface waters. The site of both projects is the area studied in projects 1 and 2 and involve ponds where previous epidemiologic data suggests an increased risk of cancer among those who reported swimming there. Project 8 will study how a contaminated groundwater plume from the MMR Superfund site interacts with surface water, where there is exposure of humans and aquatic species. Project 9 will examine the effects of pollution of the ponds on reproductive biology in teleost fish, frogs and turtles.

5. References:

6. Inventory Category:

• Primary: Models
• Secondary: Methods

7. Inventory Subcategory:

• Primary: Multidisciplinary Research
• Secondary:
  • Hazard Identification

8. Keywords for Experimental System/Species:

• Species:
  • Fish
  • Human
• Study Type:
  • In Vitro
• Fate and Transport:

9. Keywords for Experimental Endpoints:

• Health Effect:
  • Carcinogenesis
  • Reproductive
• Hormonal Measures:
• Level Of Study:
  • Epidemiology
• Chemistry Metabolism:
  • Xenobiotic Metabolism
  • Cytochrome P450
  • Exposure Monitoring
• Life Stage:
  • Male
• Risk Assessment:

10. Chemical Agents:

• Pcbs
• Dde, Tetrachloroethylene

11. Performing Institution:

• BOSTON UNIVERSITY

12. Contact:

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