2025 MEETING PROGRAM
Data-driven solutions to improve human health and the environment: Addressing causes and effects of hazardous exposures
Monday-Wednesday, December 8-10, 2025
Meeting Agenda [Scientific Sessions]
Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025 (PM)
4:00-6:00 p.m.
7:00-8:00 a.m.
REGISTRATION (pick up your badges)
Monday, Dec. 8, 2025 (AM)
REGISTRATION (pick up your badges)
8:00-8:30 a.m. BREAKFAST
Trainee Meeting (8:30-10:30 a.m.) - Facilitator: Candice Brinkmeyer-Langford [Texas A&M University]
8:30-9:00 a.m.
9:00-10:30 a.m.
8:30-8:50 a.m.
8:50-9:10 a.m.
9:10-9:30 a.m.
RETCC highlights from each Center: Sharing the most exciting things trainees have been doing, with a focus on finding opportunities for collaboration and learning
Ice breaker: “Two Truths and a Lie”
Interactive hypothetical situation/“Resilience game”: Groups of trainees will be given a hypothetical scenario and work together on a plan to address it, later presenting their innovative solutions to all trainees and RETCC leaders
Trivia game: Similar to bar trivia or tic-tac-toe, trivia questions provided by each of the participating Centers will be part of a game with prizes for the most correct answers
DMAC Meeting (8:30-10:30 a.m.) – Facilitator: Fred A. Wright [NC State University]
TAMU-NCSU - Fred Wright
Collecting “big data” through field campaigns to sample air quality: Strategies for keeping data both FAIR and translatable to non-scientists
U-AZ - Nirav Merchant
AI That Works: Bridging the Gap Between Promise and Practice in Science
MSU - Rance Nault
Establishment of ToxDataCommons, an environmental health science-focused data commons built on the Gen3 platform
9:30-10:30 a.m. Discussion of potential collaborative projects
CEC Meeting (8:30-10:30 a.m.) – Facilitator: Garett Sansom [Texas A&M University]
Columbia - Azad Shams
8:30-8:50 a.m.
8:50-9:10 a.m.
9:10-9:30 a.m.
9:30-9:40 a.m.
Groundwater Arsenic prediction in three Tribal areas of the Northern Plains
U-AZ - Mónica Ramírez-Andreotta
Pathways to Progress: Participatory Environmental Science and Cross-disciplinary Solutions for a Resilient Future in the face of Compounding Hazards
UNM - Christopher Shuey
Conducting health studies in the 6 villages at the Pueblo of Laguna
UAB- Veena Antony
Community engagement and clinical trials in an urban population
9:40-10:30 a.m. Discussion of potential collaborative projects
10:30-11:00 a.m.
Meeting Agenda [Scientific Sessions]
AM BREAK (hang posters)
CEC/DMAC/Training Joint Session (11-Noon) – Facilitator: Galen Newman [Texas A&M University]
11:00-11:20 a.m.
11:20-11:40 p.m.
11:40-Noon
Columbia - Rae O’Leary
Beyond a Traditional IRB: Tribal Data Sovereignty Training
TAMU - Galen Newman
Data Visualization Approaches for Community Engagement
UNC - Julia Rager
Solutions to improve trainee skills in data science and analytics: the TAME toolkit
Noon-1:00 p.m. LUNCH (Poster Session 1 presenters - please hang your posters)
Monday, Dec. 8, 2025 (PM)
1:00-1:10 p.m.
1:10-1:40 p.m.
TAMU - Ivan Rusyn - Introduction and Welcome
Keynote 1: Sabine Lange, PhD; Chief Toxicologist, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Protecting Texans from Exposure to Hazardous Pollutants in the Environment
Session 1: Advanced techniques for detection of the effects of hazardous substances on human health
Facilitator: Fred A. Wright [NC State University]
URI - Jarod Snook (T)
1:40-2:00 p.m.
2:00-2:20 p.m.
2:20-2:40 p.m.
Quantifying organofluorine compounds in US water using passive samplers
USC - Adam Smith
Fate and characterization of PFAS through conventional and next-generation water reclamation processes
TAMU-UNC - James Dodds
Rapid detection of PFAS in human blood: Utilizing Ion Mobility Spectrometry-Mass Spectrometry for both targeted and suspect analyses
BCM-Rice - Oara Neumann
2:40-3:00 p.m.
Detection of Environmental Pollutants in Biological Samples Using Machine Learning & SurfaceEnhanced Vibrational Spectroscopy
3:00-3:30 p.m. PM BREAK (Poster Session 1 presenters - please hang your posters)
Session 2: Methods and technologies to detect hazardous substances in the environment
Facilitator: Ivan Rusyn [Texas A&M University]
UNC - Rebecca Fry/Andrew George
3:30-3:50 p.m.
Data-Driven Solutions to Address Water Quality in NC Post-Hurricane Helene
3:50-4:10 p.m. URI - Rainer Lohmann - PFAS in the Artic
Meeting Agenda [Scientific Sessions]
Administrators Program Agenda
4:10-4:30 p.m.
4:30-4:45 p.m.
4:45-5:00 p.m.
5:00-5:15 p.m.
5:15-5:30 p.m.
5:30-7:00 p.m.
7:00-8:00 p.m.
UC-Berkeley - Clare Pace
Spatial analysis of PFAS in drinking water in rural California communities and statewide
TAMU - Eva Vitucci (T)
The Application of Non-Targeted Mobile Air Monitoring To Assess Volatile Organic Compounds in Non-Occupational Settings
Columbia - Anirban Basu (T)
Uranium isotope prediction models of groundwater contamination in the Northern Plains
OSU - Alison Clark (T)
From personal exposure to applicable air concentrations: A Brownfield site case study
MIT - Nicolette Bugher (T)
Partitioning parameters of N-nitrosamines: An intercomparison of determination methods
Poster Session 1
Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025 (AM)
8:00-9:00 a.m.
9:00-9:30 a.m.
Keynote 2: J. Jay Klein, PG; Vice President & Principal Geologist, ROUX, Inc (Houston, TX)
The Evolution of the Risk-Based Corrective Action Process in Texas
Session 3: Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances
Facilitator: Weihsueh A. Chiu [Texas A&M University]
U-Louisville - Jin Chen (T)
9:30-9:45 a.m.
9:45-10:00 a.m.
10:00-10:15 a.m.
Advancing chemical Exposomics: Untargeted and targeted LC-MS approaches for Phase II metabolite analyses
UC-Berkeley - Qi Meng (T)
Prenatal exposures to drinking water contaminants and adverse birth outcomes: a retrospective cohort study in California
OSU - Reece Valdez (T)
Assessing susceptibility for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon toxicity in an in vitro 3D respiratory model for asthma
MIT - Lindsay Volk (T)
10:15-10:30 a.m.
Discovery that youth is an incredibly powerful risk factor for NDMA-induced DNA damage and cancer
10:30-10:45 a.m. AM BREAK (Poster Session 2 presenters - please hang your posters)
Meeting Agenda [Scientific Sessions]
Session 4: Chemical and physical methods to reduce the amount and toxicity of hazardous substances
Facilitator: Natalie M. Johnson [Texas A&M University]
Yale - Shasha Yang (T)
10:45-11:00 a.m.
11:00-11:15 a.m.
11:15-11:30 a.m.
11:30-11:45 a.m.
11:45-Noon
Multi-stage electrochemical oxidation with pulsed electrolysis for long-term 1,4-dioxane treatment in groundwater
UNM - José Cerrato
Changes in dissolved organic matter composition induced by reactions with uranium
MSU - P.S. Kirankumar (T)
Kinetics of dioxin sorption from soils by activated carbon amendments
BCM-Rice - Sarah Glass (T)
Pyrolytic Treatment of PAH-Contaminated Soils to Eliminate Toxicity and Enhance Fertility
UC-Berkeley - Juan Salazar (T)
In Situ Chemical Oxidation of Nonionic Organic Contaminants: The Effect of Soil Organic Matter and Minerals on Stoichiometric Efficiency
Noon-1:00 p.m. LUNCH (Poster Session 2 presenters - please hang your posters)
Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025 (PM)
Session 5: Biological methods to reduce the amount and toxicity of hazardous substances
Facilitator: Galen Newman [Texas A&M University]
U-KY - Kelly Pennell
1:00-1:20 p.m.
1:20-1:40 p.m.
1:40-2:00 p.m.
Combating Chronic Disease and Pollution: Innovative Nutritional and Engineering Interventions
U-AZ - Raina Maier
Breakthroughs Yield Solutions for Cleaner Mining and Healthier Communities
Duke - Erica Babusci (T)
Microencapsulation Enables Precision Microbiome Engineering for Superfund Site Remediation
UMBC-R01 - Upal Ghosh
2:00-2:20 p.m.
2:20-2:40 p.m.
2:40-3:00 p.m.
Advancing bioremediation solutions through accurate determination of biokinetics for sorption-mediated microbial dechlorination of organochlorines
UMBC-SBIR - Kevin Sowers
Field Application of Bioaugmented Activated Carbon at a Superfund Site to Demonstrate Scalability and Advance PCB Bioremediation Technology
FSU-R01 - Dennis Ssekimpi (T)
Minimization of Toxic Intermediates from Trichloroethylene Biodegradation by Macrocyclic Adsorbents
Meeting Agenda [Scientific Sessions]
Welcome from NIEHS SRP • Bill Suk
3:00-3:30 p.m.
PM BREAK (Poster Session 2 presenters - please hang your posters)
Session 6: Advanced techniques for assessment and evaluation of the effects of hazardous substances on human health (Part 1) - Facilitator: Garett Sansom [Texas A&M University]
USC - Vaia Lida Chatzi
3:30-3:50 p.m.
3:50-4:10 p.m.
4:10-4:30 p.m.
4:30-4:50 p.m.
4:50-5:10 p.m.
5:10-5:30 p.m.
5:30-7:00 p.m.
7:00-8:00 p.m.
From Organoids to Populations: Translating PFAS Liver Toxicity into Human Health Evidence
UAB - Pooja Singh
Heat stress exacerbates PM2.5 induced TRPV4/ERK1/2 mediated barrier dysfunction in airway epithelial cells
LSU - Stephania Cormier
Astaxanthin protects against environmentally persistent free radical-induced oxidative stress in well-differentiated respiratory epithelium
BCM - Melissa Suter
Treatment with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) elicits distinct transcriptomic pathways in cultured primary trophoblasts
UNM - Julie In
Exposure to uranium-bearing dust promotes differentiation of intestinal cells, notably increasing the secretory lineages
LSU - Slawomir Lomnicki
Environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) persistence vs bioactivitya paradox resolved
Poster Session 2
DINNER ON YOUR OWN (PI Dinner - Location TBD)
Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025 (AM)
8:00-9:00 a.m.
9:00-9:30 a.m.
Keynote 3: Kristina (Kris) Thayer, PhD; Director, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA)
California’s role in assessing environmental exposures and protecting human health: Overview of programs and data needs
Session 7: Advanced techniques for assessment and evaluation of the effects of hazardous substances on human health (Part 2) - Facilitator: Candice Brinkmeyer-Langford [Texas A&M University]
MSU - DM Isha Olive Khan (T)
9:30-9:50 a.m.
Regulation of in vitro human hematopoietic differentiation by dioxins and dioxin-like compounds
Meeting Agenda [Scientific Sessions]
9:50-10:10 a.m.
10:10-10:30 a.m.
URI - Angela Slitt
Unraveling key factors and determinants of Per- and Polyfluorinated alkyl substance kinetics and tissue distribution
Wayne S - Brendan O’Leary (T)
Geospatial Mapping and Analysis of VOC Presence in the Subsurface, Confined Spaces, and Occupants of Detroit Neighborhoods
10:30-10:45 a.m. AM BREAK
Session 8: Advanced techniques for assessment and evaluation of the effects of hazardous substances on human health (Part 3) - Facilitator: Arum Han [Texas A&M University]
10:45-11:05 a.m.
11:05-11:25 a.m.
Wayne S - Michael Petriello
Placental Sexual Dimorphism in Response to Airborne Superfund Pollutants
TAMU - Arum Han
Organ-on-Chip Models of the Feto-Maternal Interface: Enabling Rapid Hazard Detection and Toxicity Mechanisms
Duke - Emily Green (T)
11:25-11:45 a.m.
Environmental Microbiome Influences Developmental Toxicity of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Implications for Ecological Risk Assessment and Remediation (T) - Trainee
Business Administrators Sessions Agenda
Monday, Dec. 8, 2025
Topic
Session 1
8:30-10:30 a.m.
Session 2
2:00-3:00 p.m.
Center Admin Exchange - An Admin Forum: Start the conversation! A welcoming forum to share experiences, strengthen connections, and spark collaboration across Centers.
RPPR Made Simple: Requirements, Reminders, and Real-World Tips
An interactive session focused on policy updates, alignment with NIH priorities, common challenges, best practices, and advice for successful submissions.
3:00-3:30 p.m. BREAK
3:30-4:30 p.m.
Session 3
9:30-10:30 a.m.
Manuscripts/Publications: Insider Tips for Managing Publications Efficiently and Effectively
Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025
Subcontract Management: Strategies to Streamline Processes and Drive Performance
No Cost Extension/Carryover: Maximizing Flexibility, Minimizing Headaches
Practical guidance and shared experiences on managing funds and timelines across project years.
10:30-10:45 a.m. BREAK
Administrative Supplements: Strategies for Spotting and Securing Opportunities
Faciliator(s)
Arlean Rohde (TAMU)
Shawn Tucker (OSU)
Carolyn Roman (UNM)
Carolyn Roman (UNM)
Jenny Greer (NIEHS)
Shawn Tucker (OSU)
10:45 - Noon
Clarification on Foreign Components, Foreign Subawards, and other topics:
Jenny Greer (NIEHS) & Business Admin Panel
Kelli Lange (TAMU)
Jessica Clark (TAMU)
Elena Cameron (UAz)
Gina Billiot (LSU)
Session 4 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Business Administrators Sessions Agenda
Synergy in Action: Exploring innovative solutions and shared experiences to enhance how we support our Centers. Business Admins
3:00-3:30 p.m. BREAK
3:30-5:00 p.m.
7:00-9:00 p.m.
Policy Updates & Moving Forward Together: A collaborative discussion with NIEHS on policies, expectations, and ways to enhance support for our Centers.
Business Admin Group Dinner (pay your own)
Jenny Greer (NIEHS) & Business Admins
BBQ suggested
Poster Sessions Agenda
M-01
Kayla Morales
Texas A&M University
TAMU Superfund Center
M-02
M-03
M-04
Jiang Zheng
Texas A&M University
TAMU Superfund Center
Jiyeon Shin
Texas A&M University
TAMU Superfund Center
Zhenhang Cai
Texas A&M University
TAMU Superfund Center
M-05
Elizabeth Shapiro-Garza
Duke University
Duke University Superfund Center
M-06
M-07
M-08
Karleigh Duffield
Michigan State University
MSU Superfund Center
Taylor Vogel
Oregon State University
OSU-PNNL Superfund Center
Francesca Germano
Oregon State University
OSU-PNNL Superfund Center
M-09
M-10
M-11
M-12
M-13
Lois Polashenski
University of Arizona
U-AZ Superfund Center
Andreanna Roros
University of Arizona
U-AZ Superfund Center
Carolyn Roman
University of New Mexico
UNM Superfund Center
Mallery Quetawki
University of New Mexico
UNM Superfund Center
Rose Albert
University of Pennsylvania
BCM-RICE Superfund Center
Monday, Dec. 8 - Poster Sessions Agenda
Developing and implementing a community science project for high school students in Hidalgo County, TX: Community-engaged strategies to enhance student attitudes toward science & environmental health awareness.
Associations Between Land Uses, Chemical Exposure, And Public Health Outcomes In Houston
Estimating the Effects of Toxic Mobility on Housing Prices in Galveston, Texas
The Contamination Distribution Centered Toxics Mobility Vulnerability Index (CDC-TMVI): Application to the Beaumont-Port Arthur Region of Texas
Assessing and Communicating Risk from Subsistence Consumption of Wild Caught Fish in the Face of Environmental Health Uncertainty
“I haven’t had a nightmare since”: The power of narrative in community-engaged research in contaminated communities
A Collaborative Working Group Approach to Developing a Cumulative Risk Assessment Approach for Indigenous Communities
Designing Report-Back Strategies: A Systematic Review of Methods and Evaluations
Disentangling the role of culture, life stage, and information design to facilitate equity in data report back
Assessing Arsenic and Lead in Residential Soil and Dust to Advance Youth Environmental Health, Data Literacy, and Protection Practice
UNM METALS: An Overview of METALS Community-based research on uranium mines
Communicating Culturally-Relevant and Community-Tailored Environmental Health Science Research to Partner Communities.
Associations of greenspace with emergency department visits and readmissions among infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia
Engagement
Engagement
Engagement
Engagement
Engagement
Engagement
Engagement
Community Engagement
Community Engagement
Engagement
Community Engagement
Community Engagement
Community Engagement
Monday, Dec. 8 - Poster Sessions Agenda
M-14
Mackenzie Allison
Oregon State University
OSU-PNNL Superfund Center
M-15
Spencer Stinson
Oregon State University
OSU-PNNL Superfund Center
M-16
M-17
Web-Based Approach to Indigenous Shellfish Screening Risk: Development of a Screening Tool for Common Contaminants
AIP Knockout Zebrafish Induce a Pseudo-Hypoxic Response Associated With Polycythemia
Geisianny Moreira
University of New Mexico
UNM Superfund Center
Elijah Cowan
Oregon State University
OSU-PNNL Superfund Center
M-18
M-19
M-20
M-21
Chi Lam (Thomas) Chan
Texas A&M University
TAMU Superfund Center
Sandra Grimm
Baylor College of Medicine
BCM-Rice Superfund Center
Shayan Shahriar
Baylor College of Medicine
BCM-Rice Superfund Center
Deven Narke
Baylor College of Medicine
BCM-Rice Superfund Center
M-22 Catherine Lucey
Columbia University
Columbia University Superfund Center
M-23 Congying Wang
Michigan State University
MSU Superfund Center
M-24 Fred Wright
NC State University
TAMU Superfund Center
M-25 Tzu-Hsin Yen
Texas A&M University
TAMU Superfund Center
M-26
Breandon Taylor
University of Louisville
University of Louisville
Superfund Center
Fungal tolerance to lead (Pb) is concentration and provenance dependent
Integrating Zebrafish Transcriptomics and Molecular Docking to Identify FBSA-Specific Protein Targets Driving Developmental Toxicity
A Multiroute PBPK Modeling Framework for Estimating Steady-State Concentrations and Metabolic Rates Across Exposure Routes
Modeling Obstetrical Outcomes and Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Using AntibodyBased Array Profiling and Machine Learning Approaches
Functional Genomic Analysis Reveals Widespread AHR Binding to Non-Canonical DNA Regulatory Elements
Disruption of CYP1A2 leads to Enhanced Lung Injury, Altered Gene expression and Metabolomic Profiles in Mice Exposed to Maternal Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and Postnatal Hyperoxia
Integrated Clinical and Multi-Omic Profiling of Chronic, Low-Dose Arsenic and Uranium Exposure in ApoE Knockout Mice
High Throughput In Vitro Human Hepatocyte Model for Testing PCDD/Fs and PFAS Disruption to Thyroid Hormone Action and Support Thyroid Risk Assessment
Using methylation profiling to improve bioinformatics pipelines for the identification of dioxin response elements
Targeted Lipidomics as a High-Throughput New Approach Method for Mechanism-Based Studies of Hepatotoxicity In Vitro
Benzene-Induced Vascular InflammationInsights from Single-Cell Spatial Transcriptomics
Environmental Effects
Environmental Effects
Environmental Effectss
Environmental Effects
Health Effects
Health Effects
Health Effects
Health Effects
Health Effects
Health Effects
Health Effects
Health Effects
Health Effects
Board
M-27
Allison Spring
UNC-Chapel Hill
UNC Superfund Center
M-28 Feng Jiahao
UNC-Chapel Hill
UNC Superfund Center
M-29 Jingya Peng
UNC-Chapel Hill
UNC Superfund Center
M-30 Sungjin Kim
Texas A&M University
TAMU Superfund Center
M-31 Olivia Lampe
Texas A&M University
TAMU Superfund Center
M-32 Ibrahim Alshammari
Texas A&M University
TAMU Superfund Center
M-33 Cristina Coffman
University of New Mexico
UNM Superfund Center
M-34 Warren Sink
Michigan State University
MSU Superfund Center
M-35 Zachary Smith
Michigan State University
MSU Superfund Center
M-36
Alexandra Svetlik
Texas A&M University
TAMU Superfund Center
M-37 Hayley Jesse
Texas A&M University
TAMU Superfund Center
M-38 Samantha McFall
University of Louisville
University of Louisville
Superfund Center
M-39
Katherine Zychowski
University of New Mexico
UNM Superfund Center
M-40 Jorge Moreno
University of New Mexico
UNM Superfund Center
M-41 Erica Dashner-Titus
University of New Mexico
UNM Superfund Center
Monday, Dec. 8 - Poster Sessions
Mapping of CpG Methylation across North Carolina Identifies Epigenetic Age Acceleration Linked to Private Well Water Arsenic Contamination
Mechanism-guided Gut Microbiome Engineering for Arsenic Detoxification
Diet-Based Gut Microbiome Modulation with Black Raspberry Attenuates Glucose Intolerance from Early-Life Arsenic Exposure
Effects
Health Effects
Effects
Evaluating the Organ-specific Effect of PFAS using Pregnancy-related Microphysiological System (MPS) Health Effects
Exploring Mixture Effects of VOCs Using a Component-Based Approach at the Air Liquid Interface
Health Effects
Quantitative Estimates of Toxicodynamic Variability for New Approach Methodologies-Based Systemic Safety Toolbox Using a Population-Based Human in Vitro Model Health Effects
Uranium-bearing dust disrupts the colonic mucus layer and alters goblet cell physiology
2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) dosedependently disrupts hepatic thyroid hormone signaling in mice
"2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)Elicited Disruption of Trace Metal Homeostasis in Wild-Type and Hepatocyte-Specific Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AHR) Null Mice"
Extracellular Vesicles Modulate Inflammation via Arsenic Exposed Bronchial Epithelia Cells
Optimization of Endothelial Network Formation and Immune–Endothelial Signaling Using Commercial Microphysiological Vascular Devices
Molecular Mechanisms of Benzene-Induced Endothelial Activation
Chronic U-dust exposure impact on extracellular vesicles and macrophage function
Development of an autoimmune prone disease state following inhalation exposure to uranium bearing dust in MRL/MpJ mice.
Thinking Zinc: An Intervention study for mitigation of metal toxicity
Health Effects
Health Effects
Health Effects
Health Effects
Health Effects
Health Effects
Health Effects
Health Effects
Health Effects
Monday, Dec. 8 - Poster Sessions Agenda
M-42 Natalie Price
University of Pittsburgh
M-43 Jingmei Zeng
University of Rhode Island
URI Superfund Center
M-44 Liam Geyer
University of Rhode Island
URI Superfund Center
M-45 Yerin Jung
University of Southern California
Southern California Superfund Center
M-46 Fredine Lauer
University of New Mexico
UNM Superfund Center
M-47 Sydney Scofield
Wayne State University
Wayne State Superfund Center
M-48 Athina Lisgara
Yale University
Yale Superfund Research Center
M-49 Mohammad Alayyoub
Yale University
Yale Superfund Center
M-50 Mackenzie Connell
Wayne State University
Wayne State Superfund Center
M-51 Marc Weiskskopf
Harvard University
Harvard Superfund Center
M-52 Lara Amaral
University of Kentucky
UK Superfund Center
Translating Experimentally Derived Kidney Effects of Metal Mixtures to Risk in Women of Reproductive Age: Applying the Similar Mixtures Approach (SMACH)
"Deletion of Cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) does not significantly alter Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) distribution to liver and associated adverse liver outcomes"
Effects
Effects
Mechanisms driving Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Disposition in Human Breast Milk: Roles of Efflux Transporters, Permeability, and Binding Health Effects
Associations between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: A life course analysis in three independent cohorts
UNM METALS Project BP Gut: Examining the effects of heavy metals on the GI tract
Effects
Effects
BTEX: An Environmental Driver of Accelerated Aging Health Effects
Deciphering the NRF2-Mediated Liver Response to High Dose 1,4-Dioxane Exposure in Mice
Health Effects
Chronic exposure to 1,4-dioxane at an environmentally relevant concentration increases the susceptibility to aging-associated insulin resistance in mice Health Effects
BTEX constituent effects resultant of lowlevel exposure during critical windows of early development in zebrafish Health Effects
Pre- and early postnatal lead exposure, late adulthood cognitive function, and modification by cognitive stimulating activities
Exercise Alters PFAS Biodistribution in Female Mice
Health Effects
Health Effects
T-01
Claire Hallmark
University of Texas Medical Branch
BCM-Rice Superfund Center
T-02
Elise Smith
University of Texas Medical Branch
BCM-Rice Superfund Center
T-03
Stuart Levine
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MIT Superfund Center
T-04
Mike Barton
Oregon State University
OSU-PNNL Superfund Center
T-05
Hannah Roe
Texas A&M University
TAMU Superfund Center
T-06
T-07
T-08
T-09
Amir Shahbazi
University of Connecticut
TAMU Superfund Center
Sascha Usenko
Baylor University
BCM-Rice Superfund Center
Rose Nash Biota, Inc
Ellen Bannon
Columbia University
Columbia University
Superfund Center
T-10
Grace Santos
Columbia University
Columbia University
Superfund Center
T-11
Diksha Manhas
University of Arizona
University of Arizona
Superfund Center
T-12
Roselyn Tanghal
University of Southern California
Southern California Superfund Center
Tuesday, Dec. 9 - Poster Sessions
Exploring Environmental Health Hazards with STYLE (Sustained Training for Youth Leadership in the Environment)
Developing a Social Responsibility Tool-Kit for Scientists Working on Cleanup Sites
Improving Data Reuse Through Agent Based Access of Data Managed With a Dynamic Metadata Repository
Automating Superfund-Site, publication, and media data collection using Python-based scraping tools
What Does “Success” Look Like in Compliance Check Decisions by the European Chemicals Agency? The Curious Cases of Accepted ReadAcross Adaptations
Optimizing Machine Learning Models to Group Complex Chemical Mixtures for Environmental Health Applications
The Analytical and Environmental Chemistry Core: Quantitative Chemical Identification and Quantification for the Baylor-Rice Superfund Research Program
Pushing the PFAS Testing Frontier: Rapid PFAS Concentration and Testing
Understanding lithium exposure pathways through water and urinary biomarkers in the Strong Heart Family Study
Urinary selenium species: associations with sociodemographic, lifestyle, and health characteristics in the Strong Heart Study (SHS)
Bioavailability and toxicokinetics of arsenic associated with dust exposure in mice
Adherence to a Planetary Health Diet is Associated with Lower PFAS Exposure in the Multiethnic Cohort
Science
Exposure Science
Tuesday, Dec. 9 - Poster Sessions Agenda
T-13
Kristen Riedinger
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MIT Superfund Center
T-14 Allison Dickey
NC State University
TAMU Superfund Center
T-15
Aleida Machorro
Rice University
BCM-Rice Superfund Center
T-16 Danielle Delp
Rutgers University
MSU Superfund Center
T-17 Tate Matthews
Texas A&M University
TAMU Superfund Center
T-18 Meredith Schervish
Texas A&M University
TAMU Superfund Center
T-19
Tae-Kyoung Kim
UC Berkeley
UC-Berkeley Superfund Center
T-20
T-21
T-22
T-23
Olivia G Jones
UNC Chapel Hill
UNC Superfund Center
Cailee E Harrington
UNC-Chapel Hill
UNC Superfund Center
Xenia De Gracia Medina
University of Arizona
U-AZ Superfund Center
Mackenzie Freeman
University of New Mexico
UNM Superfund Center
T-24 Nikki Barlow
Texas A&M University
TAMU Superfund Center
T-25 Devin Teri
Texas A&M University
TAMU Superfund Center
T-26 Allison Fry
UNC Chapel Hill
TAMU Superfund Center
Low-level N-nitrosamine occurrence in disinfected drinking water and relationships with standard water quality indicators
Visualizing Structural Relationships through Clustering in Mass Spectrometry Datasets
Surface-Enhance Infrared Absorption Spectroscopy for Chemical Detection of PFAS Using a Compact and Dense Array of Gold Cross Antennas
Spatial variation in dechlorination of 1,2-dichlorobenzene in the Tittabawassee River, Saginaw River & Bay Superfund site
Characterization of Volatile Organic Compounds from a Tire Recycling Facility Fire in Jackson, MS
Historical air quality changes at Superfund sites in Texas
A Colorimetric TOP Assay Coupled with EPA Method 1633 for Standardized PFAS Precursor Oxidation and Total PFAS Analysis
Validation of a national machine learning model for arsenic in groundwater at a regional scale: implications for exposure assessment
Well Water Arsenic and Diabetes Prevalence in North Carolina
Science
Science
Science
Exposure Science
Exposure Science
Why Some Mine Tailings Are More Toxic Than Others: The Role of Climate and Minerals in Human Health Risk Exposure Science
Tracing the Environmental Dust Release from the Jackpile Mine, Pueblo of Laguna, NM by Particulate Matter Capture by Lichen
Leveraging Ion Mobility Spectrometry-Mass Spectrometry (IMS-MS) For Rapid Exposure Assessment of Complex Chemical Mixtures
Method Development for Exposure Assessment Using Passive Sampling Devices and Ion Mobility Spectrometry-Mass Spectrometry
Science
Science
Exposure Science
Integrating Computational Chemistry and Ion Mobility Spectrometry into Non-Targeted Analysis Workflows for Structural Elucidation of Emerging PFAS Exposure Science
T-27
T-28
T-29
Kara Joseph
UNC Chapel Hill
TAMU Superfund Center
Johanna Ganglbauer
University of Rhode Island
URI Superfund Center
Olga Skende
University of Rhode Island
URI Superfund Center
T-30 Sarah Black
Wayne State University
Wayne State Superfund Center
T-31
Karoline Tangen
Wayne State University
Wayne State Superfund Center
T-32
Sheng Liu
Yale University
Yale Superfund Center
T-33 Domenica Berardi
Yale University
Yale Superfund Center
T-34
T-35
T-36
Kelsey Staniec
University of Rhode Island
URI Superfund Center
Qiang Zhang
Emory University
MSU Superfund Center
Vijay Hemmadi
UM-Baltimore County
T-37 Tafazul Islam Dar
Michigan State University
MSU Superfund Center
T-38 Brandon Beck
Oregon State University
OSU-PNNL Superfund Center
T-39
T-40
Jiali Yu
University of Missouri
TAMU Superfund Center
Andres Sanchez Alvarado
Rice University
BCM-Rice Superfund Center
Tuesday, Dec. 9 - Poster Sessions
Maternal PFAS Transfer through Lactation: Dolphin Milk Reveals Routes of Early-Life Exposure
Standardizing data reporting and quality control of PFAS contamination levels across projects
Apple juice concentrate-mediated inhibition of Organic anion transporting polypeptide (Oatp) activity alters systemic and hepatic disposition of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
Urban Flora as Forensic Tools: Phytoscreening Potential VOC Hotspots Across Detroit’s Industrial Corridors
Linking Historical Industrial Legacies to PresentDay VOC Exposure: A Pollution Index Approach in Detroit
Evaluating 1,4-Dioxane Exposure in Long Island, New York: Comparison of Environmental, Biological, and Survey-Based Measures
Evaluation of drinking water 1,4-dioxane contamination and metabolomic profiles in residents of Long Island, New York
Science
Science
Ultrashort-Chain PFAS in Rhode Island Drinking Water Sources Exposure Science
An Integrated Microbial Remediation and Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic (PBPK) Model of Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-Dioxin and Dibenzofurans Remediation Technologies
Rhamnolipids Enable Scalable Bioremediation of PCB- and PCE-Contaminated Sites via Stimulation of Dehalobium chlorocoercia DF-1 Remediation Technologies
In Search of the Rare Organohalide Respiring Bacteria (OHRB) in Metagenomes of Tittabawassee and Kawkawlin River Sediments Remediation Technologies
Investigation into the bioremediation of retene, an alkylated PAH.
Mining Fungal Diversity for Superior Bioremediation of PAHs and PCBs
Aluminum Nanocrystals for Advanced Detection and Degradation of Environmental Contaminants
Remediation Technologies
Remediation Technologies
Remediation Technologies
Tuesday, Dec. 9 - Poster Sessions Agenda
T-41 Peixuan Jin
Rice University
BCM-Rice Superfund Center
T-42 Kaylyn Dinh
Texas A&M University
TAMU Superfund Center
T-43
Xenophon Xenophontos
Texas A&M University
TAMU Superfund Center
T-44 Johnson Oladele
Texas A&M University
TAMU Superfund Center
T-45 Madison McFarland
Texas A&M University
TAMU Superfund Center
T-46 Yu Ting
UM-Baltimore County
T-47 Kelsey Graves
University of Arizona
U-AZ Superfund Center
T-48 Justin Sankey
University of Rhode Island
URI Superfund Center
T-49 Hanwei Wang
University of Southern California
Southern California Superfund Center
T-50 Adelina Rolea
Columbia University
Columbia University Superfund Center
Transition Metals Act as Oxidation Sites for Enhanced PAH Removal During Pyrolytic -Treatment of Ion-Exchanged Bentonite Clays Remediation Technologies
Novel Sorption Strategies to Reduce Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Milk
Novel Clay-Based Sorbents for PFAS Designed Using Molecular Simulations
Characterization of industrial organoclays for the remediation of Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
Remediation Technologies
Remediation Technologies
Remediation Technologies
Expanding Clay-Based Remediation Strategies to Reduce Aflatoxin M1 Contamination in Milk Remediation Technologies
Characterization of biokinetics in sorptionmediated microbial dechlorination of organochlorines
Uranium Adsorption by Novel Bioinspired Hydrogel Polymer
Investigation of Resin-Based Activated Carbon Fiber Felt for Remediation of Perfluoroalkyl Acids (PFAAs)
Matrix Effects on PFAS Degradation Pathways in UV/Nitrite Advanced Reduction Processes
Remediation Technologies
Remediation Technologies
Remediation Technologies
Remediation Technologies
Arsenic and Uranium Water Treatment Using Active Iron and Sulfur Cycling in a Bioreactor
Remediation Technologies
Scientific Presentations - Abstracts
Scientific Presentations - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker | Fred Wright | Texas A&M SRP – NC State University
Collecting “big data” through field campaigns to sample air quality: Strategies for keeping data both FAIR and translatable to non-scientists
F Wright
Affiliation: North Carolina State University
In this talk, I will survey a number of issues that arise with data in field campaigns for sampling air quality, with attention to challenges to specific to observational field data. The spatial and time components, along with typically very sparse sampling protocols, provide a wide array of potential analyses and interpretations. The freedom afforded by these many options can also create particular difficulties in straightforward communication of findings, further leading to obstacles in translation and in adherence to the spirit of FAIR principles. I will describe and discuss issues arising from a statistical analysis perspective, including ragged dataset structures, irregular sampling, and low effective sample size, as well as interpretability issues aris ing from the use of highdimensional methods. These difficulties in turn produce potential difficulties in communication and translation, as well as in producing findings that can be reproduced or incorporated into analyses by other researchers. Finally, I will describe potential strategies to carry forward conclusions and data for scientists, as well as for nonscientists. In some instances these strategies may be tangential to the original hypotheses, while organized in a manner to maximize the utility and portability of the findings
Scientific Presentations - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker| Nirav Merchant | University of Arizona SRP
AI That Works: Bridging the Gap Between Promise and Practice in Science
N. Merchant, T. Swetnam, B. Lemos
Affiliation:
DMAC, DUST Center, University of Arizona
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming scientific research, presenting a prime opportunity to augment human skills rather than replace them. This session will illustrate how AI tools and code assistants can serve as invaluable research collaborators. We will cover the creation of a personalized AI toolbox and the selection of appropriate AI-guided tools for data analysis, visualization, and exploration. Additionally, the session will address the development of simple benchmarks to assess the quality and performance of AI models and tools. The aim is to offer a practical roadmap, empowering researchers to confidently explore and integrate AI into their workflows with purpose, precision, and curiosity
Scientific Presentations - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker | Rance Nault | MSU SRP
Establishment of ToxDataCommons, an environmental health science-focused data commons built on the Gen3 platform
R. Nault
Affiliation: Michigan State University
Metadata are an essential component of any dataset, providing the contextual information necessary to interpret, integrate, and reuse data. Nevertheless, publicly available toxicology datasets often lack consistent or complete metadata reporting, impeding discovery, integration, and reuse. To address these challenges, we aimed to develop and implement the technical infrastructure to better support robust metadata collection with an emphasis on reducing barriers to open metadata submission. From these efforts we introduce two resources, ToxDataCommons and SheetMATE, as components of a broad data ecosystem that facilitates the collection, sharing, and discovery of toxicology research datasets. ToxDataCommons is a Gen3-based data commons operating on a structured data model for reporting of metadata. Delivered though a web-based portal and application programming interface (API), the data commons facilitates discovery, building of cohorts, and encourages data reuse. Complementing ToxDataCommons, SheetMATE is our metadata templatization engine created to significantly reduce barriers for metadata collection in a familiar spreadsheet format while maintaining robust validation of controlled vocabularies and ontologies. Altogether, these resources advance our mission to enable the discovery and reuse of toxicology data, driving new insights into the biological impacts of environmental factors in an era where artificial intelligence methods will increasingly depend on existing datasets.
Scientific Presentations - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker | Azad Shams | Columbia University of Northern Plains SRP
Groundwater Arsenic Prediction in Three Tribal Areas of the Northern Plains
A Shams
Affiliation:
Columbia University Northern Plains SRP
Groundwater arsenic (As) contamination remains a serious public health concern in rural areas of the Northern Plains, where many households rely on private wells that are rarely tested. Most existing models operate at ~1 km resolution and use groundwater chemistry or detailed geologic logs, which limits their use in undersampled areas where improved guidance is most needed. This study developed machine learning models to predict As levels above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s drinking water limit of 10 µg/L in the Oglala Sioux Tribe (OST), Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (CRST), and Spirit Lake Tribe (SLT) areas. The approach used a surfacevariable framework first created for Minnesota and relied only on surficial predictors derived from remote sensing and global datasets. Training data came from the Columbia University Superfund Research Program, Strong Heart Study, Indian Health Service, and United States Geological Survey. The models were trained and validated to produce probability maps at 30-meter resolution. Our results indicated that nearly half of the OST area and over one-third of SLT are likely to have groundwater As exceeding the 10 µg/L standard, while predicted exceedances in CRST were limited to small localized zones (1.2 percent). These results identify high-risk areas and can help guide groundwater testing and mitigation with Tribal partners in the Northern Plains.
Scientific Presentations - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker | Monica Ramirez-Andreotta | University of Arizona SRP
Pathways to Progress: Participatory Environmental Science and Cross-disciplinary Solutions for a Resilient Future in the face of compounding hazards
M. Ramirez-Andreotta
Affiliation: University of Arizona SRP
Climate change drives more frequent extreme weather events, altering how contaminants are emitted and transformed in the environment; complicating contaminant assessment and remediation efforts and underscoring the importance of developing adaptive strategies In 2021, wildfires and flash floods severely affected underserved rural communities near active and legacy mines in Arizona, increasing the risk of exposure to both newly introduced and remobilized contaminants, e.g., metal(loid)s, PAHs, dioxins, and PFAS. The extent of postdisaster contamination in AZ’s mining areas remains unassessed and community members have raised concerns. Building upon almost a decade of community-engagement efforts, this study used a participatory research approach to assess environmental health risks, revealing elevated contaminant levels in impacted areas and estimating unacceptable risks. A community advisory board was established, and results were reported back through a community-first, bilingual, interactive strategy that fostered local engagement, prompted collaborative interventions, and led to tangible outcomes, including individual/community prevention efforts, ongoing/new collaborations, data sharing across agencies, and additional testing/cleanup efforts.
Scientific Presentations - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker | Christopher Shuey | University of New Mexico METALS SRP
Conducting health studies in the six villages at the Pueblo of Laguna
C Shuey, A. Bolt2, D. Capitan1,4, E. Castillo2, E. Dashner-Titus2, L Hudson2, G. Jojola3, A. Lopez2, C. Lowery4, D MacKenzie2, M. Quetawki2, L. Riley-Aragon4, C. Roman2, J.M. Cerrato2
Affiliation:
1 Southwest Research and Information Center
2 University of New Mexico
3 Laguna Environmental and Natural Resources Department
4 Laguna Community Advisory Board
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The Jackpile-Paguate Uranium Mine—once the largest open-pit uranium mine in the world—operated from 1952 to 1982 on the Pueblo of Laguna in west-central New Mexico. Mining operations disturbed nearly 3,000 acres, leaving dozens of low-grade ore and waste piles, three large open pits exposed to the environment, metal contamination in a perennial stream, and deposition of metal-laden dust in a nearby village. Despite these long-term impacts on the land, water, and lives of local residents, no comprehensive, population-based health study was ever conducted in the six villages that comprise the Pueblo of Laguna. Community members and Pueblo leaders have long advocated for such studies to assess potential health impacts of exposures to mine wastes.
METHODS: Community concerns were documented through listening sessions conducted by the UNM METALS Superfund Research Center between 2017 and 2020. From 2022 to 2024, METALS SRP staff held numerous conversations with Pueblo leaders and community members to discuss plans for assessing past and current exposures using surveys and biomonitoring. Throughout this process, METALS staff incorporated Indigenous art and symbology to illustrate and explain human biological functions in culturally relevant ways. This communitybased engagement culminated in November 2024, when the Pueblo Council adopted a resolution authorizing METALS to seek Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval to conduct biomedical studies within the Pueblo. The local IRB approved UNM’s research protocol in April 2025, and METALS launched educational outreach in all six villages during the summer. Outreach efforts included information tables at cultural events, articles in the Towncrier newspaper, and direct communication through the METALS Community Liaison.
RESULTS: Participants attend four biospecimen collection events over a year. Blood and urine samples are collected from all participants to evaluate oxidative stress, inflammation, DNA damage and immune function in the population. The first four enrollment and collection events were held in the villages of Old Laguna and Paguate in August 2025. Ninety participants consented to join the Community Exposure Study, making them eligible for later enrollment in separate gut and lung studies.
CONCLUSIONS: Community response to the launch of these long-awaited studies has been enthusiastic. METALS staff anticipates reaching the goal of 200 participants by early 2026. Report-back letters will be sent to all participants, and aggregated results will be shared at community meetings next year. These studies will provide essential data to establish individual and community exposure profiles, support former workers seeking federal radiation exposure compensation, and furnish the Pueblo of Laguna with peer-reviewed scientific evidence to inform remediation practices and policies that reduce future exposures and health risks.
Superfund Mandates:
Advanced techniques for detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects on human health of hazardous substances, Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances, Basic biological, chemical, and physical methods to reduce the amount of toxicity of hazardous substances
Scientific Presentations - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker | Veena Antony | University of Alabama Birmingham SRP
Community engagement and clinical trials in an urban population
V. Antony
Affiliation:
University of Alabama, Birmingham
Birmingham AL has a superfund site (35th Ave. North Birmingham) within 2 miles of the UAB medical center as the crow flies. Because of the legacy of redlining in Birmingham most residents of the superfund site are poor and minorities. Despite the proximity of the UAB hospital, the residents utilize it primarily when they are very ill and go to the ER and are subsequently admitted for care but do not follow up for regular clinic visits. The EPA found significant contamination of the soil and air with Arsenic, and we were able to confirm those findings. We also found increased arsenic in the blood and urine samples of children and adults from that area. During Covid we made invented by superfund investigator, 300,000 high grade masks every ten days for the hospital and residents of the community. We also initiated open clinics by utilizing buses that were outfitted as a clinic room /laboratory and sent doctors and nurses and coordinators to the residents rather than have them come to the hospital, which has been successful in providing health care. We also initiated a clinical trial of folate supplementation to increase excretion of arsenic and early data suggests that this has also been successful in decreasing the arsenic load in the subjects. We are realizing that outreach in urban areas to affected populations requires consistency, genuine involvement of the community with local nurses and citizen coordinators who serve as bridges, developing trust and recognition of our desire to serve our neighbors, providing education, healthcare and information
Scientific Presentations - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker| Galen Newman | Texas A&M SRP
Data Visualization Approaches for Community Engagement
G.Newman
Affiliation:
Dept of Urban Planning & Landscape Architecture, Texas A&M University
Effective data visualization enables communities in flood-prone, industrial areas such as Harris County, TX, to participate in planning and decision-making around public health risks related to hazardous substance transfer during severe flooding. In this research, innovative visualization tools — including interactive flood maps and pollutant pathway diagrams — were used to engage residents of Galena Park, Texas in the assessment and design of adaptive green infrastructure (GI) solutions. Further, the personation will take place on a mobile MultiTaction engagement screen with can be deployed into communities for instant interactive feedback and dissemination of findings. By communicating both short-term and long-term risks linked to toxic heavy metals in floodwaters, stakeholders are able to visualize and provide input on practical interventions. Using models such as Delft3D-FM and Long-Term Hydrologic Impact Assessment (L-THIA), our visualization efforts demonstrate real-world effectiveness, showing that the implementation of the master plan reduces up to 13% in stormwater runoff and non-point source pollutants annually. Further, about 30% reductions in both flooded area extent and peak volume during hurricane-induced flooding are projected. These results highlight how data visualization fosters meaningful community participation and supports evidence-based strategies for healthier, more resilient environments.
Scientific Presentations - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker | Julia Rager | University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill SRP
Solutions to improve trainee skills in data science and analytics: the TAME toolkit
J.Rager
Affiliation: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Research in environmental health is becoming increasingly reliant upon data science and computational methods that can efficiently extract information from large and diverse datasets. Still, there remains a critical gap surrounding the training of researchers on these in silico methods and cloud computing infrastructure necessary to support the integration of artificial intelligence / machine learning (AI/ML) approaches. To fill this gap, we are expanding our environmental health data science training resource, the inTelligence And Machine lEarning (TAME) Toolkit v2.0. TAME was originally launched through SRP and NIEHS training resources to support the training of trainees and scientists on data science methodologies needed for environmental health studies. We have dedicated much effort to expand this resource to include timely topics of expanded machine learning examples, applications in toxicology and exposure science, and cloud computing resources. TAME 2.0 effectiveness was evaluated via participant surveys, and suggested edits were incorporated while overall metrics of effectiveness were quantified. Collectively, TAME 2.0 now serves as a valuable resource, publicly available at https://uncsrp.github.io/TAME2/, to address the growing demand of increased data science training in environmental health research.
Scientific Presentations - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Keynote
Speaker
| Sabine Lange | TCEQ
Protecting Texans from Exposure to Hazardous Pollutants in the Environment
S. Lange
Affiliation:
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is the state environmental regulator, responsible for implementing both federal and state environmental laws and rules that are intended to protect public health and the environment from hazardous substances in air, water, soil, and waste. TCEQ uses many approaches to ensure this protection by preventing chemical releases, monitoring the environment and industrial operations, and by responding to releases when they occur. When hazardous pollutants have been released into soil or water, TCEQ conducts remediation per the Texas Risk Reduction Program (TRRP) rules. This presentation will provide more in-depth information about the TCEQ remediation rule, including the methods by which risks from hazardous chemicals are evaluated under the rule, what information is required and assumed for the risk assessment, as well as areas where there are significant uncertainties in our understanding of the chemical risks.
Scientific Presentations - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker | Jarod Snook | URI STEEP
Quantifying organofluorine compounds in US water using passive samplers
Jarod Snook
Affiliation:
University of Rhode Island
Passive sampling devices are critical tools for assessing pollution in various environmental matrices. The University of Rhode Island STEEP SRP has developed several passive samplers—a “toolkit”—for quantifying per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment. The microporous polyethylene tube (MPT), graphene monolith (GM), and diffusive gradient in thin film (DGT) passive samplers quantify PFAS in natural waters with each best suited to specific conditions. The Radiello air passive sampler can quantify airborne PFAS in indoor and outdoor air. The DGT-type water passive sampler was recently redesigned, validated, and used in the field to quantify environmental PFAS by STEEP SRP. Through a combination of materials experiments and laboratory, mesocosm, and field deployments of the sampler, we have demonstrated the redesigned DGT sampler can accurately quantify a broad range of PFAS based on sampling rates (Rs) modeled via diffusion theory. Furthermore, a K.C. Donnelly Externship collaboration with the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Charleston, SC., allowed STEEP SRP to test and expand the capabilities of the DGT with complex aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) formulations. The DGT passive sampler is now a highly accurate member of the PFAS passive sampling toolkit employed by STEEP SRP and is in use to quantify aqueous PFAS concentrations in rivers, bays, lakes, and ponds in New England and beyond
Scientific Presentations - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker | Adam Smith | University of Southern California SRC
Fate and characterization of PFAS through conventional and next-generation water reclamation processes
Adam Smith
Affiliation:
University of Southern California
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent and ubiquitous contaminants that are generally considered recalcitrant across unit processes commonly used in wastewater treatment. This study characterized PFAS profiles across three full-scale water reclamation facilities (WRFs) representing distinct process configurations. Twenty-six PFAS were targeted using LC–MS/MS coupled with ion mobility QTOF, and nontargeted data were processed via the FluoroMatch workflow. Samples included influent, effluent from individual treatment stages, and associated sludge streams. Results revealed consistent detection of short-chain sulfonic acids (PFHxS and PFBS) and variable contributions of carboxylic acids and fluorotelomer sulfonates among facilities. In some cases, PFAS concentrations increased after secondary treatment, suggesting processdependent persistence or precursor conversion. Concentrations in biosolids indicate potential pathways for the partitioning and accumulation of contaminants. These findings highlight inter-facility variability in PFAS fate and underscore the need to integrate targeted and non-targeted approaches to assess PFAS behaviour in water reclamation
Scientific Presentations - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker | James Dodds | Texas A&M University SRP - UNC
Rapid Detection of PFAS and Other Contaminants in the Environment: Utilizing Ion Mobility Spectrometry-Mass Spectrometry for both Targeted and Non-targeted Analyses
J. Dodds, E. Baker
Affiliation:
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Throughout our lives, humans and other organisms are continuously exposed to a wide range of environmental contaminants that can adversely impact health and ecosystem stability. The Baker Laboratory investigates how these exogenous chemicals such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and others influence biological systems by developing and applying advanced analytical methods for their detection, characterization, and biological correlation. Our research integrates innovative extraction, separation, and detection strategies to evaluate both environmental pollutants and their downstream effects on endogenous biomolecules. A cornerstone of our approach is ion mobility spectrometry–mass spectrometry (IMS–MS), which we employ alongside chromatographic separations to achieve multidimensional molecular resolution. This combination enables comprehensive profiling of complex environmental and biological samples, facilitating the identification of chemical contaminants, metabolic disruptions, and potential biomarkers of exposure.
Scientific Presentations - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker | Oara Neumann | BCM-Rice SRP
Detection of Environmental Pollutants in Biological Samples Using Machine Learning & Surface-Enhanced Vibrational Spectroscopy
O. Neumann1, Y. Ju1, A.B. Sanchez-Alvarado2, W. Jiang3, G.D. Zhou4, S.B. Jorveka5, P. Dhindsa2, N. Putluri5, P. Nordlander2,6,7, M. Suter8, B. Moorthy3, N.J. Halas2,7,9
1 Department of Computer Science, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005
2 Department of Chemistry, Laboratory for Nanophotonics, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005, US
3 Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
4 Institute of Biotechnology, Texas A&M University Health Sciences, Houston, TX 77030
5 Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
6 Department of Chemistry, Laboratory for Nanophotonics, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005, USA
7 Department of Department of Physics and Astronomy, Laboratory for Nanophotonics, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005, USA
8 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA.
9 Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Department of Chemistry, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Laboratory for Nanophotonics, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005, USA
The toxicological effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) have attracted considerable research interest due to their well-documented carcinogenic and bioaccumulative properties. By utilizing surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and infrared absorption (SEIRA), we can detect the vibrational “fingerprints” of PAHs and PACs molecules within complex biological matrices. Two machine learning (ML) algorithms, Characteristic Peak Extraction (CaPE) and Characteristic Peak Similarity (CaPSim), were developed to enhance the identification of PAHs and PACs from a mixture. In human placental tissue, the integration of SERS-ML and SEIRA enabled the identification of specific PAHs and PACs in self-reported smokers compared to non-smokers. Independent assays verified pollutant exposure by detecting DNA–PAH or PAC adducts using 32P-postlabeling. In a murine model, mice exposed to a mixture of pyrene, benzo[a]pyrene, and 5,12-naphthacenequinone were sampled at 24, 48, and 72 h. Spectral analyses revealed the highest levels of accumulation in the liver and kidneys, consistent with their roles in detoxification, as well as detectable uptake in the brain, indicating blood–brain barrier permeability. Among the compounds studied, benzo[a]pyrene exhibited the greatest retention and formed DNA adducts in multiple organs. These results demonstrate that the combination of surface-enhanced vibrational spectroscopies with ML algorithms enables detection and toxicokinetic profiling of PAHs/PACs, facilitating exposure assessment across human tissues and animal models.
Scientific Presentations - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker | Andrew George & Rebecca Fry | UNC Chapel Hill SRP
Data-Driven Solutions to Address Water Quality in NC Post-Hurricane Helene
A.
George, C. Harrington, J. Motykka, S. Yelton, K. Gray and R. Fry
Affiliation: University of North Carolina
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, a collaborative team, including members from the UNC-Chapel Hill Superfund Program (SRP) and NC State University, partnered with communities in Buncombe and Mitchell Counties in North Carolina (NC). These counties were among the most severely impacted by the Hurricane. The work was guided by a Community Advisory Board that included environmental health directors, water utility managers, and community-based organizations. Using a community-engaged and data-informed approach, the team recruited participants for the study and assessed environmental health risks related to water and indoor mold. Water samples were collected from participants whose water source is private wells as well as public water systems. The team conducted comprehensive evaluations of the water samples, testing for toxic metals, perand polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and other organic contaminants. Water samples were analyzed using state-of-the-art mass spectrometry methods for both inorganics and organics. In parallel, the team assessed mold presence within homes. Following analysis of the environmental samples, the team informed participants immediately of levels exceeding state or national regulatory limits and then engaged directly with community members to share individualized results. Guided by the Community Engagement teams of the UNC-SRP and NC State University Center for Human Health and the Environment, the team held community meetings that included one-on-one consultations to help participants interpret their data, understand associated health risks, and understand practical mitigation strategies, including the use of water filtration systems. This collaborative approach empowered community members with actionable information and built partnerships to strengthen local capacity to address environmental health challenges in the wake of natural disasters.
Scientific Presentations - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker
| Rainer Lohmann | URI STEEP SRP
R. Lohmann
Affiliation:
Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) in Arctic environment. wildlife and humans
University of Rhode Island, STEEP SRP
Several per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) undergo long-range transport to the Arctic via atmosphere and oceans. Across species, concentrations were dominated by perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), followed by perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA); highest concentrations were present in mammalian livers and bird eggs. Time trends were similar for East Greenland ringed seals (Pusa hispida) and polar bears (Ursus maritimus). Human time trends vary regionally, and to the extent local Arctic human populations rely on traditional wildlife diets, such as marine mammals. Arctic human cohort studies implied that several PFAS are immunotoxic, carcinogenic or contribute to carcinogenicity, and affect the reproductive, endocrine and cardiometabolic systems. Physiological, endocrine, and reproductive effects linked to PFAS exposure were largely similar among humans, polar bears, and Arctic seabirds. For most polar bear subpopulations across the Arctic, modeled serum concentrations exceeded PFOS levels in human populations, several of which already exceeded the established immunotoxic thresholds. Data is typically limited to the western Arctic region and populations. Monitoring, proactive community engagement and international restrictions on PFAS production remain critical to mitigate PFAS exposure and its health impacts in the Arctic
Scientific Presentations - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker | Clare Pace | University of California Berkeley
Spatial analysis of PFAS in drinking water in rural California communities and statewide
C. Pace1, H. Shingler2, L. Baehner1, J. Rempel1, J Shearston3, A Libenson2, A DeSalvo1
Affiliation:
1 University of California Berkeley
2 Community Water Center; Sacramento, CA, United States
3 University of Colorado Boulder, CO, United States
Roughly 10% of California’s (CA’s) drinking water systems violate state water quality standards, and an estimated 6 million people are served water from systems in violation at some point since 2012. Additionally, an estimated 2 million Californians rely on small water systems (<15 service connections) or private wells for which little water quality data exists as these sources fall outside the purview of drinking water regulations. Three quarters of the public water systems that are out of compliance are in the San Joaquin and Salinas valleys, where intensive agricultural production and other activities have resulted in elevated levels of hazardous chemicals in groundwater, including arsenic, nitrate, 1,2,3-trichloropropane, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The UC Berkeley Water Equity Science Shop and Community Water Center are applying community-based participatory research and data-driven methods to characterize the presence of PFAS in tap water collected from households served by private wells and small water systems in the San Joaquin and Salinas valleys and elucidate possible relationships between drinking water threats and PFAS contamination of drinking water. To date we have tested 40 households for 70 different PFAS chemicals and found one or more PFAS in over half of tap water samples. A total of 17 different PFAS chemicals were detected overall, and 13% of detections exceeded regulatory limits for PFOA, PFOS, and/or PFHxS. Average concentrations of PFAS were higher and detected with greater frequency in the Salinas Valley compared to the San Joaquin Valley To evaluate statewide trends, we analyzed PFAS data collected from 1,008 public supply wells by the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) between 2023-2025. In SWRCB data stratified by region, the Salinas Valley had the highest average concentrations of PFBA, PFBS, PFHxA, PFHxS, and PFPeA, whereas Northern and Southern CA had the highest concentrations of PFOA and PFOS, respectively
We ran statewide multivariate logistic regression models to calculate odds ratios for the likelihood of detecting PFAS in public supply wells based on proximity to 9 PFAS threats; biosolids applied to land, pesticides applied to crops, wastewater reused for agriculture, airports, military sites, chrome plating facilities, oil refineries/terminals, Superfund sites, and landfills. Preliminary results suggest that biosolid application and wastewater reused for agriculture are significantly associated with an increased likelihood of PFAS detections in public supply wells in models that also account for other PFAS sources.
This is the first statewide water quality analysis that includes agricultural sources of PFAS. Findings suggest that farming practices may contribute to PFAS in drinking water. We suggest policy intervention to reduce PFAS concentrations at wastewater facilities prior to distributing biosolids or recycled wastewater for agricultural use.
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker | Eva Vitucci | Texas A&M University SRP
The Application of Non-Targeted Mobile Air Monitoring To Assess Volatile Organic Compounds in Fenceline Communitie
E.Vitucci
Affiliation:
Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Fenceline communities experience disproportionate exposure to criteria air pollutants, namely PM2.5. However, robust monitoring and assessment of non-criteria air pollutants, such as of the hazardous chemicals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), is lacking. To investigate if VOCs contribute to the disproportionate exposure burden in fenceline communities, targeted and non-targeted mobile air monitoring of VOCs within two fenceline communities and one non-fenceline (background) community in Dallas County, TX was conducted. Targeted analysis of the VOCs benzene, toluene, and ethylbenzene and/or xylene (BTEX) revealed periodic, significant elevations in their average concentrations in the fenceline communities compared to background. Statistical clustering analyses revealed distinct separation of the communities based on their VOC profiles and identified specific VOCs contributing to these clustering effects. Targeted and non-targeted analysis (NTA) revealed that multiple VOCs had periodically large spikes (hotspots) in concentration throughout the fenceline communities. Notably, hotspots were not detected in the background community. Together, our data highlight that VOCs likely contribute to the disproportionate air pollutant exposure burden faced by fenceline communities. These data support the expansion of current fenceline monitoring programs and support the incorporation of VOC monitoring into these programs to protect residential and worker health. Furthermore, our study introduces new strategies for assessing non-targeted VOC datasets that can help support ongoing efforts to monitor, regulate, and improve air quality.
Scientific Presentations - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker | Anirban Basu | Columbia University SRP
Uranium isotope tracing of groundwater contamination in the Northern Plains
A. Basu
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University
Uranium (U) contamination in groundwater is widespread across the United States and poses a public health risk for communities relying on private wells. Although chronic low -level U exposure through drinking water has been linked to kidney toxicity, tracing U mobilization and removal in aquifers with precision remains a challenge. Understanding where U originates and why it becomes mobile is essential for effective intervention. We use isotopic tracers to address this gap. Uranium becomes highly soluble, and mobile under oxidizing conditions, but under reducing conditions it becomes insoluble and is removed from groundwater. Uranium isotopes are accurate and sensitive tracers of source proximity and redox processes. We use isotopic tracers to investigate U contamination in groundwater from a tribal region of South Dakota that participated in the Strong Heart Water Study. We analyzed 140 private wells for U concentrations, isotope ratios ( 238U/235U and 234U/238U), and redoxsensitive elements (Fe, Mn, NO 3 , Se, V). Uranium concentrations ranged from 0.4 to 48 µg/L, with 5 % exceeding the USEPA maximum contaminant level. Uranium isoscapes distinguish oxidizing zones of U mobilization from reducing zones of natural removal and trace source proximity. Overall, U isotopes identify environmental processes driving groundwater contamination and inform exposure reduction strategies
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker | Alison Clark | Oregon State University – PNNL SRP
From personal exposure to applicable air concentrations: A Brownfield site case study
A. Clark1, E. Bonner1, D. Rohlman1, L. Bramer2, K. Waters1,2, K Anderson1
Affiliation:
1 Oregon State University Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology
2 Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
St. Helens, OR lies north of the Portland Harbor superfund site and was a historical center of transit for logging industry products. The town contains several historical sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, including a Brownfield site that historically produced coal tar creosote wood treatment products. In 2021 through 2022, 46 participants wore silicone wristband passive samplers four times for one week each in response to a concern about polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon presence in the air. The chemical data from the wristband can be used to represent the exposome, or the totality of exposures over a lifetime a person may encounter. Collected along with chemical data from deployed passive samplers, a behavioral questionnaire and geographic information was gathered from the participants. Our previous work determined behavioral inputs that influence PAH exposure (Bonner 2025, Bramer 2025) but found that behavior alone was not enough to explain fluctuations within and between each participant’s chemical data. Current work centers on distribution of PAH point sources in the vicinity of the brownfield site and how this may impact outdoor air and personal exposure. We found that while air concentrations within residential distance of the brownfield site did not breach current health regulations for inhalation, we were unable to compare personal wristband data to these regulations. With data and conclusions about the exposome from the silicone wristband, how can we put our data into a context that can be compared to current health standards? The partitioning coefficients of specific PAHs into silicone mean that measured silicone concentrations of PAHs cannot be compared directly to air concentrations, which are often the metric for exposure assessments. Using work from O’Connell 2021, we estimated air concentrations from our silicone concentrations to put measured personal exposure in a health impacts context. It was found that while outdoor air and personal exposure concentrations of PAHs do not necessarily correlate, we were able to compare air-transformed wristband data with health regulations to make individual health exposure assessments
Scientific Presentations - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker | Nicolette Bugher | MIT SRP
Partitioning parameters of N-nitrosamines: An intercomparison of determination methods
N. Bugher1, J. W Zheng1, A.S. Wardel2, W.H. Green2, D.L. Plata1
Affiliation:
1 Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
2 Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
N-nitrosamines are a class of carcinogenic industrial pollutants that lack well-characterized physicochemical properties. Classical approaches to determine octanol-water partition coefficients (Kow) values are laborious, slow, and challenged by experimental error. Alternative methods include quantum chemical estimation (e.g., COSMO-RS), quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) models, and high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) measurements; however, systematic compound-by-compound comparisons of these methods for chemical classes remain lacking. This study evaluates the performance of four methods (shakeflask, HPLC retention time, QSPR, and COSMO-RS estimation) for log Kow determination. Shake-flask measurements for N-nitrosodiemthylamine (-0.54), N-nitrosomorpholine (-0.54), N-nitrosopiperidine (0.64), and N-nitrosodibutylamine (2.54) were compared to previously reported values, where the omission of quality control procedures (i.e., mutual solvent saturation and sufficient equilibration time) led to variations in measurements up to 0.64 log units. Among alternative methods, COSMO-RS calculation in this study performed the best relative to direct experimental measurement, with a root mean absolute error (RMSE) of 0.12 and improved accuracy compared to previous estimation. QSPR determination was comparable to COSMO-RS (RMSE of 0.14). Two methods of HPLC determination demonstrated the worst performance (RMSEs of 0.27 and 0.45). This study highlights the weaknesses in using HPLC methods for compound classes that include polar molecules, demonstrates improved performance of theoretical calculations, and reports partitioning data for known (n=8) and recently characterized (n=7) N-nitrosamines found in the environment.
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Keynote Speaker | Jay Klein | Roux Associates, Inc.
The Evolution of the Risk-Based Corrective Action Process in Texas
J. J. Klein
Vice President & Principal Geologist Roux Associates, Inc.
Brief Resume:
Mr. Klein is an environmental consultant with 38 years of experience specializing in the assessment and remediation of contaminated sites in Texas. His primary focus is on developing cost-effective remedies that protect human health and the environment while preserving the active and productive use of land
Abstract: This presentation will provide attendees with a sense of realities in site remediation, associated decision frameworks, and the needs of all involved parties who are interested in ensuring protection of human health and the environment. Before the risk-based corrective action (RBCA) process, site closure standards required contaminants to be below laboratory method quantitation limits. For example, Texas uses the Texas Risk Reduction Program (TRRP), which applies risk assessment to determine protective concentration levels (PCLs) for human health and, when needed, ecological receptors. These PCLs are based on site conditions, contaminant properties, receptor locations, and exposure pathways. Remedies fall under either Remedy Standard A, a “pollution cleanup” requiring removal or decontamination, or Remedy Standard B, an “exposure prevention” approach allowing removal, decontamination, or controls alone. Responsible parties may choose either standard and Texas’s corrective action process now emphasizes scientifically based, risk-focused objectives that protects human health and the environment. Thus, there are many opportunities for academic researchers to provide additional information for the process of effective remediation, both on the potential hazards and cost-effective solutions to emerging contaminants like PFAS.
Scientific Presentations - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker | Jin Chen | University of Louisville SRP
Advancing Chemical Exposomics: Untargeted and Targeted
LC-MS Approaches for Phase II Metabolite Analyses
J. Chen, B. Taylor, T Krivokhizhina, Z Xie, P Lorkiewicz, S Srivastava
Affiliation:
Superfund Research Center, Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, University of Louisville, Louisville, LY
Humans are exposed to a vast array of chemicals daily, many of which may impact health. Accurate identification and quantification of these chemicals and their metabolites in biospecimens are needed for comprehensive exposure assessment and health outcome evaluation. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) is a powerful tool for chemical exposomic research. Yet, most detected features remain unannotated due to limited reference materials and incomplete databases. To overcome this, we utilize untargeted (LC-QTOF/MS) and targeted (LC-MS/MS) approaches for prominent phase II metabolites (e.g., mercapturic acids (MAs), glucuronic acids (GAs), and sulfates (SAs)) discovery and measurement. We developed an integrated library-guided analysis (ILGA) and annotated 424 metabolites consisting of 146 MAs, 171 GAs, and 107 SAs derived from ~200 chemicals in 844 human urine samples. To confirm the chemical identity of these metabolites, adult male C57BL/6J mice were injected intraperitoneal with 74 parent organic chemicals, and the urinary metabolites were profiled by LC-QTOF/MS. For quantitative analyses, we have transferred the method on Waters TQS Absolute LC-MS/MS system and have so far acquired or synthesized metabolites of 76 reagent organic chemicals and 39 of their stable isotope-labeled analogs. This versatile workflow enables us to map a broad-array of organic chemical exposure at individual level and establishes LC-MS/MS approaches for the quantitative analyses of target metabolites. Our LC-MS/MS assay is quite robust and dynamic to additional metabolites as needed
Scientific Presentations - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker | Qi Meng | University of California Berkeley
Prenatal exposures to drinking water contaminants and adverse birth outcomes: a retrospective cohort study in California
Q. Meng, J. Rempel2, D.E. Goin3, C. Pace4, R. Morello-Frosch5, L.J. Cusing1
Affiliation:
1 Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Fielding School of Public Health, UCLA
2 Energy and Resources Group, UC Berkeley
3 Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University
4 Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, UC Berkeley
5 School of Public Health & Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, UC Berkeley
Background & Purpose: Drinking water quality is increasingly recognized as a risk factor in maternal-fetal health research. Despite substantial public investment in drinking water infrastructure, roughly 10% of California’s (CA’s) public drinking water systems are out of compliance with state drinking water quality standards, and an estimated 6 million residents are served by systems that have been in violation at some point since 2012. Over three quarters of the public water systems that are out of compliance are located in just seven of California’s 58 counties in the southern San Joaquin Valley (SJV) and Salinas Valley (SV), which are among the most productive agricultural regions in the world and poorest counties in the state.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of singleton births (2011-22- N=458,080) in seven counties in the southern SJV and SV to investigate associations between drinking water contaminants and adverse birth outcomes. We estimated prenatal exposures based on conception year and residential geocodes using public water system service area boundaries and annual average concentrations of 12 contaminants from regulatory monitoring data. We used logistic regression to estimate the odds of preterm birth (PTB), term low birth weight (tLBW), and small for gestational age (SGA) comparing births with contaminant concentrations above detection reporting levels to those below. Models were adjusted for fetal sex, maternal age, race/ethnicity, parity, education, insurance, prenatal care, nativity, conception year, conception season, number of water system service connections, primary water source, urbanicity, and region.
Results: We observed increased odds of PTB among births with detected levels of natural fluoride (OR = 1.03; 95% CI 1.00, 1.06) and nitrate (OR = 1.23; 95% CI 1.17, 1.28). A consistent pattern was also observed for tLBW with ORs of 1 06 (95% CI 1.03, 1.08) for natural fluoride and 1.05 (95% CI 1.01, 1.09) for nitrate. Similarly, we found 16% and 5% increased odds of SGA among births with detected levels of natural fluoride (95% CI 1.00, 1.11) and nitrate (1.07, 1.27), respectively Births with detected levels of uranium and vanadium were also associated with the three birth outcomes, although confidence intervals crossed the null.
Conclusions: Our findings indicate that prenatal exposure to detected levels of natural fluoride and nitrate in drinking water are associated with adverse birth outcomes even at levels below current regulatory guidelines, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and mitigation efforts especially for vulnerable populations
Scientific Presentations - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker | Reece Valdez | Oregon State University – PNNL SRP
Assessing susceptibility for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon toxicity in an in vitro 3D respiratory model for asthma
R. Valdez, Y. Chang, J.M. Penninton, S.C. Tilton
Affiliation: Oregon State University
There is increased emphasis on understanding cumulative risk from the combined effects of chemical and nonchemical stressors as it relates to public health. Recent animal studies have identified pulmonary inflammation from respiratory diseases, such as asthma, as a possible modifier and risk factor for chemical toxicity in the lung after exposure to inhaled pollutants. The complex etiology of asthma involves both genetic and environmental risk factors. Clinical and epidemiological studies have associated ambient pollution with the onset of asthma and have also found that ambient pollution exacerbates existing asthma. Communities near the Portland Harbor Superfund site (PHSS) exhibit rates of adult asthma that range from 9% to 13% compared to the national average of 7.7% making them a uniquely susceptible population for chemical insult related to exposures from the PHSS; however, little is understood about causation and mechanisms contributing to adverse health effects. To address these data gaps, a 3D in vitro respiratory model was developed to mimic the asthmatic phenotype and evaluate the role of combined environmental factors associated with inflammation from pre-existing disease and PAH exposure on pulmonary toxicity for the first time in a physiologically relevant human model.
Scientific Presentations - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker | Lindsay Volk | MIT SRP
Youth Dictates Susceptibility to DNA Damage-Induced Genotoxicity, Mutagenesis, and Tumorigenesis from N-Nitrosamine Exposure
in Mice
L.B. Volk1, M. Norales1, C. Karjane1, J.J. Corrigan1, L.J. Pribyl1, A.J. Alcaraz2, M. Blawas1, I. Dulski1, E. Arunachalam1, N.A. Bugher3, N. Gubina1,4, E. Michelsen1,4, K. Pichappan1, N. Yakimchuk1, M. Swanson1, D. Ma5, S.S. Levine6, D.L. Plata3, R.G. Croy1,4, L.D. Samson1, J.M. Essigmann1,4, C.L. Yauk2, S.E. Carrasco7, B.P. Engleward1
Affiliation:
1 Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
2 Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa K1N 6N5, Canada
3 Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
4 Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
5 David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Bioinformatics and Computing Facility of Swanson Biotechnology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
6 BioMicro Center, Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
7 Laboratory of Comparative Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065, USA
N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), a probable human carcinogen, is prevalent in contaminated pharmaceuticals, drinking water, and processed foods. While its toxicity is well-documented, the role of age in modulating NDMA susceptibility remains unclear. Using DNA repair-deficient (Aag-/-;Mgmt-/-) and wild-type mice, we systematically compared the effects of NDMA exposure in juveniles and adults. Juvenile Aag-/-;Mgmt-/- mice were profoundly more vulnerable, exhibiting persistent DNA damage, inflammation, and mutations that led to severe liver pathology and tumorigenesis, with males disproportionately affected. Wild-type mice showed similar, albeit attenuated, trends. In stark contrast, adults demonstrated near-complete resistance. Importantly, NDMA-induced DNA adduct levels were comparable across age groups, implicating proliferation-dependent responses to DNA adducts, rather than adduct formation, as the driver of age-related risk. Supporting this mechanism, triiodothyronine-stimulated proliferation in adults partially recapitulated juvenile sensitivity, directly linking cell division to NDMA genotoxicity. Collectively, our findings identify developmental stage as a critical determinant of NDMA-induced carcinogenesis, with significant implications for environmental risk assessment and regulatory policy
Scientific Presentations - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker | Shasha Yang | Yale University
Multi-stage Electrochemical Oxidation with Pulsed Electrolysis for Long-term 1,4-Dioxane Treatment in Groundwater
S. Yang, L. Arrazolo, J-H. Kim
Affiliation:
Yale University
1,4-dioxane, a possible human carcinogen, was primarily used as a solvent stabilizer in industrial processes and has been detected in drinking water since 1978. Electrochemical oxidation (EO) is a promising approach for 1,4dioxane destruction. However, conventional single-stage electrochemical cell (one pair of anode/cathode) operating in single-pass mode requires high energy consumption and low water flux to achieve high removal rate. The application of EO for 1,4-dioxane treatment also calls for strategies to extend the service life of electrodes and demonstration of EO in more realistic conditions (low concentration 1,4- dioxane in groundwater with low conductivity). In this work, we first demonstrated the enhanced treatment efficiency by stacking multiple electrochemical cells operating in flow-through system using Ti4O7 mesh electrodes. Tests in laboratory solution showed that a single cell (Stage 1) removed 5% to 91% of 1,4-dioxane at water flux of 12-720 L m-2 h-1 with a pseudo-first-order rate constant of 0.1188 min-1. Stacking four stages of cell (Stage 4, four pairs of anode/cathode) achieved 21% to nearly 100% removal with reduced energy consumption at higher water flux compared to Stage 1. During electrochemical water treatment, ions (e.g., Ca2+ and Mg2+) in groundwater can lead to electrode scaling, resulting in shortened lifetime. To address this challenge, we applied pulsed electrolysis to prolong Ti4O7 electrode life by periodically refreshing the electrode surface. We tested the multi-stage electrochemical cell with pulsed electrolysis under optimal operation conditions for 200 h continuously in groundwater spiked with 1,4-dioxane at an environmentally relevant concentration (20 µg L-1). The single-pass system maintained a steady 1,4-dioxane removal rate (>80%) over 200 h treatment at a water flux of 36 L m-2 h-1 with low level of disinfection byproducts formation (e.g., chlorite, bromate, haloacetic acids, and trihalomethanes). This study provides valuable insights for reactor and operation design to enable long-lasting electrochemical oxidation of trace contaminants in groundwater as a point-of-use or point-of-entry treatment system.
Scientific Presentations - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker | Jose Cerrato | University of New Mexico METALS SRP
Reactions of U(VI) at acidic and neutral pH induce changes in dissolved natural organic matter composition
J. Cerrato1, C.A. Velasco1,5, J.M. Jarvis2, M.M. Tfaily3, A.J. Brearley4, F.O. Holguin2, C.O. Lee1, A.D. Benavidez6, A-M.S. Ali4, J.S. Lezama Pacheco7, S.E. Cabiniss8, KI. Artyushkova9
Affiliation:
¹ Gerald May Department of Civil, Construction & Environmental Engineering, MSC01 1070, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA and 5 UNM METALS Superfund Research Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87106, USA
2 Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA
3 Department of Environmental Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85719, USA
4 Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, MSC03 2040, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA
5 UNM METALS Superfund Research Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87106, USA
6 Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, MSC01 1120, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA
7 Department of Environmental Earth System Science, Stanford University, California 94305, USA
8 Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA
9 Physical Electronics, 18725 Lake Drive East, Chanhassen, Minnesota 55317Oregon State University
The reactions between oxidized uranium [U(VI)] with natural organic matter (NOM) are relevant to the mobility of U and NOM in waters from organic-rich geologic uranium deposits. This presentation will focus on addressing the changes in the chemical composition of NOM resulting from its reaction with U(VI) at acidic and neutral pH conditions under controlled laboratory conditions. To address this topic we integrated various techniques such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). The reaction of U(VI) with NOM at acidic pH led to a decrease in the relative content of alcohols, carboxylic functional groups, and compounds with high O/C ratios in NOM. Our results suggest that NOM’s molecular composition is altered by two primary mechanisms: (1) selective aqueous complexation of U with alcohol and carboxylic groups in NOM, and (2) U adsorption onto particulate organic matter (POM). These findings provide insights into NOM chemical transformations due to U interactions under pH conditions relevant to acid mine drainage, natural geologic deposits, and surface waters in Superfund sites affected by legacy uranium mining.
Scientific Presentations - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker | Kirankumar P.S.| Michigan State University
Kinetics of dioxin sorption from soils by activated carbon amendments
Kirankumar P.S.1, L. Tian1, H. Li1, C.T. Johnston2, B.J. Teppen1
Affiliation:
1 Department of Plant, Soil, and Microbial Sciences, MSU
2 Crop, Soil, and Environmental Science, Purdue University
Activated carbon (AC)–based amendments are emerging as a promising strategy to reduce the bioavailability of dioxin-like persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in contaminated soils. This study investigates the sorption kinetics and stability of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) on magnetic activated carbon (MAC), emphasizing the role of soil organic matter in controlling dioxin transfer dynamics. MAC was synthesized through a co-precipitation method, and detailed characterization confirmed the successful incorporation of iron oxides with minimal alteration to the parent AC structure—showing comparable surface area, porosity and adsorption efficiency The magnetic functionality of MAC allows efficient recovery from soil and enables precise tracking of dioxin transfer. Contaminated soil samples were prepared using a glass-loading technique in aqueous solution to ensure uniform distribution of ¹⁴C-TCDD before kinetic testing. Three soils with varying organic carbon contents (0.2–4%) were used in kinetic experiments, and ¹⁴C-TCDD associated with soil and MAC phases was quantified using an oxidizer–liquid scintillation counting method to ensure accurate mass balance determination. Over a 90-day period, TCDD transfer from soil to MAC increased with soil organic matter, from 13% in low-organic to 40% in high-organic soils, demonstrating the role of dissolved organic matter in facilitating dioxin mobility Complementary tests using standard natural organic matter further supported this observation. Stability analysis of the MAC–TCDD complex after 90 days showed effective sequestration of dioxins in the MAC. These findings demonstrate the potential of MAC as a retrievable and effective sorbent for dioxin immobilization in soils and sediments and support the development of sustainable, sorbent-based remediation strategies aimed at reducing bioavailability of dioxins at contaminated Superfund sites.
Scientific Presentations - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker | Sarah Glass | Baylor-Rice SRP
Pyrolytic Treatment of PAH-Contaminated Soils to Eliminate Toxicity and Enhance Fertility
S.
Glass1, S.B.
Affiliation:
1 Rice University
Denison1, P. Jin1, T. Senftle1, K. Zygourakis1, B. Moorthy2, P.J.J. Alvarez1
2 Baylor College of Medicine
Soil contamination by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) poses significant threats to public health and the environment. These pervasive soil pollutants are known for their high bioaccumulation potential and toxic properties. Several thermal treatment technologies have been applied to decontaminate PAH impacted soils, but achieving complete PAH destruction often requires high temperature and energy inputs, leading to elevated costs and damaged soil fertility. Thus, it is imperative to develop soil remediation technologies that are costeffective, sustainable, and preserve soil productivity Our objectives are to enhance energy efficiency and degradation rates for pyrolytic treatment of PAH-contaminated soils, by exploiting the catalytic role of common transition metals. Specifically, we explore the molecular interactions and charge transfer between PAHs and transition metals in clay catalysts during pyrolytic treatment. In this work, we demonstrate that clays impregnated with non-toxic transition metals (iron or copper) can be used to decrease the pyrolytic treatment temperature and time required for extensive PAH removal. We found that PAHs with lower ionization potential (IP) are more easily removed by pyro-catalytic treatment, likely via a direct electron transport (DET) mechanism. This is facilitated by thorough mixing and unhindered contact with Fe(III) in Fe-enriched bentonite. Using four PAHs (naphthalene, pyrene, benz(a)anthracene, and benzo(g,h,i)perylene, in decreasing order of IP), Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations show that lower IP results in stronger adsorption to Fe(III) sites and easier electron transfer from the PAH to Fe(III) at the onset of pyrolysis. However, IP is inversely correlated with PAH hydrophobicity (log Kow), which limits access to the Fe(III) catalytic sites due to increased PAH sorption to soil organic matter. Additionally, we tested our thermal-catalytic approach on perand polyfluorinated substance (PFAS) and found that the presence of transition metal cations led to the release of CO2 at lower temperatures, as identified by evolved gas analysis. To assess the feasibility of this pyro- catalytic soil remediation approach, techno-economic analyses are needed to evaluate the trade-offs between increasing treated soil volume through modified clay amendments and decreasing energy requirements and contact time. Overall, pyrolytic treatment of soils contaminated with PAHs offers significant advantages when compared to other thermal methods. Transition metal-amended clays can enhance the treatment capacity and energy efficiency for PAH polymerization pathways that detoxify the soil with significantly lower contact time and energy requirements. This approach efficiently removes toxic compounds to meet regulatory standards with significantly lower energy requirements than incineration. The lower pyrolysis temperatures preserve soil components responsible for water and nutrient retention, partially restoring soil fertility and enhancing the soil’s value for ecosystem restoration and re-greening efforts. Lower energy requirements and higher throughput capacity of pyro-catalytic treatment broadens its applicability to remediate highly contaminated soils at Superfund sites.
Scientific Presentations - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker | Juan Salazar | University of California Berkeley SRP
In Situ Chemical Oxidation of Nonionic Organic Contaminants: The Effect of Soil Organic Matter and Minerals on Stoichiometric Efficiency
J. Salazar1, T-K. Kim1, D.L Sedlak1
Affiliation:
1 Civil and Environmental Engineering department, University of California Berkeley
Most dissolved organic contaminants react rapidly with sulfate radicals (SO₄● ) generated during persulfate activation in in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO). In subsurface environments, however, hydrophobic contaminants often bind to particles, reducing their exposure to oxidants. To assess this effect, we quantified the stoichiometr ic efficiency (i.e., moles of contaminant transformed per mole of SO₄● ) for a series of chlorinated benzenes at solid-to-water ratios representative of natural soils. Adsorption to inorganic solids such as sand and clays decreased efficiency by about three orders of magnitude compared to freely dissolved contaminants. While absorption into particulate organic matter (e.g., Pahokee peat) provided stronger protection, as little as 1.5 % organic matter reduced efficiency by another order of magnitude for the most hydrophobic compounds (i.e., tetrato hexachlorobenzene). A conceptual model was developed to predict the stoichiometric efficiency for contaminants based on their hydrophobicity (i.e., Kow), the oxidant dose, the organic matter content of the solids, and its texture. This model was finally validated by comparing measurements and model predictions for real soil samples, providing practitioners with insights to improve the design of remediation strategies for polluted sites.
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker| Kelly G. Pennell| University of Kentucky SRC
Combating Chronic Disease and Pollution: Innovative Nutritional and Engineering Interventions
K.G. Pennell
Affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Kentucky
Across the United States, hundreds of thousands of sites have been described as presumptive locations of perand polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination. The distribution of PFAS sites and other disease threats is not evenly distributed across populations or geographic locations. For example, the Appalachia and Delta regions experience mortality due to inflammatory diseases at rates more than 20% higher than those for the United States as a whole. Adverse health consequences are a terrible reality in these regions, placing the 36 million people who live there at risk. In Kentucky, there are approximately 1,000 suspected locations of PFAS contamination, yet PFAS presence remains unconfirmed and largely unmanaged. PFAS exposure in Kentucky is exacerbated by recognized health disparities in the Appalachia and Delta regions, where chronic inflammatory disease risks exceed the national average, and where 1.6 million Kentuckians live. Many chronic inflammatory diseases have been associated with PFAS, including intestinal diseases such as colorectal cancer. While inflammatory diseases are known to be multifactorial, the long history of health disparities in rural communities necessitates integrated and innovative approaches to reduce and prevent risks in these settings. For example, Kentucky has a much higher incidence of colorectal cancer compared to the rest of the United States. The University of Kentucky Superfund Research Center (UKSRC) is researching the impact of PFAS exposure on gastrointestinal (GI) pathology to develop interventions that mitigate the disproportionate health risks experienced by Kentuckians. Additionally, UKSRC is using geospatial modeling tools and functionalized membrane treatment science to remediate PFAS in water, thereby reducing and preventing PFAS exposures in communities.
Scientific Presentations - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker | Raina M. Maier and David E. Hogan | University of Arizona SRP
Breakthroughs Yield Solutions for Cleaner Mining and Healthier Communities
R. Maier
Affiliation: University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Rapidly growing demand and a fragile global supply of strategic metals present an urgent challenge for sustainable resource management. A promising approach for greener mining lies in the selective extraction and recovery of strategic metals from aqueous-phase feedstocks derived from both natural and anthropogenic sources. Mining-influenced waters represent a particularly valuable opportunity, offering not only the potential to reclaim metals from materials typically regarded as waste, but also to generate reusable water as a co-benefit. This presentation will explore recent breakthroughs for recovering critical metals from U.S. waste streams, with a focus on bioinspired glycolipids that enable selective separation of rare earth elements and uranium. In addition, simple yet powerful techniques such as ion flotation, selective precipitation, and glycolipid-based adsorption will be highlighted as scalable tools for achieving the dual goals of wastewater remediation and the recovery and commercialization of valuable metals. Together, these innovations point toward a cleaner, more circular model for mining and resource recovery.
Scientific Presentations - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker | Erica Babusci | Duke University SRP
Microencapsulation as a Strategy for Precision Microbiome Engineering in Superfund Site Remediation
E. Babusci
Affiliation: Duke University
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are hydrophobic compounds composed of two or more fused benzene rings. Their aromatic stability renders them highly persistent, carcinogenic, and mutagenic, posing serious threats to environmental and human health. These compounds are produced during incomplete combustion and are major constituents of creosote, a wood preservative historically discharged into the Elizabeth River. Decades of industrial activity have resulted in heavy PAH contamination at this Superfund site, where traditional physical remediation approaches have proven largely ineffective. Bioaugmentation, introducing exogenous PAHdegrading microorganisms, offers a potential biological alternative but often fails in situ due to challenges in microbial survival and establishment within contaminated matrices. To overcome these limitations, we are developing a microencapsulation approach in which PAH-degrading microbes are immobilized within sodium alginate capsules formed via ionic gelation. This encapsulation provides a protective matrix that enables controlled microbial release while shielding cells from environmental stressors. Ongoing studies are assessing how capsule formulation parameters influence microbial viability, metabolic activity, and PAH degradation efficiency. Overall, this work highlights microencapsulation as a promising precision microbiome engineering strategy to enhance bioaugmentation efficacy and improve bioremediation outcomes at PAH-contaminated Superfund sites.
Scientific Presentations - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker | Upal Ghosh | UMBC SRP
Advancing bioremediation solutions through accurate determination of biokinetics for sorption-mediated microbial dechlorination of organochlorines
U. Ghosh, Y. Ting, N. Lombard, K. Sowers
Affiliation:
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
This research advances the scientific understanding and technological innovation of microbial dechlorination of toxic chlorinated compounds in environmental media. In-situ, low-impact technologies are needed to reduce cost and impact from traditional removal-based technologies. This has led to the exploration of in-situ sorbent amendments and bioaugmentation to bind up and also break down chlorinated compounds. However, how sorbent surfaces impact the halorespiration rate of the attached microorganisms needs to be better understood to predict the efficacy of the technology and design optimized engineering solutions In this project we first performed microcosm studies to measure halorespiration rates of tetrachloroethene by different bioamended solids. We demonstrated that biofilms of the halorespiring bacterium Dehalobium chlorocoercia strain DF-1, attached to activated carbons, graphite, and silica, maintains comparable biokinetics to their planktonic counterparts. We developed a mathematical model incorporating biokinetics, sorption kinetics, and competitive sorption effect to adequately describe the aqueous concentrations of chloroethenes. We show that the sorption of chloroethenes by the two activated carbons did not reduce net molar transformation even though aqueous concentration was suppressed indicating potential synergies between sorption and microbial dechlorination. A promising consequence of this phenomenon is the feasibility of using bioaugmented AC as effective bio-barriers, either injected in the contaminated aquifer in colloidal form or installed as treatment zones to capture and dechlorinate PCE plumes. The bioavailability of B-vitamins is reduced through sorption to some sorbents, which can limit DF-1 biokinetics in laboratory studies, indicating the importance of ensuring a sufficient concentration of the nutrients in the presence of solids. Our work illustrates the importance of accounting for sorption effects in models to better characterize the bioremediation effectiveness of organochlorines via bioamended sorbents. Ongoing research is evaluating the kinetics of PCB microbial dechlorination in the presence of solids in sediment containing microcosms.
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker | Kevin Sowers | RemBac Environmental / Univ. Maryland, Baltimore County R44
Field Application of Bioaugmented Activated Carbon at a Superfund Site to Demonstrate Scalability and Advance PCB Bioremediation Technology
K.Sowers
Affiliation:
RemBac Environmental
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) dominate the ecological and human health risk associated with contaminated sediments in the United States and are a frequent cause of fish consumption advisories worldwide. Effective in situ treatments that can be rapidly deployed with minimal disruption in environmentally sensitive sites, such as tidal marshes, are a sustainable, minimally invasive, and relatively low-cost technology that is critically needed to help reduce the vast inventory of PCB-contaminated sediments, particularly in former urban industrial areas RemBac and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County have developed an innovative microbial in situ treatment system for remediating PCBs in sediment that is both cost-effective and environmentally sustainable. Anaerobic PCB dechlorinating and aerobic biphenyl-degrading bacteria combined with activated carbon (AC) pellets as a deployment medium perform together to: 1) rapidly reduce PCB bioavailability to the aquatic food web through sequestration on the AC surface, and 2) reduce total PCB concentrations in impacted sediments by microbial dechlorination and degradation of the PCBs. The goal of the project is to test the scalability of the technology in a field demonstration at the New Bedford Harbor Superfund Site to collect critical field data and advance PCB bioremediation technology Methods were developed to improve the reproducibility, growth rates, and cell yields during scale-up of microorganisms. Methodology was developed and tested for rapid inoculation of activated carbon pellets (SediMite) and application of the bioamendment in the field. Highlights of ongoing research will be presented
Scientific Presentations - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker | Dennis Ssekimpi | Florida State U
Minimization of Toxic Intermediates from Trichloroethylene Biodegradation by Macrocyclic Adsorbents
D. Ssekimpi, E.G. Tesfamariam, Y. Tang
Affiliation:
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University
Trichloroethylene (TCE) was mostly used as an industrial solvent. Due to its carcinogenicity, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set a maximum contaminant level of 5 µg/L in 1987 for drinking water Bioremediation is widely studied for TCE-contaminated groundwater. While TCE can be anaerobically reduced to ethene, the accumulation of intermediates that are more toxic than TCE is a concern. The objective of this study was to decrease the TCE intermediates accumulation by using continuous stirred tank reactors each containing KB-1®, a TCE-dechlorinating mixed and an adsorbent. Four adsorbents were compared, including two macrocyclic materials (Resorcinarene Tetrafluoroterephthalonitrile and Pillar[5]arene Tetrafluoroterephthalonitrile) and two carbon-based adsorbents (granular activated carbon (GAC) and Ambersorb). At steady state, ethene, a marker for complete mineralization of TCE, was produced at the highest levels in the bioreactors with macrocyclic adsorbents (>70% of the influent TCE), compared to GAC (20%) and Ambersorb (15%). The superior performance of the macrocyclic adsorbents was attributed to the greater bioavailability of the adsorbed TCE. Microbial community analysis also showed relatively higher levels of dechlorinating bacteria species in the macrocycle-based bioreactors.
Scientific Presentations - Abstracts
Speaker | Vaia Lida Chatzi | University of Southern California SRP
From Organoids to Populations: Translating PFAS Liver Toxicity into Human Health Evidence
V. L. Chatzi
Affiliation:
Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent environmental chemicals linked to metabolic dysfunction and liver injury. Our multidisciplinary Southern California Superfund Research and Training Program for PFAS Assessment, Remediation, and Prevention integrates in vitro, and populationbased approaches to elucidate mechanisms of PFAS-induced hepatotoxicity and translate findings into actionable public health evidence. Using 3D liver spheroids, we identified that PFAS mixtures commonly detected in human plasma induce lipid accumulation, inflammation, and fibrotic signaling—key features of metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Transcriptomic profiling revealed dysregulation of lipid metabolism, mitochondrial function, and carcinogenic pathways, which were partially reversible after PFAS removal. In human cohorts, plasma PFAS levels were associated with increased liver fat fraction and circulating biomarkers of metabolic and inflammatory dysregulation, consistent with experimental findings. Multi-omics integration identified specific compounds such as perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) as drivers of high-risk metabolic clusters. Together, these results demonstrate a translational research framework—linking mechanistic evidence from organoid models to human population studies—to better define PFAS-related liver disease risk and inform precision prevention strategies for exposed communities
Scientific Presentations - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker | Pooja Singh | University of Alabama at Birmingham SRP
Heat stress exacerbates PM2.5 induced TRPV4/ERK1/2 mediated barrier dysfunction in airway
epithelial cells
P. Singh1, A. Kruse1, R Sinha1, B. Joseph2, C.T. Stephens1, Z Kabeer1, A Kumar,1, M.T. Dransfield1, M. M. Banaszak Holl2, V. B. Antony1
1 Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Alabama
2 Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Background & Purpose: This study aims to enhance our understanding of how heat stress affects barrier dysfunction in airway epithelial cells, potentially influences Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) outcomes, and modifies the effects of pollutant exposure. COPD is a primary global health concern, ranking as the 3rd leading cause of death worldwide and the 5th leading cause of chronic disability. This progressive respiratory condition is characterized by lung tissue damage, persistent airflow limitation, and various systemic effects beyond the lungs. Environmental factors like air pollution (particulate matter) play a crucial role in the development and progression of COPD. In recent years, there has been growing interest in the impact of heat exposure on subjects with COPD, particularly considering projected temperature increases. In Alabama, residents of the North Birmingham Alabama Superfund site face a history of exposure to air pollutants, and heat stress due to adjacent coal fired power plants. Importantly, the lack of trees and a green canopy increases in summer temperatures which may further exacerbate respiratory illnesses.
Methods & Results: Lung tissue samples were visualized for the presence of particulate matter using microscopy (DHM). BEAS-2B cells were exposed to heat stress (42°C) and PM2.5 individually or in combination. TRPV4 expression and Ca2+ influx were measured in these cells. Cell growth and tight junction-dependent barrier functions were analyzed by measuring capacitance and impedance using the ECIS platform. ECIS method demonstrated reduced resistance to electric current when PM2.5 and heat stress was given in combination to the BEAS-2B cells within 12 hrs of exposure compared to individual exposures (>24 hrs). Tight junction proteins and adherens junction proteins were stained and analyzed using fluorescence microscopy and/or western blotting. Tight junction protein influencing markers- oxidative stress, ERK1/2 signaling were analyzed to outline the pathway associated with TRPV4 expression. Conclusion: PM2.5 accumulation at cellular level in lungs leads to increased intracellular stress. We demonstrate that increasing environmental temperatures in combination with PM exposure can disintegrate epithelial cell barrier function. Suppressed cell-cell interactions lead to enhanced penetration and exposure of pollutants to tissue resident cells. This may ultimately contribute to the development or exacerbation of airway diseases such as COPD. In addition, planting trees and vegetation is expected to decrease both PM2.5 and heat stress.
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker | Stephania Cormier | LSU SRP
Astaxanthin Protects Against Environmentally Persistent Free Radical-Induced Oxidative Stress in Well-Differentiated Respiratory Epithelium
S.A. Cormier, A. Yamamoto, P.D. Sly, L. Khachatryan, N. Begum, A .J. Yeo, P.D. Robinson, E. Fantino
Affiliation:
Lousiana State University
Environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs), byproducts of thermal remediation of Superfund wastes, represent a significant understudied toxicological threat, driving chronic oxidative stress and inflammation in the respiratory tract. Exposure to EPFRs is strongly linked to the exacerbation of chronic lung diseases. This study assessed the protective efficacy of astaxanthin (AST), a potent carotenoid antioxidant, against EPFR-induced cytotoxicity and oxidative damage in a relevant human model.
Well-differentiated human primary nasal epithelial cells were cultured at the air-liquid interface (ALI) and exposed to a model EPFR compound. EPFR exposure resulted in a rapid increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), significant loss of epithelial barrier function, and a detrimental shift in cellular defense pathways. Mechanistically, EPFRs suppressed the master antioxidant regulator NRF2 and its downstream target HO-1, while simultaneously activating the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) signaling cascade.
Pre-treatment with AST significantly mitigated these effects. AST effectively scavenged EPFR-induced ROS, preserved mitochondrial function, and completely prevented the EPFR-mediated decrease in epithelial barrier function. Furthermore, AST restored the cellular redox balance by preventing the EPFR-induced suppression of NRF2/HO-1 and attenuating AHR activation. The study highlights the potential of dietary carotenoids to safeguard the respiratory epithelium against injury from ubiquitous air pollutants.
Scientific Presentations - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker | Melissa Suter | BCM-Rice SRP
Treatment with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) elicits distinct transcriptomic pathways in cultured primary trophoblasts
M Suter
Affiliation:
BCM-Rice SRP
We investigate how polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) alter the placental epigenome and transcriptome in ways that may contribute to preterm birth (PTB). Using RNA-seq, we examined the transcriptional response of primary human cytotrophoblasts to EPA-priority PAHs, focusing on Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP). Notably, femalederived cytotrophoblasts exhibited a more robust and distinct transcriptomic response to BaP compared to malederived cells, with enrichment in xenobiotic metabolism and detoxification pathways and suppression of proinflammatory signaling. We also observed higher expression of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) in female cytotrophoblasts, suggesting a sex-specific regulatory role. Furthermore, knockdown of the epigenetic regulator KDM6A in BeWo cells reduced CYP1A1 induction by BaP, implicating KDM6A in modulating PAH responses. These findings highlight sex-specific mechanisms in placental responses to environmental toxicants and their potential contribution to disparities in PTB risk.
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker | Julie In | UNM METALS SRP
Uranium-laden particulate dust alters intestinal epithelial proliferation and differentiation
J.In
Affiliation:
University of New Mexico SRP
Heavy metals exposure has been associated with intestinal inflammation and colorectal cancer, but direct transcriptional impact on intestinal epithelia remains unclear. Previously, our group demonstrated human colonic organoids as a relevant model for investigating the physiological impact of environmental toxicants. Our objective is to elucidate the mechanisms behind the transcriptional changes in the intestinal epithelia upon acute exposure to non-fissile uranium-bearing particulate dust (UBD). We hypothesize that UBD exposure biases differentiation of progenitor cells to secretory through miRNA regulation. Colonoids from three donors were acutely exposed to UBD collected near the Jackpile uranium mine in the Laguna Pueblo, New Mexico and profiled by droplet-based scRNA-seq. Exposure induced shifts toward secretory lineages: >4-fold expansion of enteroendocrine cells and >3-fold expansion of goblet cells. Pathway analysis revealed activation of WNT signaling and WNT-dependent transcription factors. Additionally, transcripts involved in polyamine metabolism were affected by UBD exposure. We hypothesize that such alterations disrupt cell cycle proliferation and force differentiation into the secretory lineage. Our results demonstrate that acute UBD exposure directly induces transcriptomic changes in intestinal epithelia independently of microbiota, stroma, and immune cells. These results indicate that adult human colonoids are a relevant model for investigating environmental toxicants impact on intestinal epithelia
Scientific Presentations - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker | Slawomir Lomnicki | LSU SRP
Environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) persistence vs bioactivity –a paradox resolved
S. Lomnicki
Our studies have postulated and demonstrated that environmental stability (i.e. persistence) of EPFRs is associated with low pH of the environmental media, however, an increase in pH leads to a significant acceleration of their redox cycle activity. In this study, a model EPFR system, composed of copper oxide (0.25%) serving as the transitional metal center and 2-monochlorophenol (MCP) as an organic component, and deposited on the amorphous silica power matrix (cabosil) was used as a model EPFR system. Hydroxyl radicals (OH•) generation by EPFRs was assessed in a buffered solution across pH range of 5.5 to 9.0 using DMPO spin trapping experiments at redox cycling time points of 15, 30, 60, 120, 180, and 300 minutes. The results showed that hydroxyl radical yield per EPFR (OH•/EPFR) significantly varied with time (p <0.001), and pH (p <0.001). The OH•/EPFR ratios was significantly higher at higher pH levels, particularly above pH 7.4. Based on this experimental data a kinetic model was developed describing the pH-dependent rate of OH• with good agreement to experimental data. Obtained kinetic expression of the form r(OH•) = k[H+](-0.25) produced a very good fit with experimental apparent rate data and indicating that hydroxyl radical production by EPFRs is inversely proportional to the proton concentration, with a respective rate order of (-0.25). These findings suggest that the EPFRs are persistent in the ambient environment due to the low pH condition. However, they can become “activated” in physiological pH enhancing their potential to produce reactive oxygen species.
Scientific Presentations - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Keynote Speaker | Kris Thayer | CalEPA- Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
California’s role in assessing environmental exposures and protecting human health: Overview of programs and data needs
K. Thayer CalEPA - OEHHA
The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), an office within CalEPA, is the lead state entity for California for the assessment of health risks posed by chemical contaminants in the environment. OEHHA’s assessments are used as a basis to develop the state’s drinking water and ambient air quality standards, and guide the regulation of pesticides, toxic air contaminants, and the cleanup of hazardous waste sites and groundwater contamination. In this regard, OEHHA identifies chemical hazards and develops cancer and non-cancer risk factors with considerations of susceptible and vulnerable populations, mode of action and key characteristics of toxicants while integrating evidence across levels of biological organization.
OEHHA is working to utilize New Approach Methods (NAMs) in its assessments given the transformational scientific developments occurring in toxicology, where traditional animal toxicology data will often not be available for analysis. For example, computational toxicology and other NAM approaches are being utilized in our work on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Ideally, academic partnerships can be undertaken to develop data that addresses key data gaps and facilitates use of NAMs-based assessments in decision-making. OEHHA is also piloting use of GenAI to facilitate the labor-intensive assessment processes of summarizing study methods and results. However, a much bigger scientific effort is necessary to effectively address the data gaps using new methods and technological tools to make significant advances in areas of cumulative exposure, hazard identification and dose-response analysis. Academic research and partnership in these areas can provide evidence-based data in a timely manner to support policy decisions to protect the public from exposures to hazardous environmental contaminants.
Scientific Presentations - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker | Isha Khan | Michigan State University SRP
Regulation of in vitro human hematopoietic differentiation by dioxins and dioxin-like compounds
I. Khan
Affiliation: Michigan State University
Dioxins and dioxin-like compounds (DLCs) are persistent environmental contaminants that may adversely affect human health. However, their impact on the early developmental stages of cells of the immune system remains poorly understood. We utilized an in vitro culture system to study the effect of dioxins and DLCs on hematopoietic differentiation of human cord-blood derived CD34+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) over a period of 28 days. The compounds used were 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), 2,3,4,7,8pentachlorodibenzofuran (PeCDF), 3,4,4',5-tetrachlorobiphenyl (PCB-81), and 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB-126). All four compounds reduced the percentage of CD10+ lymphoid progenitors. TCDD and PeCDF treatment of HSPCs reduced percentage of CD34+ progenitors and CD1c+ dendritic cells and induced an increase in promyelocytes at multiple time-points. These changes were mediated through the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR). The study identified the hematopoietic lineages that were the most sensitive to developmental modulation by TCDD and DLCs. The relative potencies of these DLCs regarding their effects on human HSPCs differed from their toxicological profiles observed in murine studies, carrying important implications for human risk assessment of these compounds.
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker | Angela Slitt | URI STEEP SRP
Integrating drug development tools to predict per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS)-transporter interactions
A.Slitt
Affiliation:
University of Rhode Island STEEP
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a group of man-made chemicals that can be found in food packaging, stain repellent fabrics, and non-stick products. Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) have half-lives that can be years in humans, with reported adverse health effects such as dyslipidemia, hypothyroidism, liver injury, and reduced response to vaccination. An emerging issue for the field of PFAS is the growing number of emerging and novel PFAS, with an estimated 12,000 PFAS being detected in the environment. Given the persistence and bioaccumulative properties of legacy PFAS, and the large number of emerging PFAS, there is a need to quickly and efficiently predict both toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic properties to aid in human exposure and health predictions. Identifying key mechanistic parameters that dictate uptake, retention, and efflux will aid in improved predictions of accumulation and toxicity for novel PFAS. In collaboration with Pfizer Global Research, we used common drug development to aid in prediction of PFAS toxicokinetics in vivo and identify critical mechanisms and integrated mouse models for target validation in vivo, and apply predicative frameworks such as the extended clearance classification system (ECCS) to predict transporter interactions. Our findings of screening 14 PFAS thus far indicate that in 9/14 have low permeability, with the rest having moderate to high permeability. 14/14 had relatively high serum and tissue binding properties, that associate with carbon chain length. Screens indicated that some PFAS are substrates for human xenobiotic transporters, such as Organic Anion Transporters (OATs) 3&4, Organic Anion Transporting Polypeptides (OATPs), and ATP-Binding Cassette G2 (ABCG2). Use of mice lacking albumin and liver fatty acid binding protein (LFABP) indicate that albumin is critical mechanism for serum PFOS retention and liver distribution, whereas LFABP is likely a less critical mechanism for PFOS elimination and tissue distribution. Overall, the work demonstrates that albumin is a critical mechanism for PFOS retention in vivo, as hypothesized and that ECCS could be useful in identifying transporter interactions and mechanisms of clearance
Scientific Presentations - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker | Brendan O’Leary | UNM METALS SRP
Uranium-laden particulate dust alters intestinal epithelial proliferation and differentiation
B. O’Leary1,2,3, S. Black2,3, E.L. Bunting3,4, A. Cassidy-Bushrow3,5,6, B. Gordon2,3, G.R. Hood 2, 3, C J. Miller 1, 3 , S Miller2,3, L. Palliyil 2, 3 , J. Straughen 3,5,6 , G. Szewc 2, 3, K Tangen 1, 3, L Thompson 3, 7, T Tran 3, 7, Y Wager 1, 3, Q Wang 1, 3, E Wiese 2, 3, J Westrick 3,8
Affiliation:
1 Civil and Environmental Engineering, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
2 Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
3 Center for Leadership in Environmental Awareness and Research
4 Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
5 Public Health Sciences, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA
6 Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA
7 Center for Urban Studies, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
8 Chemistry, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
Across Detroit’s aging neighborhoods, the legacy of industrial activity lingers not only in the soil but also beneath the streets, in the air spaces, sewers, and basements where volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can migrate and accumulate. Focusing on Detroit, we combined regional spatial analysis with detailed sampling at selected locations distributed throughout the city. Field campaigns integrated plant-based phytoscreening, in-home air sampling, and vadose zone hydrologic measurements to evaluate vapor intrusion potential and identify spatial variability in VOC concentrations. Measurable VOC concentrations were observed in multiple media, with patterns aligning with historical brownfield and industrial corridors. A complementary spatial analysis explored the overlap between brownfield clusters and health outcomes, revealing statistically significant associations between VOC related hot spots and census blocks with higher rates of preterm birth and low birth weight in central and southwest Detroit. These findings highlight the interconnected influence of land use, infrastructure, and exposure pathways on community health. Building on this framework, ongoing research is expanding to include per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), with initial studies underway to assess their occurrence in wastewater and drainage systems. Together, these efforts establish a foundation for regional monitoring of chemical exposures in complex urban environments.
Scientific Presentations - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker | Michael Petriello | Wayne State SRP
Placental Sexual Dimorphism in Response to Airborne Superfund Pollutants
M.Petriello1, Z. Yang1, A. Maxwell2, J. Ding2, G. Mor2
Affiliation:
1 Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.
2 C.S Mott Center for Human Growth and Development, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.
Superfund pollutants that can be transported via vapor intrusion pathways including Benzene and per - and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been associated with preterm birth and related reproductive outcomes in humans. Although multiple mechanisms of toxicity have been implicated, the placenta likely plays an important role in the toxicity of a wide variety of environmental exposures. Recent work by Wayne State University’s Superfund Research Center, the Center for Leadership in Environmental Awareness and Research (CLEAR), has identified the existence of a sexual dimorphic response to benzene and PFAS exposure in male and female placentas. The sexual dimorphic response is a consequence of inherent differences between male and female placenta and may directly related to sexual dimorphic responses in offspring. This presentation will summarize recent mechanistic maternal exposure studies conducted by CLEAR researchers with a focus on phenotypic and transcriptomic differences in male and female placentas in response to classes of Superfund chemicals.
Scientific Presentations - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker| Arum Han | Texas A&M University SRP
Organ-on-Chip Models of the Feto-Maternal Interface: Enabling Rapid Hazard Detection and Toxicity Mechanisms
A. Han1, S. Kim1, P.Y. Lam1, H. L. Moyer1, R Cherukuri1, L Richardson2, W A. Chiu1, I. Rusyn1, R Menon2
Affiliations:
1Texas A&M University and 2The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
Epidemiological studies suggest that maternal exposure to environmental pollutants may contribute to preterm birth. Mechanistic studies are needed to substantiate these associations; however, current in vitro models inadequately recapitulate the complex structure and function of human feto-maternal barriers. Two key fetomaternal interfaces (FMis) exist, the placenta–decidua basalis interface and the fetal membrane–decidua parietalis interface, both of which are critical for protecting and sustaining fetal development throughout pregnancy. We have developed microphysiological system (MPS) models of these two FMis to facilitate mechanistic investigations into the effects of drugs and environmental chemicals during pregnancy. This presentation will demonstrate how these MPS models can be used to simulate maternal exposures to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Given that PFAS have been linked to multiple adverse maternal and fetal health outcomes, our models offer a platform to assess whether PFAS can traverse feto-maternal barriers and induce cytotoxicity or inflammation – key processes that may contribute to preterm birth.
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Speaker | Emily Green | Duke University SRP
Environmental Microbiome Influences Developmental Toxicity of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Implications for Ecological Risk Assessment and Remediation
E. Green
Affiliations: Duke University
Poster Presentations - Abstracts
Tuesday, Dec. 9
Host-microbiome interactions can influence organismal response to environmental contaminants including evolved resistance to chemicals, but the mechanisms of these interactions remain poorly understood. We investigated the role of these interactions in evolved resistance to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Atlantic killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) inhabiting a PAH-contaminated Republic (REP) site in the Elizabeth River, VA compared with a clean reference population, King’s Creek (KC). REP killifish exhibit resistance to PAHs through recalcitrant aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) signaling, which regulates xenobiotic metabolism, and harbor a distinct gut microbiome compared to KC despite similar environmental microbial pools. Therefore, we tested whether the REP gut microbiome contributes to developmental PAH resistance by generating germ-free embryos from both populations, cross-colonizing them with KC or REP gut microbiota, and exposing them to the AhR-activating PAH, benzo-a-pyrene (BaP). REP microbiota promoted AhR recalcitrance in REP embryos, but induced AhR signaling in KC embryos, revealing host-specific resistance to population-specific microbiota. When REP embryos were colonized with KC microbiota, BaP exposure increased AhR signaling and xenobiotic sensitivity, suggesting the loss of native microbiota destabilized evolved resistance. Furthermore, REP microbiota was necessary for both mitochondrial resilience and behavioral tolerance to BaP in REP, but not KC embryos. Together, these findings suggest that co-evolution between REP killifish and their microbiome, potentially via AhR signaling, underlies adapted PAH resistance and highlights the integral role of hostmicrobiome partnerships in rapid evolution to pollutants.
Poster Presentations - Abstracts
Monday, Dec. 8
Poster Presentations (Monday, Dec. 8) - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. M-01 | Kayla Morales | Texas A&M University SRP
Developing and implementing a community science project for high school students in Hidalgo County, TX: Community-engaged strategies to enhance student attitudes toward science & environmental health awareness
K. Morales1 L. Sansom2, B Vasquez3, E Hernandez3, G Sansom,2
Affiliation:
1 Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
2 Department of Environmental & Occupational Health, School of Public Health Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
3 Together for a Better Tomorrow
Collecting primary environmental and educational data in rural areas presents challenges related to limited infrastructure, accessibility, and community engagement. These factors are especially evident in the Colonias of Hidalgo County, Texas, unincorporated communities along the U.S.-Mexico border. Traditional topdown research frameworks have had limited success engaging residents, resulting in lower participation and reduced long-term impact To address these challenges, this project builds on initiatives by the Texas A&M University Superfund Research Center and the Together for a Better Tomorrow program to design and implement a community science initiative for high school students in Hidalgo County. The program seeks to enhance environmental health understanding, strengthen student attitudes toward science, and encourage interest in higher education and STEM pathways. In South Texas, students often encounter factors such as low income and geographic distance that can affect academic engagement. By combining community science methods with environmental health research, this project fosters collaborative learning, scientific inquiry, and civic participation among youth living in border communities. Three key community-engaged strategies guide program implementation: 1. Community Partnership and Trust-building: Collaboration with local organizations (e.g., ARISE Adelante) facilitates participant recruitment, bilingual communication, and the integration of community perspectives into program design. 2. Interdisciplinary Environmental Health Curriculum: Students engage in hands-on activities, including local environmental sampling, data analysis, and discussions on public health and environmental conditions to promote scientific literacy and critical thinking. 3. Mixed-methods Evaluation: Pre- and post-program assessments measure environmental health knowledge, attitudes toward science, and family participation to evaluate various program outcomes. This project highlights how participatory environmental health education can strengthen environmental literacy, expand research capacity at the local level, and generate data to inform environmental decision-making, offering a scalable model for linking environmental monitoring and public health outreach across South Texas through collaboration between researchers and community organizations.
Superfund Mandates: Advance community engagement and research translation.
Key Words: community engagement, education, community science
Funding: TAMU SRC, Methodist Healthcare Ministries
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster
No. M-02
| Jiang Zheng | Texas A&M University SRP
Associations Between Land Uses, Chemical Exposure, And Public Health Outcomes In Houston
J. Zheng, G. Newman, G. Sansom, R. Hernandez, L. Losa
Affiliation: Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Public health outcomes have become a central focus in urban planning and landscape architecture. Despite growing awareness of how urban design impacts well-being, the direct relationships between land use patterns and public health outcomes remain underexplored. This research examines the association between land use and public health outcomes in several super neighborhoods within the greater Houston, TX area. Texas has seen rapid urbanization and significant land use changes. The proximity of these neighborhoods to industrial sites, such as railyards and landfills with known soil contamination, makes them compelling case studies for exploring environmental impacts on health. The history of contamination and predominantly lower-income populations provide critical context for understanding community-level challenges This research integrates environmental data, including soil sampling and pollution levels, with public health data documenting chronic conditions like cancer and respiratory illness. It compares the role of local issues with environmental contaminants, exploring how land use patten and proximity to industrial sites have shaped health outcomes in these neighborhoods compared to similar areas in Houston. Through statistical analysis, the research develops a quantitative model linking land use conditions with public health outcomes, identifying specific patterns associated with chronic disease conditions. The findings contribute to a pilot simulation model guiding cleanup strategies and land use policies. This model serves as a tool for professionals and academics, offering evidence-based insights to inform potential local policy solutions, zoning regulations, and community interventions, ultimately advancing public welfare through health-focused urban planning.
Superfund Mandates:
Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances
Key Words: Land use; Public health; Urbanization
Funding: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences P42 ES027704
Poster
No. M-03
Poster Presentations (Monday,
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
| Jiyeon Shin | Texas A&M University SRP
Estimating the Effects of Toxic Mobility on Housing Prices in Galveston, Texas
J. Shin, Y. Noh, G. Newman, Y Song, B Xu
Affiliation:
Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, College of Architecture,Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
Increasingly extreme weather conditions have impacted both the frequency and magnitude of floods. These changing flood trends also have an impact on the risk of flood-induced contamination. This is especially true in coastal cities and communities, where a large number of industries are located. As such, it is necessary to be aware of those contamination risks and prepare for them. Specifically, residents who live in these high flood and contamination risk regions need to be aware of what kinds of and levels of risks they may face. This study captures the perception of residents on flood-induced contamination risks by examining the effect of combined flood and contamination risks, focusing on contamination from waste management facilities in Galveston County, Texas and using housing price as a proxy. Results show that people perceived risks of waste contamination induced by floods but tend to undervalue these risks based on both contamination source facility type and distance from the facility. When the facilities get far enough from residents to not be visible, residents tend to care less about their associated risks, even though the risks of contamination remain due to the potential of long-distance travel of floodwaters. Further, the perception of risk differs by income level, as high-income neighborhoods were shown to perceive risks, while lower-income neighborhoods often did not.
Superfund Mandates:
Advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects on human health of hazardous substances, Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances
Key Words: Toxic Pollutant Mobility, Housing Price, Flood Risk
Funding: This study was funded by the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences (P42ES027704).
Poster Presentations (Monday,
- Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. M-04
| Zhenhang Cai | Texas A&M University SRP
The Contamination Distribution Centered Toxics Mobility Vulnerability Index (CDC-TMVI): Application to the Beaumont-Port Arthur Region of Texas
Z. Cai, G. Newman, M. McNair, J. Zheng, J. Shin, M. Malecha, S. Yu, M.A. Meyer.
Affiliation:
Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
The Beaumont-Port Arthur (BPA) region of Texas, situated along the Gulf coast near the Louisiana border, faces compounded environmental risks from coastal flooding and industrial air pollution. To support data-driven decision-making and community resilience, this study introduces a new analytical framework, the Contamination Centered Distribution Toxics Mobility Vulnerability Index (CDC-TMVI): an index to measure toxics mobility during flood events in communities using an interactive GIS Dashboard and a browser-based weighting tool hosted on GitHub.
Building on the Toxics Mobility Index (TMI) by Terron et al. (2019) and the Toxics Mobility Vulnerability Index (TMVI) by Malecha et al. (2020), the CDC-TMVI refines and expands the methodology by integrating 27 geospatial datasets across four categories: built environment vulnerability, social vulnerability, health outcomes, and contamination sources, evaluated at the census tract level.
Using ArcGIS Pro for spatial processing and the Toxicological Prioritization Index (ToxPi) v2.3 developed by researchers at North Carolina State and Texas A&M Universities for score calculation, the CDC-TMVI enables multi-dimensional analysis through three key outputs: 1) regional baseline scores (mean and median), 2) category-specific and variable-level scores, and 3) tract-level vulnerability visualization using ToxPi-style radial charts across five quantiles (low, low to medium, medium, medium to high, and high).
Due to the result interpretation complexity, we created a GIS Dashboard to visualize three critical types of information using interactive maps and bar charts. The dashboard includes features such as location search and dynamic score updates based on selected census tracts, enhancing accessibility and user engagement. As the original ToxPi GUI operates only in a Java environment and requires desktop installation for variables weighting and score calculation, we translated its computational logic into a browser-based version hosted on GitHub. The ToxPi-Style Radial Chart Generator enables users to 1) adjust the weights of all 27 variables in the CDC-TMVI for the BPA region using percentage inputs, and 2) customize their own CDC-TMVI for other locations by selecting variables and formatting input data according to the provided table structure. Together, these tools advance geospatial modeling of environmental vulnerability and support participatory planning, scenario evaluation, and community engagement in areas facing complex exposure risks.
Superfund Mandates:
Advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects on human health of hazardous substances
Key Words: contamination; environmental exposure; spatial analysis
Funding: Department of Energy, Office of Science, Biological and Environmental Research Program under Award Number DE-SC0023216 and the U.S. National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences grants P42ES027704 and P30ES029067
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. M-05 | Elizabeth Shapiro-Garza | Duke SRP
Assessing and Communicating Risk from Subsistence Consumption of Wild Caught Fish in the Face of Environmental Health Uncertainty
E. Shapiro-Garza1, M. Hoert-Hughes1, C. Klein1, M. Dietz1, K. Taylor1, S. Yang1, M. Rajaee2, K. Allen3, V. Carter3, D. DixMaxweell4, D. Sargent5, Kemp Burdette5
Affiliation:
1 Duke University
2 Oakland University
3 North Carolina Coastal Federation
4 NAACP North Carolina Chapter
5 Cape Fear River Watch
The Duke University Superfund Research Center conducted research in partnership with a coalition of community partners from 2016-2021 on the environmental health issues associated with subsistence fish consumption on the Lower Cape Fear River (LCFR) in southeastern North Carolina. The LCFR has been classified as impaired by the US EPA since 1998. Analysis of wild caught fish tissue, including as part of our research, detected arsenic, cadmium, mercury, selenium, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and the pesticide dieldrin EPA health reference levels, leading the state of North Carolina to set fish consumption advisories for a wide variety of species and locations along the LCFR. Our research on consumption of wild caught fish from the LCFR, which included household and bankside surveys and key actor interviews, found that it was driven both by food insecurity and cultural practice, that fish were being shared even beyond family units and consumed at rates that constituted a significant health risk, most particularly for fetuses and children. We also found that while subsistence consumers would be willing to adopt some health protective behaviors, they would not entirely forgo the consumption of wild caught fish and that existing strategies for communicating risk, primarily through fish consumption advisories, were ineffective at either reaching this population or in changing behavior when they did. Based on these findings, and further research on effective messaging for various subpopulations of subsistence consumers, our group developed and deployed a widespread “Stop, Check, Enjoy!” social marketing campaign on the LCFR to raise awareness of health risks and encourage a shift toward consumption of “safer” fish.
More recent analysis for PFAS in fish tissue from a broad extent of the LCFR found a variety of PFAS compound, including those for which there are established health reference levels. This resulted in the setting of new advisories that the essential message is that no amount of consumption of wild caught fish is safe. As a result, we have begun working with our community partners on a revision of the social marketing campaign. In doing so, we have been confronted with a number of conundrums and inconsistencies in communicating risk in the face of not only rapidly changing assessments of risk, but also under circumstances where risk many aspects of risk is still uncharacterized (e.g. patterns of bioaccumulation of PFAS in fish tissue; health impacts of cumulative exposure to multiple contaminants, etc.). We also confronted with the need to potentially diverge in messaging from our state government partners since, as in most states, the North Carolina advisory-setting process does not fully account for the complexity of chemical exposures associated with wild-caught fish. Current state risk assessments typically omit cumulative and emerging contaminants, overlook the needs of sensitive populations, and inadequately reflect the species and harvest locations most relevant to subsistence consumption.
This poster summarizes the methods and findings of this iterative, participatory research process on subsistence fish consumption on the LFCR, their application to the development of a social marketing campaign and the challenges presented by both incomplete scientific knowledge and policy processes
Superfund Mandates:
Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances
Key Words: Risk Assessment; Emerging Contaminants; Subsistence Fish Consumption
Funding: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (grant #P42ES010356)
Poster Presentations (Monday,
- Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. M-06 | Karleigh Duffield | Michigan State University SRP
“I haven’t had a nightmare since”: The power of narrative in community-engaged research in contaminated communities
K. Duffield1, J.L. Johnson1, M. Milota2, C Taylor3, A. Gorkowski1, C. DeGrush4, M Zack4
Affiliation:
1 Michigan State University, Toxic Action Lab
2 University Medical Center Utrecht
3 Central Michigan University
4 Justice for Otsego
The neighboring cities of Allegan, Otsego, and Plainwell, Michigan, are home to approximately 13,000 total residents and 18 Superfund Sites, only two of which are on the National Priorities List. In addition to classic chemicals of concern in Superfund sites, PFAS, including PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFBS, PFHpA, PFHxA, PFPeA, and 4:2FTS, have been detected in city, well, and surface waters. Many residents of these rural communities have reported health concerns – uterine, ovarian, brain, breast, bladder, testicular, pancreatic, blood and bone cancers, thyroid disorders, type 1 diabetes, PCOS, and kidney, liver and inflammatory bowel diseases and other rare tumors – that they believe are linked to environmental contamination in the region. Despite their persistent concerns, these communities have never been officially recognized as a statistically significant cluster of cancer, or any other disease, leaving many residents feeling distrust for state and federal health and environmental agencies as well as disenfranchised and ready to be heard.
Our research, a collaboration between Michigan State University’s Toxic Action Lab and the local group Justice for Otsego, combines a qualitative method called storybanking with resident-led environmental sampling to acknowledge, honor, and document the full range of residents' experiences, knowledge, and concerns. Here we describe how storybanking and citizen-led sampling are new and vital tools for Superfund site research, uniquely able to capture the depth and breadth of human experience linked to the realities of living in contaminated communities, while also building trust between researchers and residents. By collecting accounts from residents that are simultaneously emotional, health-related and rich and using these to inform environmental sampling, these methods also offer possibilities for the discovery of health and environmental impacts that other traditional quantitative and interview methods may miss..
Superfund Mandates:
Advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects on human health of hazardous substances, Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances, Methods and technologies to detect hazardous substances in the environment
Key Words: Community Engaged Research, PFAS
Funding: MSU Superfund Center, Michigan Department of Energy, Great Lakes, and Environment
Poster Presentations (Monday,
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. M-07 | Taylor Vogel | Oregon State University PNNL SRP
A Collaborative Working Group Approach to Developing a Cumulative Risk Assessment Approach for Indigenous Communities
T. Vogel1, J. Donatuto1, M. Verhougstraete2, D. Rohlman1
Affiliation:
1 Oregon State University, Center for the Science, Technology, and Emerging Health Risks of PAHs. Community Engagement Core
2 University of Arizona
Background and Purpose
In 2022, the Center for the Science, Technology, and Emerging Health Risks of PAHs (Center) at Oregon State University, in response to a request from a community partner, began looking for resources on integrating nonchemical stressors into a risk assessment, as well as Tribal exposure scenarios, and defining risks beyond conventional human health definitions. The request was additionally made in the context of conducting such a risk assessment at a Superfund site on or near Indigenous lands.
Methods
To identify existing resources, the Center sent an email through the Partnerships for Environmental Public Health Resource Center list-serv (~700 emails). There were over 25 responses from academic, regulatory, and public health organizations. Over 18 resources were identified as tangentially related. Most responses did not share resources but stated that they were very interested in the request and were seeking similar resources to inform their own cumulative risk assessment approaches.
Results and Conclusions
In response, the Center has partnered with the University of Arizona, and is organizing a Working Group. The working group is seeking to recruit individuals across a broad range of expertise, from Tribal, academic, regulatory, and health agencies, throughout the US. The working group will seek to develop guidelines for risk assessments that incorporate non-chemical stressors with a focus on Indigenous exposure scenarios and exposure routes. The group will meet twice per year, sub-groups more frequently, beginning in 2026, with rolling recruitment. Surveys, literature reviews, and interviews with risk assessors will help inform the activities of the group. The working group will detail how non-chemical stressors have been integrated into risk assessments and human health assessments, characterize Tribal-specific exposure pathways, and identify putative strategies (e.g., uncertainty factors specific to the co-exposure to chemical and non-chemical stressors) for developing a cumulative risk assessment. Ultimately the working group strives to develop guidance, informed by ongoing input from regulatory and health officials in the group, for conducting a cumulative risk assessment at Superfund sites, with specific guidance for inclusion of Tribal exposure pathways. The working group is actively looking to recruit members in the US and identify resources
Superfund Mandates:
Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances
Key Words: Cumulative impact assessment; Tribal exposure pathways, non-chemical stressors
Funding: This study was funded by the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences (P42ES016465).
Poster Presentations (Monday, Dec. 8) - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. M-08 | Francesca Germano | Oregon State University / PNNL SRP
Designing Report-Back Strategies: A Systematic Review of Methods and Evaluations
F. Germano1, T. Vogel2, M. Tomayo3, J. Hersbtman3, M. Barton4, K. Waters5, L. Bramer5, S. Khanna2, D. Rohlman4, D. Rohlman1
Affiliation:
¹ Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, 9733
² College of Health, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, 97331
³ Columbia University, 116th Street and Broadway, New York, NY 10027
4 Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, 97331
5 Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 3335 Innovation Blvd, Richland, WA 99354
INTRODUCTION. The ethical reporting back of research results (RBRR) is recognized as essential for sound research. Scholars have emphasized the obligation to involve research participants in the development of reports and report-back methods and agree that ethical RBRR is key to improving interpretation and interaction with results. However, clear guidelines for ethical RBRR remain limited. Therefore, we conducted a systematic literature review, identifying 32 peer-reviewed studies that applied ethical RBRR, the majority of which were in the fields of genomics, environmental health, and biomonitoring. We additionally assessed how ethical RBRR strategies align with the bioethical principles of respect for autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice.
METHODS. A systematic search of Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar yielded 2,164 records; after removal of 748 duplicates, 1,416 unique studies were screened, and 32 met the inclusion criteria (peer -reviewed, published between 2016 and 2024, ethical RBRR conducted in English). Studies were also required to contain primary report-back- meaning they directly returned results to study participants rather than only discussing dissemination in secondary contexts- or include methods, protocols, or recommendations for report-back strategies. The review was performed using a PE/IO (Population, Exposure, Intervention, Outcome) framework and adhered to the PRISMA guidelines.
RESULTS. Broadly, studies emphasized the importance of clear communication, multi-modal dissemination, and community-responsive design. Few (n=3) applied formal communication and/or evaluation frameworks; and only one-third described how materials were developed. Key recommendations included tailoring RBRR materials based on sample population, offering multiple formats, and experimenting with novel dissemination tools. Most studies (91%) included participant evaluation, using post-report surveys (n = 22), interviews (n = 18), and focus groups (n = 14).
CONCLUSIONS. Across the 32 studies reviewed, RBRR approaches supported both individual and collective knowledge when tailored to communities and paired with ongoing engagement. These strategies facilitated participants’ interpretation of results and, in some cases, offered guidance for next steps to support personal decision-making. However, our review also highlighted the absence of clear, standardized guidelines for RBRR, which contributes to variability in practice and limits evaluation of long-term impacts. Developing consistent best practices that balance feasibility with community relevance could strengthen the role of RBRR in public health research by enhancing trust, comprehension, and the translation of findings into meaningful action.
Superfund Mandates:
Advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects on human health of hazardous substances, Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances
Key Words: Report-Back of Research Results (RBRR), Ethical Return of Results, Health Communication
Funding: SRP
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. M-09
| Lois Polashenski | University of Arizona The Dust Center SRP
Disentangling the role of culture, life stage, and information design to facilitate equity in data report back
L. Polashenski1, W. Borkan1, M. Ramirez-Andreotta1,2
Affiliation:
1 University of Arizona Department of Environmental Science
2 The Mei and Enid Zukerman College of Public Health
Cottonwood, Arizona, is home to a three-million-ton pile of copper slag, a byproduct of historic copper mining and smelting. This slag is processed into size fractions and repurposed for construction, roofing, and industrial applications. Due to its prolific use and location in a residential area, this study had two components; 1.) characterization of the chemical composition of raw and repurposed slag to assess potential hazardous exposures; 2.) community environmental monitoring. Seven samples, including raw slag, secondary feed, and processed products, were analyzed for heavy metal(loid)s using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) and evaluated using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Community science involved co-created research plans and training sessions where 21 sample collection kits were distributed to community members for soil, indoor and outdoor dust, and deployment of PurpleAir Flex II monitors. Statistical results show that raw slag has significantly higher elemental concentrations for 22 out of the 28 elements, whereas significance varied by element for secondary feed and processed products. PCA findings indicate raw and secondary slag have distinct metal co-occurrence clustering, whereas processed materials overlap in their metal co-occurrence clustering. Due to community concern regarding metal(loid) source, lead isotopic analysis of both slag and residential samples facilitates source appointment in community dust and soil samples. These findings highlight potential public health risks for Cottonwood residents and global communities. Due to the arid and semi-arid nature of the region, atmospheric transport and fate potential of these materials require future studies
Superfund Mandates:
Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances, Methods and technologies to detect hazardous substances in the environment
Key Words: Community Science, Copper Slag, Environmental Monitoring
Funding: National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Arizona Superfund Research Center, NIEHS R01ES036236
Poster Presentations (Monday, Dec. 8) - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. M-10 | Andreana Roros | University of Arizona The Dust Center SRP
Assessing Arsenic and Lead in Residential Soil and Dust to Advance Youth Environmental Health, Data Literacy, and Protection Practice
A. Roros1, K. Palawat1,2, W. Borkan1,3, G. Chukwuonye1, I. Samorano1, M. Ramirez-Andreotta1,4
Affiliation:
1 University of Arizona Department of Environmental Science
2 University of Arizona Youth Environmental Squad, Youth Environmental Protectors, Carol Newbauer Community Outreach Professional
3 University of Arizona, Miracle Martinez Community Outreach Assistant, Miriam Jones Community Outreach Professional
4 University of Arizona The Mei and Enid Zukerman College of Public Health
The STEAM in Action Program addresses air and soil quality in rural, underserved resource-extraction communities through participatory learning and action. In Summer 2024, the program engaged youth (7th-12th graders) in residential soil and dust collection and analysis across Pinal and Gila counties. Samples were analyzed using inductively coupled mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for arsenic (As) and lead (Pb), contaminants of concern due to their toxicological effects and association with legacy copper mining.
A total of 44 soil, 45 indoor dust, and 42 outdoor dust samples were collected by youth throughout seven communities. Results indicated elevated concentrations of As and Pb across participating communities. Thirteen of the 44 samples (30%) exceeded the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality arsenic soil remediation level of 10 mg kg-1 with exceedances observed in 6 of the 7 communities. Similarly, 11 of the 44 soil samples (25%) exceeded the California Environmental Protection Agency lead screening level of 80 mg kg- 1, with exceedances observed in 5 of the 7 communities. Dust results showed that 7 of the 45 indoor dust samples (16%) surpassed the U.S. EPA dust-lead action level of 5 µg/ft2 in 4 of the 7 communities. Only 1 of the 42 outdoor porch dust samples (2%) exceeded the U.S. HUD action level of 40 µg/ft2. There is currently no comparative value for arsenic in dust, indicating a critical gap in both regulatory standards and environmental health research.
Next, youth played a central role in shaping how they wanted to see their data and how the results should be shared. Youth advisory board members co-developed the STEAM in Action Data Explorer, guiding decisions on data visualization and accessibility of both the quantitative (soil and dust concentrations) and qualitative (Photovoice) data as well as the August 2025 Intergenerational Data Report Back event. This process laid the foundation for community-based data report-back efforts and is helping to build youth’s environmental health and data literacy. Although the small sample size means these results are preliminary, they nonetheless reveal exceedances of screening levels and underscores the importance of youth environmental health capacity building, strengthening the dataset, and co-created data report back.
Superfund Mandates:
Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances, Methods and technologies to detect hazardous substances in the environment
Key Words: Youth, Arsenic, Lead
Funding: NIH SEPA Award #5R25GM146227, Superfund Award #P42ES004940
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster
No.
M-11
| Carolyn Roman | University of New Mexico METALS SRP
UNM METALS: An Overview of METALS Community-based research on uranium mines
C.
Roman, J. Cerrato, M. Campen, D. Mackenzie, M. Quetawki, A. Lopez
Affiliation:
University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Community Environmental Health Program, College of Pharmacy, and Department of Civil, Construction & Environmental Engineering, Albuquerque, NM
The UNM METALS (Metals Exposure and Toxicity Assessment on tribal Lands in the Southwest) Center aims to reduce risks to tribal populations impacted by legacy uranium mines. Uranium (U) was mined extensively in the Southwest to support Cold War weapons development and has left over 500 abandoned mines on Navajo Nation alone. Our center partners with communities on Navajo Nation and with the Pueblo of Laguna (living with the Jackpile mine, once one of the largest uranium mines in the world) to study the toxic effects of mixed metals exposure from abandoned uranium mines (AUMs).
UNM METALS Environmental projects aim to understand how metals are mobilized throughout the water, air, and soil and work to employ organic solutions to mitigate the effect of metals on communities living near AUMs as well as develop remediation approaches responsive to community needs. We have characterized metals mixtures at multiple waste sites; mineralogic and physical properties controlling their movement through the environment, and their bioavailability. We have identified that weathering at these sites has produced high concentrations of nanoparticles of toxic metals, which are of particular concern due to the inhalation risk.
We have also reported on the removal of toxic metals from soil and water with our physio-chemical work removing uranium and arsenic after reaction with natural minerals and with work showing mobilization of metals through plants. We have shown that mobilization of toxic metals is increased in plants with increasing calcium and have investigated candidate fungi for bioremediation and increased understanding of biological impacts of heavy metals on microbial communities and plant growth.
Our Biomedical projects focus on understanding how metals interact within the body and affect human health when ingested or inhaled. The goal is to mitigate damaging effects of these metals by understanding cellular mechanisms of toxicity and seek to identify effective interventional strategies. This year we have gotten the first-ever tribal approvals to conduct comprehensive exposure and health studies on the Pueblo of Laguna and have begun enrollments and collections in August 2025. These METALS exposure studies are designed to learn about overall metals exposure and assess health impacts from metals exposures in the community living near the Jackpile Mine through collection of blood and urine, breath tests, and stool samples to see how metals exposures affect health. These studies have the potential to inform interventions to reduce health risks from exposures to uranium and other contaminants.
Our multidisciplinary team works closely with communities, our CEC, and research translation team towards bidirectional communication with community partners and develops research questions directly from community concerns regarding the health effects of exposure to metals from abandoned uranium mines.
Superfund Mandates:
Advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects on human health of hazardous substances, Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances, Methods and technologies to detect hazardous substances in the environment, Basic biological, chemical, and physical methods to reduce the amount of toxicity of hazardous substances
Key Words: METALS, COMMUNITY, TOXICITY
Funding: NIEHS
This is an overview poster showcasing specific aims and major projects within the UNM METALS Center.
Poster Presentations (Monday, Dec. 8) - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. M-12 | Mallery Quetawki | University of New Mexico
Communicating Culturally-Relevant and Community-Tailored Environmental Health Science Research to Partner Communities
M. Quetawki, A. Lopez
Affiliation:
Metals Exposure and Toxicity Assessment on tribal Lands in the Southwest (METALS), College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico - Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico
As of 2016, the Metals Exposure and Toxicity Assessment on tribal Lands in the Southwest (METALS) Superfund Center at the University of New Mexico has culturally tailored its communications for American Indian communities at Superfund sites across the Southwest by integrating Native art and Indigenous Ways of Knowing. These communication practices, led by the Research Translation and Community Engagement teams, continue to guide how research is presented to partner communities, the Pueblo of Laguna and Navajo Nation. Members of the METALS Center, research principal investigators, Trainees, research scientists, and center members, have showcased the art alongside their research from national science conferences to community report-back sessions. We present four examples of our efforts: (1) Art and Science Collaborative Science Communication, (2) Plain-Language Research Posters for Community, (3) Plain-Language Research Cards and (4) PlanLanguage Research Statement. In the Fall of 2024, the METALS Trainees participated in a collaborative science communication project where they co-created outreach materials for partner communities under the mentorship of local community members, artists, and METALS research staff. In the Spring of 2025, the Trainees presented their creative materials alongside plain-language research posters to community members at the Jackpile Mine Symposium in the Pueblo of Laguna. Each poster was supplemented with a research card with art on the front and simplified key information on the back with (1) the goal of the research, (2) principal findings of the research and (3) what the findings mean for the community, including (4) how community can cite the research. The research cards have been a hit at the Pueblo of Laguna Feast Days – community members love that the information is handy in a small card accompanied with art. Materials from both efforts appear in informational pamphlets and flyers developed for the inaugural Laguna Health Study series that began in the Summer of 2025. To further our research project communications, in the Spring of 2025, Trainees wrote a statement of their research in less than 20 words without using scientific jargon and available on the METALS Trainees website. These ongoing efforts establish the use of clear, culturally relevant communication as a standard practice at the METALS Center.
Superfund Mandates:
Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances
Key Words: Translation, Engagement, Communication
Funding: NIEHS
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. M-13 | Rose Albert | U Penn / BCM-Rice SRP
Associations of greenspace with
emergency
department visits and readmissions among infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia
R.M. Albert1, A.C. Just2, H.H. Burris1, T.D. Nelin1
Affiliation:
1 Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
2 Brown University School of Public Health
Background: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is the most common chronic morbidity among preterm infants. Among infants with BPD, emergency department (ED) visits and inpatient (IP) readmission for acute respiratory illness are common after discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Whether neighborhood greenspace exposure is associated with acute healthcare utilization in this population is unknown.
Objective: To quantify the association of neighborhood greenspace exposure, as measured by the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), with medically attended acute respiratory illness (ED visit or IP readmission) in the first year after NICU discharge among preterm infants with BPD.
Methods: We analyzed associations of NDVI with medically attended acute respiratory illness (ED visits and IP readmission) among a cohort of 378 infants with BPD born between 2010-2020 and discharged to a residential address in the metro Philadelphia region. NDVI was calculated using Landsat 7 (2010-2012) and Landsat 8 (2013-2021) imagery queried using Google Earth Engine. Satellite imagery with less than 25% cloud cover was used to calculate mean NDVI for each year. NDVI buffer zones (200 m, 400 m, 800 m) were calculated using each infant’s geocoded address with the annual mean NDVI in the year of discharge. Logistic regression models quantified associations of NDVI with ED visit or IP readmission in the first year after NICU discharge, adjusting for year, neighborhood deprivation, annual mean PM2.5 exposure infant race/ethnicity, insurance status, gestational age, birth weight, BPD grade, discharge age, discharge respiratory support, and infant sex. Secondary analyses evaluated ED visits and IP readmissions separately.
Results: Among 378 infants with BPD, those with medically attended acute respiratory illness (n = 175, 46.3%) were more likely to have higher grade BPD, require respiratory support at discharge, be identified as nonHispanic Black, reside in areas with greater neighborhood deprivation, and have lower residential NDVI. Substantial regional variation in NDVI existed. In fully adjusted models, each standard deviation increment of NDVI was associated with lower adjusted odds of composite medically attended respiratory illness (200 m: aOR 0.74, 95% CI 0.56-0.98; 400 m: 0.71, 95% CI 0.53-0.95; 800 m: 0.73, 95% CI 0.54-0.97). Associations were consistent in direction for both ED visits and IP readmissions analyzed separately but lacked statistical significance.
Conclusions: Preterm infants with BPD discharged home to neighborhoods with more greenspace had lower odds of composite medically attended respiratory illness in the year after discharge. These findings underscore the potential importance of the neighborhood environment as a modifiable factor influencing post-discharge outcomes for these vulnerable infants..
Superfund Mandates:
Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances
Key Words: greenspace, chronic lung disease, windows of susceptibility
Funding: NIEHS T32ES019851 to RMA, NHLBI F31 HL179994 to RMA
Poster Presentations (Monday, Dec. 8) - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster
No. M-14
| Mackenzie Allison | OSU / PNNL SRP
Web-Based Approach to Indigenous Shellfish Screening Risk: Development of a Screening Tool for Common Contaminants
M.Allison1, J. Donatuto2, J. Smith1,3, S. Tilton1, D. Rohlman1
Affiliation:
¹ Oregon State University
² University of Washington
³ Pacific Northwest National Lab
Many coastal Indigenous communities consume shellfish at higher rates than the general population. This is reflected in higher state-level Indigenous consumption rates used to inform risk assessments. In Oregon and Washington, the current shellfish consumption rate is 175 g/day, a significant increase from previous rates of 17.5 g/day and 6.5 g/day, respectively. This increased value was derived largely from the 1994 fish consumption survey done by the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC). While the higher rate is more protective for Indigenous communities, the same 1994 CRITFC survey also found consumption rates as high as 389 g/day, and there are other local Tribes with published consumption rates that are larger than these states current standards. As a result, risk assessment methods may underestimate both cancer and non-cancer risk by not accounting for consumption rates that vary among Indigenous communities. Many Tribes have active fish and wildlife communities and routinely conduct fish and shellfish sampling to assess exposure to common contaminants. Indigenous risk assessments have demonstrated the utility of using Tribe-specific consumption rates and exposure routes. However, many Tribes may not have the capacity to conduct their own risk assessments. In response, we are developing an accessible web-based Indigenous risk screening tool. The preliminary tool developed relied upon an Indigenous risk assessment for consumption of clams, using a Tribespecific consumption rate. As Indigenous communities conduct their own sampling in fish and shellfish, they will be able to input the resultant chemical detection values into the tool, encompassing values for many contaminant classes, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins/furans, and pesticides. To ensure broad applicability across multiple communities, the tool will have customizable fields, enabling users to select different consumption values (e.g., EPA values) or input their own consumption values. With this, the tool can then calculate the average daily dose (ADD), which is used to calculate a hazard quotient for non-cancer risk. If the analyte is a known carcinogen, the ADD is also used to calculate cancer risk, which is done by multiplying the ADD by the carcinogen’s cancer slope value, which yields the cancer-risk output value. The tool will be made available on a website that includes instructions, a guide, and videos describing how the tool was developed, how to determine Indigenous risk assessment values, and other resources for further learning. We anticipate the tool will be used to support decision-making.
Superfund Mandates:
Advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects on human health of hazardous substances, Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances
Key Words: Risk Assessment, Indigenous, Web-based Screening
Funding: This study was funded by the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences (P42 ESO16465).
Poster Presentations (Monday,
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. M-15 | Spencer Stinson | Oregon State University – PNNL SRP
AIP Knockout Zebrafish Induce a Pseudo-Hypoxic Response Associated With Polycythemia
S.Stinson1, SJ.K. La Du1, D. Perone1, L. Truong1, R.L. Tanguay1, S.I Karchner2, N. Aluru2, M.E. Hahn2
Affiliation:
1 Oregon State University Dept of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology
2 Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Background: The Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Interacting Protein (AIP/Ara9/XAP2) is a chaperone that aids in cytosolic retention and stabilization of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AHR). While homozygous (HMZ) AHR knockout (KO) lines of zebrafish survive into adulthood, HMZ AIP KO lines exhibit early lethality around 9 days post fertilization (dpf), suggesting an alternative developmental role. In humans, mutations of AIP have been linked to familial isolated pituitary adenomas and rodent models have demonstrated a potential relationship between AIP and cardiac development. To understand the role that AIP has on zebrafish development, gross morphological analysis and histopathology comparing WT and KO was performed. RNA sequencing comparing differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between KO and WT larvae was performed at 6 and 7dpf. RT-qPCR validated the findings of the RNA seq, with further o-dianisidine staining.
Methods: Zebrafish AIP KO lines were generated via CRISPR Cas-9 mediated deletion of exon 2 of the AIP gene, resulting in an early stop codon. HET KO zebrafish were used to spawn 192 zebrafish embryos of unknown genotype. At 4dpf, the Zebrafish Embryonic Genotyper along with a TaqMan PCR assay were used to genotype larvae, showing a mendelian split of genotypes. 5dpf larvae were euthanized in tricaine and fixed in 10% formalin prior to embedding in 1% agarose and sent for sectioning and H&E staining. Full length RNA seq was performed on both WT and KO larvae at 6 and 7dpf in pools of 5. DEGs were generated with DESeq2. Gross morphological differences between WT and KO were also acquired and quantified via Brightfield microscopy from 5 to 9dpf. RT-qPCR of the HIF-related genes was performed to validate the RNA seq. O-dianisidine staining of hemoglobin was performed to validate transcriptional increases in heme genes.
Results: Morphological deformities were analyzed from 5-9dpf. The most prevalent were an increase in liver size, changes in skull structure, and deflated swim bladder. Histopathology at 5dpf by an expert fish pathologist revealed no significant changes in liver, swim bladder, or cardiac development. RNA sequencing revealed 445 DEGs in 6dpf KO larvae with a pvalue < 0.05 and log2FC > 1, and the 7dpf KO larvae had 4419 DEGs. At 6 dpf, genes associated with heme biosynthesis and hematopoiesis were dysregulated in the mutant line, further evaluated by qPCR. O-dianisidine staining to assess relative hemoglobin content revealed an increase in intensity in the knockout line suggesting a polycythemia associated response.
Conclusion: Based on these findings, the alternative physiological roles of AIP could be the driving force behind early lethality. The morphological endpoints increase in percent incidence among larvae leading up to early lethality at 9dpf. The lack of histological differences detected at 5dpf between WT and KO larvae emphasizes this sudden phenotypic change from 5 to 6dpf. The RNA-seq provides insight into possible mechanisms of early lethality and morphological abnormalities in the KO larvae. The DEGs detected at 6dpf are indicative of Hypoxia Inducible Factor (HIF) overactivation, leading to a pseudo-hypoxic response. qPCR validation of 7 HIF-associated genes further confirms the over induction of this pathway. O-dianisidine staining shows an increase in hemoglobin in the KO line. Both the transcriptional changes along with the morphological changes observed display a response suggestive of polycythemia and pseudo-hypoxia.
Superfund Mandates:
Basic biological, chemical, and physical methods to reduce the amount of toxicity of hazardous substances
Key Words: Animal Models, AIP, Transcriptomics
Funding: R01 ESO33888, P30 ES030287
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. M-16 | Geisianny Moreira | University of New Mexico METALS SRP
Fungal tolerance to lead (Pb) is concentration and provenance dependent
G.Moreira1, A. Granath2, K. Gagnon3, J. Rudgers2, J.M. Cerrato3
Affiliation:
1 Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
2 Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
3 Gerald May Department of Civil, Construction & Environmental Engineering, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
Despite the economic benefits of mining, these activities have left a legacy of toxic metal contamination that affects ecosystems and human health. Within legacy metals, lead (Pb) is a non-essential element with high toxicity and long-term persistence in the environment. While current remediation methods are often complex and disruptive, microbial remediation offers a promising, eco-friendly alternative. Fungi are particularly well-suited for this purpose due to their metabolic versatility and tolerance to environmental stressors. Here, we evaluate the ability of fungi isolated from Jackpile-Paguate Uranium Mine Superfund Site and nearby off-mine sites in New Mexico to tolerate and remove lead (Pb) from aqueous solutions. We hypothesized that fungi's ability to grow in the presence of Pb and remove the metal from aqueous solution is affected by Pb concentration and fungi's provenance (mine vs. off-mine). We assessed seven fungal species with isolates from both mine and off-mine provenance using a microplate absorbance assay to measure growth over an eight-day period at Pb concentrations of 0, 4, 10, 40, and 100 mg/L. Endpoint remaining Pb was quantified using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). Our results show that fungal tolerance to Pb is both speciesspecific and concentration-dependent (R2=0.96, p<0.001). Growth decreases in response to increasing Pb concentration for all seven species, with Fusarium oxysporum and F. redolens being less sensitive to increased Pb. Provenance did not significantly affect growth, except at Pb concentration of 40 mg/L, where mine-sourced fungi grew 23% more than off-mine fungi (p<0.05). Removal efficiency is species-specific and concentrationdependent (R2=0.94, p<0.001), reaching a removal peak at 40 mg/L Pb for six of the seven species. Notably, mine-sourced fungi outperformed their off-mine counterparts in Pb removal by 197%, 119%, 66%, and 40% in the Pb concentrations of 4, 10, 40 and 100 mg/L (p<0.001), respectively. Of the species studied, both minesourced F. oxysporum and F. redolens were identified as the most effective candidates for future bioremediation applications due to being less sensitive to Pb and showing higher removal capabilities. Our findings highlight the potential of fungi naturally adapted to metal-contaminated environments as a promising and environmentally relevant approach.
Superfund Mandates:
Basic biological, chemical, and physical methods to reduce the amount of toxicity of hazardous substances
Key Words: Lead toxicity, Fungi-based remediation, metal-contaminated environments
Funding: NIEHS
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. M-17 | Elijah Cowan | Oregon State University – PNNL SRP
Integrating Zebrafish Transcriptomics and Molecular Docking to Identify FBSA-Specific Protein Targets Driving Developmental Toxicity
E.Cowan1, S.J. Carrell2, R.L. Tanguay1
Affiliation:
1 Oregon State University Dept of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology
2 Oregon State University Center for Quantitative Life Sciences
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a structurally diverse class of contaminants. They are characterized by their two-part structure consisting of a hydrophilic functional head group and a hydrophobic, fluorinated tail that can vary in length and percent fluorination. These features give rise to differing toxicological potential based on their structural variation. Differences in chain length and headgroup chemistry influence biological targets, giving each individual PFAS a unique toxicity profile, and even closely related PFAS can produce divergent toxicological outcomes. It has been demonstrated that exposure to PFAS with four-fluorinatedcarbon tails produces distinct outcomes in the embryonic zebrafish based on differing headgroups. Exposure to perfluorobutane sulfonamide (FBSA) caused morphological malformation, while perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) exposure was morphologically inert at the same concentrations and body burden. Additionally, FBSA exposure at its morphological EC80 and collected at 48 hours post-fertilization resulted in differential expression of 1,909 genes, while PFBS exposure at the same concentration and timepoint elicited only 5 misregulated genes. As these PFAS structurally differ only in their headgroups (sulfonamide versus sulfonate), this indicates that the divergent outcomes are caused by the sulfonamide group’s ability to interact with biological targets that the sulfonate group cannot. The goal of this project is to identify those biological targets and define the interactions that drive the observed FBSA-effects. To accomplish this, we are using AutoDock to model the potential binding configurations and activities of both PFBS and FBSA against a curated collection of predicted ligand-binding sites across the human proteome. This allows us to identify proteins that are predicted to uniquely bind FBSA, but not PFBS. Unique proteins that bound FBSA with a binding activity of -7.0 kcal/mol or stronger were selected as candidate proteins for further investigation. Zebrafish models of these candidate proteins were then created using SWISS-MODEL mapping, and FBSA was docked against these new zebrafish proteins using Auto-Dock Vina with UCSF Chimera, again selecting for proteins that bound FBSA with a binding activity of -7.0 kcal/mol or stronger. These candidate proteins are then compared with the transcriptional responses observed in FBSA-exposed embryonic zebrafish to identify which predicted docking interactions are most likely to correspond to functional biological targets. By directly connecting PFAS structure to protein interactions and developmental outcomes, this research seeks to clarify the molecular basis of the observed FBSA-specific toxicity and to reveal how variations in PFAS headgroup determine toxicological activity. Ultimately, these insights will advance mechanistic understanding of PFAS toxicity and improve predictive structure-activity relationships.
Superfund Mandates:
Advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects on human health of hazardous substances
Key Words: PFAS, zebrafish, NAMs
Funding: Dept of Defense SMART Scholarship
Poster Presentations (Monday,
8) - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. M-1
8 | Chi Lam (Thomas) Chan | Texas A&M University SRP
A Multiroute PBPK Modeling Framework for Estimating Steady-State Concentrations and Metabolic Rates Across Exposure Routes
C.L. Chan, W.A. Chiu
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA
Background & Purpose
Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling provides a quantitative framework for translating external exposures into internal doses, enabling route-to-route (RTR) extrapolation without additional animal testing. This project aims to develop a multiroute PBPK model to estimate steady-state concentrations (Css) and metabolic rates, facilitating chemical risk assessment across oral and inhalation exposures, with future expansion to dermal routes to reduce animal testing.
Methods
The model integrates three primary compartments lungs, liver, and kidney representing key sites of absorption and clearance. Physiological and chemical-specific parameters were obtained from the httk R package or predicted using quantitative structure–activity relationships (QSAR) when empirical data were unavailable. Point-of-departure (POD) values for model evaluation were derived from ToxValDB and regulatory documents for both oral (Aurisano et al., 2023) and inhalation (Aurisano et al., 2024) studies.
Results
A total of 82 chemicals from ToxValDB and 14 chemicals from regulatory documents passed the model filtering criteria. Preliminary RTR comparisons demonstrated strong consistency between oral and inhalation Css and metabolic rate estimates, with correlation coefficients (R²) ranging from 0.51–0.55 and 0.42–0.73, respectively. These results indicate that the model captures key physiological and biochemical determinants governing systemic exposure and aligns well with existing regulatory datasets.
Conclusions
This scalable PBPK framework enhances cross-route extrapolation and internal dose estimation across diverse chemicals, supporting the advancement of new approach methodologies (NAMs) and reduction of animal use in regulatory toxicology. Further efforts focus on refining the compartmental structure, expanding QSAR-based parameterization, and comparing simulated internal doses to in vitro data and thresholds of toxicological concern (TTC).
Superfund Mandates:
Advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects on human health of hazardous substances
Key Words: PBPK, computational, new approach method
Funding: Texas A&M University Toxicology T32 program
Poster Presentations
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. M-19 | Sandy Grimm | BCM-Rice SRP
Modeling Obstetrical Outcomes and Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Using Antibody-Based Array Profiling and Machine Learning Approaches
S. Grimm, A. Koirala, K.M. Aagaard, S Banerjee, N Putluri, S Huang, G. Hunnel, B Moorthy, C Coarfa, M. Suter
Affiliation: Baylor College of Medicine
Background & Purpose: The placenta plays a critical role in fetal development and is sensitive to both clinical and environmental influences. In this study, we employed high-throughput proteomic and epigenomic profiling to explore how placental molecular features relate to clinical outcomes and environmental exposures.
Methods: Using reverse phase protein arrays (RPPA), we analyzed protein expression and histone posttranslational modifications using placental samples from 77 term and preterm deliveries. The levels of three polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the same placental samples were measured using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Unbiased analytical approaches, including Weighted Gene Correlation Network Analysis (WGCNA) and machine learning (ML), revealed distinct protein modules associated with gestational age, birthweight, and maternal BMI.
Results & Conclusions: Notably, expression of lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) emerged as a top predictor of gestational age and birthweight. PAH levels, particularly benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) and dibenz(a,h)anthracene (DBA), were significantly correlated with specific protein expression patterns and maternal BMI. These findings highlight the utility of integrative molecular profiling in identifying biomarkers of placental function and elucidating the impact of environmental exposures on pregnancy outcomes..
Superfund Mandates:
Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances
Key Words: preterm birth, environmental exposures, bioinformatics
Funding: P42ES027725
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No.
M-
20 | Shayan Shahriar | BCM-Rice SRP
Functional Genomic Analysis Reveals Widespread AHR Binding to Non-Canonical DNA Regulatory Elements
S.Shahriar1, T. D. Patel2, M. Nakka1, S.L. Grimm1,2,3, C. Coarfa1,2,3, D.A. Gorelick1,3
Affiliation:
1 Center for Precision Environmental Health, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston
2 Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston
3 Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand-dependent transcription factor that binds DNA and regulates genes in response to environmental toxicants like halogenated and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. AHR is involved in various physiological processes, including liver and immune system function, cell cycle regulation, oncogenesis, and metabolism. In the canonical pathway, AHR forms a heterodimer with the aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator (ARNT) protein, binds to the xenobiotic response element (XRE) sequence (GCGTG), recruits coregulators, and modulates gene expression. Emerging evidence suggests that AHR may also regulate gene expression via a non-canonical pathway by binding to a different DNA sequence (GGGA), termed the non-consensus XRE (NC-XRE). The prevalence of NC-XRE motifs in the genome is not well understood, and direct evidence of AHR-NC-XRE interaction in a natural genomic context is lacking. We analyzed AHR binding to NC-XRE DNA on a genome-wide scale in mouse liver by integrating published ChIPseq and RNA-seq data to identify putative AHR target genes with NC-XRE motifs in their regulatory regions. We found that NC-XRE motifs are present in 82% of AHR-bound DNA, which are significantly enriched relative to random genomic regions. These AHR-bound regions include, but are not limited to, promoters and enhancers of AHR target genes. Additionally, certain transcription factor motifs, such as androgen receptor and SMAD3 binding sites, are enriched near NC-XREs but not near XREs within AHR-bound sequences. To obtain direct evidence of AHR regulation via this non-canonical pathway, we performed functional genomic analysis on the mouse Serpine1 gene, a putative AHR target via NC-XRE. Using CRISPR-Cas9 technology, we deleted the NCXRE motifs from the promoter region of the Serpine1 gene in hepa1-6 cells, which is a mouse liver hepatoma cell line. This deletion reduced Serpine1's response to the AHR ligand, TCDD, suggesting AHR regulates Serpine1 through NC-XRE DNA, providing the first direct evidence of AHR-mediated gene regulation via NCXRE in a natural genomic context. Our findings enhance the understanding of AHR-bound DNA regions and their influence on target gene expression. These results will also improve our ability to identify AHR target genes and their physiological relevance.
Superfund Mandates:
Advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects on human health of hazardous substances
Key Words: AHR, Non-canonical AHR Binding, NC-XRE
Funding: NIH R01 (ES026337)
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. M-21 | Deven Narke | BCM-Rice SRP
Disruption of CYP1A2 leads to Enhanced Lung Injury, Altered Gene expression and Metabolomic Profiles in Mice Exposed to Maternal Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and Postnatal Hyperoxia
D. Narke, W. Jiang, S. Grimm, C. Coarfa, B. Moorthy
Affiliation: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston TX
Background: Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are complex chemical mixtures that are found in cigarette smoke, superfund sites, and industrial effluents. Maternal exposure to PAHs is a risk factor for preterm births and development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in premature infants. The liver-specific cytochrome P450 (CYP)1A2 has been shown to play a protective role against hyperoxic lung injury.
Hypothesis: Newborn mice lacking the gene for Cyp1a2 enzyme would show exacerbated lung injury, and altered transcriptomic and metabolomic profiles in response to maternal PAH exposure and postnatal hyperoxia. Methods: Timed pregnant wild-type (WT) (C57BL/6J) and Cyp1a2-null mice (n=4) were orally administered a PAH mixture of benzo[a]pyrene (BP) and benzo[b]fluoranthene (BbF) (7.5mg/kg each) or the vehicle corn oil (CO) once daily on gestational days 17.5-20. The newborn mice were exposed to oxygen (>80%) or room air (control) for 14 days. Mice were euthanized on postnatal day (PND) 15, and alveolar simplification was evaluated using morphometry. Gene expression and metabolomic profiling was performed using bulk RNA-sequencing and unbiased metabolomics, respectively. Data were analyzed using 2- way ANOVA with Bonferroni post-hoc pairwise comparisons, and p < 0.05 was considered was statistically significant.
Results and Conclusions: In comparison to WT controls, Cyp1a2-null mice exposed maternally to PAHs, followed by postnatal hyperoxia showed increased alveolar simplification and exacerbated lung injury. Overlapping with WT mice hyperoxia gene signature, we observed a significant increase of 20 genes, including Nmrk2, Il6, Fga, and suppression of 157 genes, including Myh4, Myh8, Defb14. We determined genes associated with differential metabolites using the MetaboAnalyst platform, and identified gene ontology enriched pathways. We found that 589, 142, and 62 enriched pathways were specific to CO + O2, common to both, and unique to PAH + O2, respectively. For PAH+O2 exposure, the loss of Cyp1a2 led to an enrichment for pathways of branched chain amino acids and TCA cycle. These findings underscore the protective role of Cyp1a2 enzyme in neonatal lung health under environmental stress.
Superfund Mandates:
Advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects on human health of hazardous substances
Key Words: PAHs, Hyperoxia, Lung injury, Maternal exposure
Funding: NIEHS: 2-P42-ES027725-06
Poster Presentations (Monday, Dec. 8) - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. M-22 | Catherine Lucey | Columbia University N Plains SRP
Integrated Clinical and Multi-Omic Profiling of Chronic, Low-Dose Arsenic and Uranium
Exposure in ApoE Knockout Mice
C. Lucey1, K. DeSantis2, V. Caruana3, N. Subramaniam3, N. Zengin3, N. Gagnon3, K. Mann3, B. Pearson2
Affiliation:
1 Columbia University Department of Environmental Health Sciences
2 Oregon State University Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology
3 McGill University Department of Pharmacology
Background and Purpose: Trace element contamination of groundwater is a persistent issue in North America, particularly in unregulated private wells in rural areas. Arsenic (As) and uranium (U) are two co-occurring contaminants of particular interest due to their associations with cardiometabolic diseases, which cause substantial morbidity and mortality. Identifying novel contributors to cardiometabolic disease - including environmental factors like As and U – is essential to finding new interventions to reduce the prevalence and health burden of cardiometabolic disease. Though As is a well-established cardiovascular toxicant, evidence for U cardiometabolic toxicity is emerging, and there are no data on the effect of co-exposure to As and U. Furthermore, most in vivo experiments use high doses of As and U not relevant to human exposure. Here, we assessed the cardiometabolic effects of life-long, low-dose exposure to As and U in drinking water using a mouse model. We measured human-relevant clinical phenotypes in exposed mice as well as leveraged the accessibility of the mouse model to assess subclinical molecular perturbations (transcriptome, metabolome, and lipidome) in liver tissue.
Methods: Atherogenic (apoE-/-) mice were exposed to 200 µg/L natural U, 112 µg/L As, both, or neither from conception up to 14 or 30 weeks of age via drinking water. There were 12-19 animals per timepoint per group. Mice were fed normal chow, and drinking water was supplemented with CaCl2, K2SO4, and NaHCO3 to resemble the mineral composition of groundwater. Exposure was confirmed by measuring As and U in femurs of exposed mice. Cardiometabolic health was measured through body composition, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, aortic atherosclerotic lesion size, glucose tolerance, and plasma cholesterol. We also conducted an integrated multi-omic analysis in livers from 14-week-old mice. We quantified lipids and metabolites extracted from the same piece of liver tissue with combined trapped ion mobility spectrometry and time of flight mass spectrometry, and quantified the transcriptome with bulk mRNA sequencing. Multi-omic signals were integrated with the Data Integration Analysis for Biomarker Discovery using Latent Variable Approaches for Omics Studies (DIABLO) method.
Results and Conclusions: None of the clinically relevant measurements were significantly different in mice exposed to As, U, or both relative to control. Furthermore, exposure groups largely failed to separate in multiomic analyses, suggesting that molecular responses were largely the same regardless of As or U exposure. However, single-omic pathway analysis of metabolites indicated that folate biosynthesis was upregulated in As exposed mice. Taken together, we show that even low levels of As exposure over the life course may alter nutrient metabolism, even without overt metabolic disease. However, it is unclear if such metabolic changes are meaningful if they do not appear to contribute to clinical signs of disease.
Superfund Mandates:
Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances
Key Words: Arsenic, Uranium, Multi-Omics
Funding: P42ES033719, TL1TR001875
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. M-23 | Congying Wang | Michigan State University
High Throughput In Vitro Human Hepatocyte Model for Testing PCDD/Fs and PFAS Disruption to Thyroid Hormone Action and Support Thyroid Risk Assessment
C. Wang, S. Caron, M Adams, K Gardner, B Johnson
Affiliation: Michigan State University
Thyroid hormones (TH) play a critical role in the regulation of energy balance by controlling cellular energy expenditure. TH levels are precisely regulated through multiple mechanisms: systemic concentrations are controlled by the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis, the liver contributes to TH metabolism and kinetics, and tissue specific intracellular deiodination modulates TH action at the local level. Intracellular deiodination of T4 to T3 in the liver allows local thyroid hormone levels to be regulated independently of circulating serum levels. In the liver and other tissues, thyroid action controls cellular energy balance through T3 binding to thyroid receptors, which regulates the transcription of key regulatory proteins. Therefore, systemic TH levels may not accurately reflect tissue specific TH action. Chemicals including polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) can disrupt TH action in humans and animals. This project aims to develop a human thyrocyte/hepatocyte screening model to elucidate the mechanism by which chemical exposures disrupt human thyroid kinetics and action with the goal of supporting population-level chemical risk assessment. We tested hepatic metabolic endpoints using high-content confocal imaging to evaluate thyroid hormone action in response to chemical disruption. HepG2 cells were treated with chemicals, and imaging was used to assess fatty acid uptake (FAU), mitochondrial content, and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) using specific fluorescent stains. CYP1A1 luminescent assay was performed to evaluate the effect of chemical exposure on hepatic enzyme activity. Treatment of HepG2 cells with 1,2,7,8TCDD showed FAU, mitochondria, and MMP exhibited dose-response decreases with IC50s at 0.71, 0.46, and 0.09 nanomolar. PCDD/F congeners, 1,2,3,7,8-PCDF, and 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HCDF, showed approximately 10fold and 100fold lower IC50s compared to 1,2,7,8-TCDD. CYP1A1 luminescent assay also demonstrated doseresponse relationships with 1,2,7,8-TCDD, 1,2,3,7,8-PCDF, and 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HCDF with IC50s at 0.44, 3.00 and 8.4 nanomolar. PFOS significantly induced both MMP and FAU. However, HepG2 monolayers did not respond to TH treatments, whereas HepG2 spheroids showed responsiveness to both TCDD and T4. We further investigated chemical disruption of hepatic metabolic endpoints using 3D hepatocyte spheroids. TCDD was found to reduce MMP, with an IC50 of 0.12 nanomolar, comparable to the effect observed in 2D cultures. In contrast, PFOS no longer induced MMP, and no combined effects were observed in PFOS and TCDD mixture experiments in 3D model. Based on our current findings, MMP was the most sensitive metabolic endpoint for reflecting TH action in the liver. The model exhibits high predictive potential and is capable of detecting disruptions caused by low nanomolar level of chemicals, including those naturally present in the environment.
Superfund Mandates:
Advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects on human health of hazardous substances, Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances
Key Words: Thyroid disruption. Human cell-based in vitro model. Dioxin.
Funding: P42
Poster Presentations (Monday,
Dec.
8) - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. M-24 | Fred Wright | Texas A&M SRP – North Carolina State University
Using methylation profiling to improve bioinformatics pipelines for the identification of dioxin response elements
F. Wright1, J.M. Park2, L.B. Wilson3, P Thunga2, L. Truong3, Al Dickey1, D.M. Reif1, R.L. Tanguay3
Affiliation:
1 North Carolina State University
2 Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University
3 Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a cytosolic ligand-activated transcription factor that binds a wide range of ligands, including families of dioxin-like substances such as polychlorobiphenyls, polychlorinated dibenzo-para-dioxins, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. AHR produces a nuclear-localized complex that recognizes and binds dioxin response elements (DREs) in gene promoters. The resulting target gene regulation causes various transcriptional, epigenetic, and metabolic responses leading to physiological and developmental effects on immune response, cell cycle control, cellular differentiation, and organ development, and reproductive outcomes.
METHODS: Although considerable attention has been given to the effects of AHR on gene transcription, DNA methylation has also been shown to be intertwined with the AHR gene regulation process, through direct inhibition, or indirectly through effects on chromatin accessibility Standard approach to identification of AHR targets has included a combination of motif-searching for a DRE consensus genomic sequence, with additional refinement based on transcriptomics and ChIP-seq or other protein-DNA binding assays to better distinguish amongst putative DREs. We propose to further extend our understanding of active DREs by including results from methylation profiling in response to chemical exposure and activation of AHR, which can be used in combined analyses to produce refined computational models to identify DREs.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: As a proof of principle in an important model organism, we analyzed wholegenome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) data from the sperm of F2 generation zebrafish for which progenitors had been subjected to a factorial treatment design consisting of the presence or absence of an ahr2 morpholino knockdown and exposure to Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP, known to active AHR). We employed a bioinformatics pipeline for identifying differentially methylated regions from WGBS data to investigate the relationship between AHR binding potential and epigenetic modification. To identify additional AHR targets in zebrafish, we generated a position specific scoring matrix (PSSM) based on the DRE motifs identified for CYP1A to construct a genomewide library of DRE motifs, expanding beyond the core 5 base pair consensus motif. Generating PSSMs using these longer motifs reduces the number of genome hits, and may lead to discovery of relevant DREs. The results of the combined analyses demonstrate that improved machine learning models can help address current gaps in sequence-based DRE identification. In addition, we describe an approach for gene level analysis that effectively considers DRE consensus sequences as “soft”-pathways suitable for gene set enrichment analyses in analysis of differential methylation response.
Superfund Mandates:
Advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects on human health of hazardous substances, Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances
Key Words: Dioxin response elements, Benzo[a]pyrene, Methylation
Funding: This research was funded by the NIEHS P42 ES027704
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. M-25 | Tzu-Hsin Yen | Texas A&M University SRP
Targeted Lipidomics as a High-Throughput New Approach Method for Mechanism-Based Studies of Hepatotoxicity In Vitro
T-H. Yen, C. Negi, C. Sakolish, I Rusyn
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA
Traditional toxicity testing is limited in throughput and mechanistic characterization, underscoring the need for human cell-based new approach methodologies. By incorporating mechanistic phenotypic readouts such as lipidomics into cell-based assays, we aimed to enhance the translational relevance of studies using human hepatocytes. Traditional untargeted lipidomic analyses are time-consuming, limiting their application for highthroughput toxicity testing. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a fast targeted lipidomics method for use in combination with in vitro hepatotoxicity assessment. Lipid classes closely related to liver physiology were selected as the analytical targets, and a focused lipid profiling was conducted using a semi-quantitative targeted lipidomics strategy encompassing 158 molecules using liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry in electrospray ionization positive mode and multiple reaction monitoring. The utility of this method was tested using human primary hepatocytes cultured in collagen I–I-coated 96-well plates and exposed to known human hepatotoxic compounds that act via different mechanisms of action: Fialuridine, Bosentan, and Chlorpromazine. Cells were exposed to test compounds every other day from culture day 4 to day 8. Hepatocytes were treated with 1, 10, and 30 μM of each compound, with additional concentrations of bosentan at 200 μM and fialuridine at 100 μM. A single-phase lipid extraction was applied to cell lysates collected at day 8 of the experiment. We found that these compounds not only resulted in changes in biochemical markers of liver injury (increases in alanine and aspartate aminotransferases and a decrease in albumin production) but also had compound-specific effects on the intracellular lipid profile. BOS triggered a decrease in the phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylethanolamine (PC/PE) ratio, accumulation of diacylglycerols (DG) and ceramides (Cer), and reduced triglyceride (TG) chain length. By contrast, CPZ exposure decreased the PC/PE ratio and TG saturation but did not cause ceramide accumulation, suggesting distinct lipid responses between the two compounds. FIAU exposure produced minimal lipid changes, indicating limited sensitivity of the lipidomic profiling to mitochondrial toxicity and that further optimization of target lipids may be necessary to improve detection of the compounds that act via this mechanism. In conclusion, the targeted lipidomics assay established in this study can be used to effectively characterize lipid responses associated with distinct mechanisms of action in small-volume samples from in vitro studies. This approach provides a promising strategy for high-throughput mechanistic toxicological evaluation and demonstrates the potential of lipidomics as a valuable mechanistic complement to traditional in vitro hepatotoxicity readouts.
Superfund Mandates:
Advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects on human health of hazardous substances
Key Words: High-Throughput, Lipidomics, Hepatotoxicity
Funding: P42 ES027704
Poster Presentations (Monday, Dec. 8) - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. M-26 | Breandon Taylor | University of Louisville SRP
Benzene-Induced Vascular Inflammation –Insights from Single-Cell Spatial Transcriptomics
B. Taylor, M. Malovichko, F. Yuan, I. Zelko, S. Srivastava
Affiliation:
University of Louisville Superfund Research Center and Envirome Institute, Louisville, KY
Background & Purpose: Cardiovascular disease (CVD), primarily driven by atherosclerosis, remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Growing evidence suggests that environmental toxicants, like volatile organic compounds (VOCs), are emerging non-traditional risk factors for CVD. VOCs, such as benzene, are gaseous chemicals present in both indoor and outdoor air. Benzene is generated by a variety of natural sources (e.g., forest fires, volcanoes), anthropogenic processes (e.g., industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, tobacco smoke), and is prevalent at Superfund sites. Benzene is a known carcinogen and hematopoietic toxin, and emerging epidemiological studies suggest that benzene exposure is associated with cardiovascular events and cardiovascular mortality. Our animal studies show that chronic benzene exposure is sufficient to exacerbate atherosclerosis. In this study, we examined how short-term benzene exposure affects vascular inflammation and markers of plaque stability.
Methods: Atherosclerosis-prone low-density lipoprotein receptor knockout (LDLr-KO) mice were maintained on Western Diet for 10 weeks to establish atherosclerotic lesions. Mice were then randomized to receive wholebody inhalation exposure to either 1ppm benzene or HEPA-filtered air (control) for 6 hours/day, 5 days/week, for 4 weeks, while remaining on Western Diet. Following exposure, innominate arteries were harvested, cleaned, cryosectioned, and analyzed using the Nanostring CoxMx™ Spatial Molecular Imager. A 1,000-plex gene panel was used to profile single-cell gene expression in situ. High-resolution imaging data were used to segment the tissue into three regions of interest (ROIs): vessel wall, plaque, and fibrous cap. Within each ROI, individual cells were segmented and computationally clustered based on their relative gene expression profiles. These clusters were annotated as Activated Endothelial Cells (ActEC), Proliferating Endothelial Cells (ECprolif), Fibroblasts (Fibro), Macrophages (Mf), and two distinct Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell populations (VSMC1, VSMC2). Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between benzene- and air-exposed groups were then identified for each cell cluster within each spatial region.
Results: Spatial transcriptomics analysis of the innominate artery of male mice revealed that benzene exposure induced 132 genes and downregulated 532 genes in the vessel wall, induced 213 genes and downregulated 497 genes in the plaque, and induced 198 gene and downregulated 292 genes in the fibrous cap. Similar changes were observed in female mice. In the plaque, Wnt9a was induced in Mf cluster, Wnt5a was induced in ActEC and VSMC1 clusters whereas Mzt2 and Mmp19 were robustly downregulated in ActEC and VSMC1 clusters respectively. In the fibrous cap, Col9a3 was significantly increased in the Fibro cluster of both female and male mice.
Conclusions: Overall, we observed that benzene exposure induced several characteristics of enhanced inflammation and plaque instability in the transcriptional landscape of pre-established lesions.
Superfund Mandates:
Advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects on human health of hazardous substances
Key Words: Atherosclerosis, Benzene, Spatial Transcriptomics
Funding: P42 ES023716, R01 ES033531
Poster Presentations (Monday,
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. M-27 | Allison Spring | UNC SRP
Mapping of CpG Methylation across North Carolina Identifies Epigenetic Age Acceleration Linked to Private Well Water Arsenic Contamination
A. Spring1, K. Roell1,2, F. Akhtari2, E. Jiang1,2, L.A. Eaves1,2, R.C. Fry1,2, Al. Motsinger-Reif3, J. E. Rager1,2
Affiliation:
1Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
2The Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
Background & Purpose: Inorganic arsenic (iAs) contamination is a health threat to private well users throughout the United States, including North Carolina (NC), the state with the highest population of residents on well systems. Recent studies suggest that toxic metal exposure can lead to epigenetic changes, such as accelerated epigenetic aging, while separate studies support the role of metals in mediating health outcomes, including diabetes. Still, geospatial estimates of arsenic exposure through well water have not previously been used to assess epigenetic changes associated with iAs. This study aimed to address this gap by investigating the association between iAs in well water and epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) in NC populations.
Methods: CpG methylation patterns were analyzed across blood samples from Personalized Environment and Genes Study participants, prioritizing individuals who self-reported private well water usage (N=369). Participant addresses were geocoded to assign census tract-level, iAs well water concentrations using the NCWELL database. Epigenetic ages of participants were calculated and generalized linear models were employed to evaluate associations between iAs concentrations and EAA, controlling for confounders including body mass index, childhood socioeconomic status, sex, smoking, and water filter use.
Results: The difference in EAA comparing participants residing in tracts with elevated iAs concentration (defined as >3.16 ppb) between participants with lower iAs concentrations (<3.16 ppb) was 1.8 years [p-value = 0.01]. Water filtering in areas with elevated arsenic was associated with -2.9-year difference in EAA [p-value <0.001], suggesting potential protective influences of water filtering on EAA.
Conclusions: These findings suggest that geospatial variations in well water iAs may contribute to geospatial differences in biological vulnerability related to EAA, with water filtering mitigating these associations.
Superfund Mandates:
Advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects on human health of hazardous substances, Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances, Basic biological, chemical, and physical methods to reduce the amount of toxicity of hazardous substances
Key Words: Arsenic, CpG methylation, Epigenetic Age Accelleration
Funding: This research was supported in part by a grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (T32ES007018, P42ES031007-06)
Poster Presentations (Monday, Dec. 8) - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. M-28 |
Jiahao
Feng | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill SRP
Mechanism-guided Gut Microbiome Engineering for Arsenic Detoxification
J. Feng, J. Peng, Y Yang, K Lu
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
Inorganic arsenic (iAs) exposure is not only a concern in North Carolina drinking water but also a global public health threat affecting over 200 million people. Emerging evidence implicates the gut microbiome as a critical mediator of host responses to arsenic, raising the possibility that targeted microbiome engineering could be leveraged to attenuate toxic burden in the host. To investigate this potential, we mined bacterial genomes for genes implicated in arsenic uptake, biotransformation, and efflux to identify native gut bacteria with potential detoxification capacity. Fifty candidate strains were cultured and challenged with 200 ppb sodium arsenite, and quantification revealed pronounced strain-specific heterogeneity in removal efficiency. High-performing isolates were subsequently advanced to in vivo testing in human AS3MT–transgenic (hAS3MT) germ-free and conventionally-raised mouse models exposed to arsenic through drinking water. Colonization with defined strains significantly reduced systemic arsenic accumulation while enhancing fecal elimination, demonstrating the feasibility of microbiome-based detoxification. Notably, single-strain supplementation in conventionally raised mice reduced arsenic bioaccumulation in liver and kidney, indicating that targeted microbial interventions can be effective even within complex communities. Together, these findings elucidate mechanistic links between bacterial gene content, detoxification phenotypes, and host-level modulation of arsenic burden. This work advances the paradigm of mechanism-guided gut microbiome engineering as a tractable and innovative strategy for mitigating health risks associated with arsenic exposure.
Superfund Mandates:
Advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects on human health of hazardous substances, Basic biological, chemical, and physical methods to reduce the amount of toxicity of hazardous substance
Key Words: Arsenic, Gut Microbiome, Detoxification, Microbial Engineering
Funding: This study was funded by the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences (P42ES031007).
Poster
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. M-29 | Jingya Peng | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill SRP
Diet-Based Gut Microbiome Modulation with Black Raspberry Attenuates Glucose Intolerance from Early-Life Arsenic Exposure
J. Peng, Y. Yang, Y-C. Hsiao, J. Feng, K. Lu
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
Inorganic arsenic (iAs) is a widespread environmental toxicant, and early-life exposure is linked to impaired glucose metabolism and elevated risk of type 2 diabetes. Identifying safe and accessible strategies to reduce these risks is of growing public concern. Black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis, BRB), a fiber-rich fruit with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, offers a natural dietary approach for intervention. This study investigated whether BRB consumption could alleviate glucose intolerance caused by early-life iAs exposure and explored the potential role of the gut microbiome in mediating these effects. An in vivo rodent model with a two-stage design was applied, including an iAs exposure stage and a BRB dietary intervention stage. After weaning at 21 days, pups underwent four weeks of iAs exposure (0 or 1ppm) via drinking water immediately, followed by a four-week BRB-enriched diet. Oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) were conducted before iAs exposure, before the BRB diet introduction, and after the diet intervention. Results showed that iAs significantly induced glucose intolerance, while the BRB intake reduced blood glucose peaks by around 100g/kg and normalized glucose responses across groups. Untargeted metabolomics revealed that BRB significantly regulated 25,148 fecal molecules, with 398 annotated chemical compounds mapping to metabolism pathways, including tryptophan metabolites, tyrosine metabolites, and lysine metabolites, processes closely linked to gut microbiota. Taken together, this study demonstrates that a BRB-rich diet can mediate glucose intolerance induced by early-life iAs exposure, likely through gut microbiome-related metabolic pathways. This study highlights natural fruit-based interventions as promising strategies to reduce the health impacts of environmental toxicants.
Superfund Mandates:
Advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects on human health of hazardous substances, Basic biological, chemical, and physical methods to reduce the amount of toxicity of hazardous substances
Key Words: Arsenic, early-life exposure, Glucose intolerance, Black Raspberry, Gut microbiome
Funding: This study was funded by the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences (P42 ES031007).
Poster Presentations (Monday, Dec. 8) - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. M-30 | Sungjin Kim | Texas A&M University
SRP
Evaluating the Organ-specific Effect of PFAS using Pregnancy-related Microphysiological System (MPS)
S. Kim1, P.Y. Lam1, H. Moyer2, L. Ford2, R. Cherukuri1, L.S. Richardson3, A.K. Kammala3, R. Menon3, I. Rusyn2, A. Han1,4,5
Affiliation:
¹ Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, NanoBios Lab, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
2 Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
3 Division of Basic Science and Translational Research, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, USA.
4 Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
5 Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.
Background & Purpose: Pregnant women are known to be susceptible to environmental hazardous substances and Maternal per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposures during pregnancy have been linked to several maternal and fetal health issues such as developmental disorders, organ damage, miscarriage, and preterm birth (PTB). These compounds have been shown to cross the feto-maternal interface, yet the mechanism of molecular transportation is unclear due to the lack of proper humanized in vitro models. Traditionally, a placenta-decidua basalis interface has been well studied as it is considered the only path of essential transport needed for fetal growth. However, the fetal membrane-decidua parietalis, another feto-maternal interface, is also essential for the protection and maintenance of fetal development during pregnancy Unfortunately, the structure, pathology, and functions of the fetal membrane are poorly studied; thus, there is a significant knowledge gap in the field of reproductive biology, hindering the advancement of pregnancy-related research.
Methods: Here, we utilized two feto-maternal interfacial microphysiological systems (MPS) to obtain better insight into the PFAS mechanism of action and evaluated the effect of direct and indirect exposure with respect to cytotoxicity and inflammation that may trigger the signaling pathway of PTB.
Results: The results showed that PFAS compounds (100 M of PFDA, PFNA, PFOS and 6:2 FTS) propagated crossed the fetal membrane (~10% of stock concentration) with increased maternal and fetal cell death and fetal inflammatory responses while restricted by placenta (~5-6% of stock concentration) with limited cytotoxic response and endothelial inflammation. While both FMis are exposed during pregnancy, their differential response to PFAS could lead to different adverse pregnancy outcomes. Here, PFAS is shown to be more detrimental to the fetal membrane than the placenta, suggesting that PFAS could induce PTB pathways during pregnancy
Conclusion: Indeed, fetal membrane is another important barrier for maintaining pregnancy and the two MPS models were able to eluciate the mechanistic of PFAS at two interfaces, filling the knowledge gap in environmental exposure-associated pathophysiology
Superfund Mandates:
Advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects on human health of hazardous substances, Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances
Key Words: PFAS, Reproductive health, Organ-on-Chip
Funding: NICHD R01 HD100729, NCAST UH3 TR003283, NIEHS P42 ES027704, NCATS U2C TR004868, NIEHS P30 ES029067
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. M-31 | Olivia Lampe | Texas A&M University SRP
Exploring Mixture Effects of VOCs Using a Component-Based Approach at the Air Liquid Interface
O. Lampe1,2, E.C.M. Vitucci1, C L Cannon2, W.A. Chiu3, N.M. Johnson1
1 Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
2 Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX, 77807 USA
3 Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843 USA
Background and Purpose: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a persistent air pollutant in both indoor and outdoor environments. There are limited studies on the respiratory effects of most VOCs, and even less research on how mixtures of these VOCs affect the lung epithelium. My research investigates the acute adverse effects of VOCs on the human lung epithelium.
Methods: In this study, I exposed human bronchial epithelial cells cultured at the air liquid interface (ALI) to four gases commonly detected following environmental disasters: acrolein, acetone, acetaldehyde, and formic acid. After an acute 2-hour exposure to occupationally-relevant doses of an individual VOC or a designed VOC mixture, cells were allowed to recover for 24 hours before being harvested for further analysis. Media was collected for a cytotoxicity assay. Cell lysate was collected to look at selected gene expression using Taqman qPCR, and live cells were used to conduct barrier permeability assays. Additionally, benchmark concentration modeling (BMC) was conducted for all endpoints where a significant effect was observed to compare derived points of departure to current regulatory guidelines.
Results and Conclusion: Assessing the effects of individual VOCs, acrolein, acetone, and formic acid all induced the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), indicative of cytotoxicity, and decreased barrier integrity as shown by increased FITC-Dextran permeability. Acetaldehyde did not appear to affect the viability or barrier function of human bronchial epithelial cells. Genes that were consistently upregulated between VOCs were the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-8, and TNFa. However, acetaldehyde was an exception to this trend and IL6 and IL-8 were significantly downregulated and TNFa observed no significant change in expression to the filtered air controls. Using the BMCs generated from the BMC response curve, concentration-response modeling was deployed to predict the effective concentration of the VOC mixture that would induce a 10% change in viability or barrier permeability in exposed lung epithelial cells. This approach led to a prediction that at 1242 ppb of the VOC mixture a 10 % change in barrier permeability would be observed and at 1323 ppb a 10 % change in cytotoxicity would be observed. The concentration-response modeling had between 80-92% accuracy. As such, this ALI model can be utilized as a new approach method to investigative mixture toxicity of VOCs.
Superfund Mandates:
Advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects on human health of hazardous substances, Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances
Key Words: lung; in vitro; benchmark concentration
Funding: P42 ES027704
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. M-32 | Ibrahim Alshammari | Texas A&M University SRP
Quantitative Estimates of Toxicodynamic Variability for New Approach Methodologies-Based Systemic Safety Toolbox Using a Population-Based Human in Vitro Model
I. Alshammari1, L. Ford1,2, H-H. Tsai1,2, H-C. Lin1,2, C.K. Negi1.2, A.N Dickey3, F.A. Wright3, W.A. Chiu1,2, I. Rusyn1,2
1 Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
2 Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
3 Departments of Biological Sciences and Statistics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
Next-Generation Risk Assessment (NGRA) frameworks leverage New Approach Methodologies (NAM) to support regulatory decision-making without animal testing. While NAM-based methods for hazard and doseresponse assessment are widely used, considerations of chemical-specific evidence for inter-individual variability are still largely relying on default uncertainty factors for toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic variability. However, chemical-specific estimates of inter-individual variability can be derived using human cell-based in vitro models. This study tested the utility of a NAM-based approach to derive toxicodynamic variability factors in the context of NGRA. We tested a hypothesis that by including chemical-specific data on toxicodynamic variability into risk characterization step of NGRA, more protective estimates of human risk will be derived. We used 131 human lymphoblastoid cells (LCLs) from four European and African subpopulations as the in vitro model of interindividual variability A broad range of chemicals (n = 53) to which humans are exposed in a variety of ways, including food additives, cosmetic ingredients, pharmaceuticals, vitamins, agricultural chemicals, and home care products were tested in concentration-response and viability measurements were collected. To derive quantitative estimates of adverse effects for each chemical, Bayesian concentration–response modeling was conducted to derive points of departure for each individual cell line. Overall, 18 out of 53 tested chemicals had effects below the highest concentration tested (300 µM) – from which a toxicodynamic variability factor (TDVF05) was derived for these chemicals. The median TDVF05 was 3.8 [range from 1 to 46], which is in line with the default human toxicodynamic variability factor of 3.16. In addition, we conducted an exploratory genome-wide association study (GWAS) analysis to identify potential genetic drivers of cytotoxic responses to further characterize the mechanisms of toxicity. This analysis showed that for most of the tested chemicals with interindividual differences in cytotoxicity, genomic loci containing xenobiotic metabolism genes conferred genomewide suggestive effects underlying such variability. Overall, the study demonstrated that human LCLs can be used as an in vitro model to quantify inter-individual variability in the context of NGRA. These data will improve confidence in the overall risk predictions using NAM data and also enable the development of testable hypotheses regarding the mechanisms of inter-individual variability
Superfund Mandates:
Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances, Basic biological, chemical, and physical methods to reduce the amount of toxicity of hazardous substances
Key Words: population-wide, inter-individual variability, toxicodynamics, human health risk assessment, genome-wide association study
Funding: Unilever PLC (Sharnbrook, UK) P42 ES027704
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No.
M-33
| Cristina Coffman | University of New Mexico METALS SRP
Uranium-bearing dust disrupts the colonic mucus layer and alters goblet cell physiology
C. Coffman, R. Atanga, J.G In
Affiliation:
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center
Background: There are over 160,000 abandoned hardrock mines in the Western United States resulting in widespread environmental heavy metal contamination that impacts the surrounding water, soil, and air quality. Chronic exposure to heavy metals represents a significant and growing public health concern. The primary routes of exposure include ingestion of contaminated water and inhalation of metal-laden particulates. Upon entry, the gastrointestinal tract is one of the first organs exposed. Heavy metal exposures have been shown to induce intestinal inflammation, and higher incidences of colorectal cancer, however, not much is known about how heavy metals, may impact the gut epithelium. The gastrointestinal mucus layer is secreted by goblet cells (GCs) and protects the gut epithelium from microbes and ingested toxins. This makes it vital to study how heavy metals, such as non-fissile uranium-bearing dust (UBD), disrupt mucus layer integrity and GC physiology. We hypothesized that UBD chemical injury degrades the mucus layer and induces goblet cell hyperplasia as an adaptive response.
Methods: Colonic human intestinal organoids (HIOs) derived from healthy adult colonic biopsies (UNM IRB 18626 and 18-171) were established and shown to physiologically model the intestinal epithelia. HIOs grown as monolayers were used to study the impact of UBD on the secreted mucus layer. Additionally, HIOs grown in 3D form were used to assess GC cellular composition and functional consequences of UBD exposure. HIOs were acutely exposed (20 μg/ml ,24h) to UBD obtained near the Jackpile uranium mine in New Mexico, one of the largest US open-pit uranium mines, located on the Laguna Pueblo.
Results and Conclusions: HIOs monolayers exposed to UBD showed degradation of the mucus layer thickness (5um) compared to control (15um). This was further confirmed with immunoblotting where UBD treated samples had decreased expression (~36%) of MUC2, the major mucin in the colonic mucus. To characterize transcriptomic changes, control and UBD-exposed 3D HIOs (n=3 unique donors) were dissociated into single cells and processed for droplet-based single cell sequencing (scRNAseq). ScRNAseq identified significant changes in the secretory lineage in UBD exposed colonoids. Specifically, GCs form a distinct population within the UBD-exposed HIOs that were not present in control. ATOH1, a master transcription factor essential for differentiation in intestinal secretory cells as well as MUC2 transcripts increase in goblet, secretory progenitor, and cycling TA clusters. Percentages of ATOH1+ (0.29% - control to 3.6% - UBD) and MUC2+ (8.7% - control to 51.7% - UBD) cells increased with UBD exposure. Immunostaining in 3D HIOs of trefoil factor 3, a GC marker, has validated the scRNA-seq showing an increase in secretory cells upon UBD treatment. This data supports our hypothesis that UBD exposures disrupts the mucus layer and induces GC hyperplasia as a potential adaptive response.
Superfund Mandates:
Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances
Key Words: uranium, gut epithelium, colonic mucus
Funding: P42ES025589 R01ES034400
Poster Presentations (Monday,
- Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. M-34 | Warren Sink | Michigan State University
2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) dose-dependently disrupts hepatic thyroid hormone signaling in mice
W.Sink1
G.N. Cholico1, A. Wojtowicz1, A. Collier1, J. Ford2, T. Zacharewski1
,
Affiliation:
1 Michigan State University
2 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Background & Purpose: Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) encompasses a spectrum of liver disorders ranging from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Environmental contaminants such as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) have emerged as potential modulators of MASLD phenotypes and thyroid hormone (TH) homeostasis. Given the critical role of TH in hepatic lipid metabolism, the present study aimed to investigate how TCDD alters systemic and hepatic thyroid hormone signaling.
Methods: Adult male C57BL/6NCrl mice were orally gavaged with TCDD (0.03–30 µg/kg) or sesame oil vehicle every four days for 28 days. Serum and liver total THs were quantified by LC-MS/MS, and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) by ELISA. Hepatic transcriptional responses were assessed via bulk RNA-seq, and selected proteins were analyzed by Western blot and capillary electrophoresis. To contextualize TCDD-mediated transcriptional changes, the hepatic RNA-seq dataset (GSE203302) was compared to a publicly available T3treated liver dataset (GSE159648).
Results: TCDD caused a dose-dependent reduction in body weight gain and gonadal white adipose tissue. Serum TSH and total thyroxine (T4) remained unchanged; however, triiodothyronine (T3) decreased and reverse T3 (rT3) increased, consistent with non-thyroidal disruption of T4 metabolism. In the liver, T4 was dosedependently reduced. Hepatic transcriptomic analysis revealed repression of TH-related genes, including binding proteins (Serpina7, Ttr, Alb), transporters (e.g., Slco1b2), Dio1, Thrb, and downstream targets such as Thrsp. These changes were corroborated at the protein level. Moreover, Ugt1a9, a glucuronosyltransferase facilitating TH excretion, was induced 5.6-fold by TCDD. Comparative analysis indicated that approximately 60% of genes canonically regulated by T3 were also differentially expressed following TCDD exposure.
Conclusions: TCDD disrupts hepatic thyroid hormone signaling through both metabolic and transcriptional mechanisms, altering TH metabolism, receptor expression, and downstream target gene regulation. These findings suggest that TCDD-induced dysregulation of TH pathways may contribute to the MASLD-like hepatic pathology observed following exposure.
Superfund Mandates:
Advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects on human health of hazardous substances, Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances
Key Words: TCDD, liver, thyroid
Funding: Warren Sink was supported by T32ES007255. This project is funded by R01ES029541 and SRP P42ES004911.
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. M-35 | Zachary Smith | Michigan State University SRP
2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-Elicited Disruption of Trace Metal Homeostasis in Wild-Type and Hepatocyte-Specific Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AHR) Null Mice
Z. Smith1, K. Orlowska1, K. MacRenaris1, T. Zacharewski1
Affiliation:
¹ Michigan State University
Trace metals are vital for enzymatic function in processes such as electron transfer, DNA replication, and antioxidant defense. Constant aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) activation by persistent organic pollutants, such as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), results in hepatic transcriptome dysregulation. Changes in transporter and metalloprotein expression lead to trace metal imbalance and oxidative stress, potentially exacerbating liver damage. We aim to determine the effect of TCDD-induced AHR activation on trace metals in hepatocytes and the resulting systemic alterations in trace metal homeostasis in wild-type and hepatocytespecific AHR null mice. This was accomplished by intraperitoneal injection of corn oil vehicle or 75 mg/kg tamoxifen to conditionally knock out AHR in hepatocytes of male Ahrd/V375Afx/fx- Alb-CreERT2 mice prior to oral gavage sesame oil vehicle or 3, 10, or 30 µg/kg TCDD every four days for 28 days. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and hepatic RNA-Seq data were integrated to identify changes in trace metal levels in liver extracts and serum, and correlated with the differential expression of trace metal transporters and chaperones in the liver. TCDD dose-dependently decreased hepatic copper in AHR knockout animals, while decreases in hepatic zinc levels were attenuated by AHR knockout in hepatocytes. These results further demonstrate the systemic effects of continuous AHR activation by TCDD due to changes in metalloenzymes, metal-mediated oxidative stress, and metal-dependent forms of regulated cell death.
Superfund Mandates:
Advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects on human health of hazardous substances, Basic biological, chemical, and physical methods to reduce the amount of toxicity of hazardous substances
Key Words: TCDD, Liver, Metals
Funding: SRP (P42ES004911), NIEHS (R01ES029541)
Poster Presentations (Monday,
8) - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. M-36 | Alexandra Svetlik | Texas A&M University SRP
Extracellular Vesicles Modulate Inflammation via Arsenic Exposed Bronchial Epithelia Cells
A.
Svetlik1,2, J. Szule3, N.M. Johnson1,2
1 Interdisciplinary Program in Toxicology, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
2 Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
3 Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Introduction: Exposure to arsenic (As) from drinking water is a worldwide public health concern. In the US, 5 million people drink water with As concentrations over the EPA standard limit of 10 µg/L. Due to its persistence and toxicity, As is a priority contaminant at numerous Superfund sites across the U.S. where cleanup and longterm monitoring remain a challenge. In the state of Texas, over a million residents rely on well water. Since private wells are not routinely tested, millions of people are potentially exposed, especially rural residents living in South Texas. As is a known carcinogen, and recent evidence implicates As exposure with respiratory disease following ingestion. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are cell-derived structures that represent potential biomarkers of exposure or effect to inform environmentally related diseases. As-induced inflammatory responses are modulated through EV signaling. Based on risks for As exposure and the prevalence of asthma is elevated in South Texas, there is a critical need for novel biomarkers to identify individuals at risk and to investigate the linkage between EV function and mechanisms of respiratory toxicity.
Methods: To address this, we exposed human bronchial epithelial (16HBE) cells to 0 µM, 5 µM, or 10 µM of NaAsO2 for 24 hours (acute exposure) to establish phenotypic endpoints, including cytotoxicity and inflammation. Next, to model sub-chronic exposure levels, 16HBE cells were treated with 0 µM, 0.1 µM, or 0.5 µM of NaAsO2 for 1 week. To further study the mechanism underlying inflammation, conditioned media saved from the 24-hour NaAsO2-exposed 16HBE cells was transferred to naïve (unexposed) 16HBE cells for 24 hours. EVs were then isolated from 16HBE cell culture media using Total Exosome Isolation Reagent. After EV isolation, characterization of EVs were performed. EVs were then exposed to naïve 16HBE cells for 24 hours to determine EV function.
Results: After 24 hours, lactate dehydrogenase activity was slightly elevated, indicating toxicity. Expression of the potent pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β was significantly increased by 5µM (p<0.01) and 10µM (p<0.01) after 24 hours of exposure to NaAsO2. At 1 week, IL-1β was also slightly elevated as NaAsO2 exposure increased. IL-1β was noticeably increased by the conditioned media from the low dose and high dose, by 3 and 2-fold, respectively. For the EV exposure, IL-1β was statistically increased at the high dose.
Conclusion: Initial findings support bronchial epithelial cell toxicity potentially through soluble mediators of inflammation. 16HBE cells exposed to isolated EVs can be used as potential biomarkers of inflammation in respiratory diseases. Future studies will examine primary pediatric lung cells in response to NaAsO2..
Superfund Mandates:
Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substance
Key Words: arsenic, extracellular vesicles, IL-1B
Funding: This study was funded by NIEHS P42 ES027704
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. M-37 | Hayley Jesse | Texas A&M University SRP
Optimization of Endothelial Network Formation and Immune–Endothelial Signaling Using Commercial Microphysiological Vascular Devices
H. Jesse, C. Sakolish, I Rusyn
Affiliation:
Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Establishing physiologically relevant, immunocompetent microvasculature in vitro is important for advancing the application of tissue-chip technologies to studies of chemical effects on inflammatory processes. In this study, we aimed to optimize perfusable endothelial network formation and inflammatory signaling across two commercially-available microphysiological systems (MPS) — the IdenTX-40 tissue chip and the Mimetas Organoplate®. Specifically, we evaluated how cell culture medium composition, stromal cell support, and proinflammatory stimuli may shape vascular architecture and immune-endothelial cell interactions.
In the IdenTX MPS (AIM Biotech), endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and HUVECs were seeded in fibrinthrombin gel with either a manufacturer's recommended “Vasculogenesis” medium (EGM + VEGF) or a highly supplemented medium (EGM-2 + FBS, bFGF, EGF, VEGF, PMA, sphingosine) ± fibroblasts. Vascular network morphology and pro-inflammatory signaling were assessed by FITC-dextran perfusion and immunostaining for ICAM-1. Inclusion of fibroblasts markedly improved HUVEC vessel stability and reduced ICAM-1 expression, while EPCs formed robust, perfusable networks regardless of the presence of fibroblasts. EPCs cultured in the highly supplemented medium exhibited the highest ICAM-1 levels, suggesting that nutrient-rich formulations used to induce vessel formation may also increase undesirable baseline inflammation.
While the IdenTX system is well-suited for robust self-assembling vessel networks and the incorporation of tissues or spheroids, its current format presents challenges for immune modeling. Due to the random, uncontrolled vessel formation and the inability to control chemical gradients, it is difficult to perform quantitative analysis of immune cell adhesion or extravasation in this MPS.
To address these limitations, we also used the 2-lane 96 Organoplate® (Mimetas) to examine immune cell adhesion following LPS-induced endothelial activation. This MPS contains a single, perfusable tube that can be populated with endothelial cells, allowing for control of the vascular architecture. Fluorescently labeled THP-1 monocytes and M0/M1 macrophages were perfused through the endothelial channels, and adhesion frequency was correlated with ICAM-1 intensity, peaking in EPC monocultures after LPS treatment. Together, these studies establish a harmonized, cross-platform approach for investigating vascular network formation in vitro. By utilizing the strengths of IdenTX for reliable vessel formation and 2-lane 96 Organoplate® for precise control over immune cell dynamics and signaling, we present a customizable system for endothelial barrier formation, inflammatory activation, and immune trafficking. This integrated approach supports the development of more physiologically relevant vascular MPS for disease modeling and studies of hazardous chemicals and drugs
Superfund Mandates:
Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances
Key Words: MPS, Vascular, Inflammatory
Funding: National Institutes of Health (P42 ES027704)
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. M-38 | Samantha McFall | University of Louisville SRP
Molecular Mechanisms of Benzene-Induced Endothelial Activation
S. McFall, N.S. Wichramasinghe, T. Malik, M. Malovichko, I.Zelko, S Srivastava
Affiliation: University of Louisville Superfund Research Center and Envirome Institute, Louisville, KY
Background/Purpose: Benzene is a widespread environmental pollutant found at superfund sites and is abundant in petroleum products, tobacco smoke, and various household goods like cleaners, paints, and adhesives. It is a well-known human carcinogen with well-documented hematopoietic and immunotoxic effects. Epidemiological evidence also links benzene exposure to an increased risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and stroke, though the biological mechanisms underlying these associations remain unclear. Endothelial activation plays a pivotal role in vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis, the underlying cause of myocardial ischemia and stroke. This study examines the impact of benzene exposure on endothelial cell activation and the underlying mechanisms.
Methods: To understand the potential functional changes to the endothelium from benzene exposure, we used multiphoton-intravital microscopy (IVM). IVM allowed us to visualize real-time interactions between leukocytes and the endothelium in the mouse ear microvasculature. For all IVM experiments, Fluorescein-dextran (70 kDa; 1.5 µL/g in saline, intravenous) was used to label vasculature, and Rhodamine 6G (0.2% v/v in saline, intraperitoneal) to label leukocytes. For each mouse, two separate two-minute videos were taken of a blood vessel within the ear. For analysis, leukocyte dynamics (free-flowing, rolling, adhering) were quantified manually and the counts from both videos were averaged. First, male and female C57BL/6 mice (n=10/group) were exposed to benzene (1ppm, 6h/d 5d/wk, 4 weeks) or HEPA-filtered air and leukocyte rolling and adhesion was examined by IVM. In vitro we exposed human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) to a benzene metabolite, t,tmuconaldehyde (MA; 10 µM) and assessed adhesion and transmigration of a leukocytic cell line (dTHP-1 cells). To examine the mechanisms by which benzene and its metabolites affect endothelial activation, we performed RNA sequencing of human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) exposed to MA (10 µM, 2h) to identify changes in gene expression. In addition, we utilized siRNA-mediated knockdown of a particular heat shock protein, HSPA1B, in HAECs and examined adhesion molecule transcription and adherence of dTHP-1 cells following MA exposure (10 µM, 6h). To further assess the role of heat shock proteins in benzene-induced endothelial activation, we exposed transgenic mice that selectively overexpress HSPA1B in the endothelium (EC-HSPA1BTG) to either benzene (1ppm) or HEPA-filtered air and assessed leukocyte rolling and adhesion by IVM.
Results: Chronic inhaled benzene exposure significantly increased leukocyte rolling and adhesion in both male and female mice. In vitro, MA exposure enhanced leukocyte adhesion and transmigration and phosphorylation of eIF2α (reflecting endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and unfolded protein response). RNA-seq revealed an upregulation of adhesion molecule ICAM-1 and genes associated with oxidative stress (SOD1, HO-1, AKR1B10, etc.), ER-stress (ATF3), and heat shock proteins (HSPA1A, HSPA1B, HSP6, HSP7, etc.). HSPA1B knockdown amplified MA-induced ICAM-1 expression, leukocyte adhesion and abundance of ATF3 protein. Conversely, endothelial-specific overexpression of HSPA1B reduced benzene-induced endothelial activation in vivo.
Conclusion: These findings suggest that benzene contributes to cardiovascular risk by promoting endothelial activation. Heat shock proteins, particularly HSPA1B, may play a protective role through preventing ER stress.
Superfund Mandates:
Key Words:
Funding: P42 ES023716 and NIEHS T32ES011564
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster
No. M-3
9 | Katherine Zychowski | University of New Mexico
Chronic U-dust exposure impact on extracellular vesicles and macrophage function
K. Zychowski, M. Oh, E Lim, S Yazzie, O. Edeh, L Luo, D Kanda, A Sood
Affiliation:
University of New Mexico
Background: Chronic exposure to uranium (U)-rich environments is a public health crisis, yet the molecular mechanisms driving these effects are not well understood. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-bound particles that relay signals between cells and modulate cellular function. To investigate whether U-mining tenure is associated with specific changes in serum-derived EV proteomic and plasma cytokine profiles in former Uminers, and to evaluate the potential of EV-derived proteins as sensitive biomarkers of chronic U-exposure compared to canonical cytokines. In a second set of experiments, we compared macrophage cellular functional assays in macrophages exposed to control, coal and U-dust.
Methods: Serum and plasma samples were collected from 39 former U-miners. Small and large EVs were isolated via differential ultracentrifugation and characterized using nanoparticle tracking analysis and western blotting. EV proteomes were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, while plasma cytokines were quantified using multiplex immunoassays. Associations with mining tenure were assessed using age-adjusted linear regression, and pathway enrichment analyses were performed on significant EV proteins. In the secondary set of experiments, macrophages were cultured and exposed to relevant dusts (50ug/mL). Bioenergetics and phagocytosis assays were subsequently performed.
Results: Eight small-EV and four large-EV proteins were significantly correlated with mining tenure after adjusting for age In addition U-dust exposure on macrophages resulted in the greatest functional changes in bioenergetics and phagocytosis endpoints.
Conclusions: Serum EV-derived protein profiles were nominally associated with U-mining tenure independent of age, whereas plasma cytokine associations were confounded by age. In addition, U-dust treated macrophages demonstrate greater cellular dysfunction that coal-dust or controls. Future studies will evaluate the role of EVs, post dust exposure on macrophage function.
Superfund Mandates:
Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances, Basic biological, chemical, and physical methods to reduce the amount of toxicity of hazardous substances
Key Words: uranium, mining, dust
Funding: P42 ES025589, R01 ES033981
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. M-40 | Jorge Moreno | University of New Mexico METALS SRP
Development of an autoimmune prone disease state following inhalation exposure to uranium bearing dust in MRL/MpJ mice
J Moreno, M. Afaghpour-Becklund1, C. McVeigh1, S. Yazzie2, O Edeh2, B. Baird1, R Lui1, K Zuchowski2, S Blossom1, Alicia Bolt1
Affiliation:
1 Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy
2 College of Pathology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131.
The western United States consists of thousands of abandoned uranium mines (AUMs), many of which are present in the 4 corners region of the Southwestern United States. These AUMs are in close proximity to residential areas, many of which exist on tribal lands. Improper cleanup procedures and lack of remediation have led to significant concerns of windblown, fugitive dust blowing into these communities contributing to chronic health disease, including autommune diseases. Investigation into these long-term chronic health effects following exposure is critical to understand human health risk. We hypothesize that chronic inhalation exposure to AUM particulate matter (PM) will induce an autoimmune prone disease state through immune dysregulation and chronic inflammation. 9 - 11 week old female MRL/MpJ mice were exposed through oropharyngeal aspiration to AUM PM from the St. Anthony mine, a former mine near the Pueblo of Laguna in New Mexico and control PM from a coal mine in Colorado containing low metal PM content (Colorado Red). Mice were exposed four times in total at a concentration of 50µg/µL of PM in dispersion media across the course of two weeks. Endpoint analysis were evaluated at 2 weeks, 24-hours post the final exposure and 12 weeks, 10 weeks after final exposure. Primary endpoints methodology consisted of analysis of immune cell populations in the bone marrow, spleen, and lungs by flow cytometry, cytokine analysis in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and plasma using multiplex cytokine arrays, Neutrophil elastase levels in the BALF and plasma by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and metal deposition within the lungs and bones by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Our findings illustrate significant alterations in immune cell populations in the lungs following exposure to AUM PM at the 2 week timepoint. In particular, we found recruitment of neutrophils after exposure to the AUM PM relative to both our vehicle control, dispersion media and the environmental dust control Colorado Red. In order to investigate the function of the neutrophils, we ran neutrophil elastase ELISAs and found a significant increase in neutrophil elastase in the lungs and plasma in the AUM PM group relative to the control groups. ICP-MS analysis revealed that in the AUM PM group, there was a retention of heavy metals incluidng uranium, vanadium and aluminum in the lungs, that are not present in the other control groups, even at the 12 week timepoint, providing evidence of long-term metal retention in the lungs that could be contributing to immune dysregulation both in the lungs and systemically. Overall, we demonstrate that inhalation exposure to AUM PM causes significant alterations to the immune cell populations of the lungs. Particularly, an increased in the levels of activated neutrophils secreting neutrophil elastase, leading towards production of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) that can drive immune dysregulation and the development of autoimmunity. Retention of uranium and other heavy-metals from the AUM PM is a unique factor across the conditions that we hypothesize is a leading driver of the effects seen after aspiration exposure to AUM dust.
Superfund Mandates:
Advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects on human health of hazardous substances, Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substance
Key Words: Immunotoxicology, Metals Toxicology, Autoimmunity
Funding: P42ES025589; P30ES032755
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. M-4
1 | Erica Dashner-Titus | University of New Mexico
Thinking Zinc: An Intervention study for mitigation of metal toxicity
E. Dashner-Titus, K.L. Cooper, K Torczynski, D MacKenzie, L.G. Hudson
Affiliation:
University of New Mexico
Zinc is an essential micronutrient with various key functions in human health. Experimental models indicate that zinc protects against genotoxicity through multiple mechanisms including its functions in antioxidant defense and DNA damage repair pathways. Numerous environmental metals share underlying mechanisms of toxicity that contribute to adverse human health outcomes. Studies from our laboratory and others demonstrate that multiple metals disrupt zinc finger motifs altering protein function. In these systems, supplemental zinc confers protection against the metals’ effects. Based on this evidence, a community and academic partnership developed an intervention trial called Thinking Zinc. Thinking Zinc is a mechanism-informed intervention study of zinc supplementation to test the potential benefits of zinc in a mixed metal exposed tribal population living in proximity to more than 500 abandoned uranium mines. The study is a single-arm cohort design with longitudinal collection of biospecimens. We investigated three biomarkers of DNA damage previously reported to be zinc responsive: DNA strand break (Comet assay), oxidative DNA damage (8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine, 8-OHdG) and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) activity. Urinary metal analysis finds Thinking Zinc study participants with elevated levels of multiple environmental metals compared to the general US population, including some that had at least 10% of the participants above the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 95th percentile. Metals concentrations showed substantial fluctuations over time, with greater differences detected in urinary metals than in serum metals. Zinc supplementation did not appreciably impact urinary levels of measured metals nor significantly increase serum zinc in study participants. However, zinc supplementation did modulate DNA damage markers evaluated by comet assay and PARP activity. We conclude that zinc is an important determinant of DNA damage in human populations and that DNA damage biomarkers are not equivalent for detecting the impact of zinc on DNA damage.
Superfund Mandates:
Advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects on human health of hazardous substances, Basic biological, chemical, and physical methods to reduce the amount of toxicity of hazardous substances
Key Words: Zinc, metals, intervention
Funding: P42ES025589, P30CA11810, UL1TR001449, NM Technology Advancement Fund
Poster Presentations (Monday, Dec. 8) - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster
No. M-42
| Natalie Price | University of Pittsburgh ViCTER
Translating Experimentally Derived Kidney Effects of Metal Mixtures to Risk in Women of Reproductive Age: Applying the Similar Mixtures Approach (SMACH)
N.F. Price1, I. Merutka2, N. Jayasundara2, C. Gennings3, A.P. Sanders1,4
Affiliation:
1 University of Pittsburgh, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health
2 Duke University, Nicholas School of the Environment
3 Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Department of Environmental Medicine
4 University of Pittsburgh, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health *Authors contributed equally
Background: Toxicological studies of the effects of environmental toxicant mixtures better reflect real world exposures. However, translating experimentally derived mixture effects to risk in human populations adds complexity. The Similar Mixture Approach (SMACH) is a whole mixture strategy that infers in vivo points of departure from a reference mixture for individuals with sufficiently similar mixture compositions for use in population risk evaluations. Our objective was to assess the risk of kidney injury associated with a reference mixture of arsenite (As[3]), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) derived from biomonitoring data of US women of reproductive age.
Methods: We used 2017-2020 NHANES data to identify a population-relevant mixture of urinary As(3), Cd and Pb among women of reproductive age. To identify developmental kidney toxicity outcomes, zebrafish larvae were exposed to 1x-100x doses of the reference mixture, and proteinuria (a measure of kidney proximal tubule injury) was measured. We fit a dose-response curve, determined the benchmark response (BMR: control mean + 2SD) and calculated the benchmark dose (BMD). We also selected the boundary of the similarity region (BMR + 1SD) which is defined as the minimal level of change in tubule injury response considered to be biologically significant. We calculated a distance variable for each woman by summing the squared difference between the participant’s mixing ratios and the reference mixing ratios. The distance variable was then converted to the dose scale, and uncertainty in the BMD estimate was added. Mixtures were sufficiently similar when a participant’s distance was within the similarity region. For individuals with sufficiently similar mixtures, we calculated the Similar Mixture Risk Index (SMRI) as the ratio of each person’s exposure level to the BMD.
Results: Among 550 women, 99% (n=545) had exposure mixtures sufficiently similar to the reference. Within this similar subset, 17% (n=91) had a SMRI>1 indicating exposures of concern.
Conclusions: SMACH enables in vivo testing of population-relevant chemical mixture exposures, and the translation of results to complement population risk assessment methods for mixtures. Applied to NHANES, we identified the fraction of US women whose exposures were both compositionally similar to a reference mixture and at a level that may elevate kidney injury risk. Future work will refine SMACH by assessing alternative approaches to defining sufficient similarity.
Superfund Mandates:
Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances
Key Words: Metal Mixtures, Kidneys, Developmental Effects
Funding: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Superfund Research Program
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No.
M-4
3 | Jingmei Zeng | URI STEEP SRP
Deletion of Cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) does not significantly alter Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) distribution to liver and associated adverse Liver outcomes
J.Zeng, J.A. Areiza1, S. Vojta2, J. Becanova2, O. Skende1, A.L. Slitt1
Affiliation:
1 Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, United States
2 Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, United States
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) is a synthetic perfluoroalkyl substance widely present in the environment that is persistent and associated with adverse human health effects. PFOS exposure in humans is associated with elevation of serum liver injury markers and liver disease. In preclinical rodents, such as mice, PFOS administration markedly increases liver weight. Cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) is a membrane glycoprotein that facilitates the import of long-chain fatty acids into cells and contributes to lipid accumulation within the liver. Because the chemical structure of PFOS closely resembles a long-chain fatty acid, it has been hypothesized that CD36 may facilitate PFOS uptake into the liver, and that CD36 is a critical mechanism for PFOS uptake and adverse liver effects. In vitro and modeling studies point to possible PFOS binding interactions with CD36, and CD36 has been strongly suggested in the literature as a relevant mechanism for PFOS uptake into liver. To investigate in vivo CD36 relevance, wild-type (WT, C57BL6/J) or CD36 mice with a global deletion(CD36-/-, B6.129S1-Cd36tm1Mfe/J) between the ages of 7-9 weeks were administered vehicle (0.5% Tween20 in PBS) or PFOS (10 mg/kg in 0.5% Tween20 in PBS) by oral garage for seven days. PFOS administration increased the liver-to-body weight ratio by 66% in WT mice and 72% in CD36-/- mice. It also increased total liver lipids concentration similarly in WT and CD36-/- mice by ~97%. PFOS administration elevated liver triglyceride concentration by 83.7% in WT mice and by 25% increase in CD36-/- mice. PFOS concentration in liver was similar between WT and CD36-/- mice. This work challenges previous assumptions from the field from in vitro findings but does point to a minor role for CD36 in the liver physiologic response to PFOS with regard to lipid metabolism. Overall, these preliminary findings suggest that CD36 has a modest effect on PFOS-induced liver alterations and deposition.
Superfund Mandates:
Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances
Key Words: liver, toxicity, PFAS
Funding: Superfund Grant: P42ES027706
Poster Presentations (Monday,
Dec. 8)
- Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No.
M-4
4 | Liam Geyer | URI/Harvard STEEP SRP
Mechanisms driving Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Disposition in Human Breast Milk: Roles of Efflux Transporters, Permeability, and Binding
L. Geyer1, G. Norman1, J. Beckanova2, S. Vojta2, R. King1, F.C. Fischer1
Affiliation:
1 University of Rhode Island, College of Pharmacy
2 University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanography
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widespread environmental pollutants linked to neurodevelopmental disorders in children. Maternal transfer of PFAS through breastfeeding represents a critical exposure pathway during early life. This study investigated the toxicokinetic mechanisms driving PFAS transfer into breast milk by evaluating interactions with the efflux transporter Breast Cancer Resistance Protein (BCRP), passive membrane permeability, and PFAS binding in human serum and breast milk. PFAS binding in human serum and breast milk was quantified using solid-phase microextraction with C18 fibers. Passive permeability and BCRP-mediated transport were assessed in trans-well in vitro assays using transporter knock-out and BCRP knock-in cell lines and the results were compared to molecular docking simulations using the Molecular Operating Environment (MOE) software. PFAS binding in breast milk increased linearly with molecular weight for sulfonic acid and sulfonamide groups. In contrast, carboxyl and fluorotelomer PFAS followed this trend only up to 500 g/mol, after which binding declined. BCRP-mediated transport increased with molecular weight, with efflux ratios ranging from 10- to 50-fold higher in BCRP-expressing cells compared to inhibited controls, agreeing with molecular docking simulations. Similarly, passive permeability increased with molecular weight, with the highest permeability observed for PFAS above 500 g/mol. Our preliminary results show that molecular weight strongly influences PFAS transfer into breast milk, with higher molecular weight compounds exhibiting increased binding, greater passive permeability, and enhanced BCRP-mediated transport. The mechanistic data will be integrated into a physiologically based toxicokinetic model to simulate PFAS transfer into breast milk under human physiological conditions, accounting for inter-individual variability such as BCRP polymorphisms and hypoalbuminemia as potential risk factors for disproportionate transfer of PFAS to the breastfeeding infant during lactation.
Superfund Mandates:
Advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects on human health of hazardous substances, Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances
Key Words: PFAS; Breast Milk; Toxicokinetic
Funding: All reported research was supported by the University of Rhode Island, under Fund 5U54GM11567709
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. M-45 | Yerin Jung | University of Southern California SRP
Associations between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and metabolic dysfunctionassociated steatotic liver disease: A life course analysis in three independent cohorts
Y. Jung1, S. Li1,2, D.I. Walker3, J.C. Chen1, E. Costello1,4, J.A. Goodreich1, L. Dara5, L Golden-Mason5, A.C. Maretti-Mira5, S.M. Bartell6, V.M. Vieira6, T.L. Alderete7, M.I. Goran8, Z. Chen1, F.D. Gilliland1, B.O. Baumert1, S. Rock1, S.P. Eckel1, R. McConnell1, A. Ducatman9, M. Lee10, S. Fisher-Hoch10, J. McCormick10, D.V. Conti1, M. Aung1, L. Chatzi1
Affiliation:
1 Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, USC Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
2 Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
3 Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, GA, USA
4 Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
5 Department of Medicine, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
6 Department of Environ. & Occupational Health, UC-Irvine, Joe C Wen School of Population & Public Health, CA, USA
7 Department of Environ Hlth & Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
8 Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Saban Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA, USA
9 School of Public Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
10 School of Public Health Brownsville Campus, the University of Texas Hlth Sci Center at Houston, Brownsville, TX, USA
Background & Purpose: Exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has been a recent public health concern due to their strong persistence and toxicity. Some hepato-toxicological evidence of PFAS has been found, but studies on PFAS exposure and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) across the life course are limited. The study aimed to evaluate associations between PFAS and MASLD risk in three cohorts of different age groups: the Study of Hispanic/Latino Adolescents at Risk of Type 2 Diabetes (SOLAR) following adolescents aged 8–13 years over 6 years (n=162); the Metabolic and Asthma Incidence Research (Meta-AIR) study of young adults aged 17–23 years (n=122); Border Health Research Cohort (formerly Cameron County Hispanic Cohort [CCHC]) following middle-aged adults aged 50-75 years (n=117).
Methods: Plasma PFAS were collected in 2001-2012 (SOLAR), 2014-2018 (Meta-Air), and 2004-2007 (CCHC). and measured using liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry: perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), perfluoroheptane sulfonic acid (PFHpS), perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA), and perfluoroheptanoic sulfonic acid (PFPeS). Prevalence of MASLD was defined as hepatic steatosis identified by magnetic resonance imaging or FibroScan and at least one cardiometabolic risk factors (high body mass index, fasting glucose, blood pressure, triglycerides, and low high-density lipoprotein). Logistic regression models were used to assess associations between log2-transformed PFAS and MASLD in three established cohorts, by adjusting for potential covariates including age, sex, body mass index, education, follow-up time (SOLAR only), and race and ethnicity (Meta-AIR only). We evaluated the interaction between each PFAS and age, cigarette smoking, and alcohol consumption.
Results & Conclusions: Among adolescents in the SOLAR cohort, one unit increase in plasma PFOA (OR = 3.48 [95% CI: 1.08, 11.26]; p = 0.04) and PFHpA (OR = 1.73 [95% CI: 1.01, 2.96]; p = 0.04) were significantly associated with MASLD risk. Among young adults, overall associations were not significant, but MASLD risk was higher among smokers with elevated PFDA, PFHpS, and PFNA levels (all interaction p values = 0.01). Among middle-aged adults, plasma PFHxS was significantly associated with prevalence of MASLD (OR = 1.78 [95% CI: 1.12, 3.00]; p=0.02). Our findings suggest that PFAS may be associated with increased risk of MASLD across different life stages, with age and smoking modifying susceptibility
Superfund Mandates:
Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances
Key Words: PFAS, Liver health, life-course
Funding: This study was funded by the NIEHS (P42ES036506). Funding for the Study of Latino Adolescents at Risk (SOLAR) by NIH grant R01DK59211 (to M.I.G.), funding for the Meta-AIR study by the Southern California Children’s Environmental Health Center grants funded by the NIEHS (5P01ES022845-03, 5P30ES007048, 5P01ES011627), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (RD83544101), and the Hastings Foundation. Cameron County Hispanic Cohort study was supported by MD000170 P20 funded from the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities, and the Centers for Translational Science Award 1U54RR023417-01 from the National Center for Research Resources. Funding for the PFAS measurements came from the NIEHS (R01ES029944). Additional funding from NIH supported Dr. Chatzi (R01ES030691, R01ES030364, R01ES033688, and U01HG013288), Dr. Alderete (R01ES035035 and P50MD17344), Dr. Baumert (T32-ES013678)
Poster Presentations (Monday, Dec. 8) - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster
No. M-4
6 | Fredine Lauer | University of New Mexico METALS SRP
UNM METALS Project BP Gut: Examining the effects of heavy metals on the GI tract
F.T. Lauer, R. Atanga, L. Appell, A.S. Romero, B.B. Maes, D.C. Yazzie, S. S. Goitom, C.J. Coffman, R. Liu, J.G In, E.F. Castillo
Affiliation:
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences
UNM METALS Bioproject BPGut examines the effects of heavy metals, including uranium, on the gastrointestinal tract. This project uses organoids, or “mini-guts”, which have been exposed to uranium-bearing dust (UBD) collected from a church attic in a Village within the Pueblo of Laguna, as well as animal models and has begun collection of human biosamples. Using organoids, we found stimulation with UBD caused intestinal stem cells to become enteroendocrine cells and also increased levels of serotonin (5-HT) when compared to controls. Mouse models can also be used to investigate changes in gastrointestinal cells, as well as gut microbiota in response to exposures. Our results with exposing mice via their drinking water to uranyl acetate (UA) show little effect on changes in gene expression in comparison to the work using organoids exposed to the environmentally-relevant exposure of UBD collected from the Pueblo of Laguna. Ongoing studies are now using water collected from a nearby river which is downstream of the Jackpile mine to more accurately represent community exposures to mixed metals in the water.
This research is helping to uncover how long-term exposure to uranium and arsenic from nearby mining activities may be affecting the health of people living in and around Laguna Pueblo - especially in the gut and immune system and involves the residents of Laguna Pueblo directly, not just as subjects, but as partners in understanding the impact of environmental exposures and helping to guide research.
Researchers from BPGut are working closely with the METALS Research Translation Team to communicate research more clearly to community partners and other stakeholders. This poster is one example of a communityfacing poster and won an award for best poster at the Jackpile Mine Symposium on April 22, 2025. Using more artwork, visuals, and making our METALS research more accessible to community members and explaining more clearly why we collect samples, what is done with the samples, and how it can benefit the community
Superfund Mandates:
Advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects on human health of hazardous substances, Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances
Key Words: Toxicity, metals, gut
Funding: NIEHS
Poster Presentations (Monday, Dec. 8) - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. M-47 | Sydney Scofield | Wayne State CLEAR SRP
BTEX: An Environmental Driver of Accelerated Aging
S.Scofield, L. Koshko, L Stilgenbauer, D. Pungi, H. Jarathne, D Manchanayake, M. Sadagurski
Affiliation:
Wayne State University, Detroit MI
It has long been recognized that exposure to environmental factors throughout life can drastically influence the health of individuals. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene), have recently gained attention due to their pervasive nature in indoor and outdoor air pollution, as well as their association with a growing number of health impacts, including accelerated aging and increased vulnerability to age-related diseases. While we previously demonstrated that acute benzene exposure triggers neuroinflammation and metabolic dysfunction through microglial activation, the mechanisms by which chronic, low-level environmentally relevant BTEX exposure influences aging remain unclear. Here, we developed a BTEX mixture exposure model reflecting real-world urban air pollution and examined its effects on aging in mice. Male C57BL/6 mice exposed to BTEX at high levels for 6 weeks developed hyperglycemia and altered energy expenditure, recapitulating metabolic phenotypes previously observed with occupational benzene doses. We then exposed genetically heterogeneous UM-HET3 mice (6 months old) to environmentally relevant BTEX levels specifically reflecting Detroit indoor air for 6 months. BTEX-exposed mice exhibited mildly impaired glucose tolerance, increased anxiety-like behavior, elevated circulating cytokines and chemokines, and decreased trabecular bone density, a known hallmark of age-related osteopenia. Bulk RNA-sequencing of microglia, bone marrow-derived monocytes, and blood monocytes revealed profound immune activation across all cell types, with enrichment of pathways related to cellular senescence, immune signaling, and inflammatory responses. Notably, transcriptional signatures of cellular senescence and inflammation emerged as early as 3 months of exposure, indicating rapid induction of pro-aging programs. Overall, these findings demonstrate that chronic exposure to urban air pollution levels of BTEX accelerates multiple hallmarks of aging, including immunosenescence, metabolic dysregulation, skeletal fragility, and neuroinflammation. Our work establishes BTEX as a significant environmental gerontogen and provides mechanistic insight into how air pollution may contribute to the rising burden of age-related diseases in urban populations.
Superfund Mandates: Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances
Key Words: Aging, Air Pollution, Inflammation
Funding: NIH grants P42-ES03099 (CLEAR), P30-ES020957 (CURES), T32-ES036169 (PIGE), R01ES033171, R01-AG078170, R56-ES034765
Poster Presentations (Monday, Dec. 8) - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. M-48 | Athina Lisgara | Yale University
Deciphering the NRF2-Mediated Liver Response to High Dose 1,4-Dioxane Exposure in Mice
A. Lisgara1, M. Alayyoub1, A. Santos-Neto1,2, G. Chartoftaki,1, V. Vasiliou1, Y. Chen1
Affiliation:
1 Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510USA
2 São Carlos Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, Brazil
Emerging contaminants represent an evolving threat to the environment and public health. Among them, 1,4Dioxane (DX), a group 2B liver carcinogen, has been detected in drinking water in the U.S. and worldwide. Nevertheless, the mechanisms underlying DX-induced liver toxicity and carcinogenicity remain undefined. Previous studies have identified the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2)-mediated stress response as an early cellular target of high-dose DX exposure. While NRF2 is well-known as a key regulator of cellular defense mechanism against oxidative stress, it is also involved in regulating liver metabolic homeostasis. In the current study, we utilized NRF2-knockout (KO) mice to investigate the functional role of NRF2 in liver toxicity and metabolic changes associated with high dose DX exposure. C57BL/6J wild-type (WT) female and NRF2- KO female and male mice were treated with DX (5,000 ppm) in drinking water for 12 weeks; control groups received regular drinking water. Throughout the exposure duration, we monitored water intake and body weight. At the conclusion of 12-week exposure, we assessed liver damage by histopathology and plasma liver enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST); we applied Mass Spectrometry Imaging (MSI) to visualize in situ metabolic changes in liver tissues. Our results showed that, compared to WT mice, NRF2-KO mice had a slight decrease in DX consumption, and a mild increase in DX-induced liver inflammation and ALT elevation. Interestingly, MSI revealed alterations in metabolic features across different groups, with a total of 41 features selected for further analysis based on a 2-fold change threshold. These preliminary findings suggest a modest contribution of NRF2 to protection against high-dose DX-induced liver toxicity; however, it may be involved in DX-mediated metabolic changes in the liver. The specific metabolites and associated molecular pathways are currently under investigation. -This work was supported in part by the NIH grant P42ES033815.
Superfund Mandates:
Advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects on human health of hazardous substances, Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances
Key Words: 1,4-Dioxane, Liver Toxicity, Mass Spectrometry Imaging
Funding: NIH grant P42ES033815
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster
No. M-4
9 | Mohammad Alayyoub | Yale University SRP
Chronic exposure to 1,4-dioxane at an environmentally relevant concentration increases the susceptibility to aging-associated insulin resistance in mice
M. Alayyoub, G. Charkoftaki, A. Lisgara, S. Qiao, Y. Chen
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
1,4-Dioxane (1,4-DX) is an emerging drinking water contaminant with established liver carcinogenicity in laboratory animals. As such, most research has focused on the carcinogenic aspect and associated clinical outcomes, leaving its metabolic effects understudied. In an earlier mouse study, we found that six months of 1,4DX exposure in drinking water led to a dose dependent increase in non-fasting blood glucose levels at 50 and 500 ppm. Guided by this novel observation, in the current study, we tested whether long term exposure at the low dose modifies glucose/insulin homeostasis in mice. C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) and Cyp2e1 knockout (Cyp2e1KO) mice received 50 ppm 1,4-DX in drinking water for 12 months. Cyp2e1KO group was included to test whether any effects depend on CYP2E1-mediated 1,4-DX metabolism and oxidative stress. Quarterly measurements of fasting blood glucose (FBG) and fasting plasma insulin (FPI) levels revealed no significant changes in FBGs, but elevated FPIs with age exclusively in male 1,4-DX-exposed WT mice, consistent with worsened age-related insulin resistance. Terminal tissue evaluation showed minimal liver pathology and cytotoxicity, and overall normal pancreas islet morphology and endocrine expressions. Initial screening of a panel of insulin signaling molecules in the liver tissue showed no exposure effects at the mRNA level, whereas IGF-I receptor β expression and Tuberin/TSC2 phosphorylation were both induced by long term 1,4-DX exposure in WT male mice. Taken together, our preliminary findings indicate that prolonged exposure to low levels of 1,4-DX may act as a risk factor of aging-related insulin resistance, likely involving dysregulated hepatic insulin response. Our data also suggest that gender and/or CYP2E1 expression may modify this metabolic effect by 1,4-DX.
Superfund Mandates:
Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances
Key Words: Environmental exposure, 1,4 dioxane, insulin resistance
Funding: NIH grant P42ES033815
Poster Presentations (Monday,
8) - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. M-50 | Mackenzie Connell | Wayne State University CLEAR SRP
BTEX constituent effects resultant of low-level exposure during critical windows of early development in zebrafish
M. Connell1, D. Meyer1, G. Gonzalez1, C-C. Wu2, E. Kintzele1
Affiliation:
¹ Department of Global and Environmental Health, University of Florida
² Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as mixtures of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) are ambient anthropogenic pollutants. Especially prevalent in urban environments, BTEX’s are a public health concern because high levels may be found in residential drinking water wells near landfills, waste sites, or leaking underground fuel storage tanks which can enter indoor air through vapor intrusion. The constituents of the BTEX mixture are understudied for many potential adverse health outcomes. Benzene, the most volatile compound of the BTEX mixture, is one of few VOCs with enough human and animal data to constitute carcinogenicity whereas ethylbenzene is labeled a probable carcinogen. BTEX exposure has also been linked to many non-cancer adverse health outcomes, yet few studies have focused on early developmental windows in which hematological, immune, metabolic, reproductive, and endocrine systems are immature. In this study, the zebrafish model was utilized to carry out controlled VOC exposures during a critical window of development. Phenotypic data collection was conducted following low-level exposure (0.001-10 ppm) exposure to benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, or xylene at 5 days post fertilization (dpf) and tissue samples were collected immediately (5 dpf) for transcriptomic endpoints. Behavioral assays were carried out at 24 hours post fertilization (hpf) and 5 dpf to characterize early and very early signs of neurotoxicity. At 5 dpf, exposure to ethylbenzene and toluene were significantly associated with altered locomotive behavior during the light and dark periods at levels as low as 0.001 ppm. At 24 hpf, spontaneous tail coiling was significantly increased (1 ppm) by toluene exposure. Skeletal deformities and swim bladder abnormalities were increased in the benzene exposed and ethylbenzene exposed groups respectively. Many genes and pathways were perturbed in exposure groups and comparative pathways of interest are associated with carcinogenesis, endocrine systems disorders, neurological system disorders, and reproductive system disorders.
Superfund Mandates:
Advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects on human health of hazardous substances, Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances
Key Words: Volatile Organic Compounds, developmental, zebrafish
Funding: Center for Urban Responses to Environmental Stressors (CURES) P30 ES020957 pilot grant and the Center for Leadership in Environmental Awareness and Research (CLEAR) P42 ES030991
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. M-51 | Marc G. Weisskopf | Harvard University
Pre- and early postnatal lead exposure, late adulthood cognitive function, and modification by cognitive stimulating activities
M.G. Weisskopf
Affiliation: Harvard University
Objective: To assess whether pre and early postnatal lead exposure as measured in deciduous teeth is a risk factor for worse late adulthood cognition and whether associations vary by early life cognitively stimulating activities (ELCSA).
Background: Early-life exposure to lead has been associated with late-life Alzheimer’s-like pathology in animal models and neurodevelopmental impacts in children. Associations with late-life cognition have been limited. Further, in animal studies, enriched environments appear to protect against adverse effects of lead exposure, but there has been limited exploration of this in humans.
Design/Methods: We recontacted original St. Louis Baby Tooth Survey participants who donated deciduous (baby) teeth between 1958-1972. 715 baby teeth were sectioned and lead concentrations in primary dentin reflecting in utero through early postnatal months exposure were assessed using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. We assessed cognition in late adulthood (mean age: 62) via a computerized battery of cognitive tests through TestMyBrain.org. We used adjusted weighted generalized estimating equations to estimate associations between lead exposure and cognition. We examined modification by ELCSA assessed using the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center Lifetime Cognitive Activity scales.
Results: Per 1 part per million (ppm) higher second trimester tooth lead concentration, composite cognition was 0.07 standard deviations (sd) (95% CI: -0.15, 0.02) lower and was stronger among females (-0.16sd; 95% CI:0.29, -0.03). The overall association with lead was modified by cognitively stimulating activities (Interaction p=0.001). For those with low ELCSA (bottom 24%), per 1ppm higher second trimester lead adulthood cognitive function was 0.34 (95% CI: -0.52, -0.16) sd lower, while the association among those with high cognitively stimulating activities was null (-0.02; 95% CI: -0.12, 0.07), and these differences were similar by sex.
Conclusion: Early-life lead exposure was associated with late adulthood cognitive function and was modified by cognitively stimulating activities. Our work supports the hypothesis that engaging in cognitively stimulating activities could mitigate against deleterious effects of lead on later adulthood cognitive function.
Poster
Presentations (Monday, Dec. 8) - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. M-52 | Lara Amaral | University of Kentucky SRP
Exercise Alters PFAS Biodistribution in Female Mice
L. Amaral1, O. Abu1, A.V. Ramundo1, T.M. Everson2, A. Andres3, K.J. Pearson1
Affiliation:
1 Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY
2 Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
3 Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center, Little Rock, AR
BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of thousands of ubiquitous synthetic chemicals readily detectable in nearly all humans, contributing to numerous adverse health effects. Thus, there is a need to identify interventions with the capacity to reduce the body burden of long- or short-chain PFAS in living organisms after exposure. Exercise has been shown to alter drug pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution, and clearance in humans. Furthermore, exercise reduces serum levels of persistent organic pollutants, such as organochlorine pesticides. We aimed to establish a mouse model to test the hypothesis that voluntary wheel running would decrease PFAS levels in mouse serum and alter their tissue biodistribution compared to sedentary mice.
METHODS. To test our hypothesis, 8-week-old female C57BL/6J mice were singly housed and fed a 10 kcal% fat diet with access to unlocked (exercise) or locked (sedentary) running wheels (n = 5 per group). After 5 weeks of wheel access, mice were fasted for 3 hours and exposed to a PFAS mixture (including PFOS, PFOA, and PFBS at 0.1 mg of each per kg of body weight) via oral gavage. The mice were then treated with a 2nd dose of PFAS after one additional week, and the mice were euthanized after 24 hours. Serum, liver, and kidney samples were collected 24 hours after the second exposure, and PFAS were quantified by the University of Kentucky Research Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Core facility using LC/MS/MS.
RESULTS. The two doses of PFAS led to serum PFOS levels in mice that were relatively comparable to those in humans. While the exercising mice ran approximately 4 km per day, their exercise did not significantly affect serum levels of PFAS compared to sedentary mice p >0.5 for any of the PFAS. However, the PFOS levels in the liver and kidneys of exercise mice were significantly higher than those of sedentary mice (p < 0.05). The liver and kidney PFOA levels trended higher in exercise compared to sedentary mice as well (p = 0.18). PFBS was also significantly higher in the livers of exercising mice compared to sedentary mice (p = 0.01), but were not detected in the kidneys.
CONCLUSIONS. Higher PFAS levels in the liver and kidneys could indicate enhanced clearance in longer-term exposure scenarios, which will be tested in the future. While exercise is recommended, rigorous scientific data are needed to determine its effects on PFAS distribution, clearance, and disease risk.
Superfund Mandates:
Basic biological, chemical, and physical methods to reduce the amount of toxicity of hazardous substances
Key Words: PFAS, Exercise, Mice
Funding: This work and personnel were supported by NIEHS (P42ES007380, R25ES027684, and P30ES026529) and core support through the NIGMS (P30GM127211). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of NIH
Tuesday, Dec. 9
Poster Presentations (Tuesday, Dec. 9) - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster
No.
T-01
| Claire Hallmark | BCM-Rice SRP – UTMB
Exploring Environmental Health Hazards with STYLE (Sustained Training for Youth Leadership in the Environment)
C. Hallmark1, A. Neblett6, K. Klay6, S. Srite6, K. Bohn4, T. Arulentiran7, S. Croisant1,2,4*, M. Bhagavatula1,8, L. Hallberg1,3,5
Affiliation:
1 Gulf Coast Center for Precision Environmental Health
2 UTMB School of Public and Population Health
3 UTMB Sealy Center for Environmental Health and Medicine
4 UTMB Institute for Translational Sciences
5 UTMB Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
6 Artist Boat
7 Ball High School
8 Baylor College of Medicine, Pediatrics
*Formally affiliated
Background: Environmental health hazards disproportionately impact vulnerable communities, highlighting the critical need for environmental literacy and leadership development among youth. In collaboration with Artist Boat, STYLE (Sustained Training for Youth Leadership in the Environment) is a NAS STEMM-funded project designed to cultivate the next generation of STEMM leaders in environmental health. STYLE addresses the urgent need to engage young people in understanding and mitigating the effects of environmental hazards within their local communities.
Objective/Goals: The primary objective of STYLE is to empower junior and senior high school students to become informed and engaged environmental stewards and potential STEMM leaders. Key goals include:
•Enhancing students' understanding of local environmental hazards, including climate change, sea-level rise, extreme storm flooding, and associated pollution.
•Developing students' skills in scientific inquiry and data collection related to environmental health.
•Integrating art as a medium for understanding, interpreting, and communicating environmental issues.
•Providing hands-on learning experiences that foster a sense of connection to the local environment.
•Addressing the stress and anxiety associated with living in hazard-prone areas.
•Cultivating leadership skills and pathways to STEMM careers in environmental health.
Methods: STYLE will engage 800 students and 8 teachers from 4 high schools through a multi-faceted, experiential learning approach. The core components include Classroom Climate Resiliency Workshops, Eco Art Kayak Adventure in West Galveston Bay, Classroom Habitat Restoration Workshops, and Habitat Restoration Adventure on the Coastal Heritage Preserve. A subset of 100 students will participate in a paid Field Mentorship program, collaborating with Artist Boat Eco Art Educators and UTMB Environmental Health researchers. This intensive program will focus on investigating the effects of environmental hazards on the health and resilience of their local communities, integrating scientific methods with art-based communication.
Results/Anticipated Results: STYLE anticipates several key outcomes: increased student knowledge and understanding of local environmental hazards and their interconnectedness; enhanced skills in scientific inquiry, data analysis, and environmental monitoring, supported by UTMB's research methodologies; improved ability to communicate complex environmental issues effectively through both scientific and artistic mediums; a greater sense of environmental stewardship and civic engagement among students; and increased student interest in pursuing STEMM fields, particularly those related to environmental and public health.
Discussion/Significant Impact: Integrating science, art, and community engagement, STYLE offers a unique and impactful environmental education program. Its place-based, experiential learning model, combined with UTMB-supported Field Mentorship, cultivates a deep understanding of environmental health hazards, empowers youth to become environmental leaders, and addresses the emotional impact of these hazards. The program's findings will provide valuable insights for engaging youth in environmental science and promoting environmental literacy
Superfund Mandates:
Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances, Basic biological, chemical, and physical methods to reduce the amount of toxicity of hazardous substances
Key Words: Youth Education, Environmental and Public Health, Environmental Hazards
Funding: 1P42ES027725-01
Poster Presentations (Tuesday,
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. T-02 | Elise Smith | BCM-Rice SRP / UTMB
Developing a Social Responsibility Tool-Kit for Scientists Working on Cleanup Sites
E. Smith, S. Molldrem, L. Hallberg, X. Wu
Affiliation: University of Texas Medical Branch
Objectives: The process of environmental cleanups often involves different stakeholders with varied priorities and interests. How do scientists position themselves and leverage different forms of expertise to ensure that their scholarly works are beneficial to others, particularly affected communities? This study aims to 1) describe the social values at different environmental cleanup sites, 2) identify how stakeholders perceive the ethical integration of such values in research projects, and 3) develop a toolkit to better align scientific values with social values to promote the social responsibilities of scientists.
Methods: This study uses ethnographic methods, including participant-observation and interviews (planned n=60), to understand institutional and community-based values and interests at three cleanup sites in Texas (Greater Fifth Ward, San Jacinto River Waste Pits, and Port Author). Interviewees will include non-profit organizers, community members, government officials, and scientists. To refine the toolkit, we will use focus groups with previously interviewed individuals (planned n=30).
Results: We have identified several issues that might have hindered ethical scientific practice and resulted in less social benefits: 1) for scientists, the lack of lived experiences in affected communities; 2) during scientiststakeholder interactions, persistent and varied confusion around technical details, especially in relation to data presentations; and 3) for knowledge communication and dissemination, mismatches between actual receivers of information in communities and targeted audiences conceptualized by scientists.
Discussion: For our social responsibility toolkit, we plan to create self-assessment tools, including priority evaluations, logic maps, and decision-making trees, as well as community-engagement guides on establishing communication channels, data presentation tactics, and environmental health education sessions for both scientists and community members. We also plan to build an openly accessible website with ongoing data collection features to host the social responsibility toolkit and support future development and expansion.
Superfund Mandates:
Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances, Basic biological, chemical, and physical methods to reduce the amount of toxicity of hazardous substances
Key Words: Social Responsibility; Scientific Knowledge; Community Engagement
Funding: NSF Award #2418953
Poster Presentations (Tuesday, Dec. 9) - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster
No. T-03
| Stuart Levine | MIT SRP
Improving Data Reuse Though Agent Based Access of Data Managed with a Dynamic Metadata Repository
S. Levine, C.Demurjian, T. Joseph-Risch, H. Ding, Al. Soberanes, B. Engelward
Affiliation:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Data management is a critical challenge required to improve the rigor and reproducibility of large projects. Adhering to Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR) standards provides a baseline for meeting these requirements. Although many existing repositories handle data in a FAIR-compliant manner, there are limited tools in the public domain to handle the metadata burden required to connect data from multi-omic projects that span multiple institutions and are deposited in diverse repositories. We have previously developed an extension of the SEEK platform (NExtSEEK) that enables active data management through discrete, adaptive sample types that evolve over time, allowing new types or metadata attributes to be added as needed. However, while NExtSEEK has been a robust tool for data management compliance, it has not significantly increased data reuse. We hypothesized that making the metadata stored in NExtSEEK more accessible to users would significantly boost engagement with the platform, thereby increasing data reuse. To implement this, we have collaborated with Salt.ai to develop agentic intefaces with the metadata stored in our NExtSEEK system. This interface enables direct user access to samples to query with natural language as well as immediately modify metadata on the fly. Agentic workflows for natural language interactions with the metadata stored within NExtSEEK should provide immediate value to primary users, making active data management more intuitive and beneficial for them and, in turn, encouraging timely deposition, intra-center collaboration, improved data provenance, and overall data reuse.
Superfund Mandates:
Key Words: Data Management, FAIR, AI/ML
Funding: MIT Superfund Research Program, IMPAcTB, MIT Metastasis Network Program, MIT Center for Systems Biology, MIT Center for Gynecological Research, BreakThrough Cancer
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. T-04 | Mike Barton | Oregon State University – PNNL SRP
Automating Superfund-Site, publication, and media data collection using Python-based
scraping tools
M. Barton1, C. Deal1, F. Germano1,2 , A. Black1,2, K. Anderson1,2, D. Rohlman1,2
Affiliation:
1 Superfund Research Center, Oregon State University
2 Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University
Efficient access to structured data is essential for Superfund Research Centers, supporting research, decisionmaking, and research dissemination. We developed a suite of Python-based web scraping tools to automate data extraction and organization to support our research (NPL Site Scraper), track our research publications (Center Publication Scraper), and track the impact of our research (Center News Scraper). Each tool streamlines workflows by transforming dispersed or semi-structured web and file-based content into analyzable formats compatible with Google Sheets and database systems.
All three Python-based scrapers use libraries such as requests, BeautifulSoup, and pandas to retrieve and parse HTML and API based content. To collate existing data on the over 1,300 Superfund sites in the United States, the NPL Site Scraper extracts site-level information from EPA online tables and Microsoft Excel files to dynamically parse cleanup milestones from individual site profiles using HTML tree navigation and pattern matching. Outputs are compiled into CSV format with standardized schemas (e.g. NPL Site Scraper: Site Name, EPA ID, Score, NAI Entity, Center Publication Scraper: Title, PMCID, Authors, Center News Scraper: Title, News Agency, Publish Date). The scrapers are open-source and can be easily updated to retrieve additional data as needed.
The Center Publication Scraper repository includes two complementary tools: one for long term publication monitoring using author names and grant identifiers (via Google Scholar and PubMed), and another that operates on PubMed IDs for initial data population. Both support integration with Google Sheets for simple management of results. This tool quickly and accurately identifies all existing and new Center publications, while maintaining an author and alias database for better future matches.
One important metric of our Center evaluation is the number and reach of news articles highlighting Center research. The Center News Scraper queries Google and Bing News for articles related to a curated list of individuals and logs results in Google Sheets. This scraper provides updated data (daily or weekly) on how our research is communicated through media.
Each tool is computationally efficient and works equally well on a dedicated server or local machine. The NPL Site Scraper was configured to capture around 20 variables across 1,300 current and archived NPL sites. The Center Publication scrapers have collectively retrieved over 550 publications, tracking contributions by over 2000 authors since 2009. The Center News Scraper pulls news stories for over 100 investigators, with minimal input needed to remove any false positives.
Together, these tools demonstrate the power of lightweight, domain-specific scraping solutions for transforming fragmented data into structured, actionable formats. Their integration with Google Cloud Platforms supports collaborative data review and centralized management. Future enhancements will include natural language processing, geospatial mapping, automated alerts, and uploading into larger centralized databases.
Superfund Mandates:
Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances
Key Words: Web Scraping, Data Integration, superfund sites
Funding: P42 ES016465
Poster Presentations (Tuesday, Dec. 9) - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. T-05 | Hannah Roe | Texas A&M University SRP
What Does “Success” Look Like in Compliance Check Decisions by the European Chemicals Agency? The Curious Cases of Accepted Read-Across Adaptations
H. Roe1, H-H.D.Tsai1, N. Ball2, K.D. Oware3, G. Han3, W.A. Chiu1, I. Rusyn1
1 Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
2 The Dow Chemical Company, Horgen, Switzerland
3 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
As part of the European Union’s REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) regulation, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is required to assess the completeness of the data submitted by registrants to support safety of their substances. By law, ECHA must examine compliance of at least 20% of the registration dossiers. From 2010 to 2023, 4,855 compliance checks (CCHs) were conducted. When a registration dossier is considered non-compliant by ECHA for standard data requirements, either by missing supporting studies or the inappropriate use of adaptations, a written decision is issued. As of April 2, 2024, 2,312 such decisions have been published and are publicly available. In this study, we systematically examined all these CCH decisions. Specifically, information was extracted from the text on what REACH data requirement(s) were found to be non-compliant and whether registrants proposed any adaptations to these requirements. Our findings show that over 70% CCH decisions contained at least one adaptation, with readacross being the most common (48%) type. Among these, we identified 83 documents (7% of all read-across containing CCH decisions) that contained at least one instance of ECHA finding the read-across hypothesis plausible. To examine these “accepted” read-across hypotheses, we applied 17 assessment elements that capture specific arguments registrants proposed to justify their adaptation. The most common elements of “acceptable” read-across hypotheses included: (i) Strong evidence for toxicokinetic similarity between the target (registered) substance and the analogue(s), and (ii) Toxicodynamic similarity, supported by toxicological data (i.e., bridging studies) supporting the relationship. Additionally, it was found that supporting information from in vitro studies and/or QSAR predictions supporting other toxicity endpoints (i.e., acute toxicity) could further strengthen the read-across hypothesis. Overall, this study provides a systematic analysis of ECHA decisions on read-across adaptations in REACH registration dossiers to gain insights into what does “success” look like. It also highlights the key elements that have been deemed acceptable by ECHA, a regulatory agency known for its rigorous evaluation of proposed adaptations. By identifying cases where read-across hypotheses were found to be “accepted” and examining these in detail, we aim to promote best practices for establishing robust justifications for chemical similarity.
Superfund Mandates:
Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances
Key Words: ECHA, read-across, adaptations
Funding: This research was funded by NIEHS (P42 ES027704), NIEHS (T32 ES026568), and Research support contract from California EPA-OEHHA,
Poster Presentations (Tuesday, Dec.
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. T-06 | Amir Shabazi, Burcu Beykal | Texas A&M University SRP - UCONN
Optimizing Machine Learning Models to Group Complex Chemical Mixtures for Environmental Health Applications
A. Shabazi1, I. Rusyn2, F. Wright3, S. Pistikopoulos4, B. Beykal1
Affiliation:
1 Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Connecticut
2 Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology, Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station TX
3 Department of Statistics, North Carolina State University
4 Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University
The complexity of hazardous chemical mixtures especially Unknown or Variable composition, Complex reaction products, and Biological materials (UVCBs) poses major challenges for exposure assessment, toxicity prediction, and remediation prioritization at contaminated sites. Machine learning (ML) models offer powerful tools to address these challenges by uncovering patterns in analytical characterization datasets. However, these models rely on tunable parameters known as hyperparameters, which are external adjustable parameters that configure and control the learning process of ML models and cannot be estimated directly from data. Their appropriate selection is critical for achieving accurate, generalizable, and interpretable predictions, yet current approaches to hyperparameter tuning such as grid search, random search, and Bayesian optimization are often computationally expensive and heuristic in nature.
We propose a systematic, data-driven decision-making framework that reformulates hyperparameter tuning as a bi-level optimization problem, explicitly capturing the interdependence between parameter selection and model performance. This formulation enables a more structured optimization strategy but introduces significant algorithmic and computational challenges. To address this, we use the Data-driven Optimization of bi-level Mixed-Integer non-linear problems (DOMINO) framework to approximate the bi-level formulation of the crossvalidated hyperparameter optimization problem as a single-level problem. This transformation enables the use of data-driven optimization algorithms to solve the otherwise intractable bi-level problem more efficiently, while still capturing the unknown interactions between hyperparameter choices and model performance.
We demonstrate the framework’s utility on the optimal grouping of UVCB substances based on analytical features derived from a dataset using two-dimensional gas chromatography with flame ionization detector (GC×GC-FID), Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), and Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry (IMMS). The resulting models improve predictive accuracy compared to the ones trained using traditional hyperparameter optimization techniques and enable read-across to predict the environmental health impacts of future unknown complex substances.
Superfund Mandates:
Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances
Key Words: Machine Learning, Hyperparameter Optimization, UVCBs
Funding: This research was funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health grant P42 ES027704.
Poster Presentations (Tuesday,
- Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No.
T-07
| Sascha Usenko | BCM-Rice SRP
The Analytical and
Environmental Chemistry
Core: Quantitative Chemical Identification and Quantification for the Baylor-Rice Superfund Research Program
S. Usenko1, G. Cobb1, T. Solouki2
Affiliation:
1 Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University
2 Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Baylor University
The Analytical and Environmental Chemistry Core (AECC) provides critical expertise and infrastructure to the Baylor College of Medicine-Rice Superfund Research Program (BCM-Rice SRP) as the program’s second Research Support Core. Housed at Baylor University, this chemistry core laboratory will accurately quantify select hazardous organic compounds and inorganic chemicals of concern in a wide range of biological and environmental matrices associated with the project. Measurements will be performed on a broad suite of analytical instrumentation, including gas chromatography (GC) coupled to mass spectrometry (MS), gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS), liquid chromatography ion mobility tandem mass spectrometry (LC-IM-MS/MS), high resolution mass spectrometry, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The accuracy and reproducibility of the trace-level quantitation measurements will be bolstered using isotope dilution mass spectrometry, rigorous simulated calibrations for pattern recognition, and iterative statistical analyses. Core chemists will collaborate with project team members to design sampling strategies, develop and validate analytical methods and standards, and interpret complex environmental and exposure data. These measurements directly support the BCM-Rice SRP and its four projects, which aim to explore the potential heightened risks of preterm birth, neonatal lung injuries, and neurocognitive defects.
Superfund Mandates:
Advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects on human health of hazardous substances, Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances, Methods and technologies to detect hazardous substances in the environment
Key Words: analytical chemistry, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, metabolites and degradation products
Funding: Superfund Grant No.: 5P42ES027725-02
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. T-08 | Rose Nash | Biota - SBIR
Pushing the PFAS Testing Frontier: Rapid PFAS Concentration and Testing
R. Nash1, T. Wieser, E. Chimiak
Affiliation: Biota
Inc.
Background: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a diverse group of highly stable compounds used across industrial and consumer applications, resulting in widespread soil and water contamination. Due to their persistence, bioaccumulation, and health risks, significant resources are being directed toward PFAS removal and destruction. However, PFAS quantification remains a major bottleneck. Conventional methods require solid phase extraction (SPE) and ultra-sensitive mass spectrometry, leading to long turnaround times (>3 weeks) and high costs ($500+ per sample). These limitations hinder timely decision-making for remediation and compliance. Rapid, field-deployable quantification tools are urgently needed to enable real-time monitoring and response.
Methods: Biota developed a proprietary protein-based rapid test for PFAS to enable field-deployed quantification. Assay buffer composition, additives, solvent type and concentration, and reporter ligands were systematically optimized to achieve high sensitivity and reproducibility. Specificity studies evaluated potential interference from fatty acids, given their structural similarity to PFAS and abundance in wastewater. To enhance sensitivity, a complementary magnetic nanoparticle technology was designed to preconcentrate PFAS from complex matrices. Nanoparticle surface ligands were screened and optimized for PFAS affinity, and extraction efficiency and selectivity were evaluated using spiked water samples containing potential competitor compounds.
Results: The optimized stand-alone protein assay achieved a limit of detection of ~5,000 ppt PFOA, a >100-fold linear dynamic range, and a 30-minute total assay time. It exhibited high specificity for PFAS, binding PFOA with ~10× greater affinity than fatty acids, and accurately quantified PFOA in the presence of wastewater-relevant fatty acid levels (1–10 mg/L).
Pre-concentration magnetic nanoparticles achieved >80% extraction efficiency for PFOA and strong selectivity over fatty acids, providing simultaneous cleanup and preconcentration. Integration of nanoparticle preconcentration with the protein assay produced an effective concentration factor sufficient to lower the detection limit to ~50 ppt in <30 minutes.
Conclusions: Biota’s integrated magnetic nanoparticle and protein-based detection system offers a rapid, lowcost platform for on-site PFAS quantification. By replacing SPE with a magnetic preconcentration step and enabling quantitative results in minutes rather than weeks, this technology addresses a critical analytical bottleneck. Future work will expand PFAS panel coverage, validate performance in environmental samples, and advance toward pilot-scale deployment to support utilities, remediation firms, and regulators in data-driven PFAS management.
Superfund Mandates:
Methods and technologies to detect hazardous substances in the environment
Key Words: PFAS, Nanoparticles, Protein Assay
Funding: NIEHS SBIR Phase I, Colorado – OEDIT, Zymo Research, Mazarine Ventures, Antler, Unpopular Ventures, Aerion Capital
Poster Presentations (Tuesday, Dec. 9) - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. T-09
| Ellen Bannon | Columbia University N. Plains SRP
Understanding lithium exposure pathways through water and urinary biomarkers in
the Strong Heart Family Study
E. Bannon1, W. Lieberman2, A. Basu1, A. Mitra1, A.E. Nigra1, C. Izuchukwu1, J. Ross3, S. Azad3, B. Bostick3, S. Chillrud3, K. Schilling1, A.N. Acien1
Affiliation:
1 Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health
2 Department of Occupational Medicine, Epidemiology and Prevention, Northwell Health
3 Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University
Background: Native American communities are disproportionately impacted by chronic exposure to toxic metals compared to the general US population. In the Western US and Northern Plains, investment in exploratory lithium mining raises concerns about potential contamination in nearby Tribal communities. The future risks posed by water contamination requires understanding its connection to exposure. To do so, we evaluated the association between drinking water lithium and urinary lithium among participants enrolled in the Strong Heart Family Study (SHFS).
Methods: Spot urine samples were collected during Phase 5 (2006-2009) and Phase 7 (2022-2024) of the SHFS, and the tap water samples were measured from participant households during Phase 7. We calculated the mean change in urinary lithium over time and assessed the correlation between water lithium and urinary lithium. We used generalized estimating equations to estimate the association between urinary lithium and water lithium levels, while adjusting for participant characteristics, study center, and water source type.
Results: Urinary lithium was stable across both phases, and Phase 7 water lithium was positively correlated with urinary lithium from both Phase 5 (ρ = 0.61, p < 0.001) and Phase 7 (ρ = 0.54, p < 0.001). In the fully adjusted models, a doubling of water lithium resulted in 9% higher in urinary lithium levels (GMR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.06-1.13, p<0.001). Participants who reported using private well water had 41% higher urinary lithium levels compared to those who used other water sources (GMR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.07-1.86, p=0.013). Urinary lithium was 102% higher in Arizona compared to Oklahoma (GMR: 2.02, 95% CI: 1.61-2.54, p<0.001) and 80% higher in North and South Dakota compared to Oklahoma (GMR: 1.80, 95% CI: 1.58-2.06, p<0.001).
Conclusion: Drinking water is a major source of lithium exposure, exposures vary by region and water source, and urinary lithium levels have not declined overtime. These findings raise questions about regulation, equity, and potential long-term health effects of chronic lithium exposure.
Superfund Mandates:
Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances
Key Words: Lithium; drinking water; exposure assessment
Funding: The Strong Heart Study was supported by grants from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute contracts 75N92019D00027, 75N92019D00028, 75N92019D00029, and 75N92019D00030; previous grants R01HL090863, R01HL109315, R01HL109301, R01HL109284, R01HL109282, and R01HL109319; and cooperative agreements U01HL41642, U01HL41652, U01HL41654, U01HL65520, and U01HL65521; and by National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences grants R01ES021367, R01ES025216, R01ES032638, R01ES035219, P42ES033719, and P30ES009089 and grant R01DK138542 from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease. We thank all the Strong Heart Study participants and Tribal Nations that made this research possible.
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. T-10 | Grace Santos | Columbia University N. Plains SRP
Urinary selenium species: associations with sociodemographic, lifestyle, and health characteristics in the Strong Heart Study (SHS)
G. Santos1, K. Ni1, W.A. Anderson1, K. Schilling1, A. Kupsco1, J.G. Umans2,3, R. O’Leary4, T. Zacher4, Y. Zhang5, A.M. Fretts6, A. Navas-Acien1, R.A. Glabonja1,7
Affiliation:
1 Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY.
2 MedStar Health Research Institute, Washington, DC.
3 Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences, Georgetown/Howard Universities, Washington, DC.
4 Epidemiology Division, Missouri Breaks Industries Research Inc., Eagle Butte, SD.
5 Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK.
6 Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
7 Institute of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
BACKGROUND: Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element that models a narrow optimal daily intake range and a U-shaped dose-response relationship. Studies on the effects of Se show paradoxical results associated with both under- and over-supply of Se for a wide range of diseases and health related conditions. Identifying Se species may contribute critical information about the bioavailability and toxicological potential of Se and its species.
METHODS: An established speciation method using high performance liquid chromatography in tandem with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry instrumentation efficiently quantified five individual Se species (selenite, selenate, trimethylselenonium ion (TMSe), selenosugar 1 (SeSug1), and selenosugar 3 (SeSug3)) in 100 urine samples from a subset of Strong Heart Study (SHS) participants. Descriptive statistics were used to assess differences in individual urinary Se species concentrations overall and by participant characteristics (sex, age, level of education, study site, smoking status, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, and type-2 diabetes). Trends were visualized through forest plots, boxplots, and correlation matrices.
RESULTS: The median (interquartile range) of urinary Se concentrations were <0.10 (<0.10, 0.20), 0.11 (<0.10, 0.33), 0.39 (0.24, 0.64), 6.4 (3.64, 10.52), and 2.02 (1.27, 3.5) µg Se/L urine (specific gravity normalized) for selenite, selenate, TMSe, SeSug1, and SeSug3, respectively. There were higher urinary concentrations across all Se species for participants with vs. without type-2 diabetes. The two inorganic Se species (selenate and selenite) showed similar trends across demographic and health characteristics. SeSug1 and SeSug3 exhibited inverse trends across increasing levels of BMI and blood pressure. TMSe concentrations were the highest in those who were classified as TMSe producers (>3% TMSe of total Se measurement) and in the oldest age group (71-90 years).
CONCLUSIONS: This study provides novel information on urinary Se species as a non-invasive approach to characterizing levels of Se intake and metabolism in epidemiological studies. These results aim to discover individual-level factors influencing Se species excretion with applications toward establishing urinary Se speciation as a future potential biomarker for diagnosis and monitoring of various health outcomes
Superfund Mandates:
Advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects on human health of hazardous substances, Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances
Key Words: selenium, speciation, biomarkers
Funding: NIEHS T32 ES007322
Poster
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. T-11
| Diksha Manhas | University of Arizona SRP
Bioavailability and toxicokinetics of arsenic associated with dust exposure in mice
D. Manhas, H. Li, S. Yang, W. Han, Q-Y. Zhang, M.K. Amistadi, R. Root, J. Chorover, X. Ding
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721; Department of Environmental Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721.
Chronic environmental exposure to arsenic metal(loid)s, the major toxic contaminants in mine tailings (mt), is associated with increased incidence of lung diseases, including both malignant and non-malignant conditions, as well as other systemic health effects in humans, posing a significant health risk to people living near contaminated sites. Populations residing near mining sites may be chronically exposed, often over decades, to toxic metal(loid)s via the inhalation of dust particles and ingestion of contaminated water or food, as the contaminants may become bioaccessible and cause various diseases. However, the potential of inhaled arsenic and other metal(loid)s in mt-PMs to induce various lung diseases is unclear, partly due to the lack of knowledge about the bioavailability of individual toxicants in the target tissue following inhalation exposure. The aim of this study is to explore bioavailability and toxicokinetics of arsenic associated with dust exposure in mice. Two experiments were conducted to explore the bioavailability of arsenic from dust exposure. In the first study, arseniosiderite (AsSid [Ca2Fe3+3(AsO4)3O2·3H2O]), a naturally occurring As-containing mineral with high arsenic bioaccessibility and found in mt from Superfund sites, were used to assess in vivo serum bioavailability of various arsenic species following oral ingestion in mice. Various arsenic species, including arsenite (As(III)), arsenate (As(V)); dimethylarsinic acid (DMA(V)), and monomethylarsonic acid (MMA(V)), as well as total arsenic, were measured in the serum at 30 min following oral exposure via gavage to a single dose of sodium arsenite in water (2.5 µg As/mouse) or AsSid in an aqueous suspension (40 µg As/mouse). The results indicate that arsenic in AsSid is readily bioavailable in vivo, though the conversion of arsenite to DMA was somewhat slower than in mice exposed to sodium arsenite. In the second study, As(V)-doped Arizona road dust (AZRD) was compared with sodium arsenite exposure in drinking water, to identify the proportion of various arsenic species in the serum and lung. The findings indicate that in mice exposed to As(III) via drinking water for 1-28 days, the predominant arsenic species detected in serum and lung tissues was DMA, rather than inorganic As(III) or As(V). In contrast, a higher proportion of arsenic in the lungs of mice exposed to dust-associated, inhaled arsenic was present as As(III) compared to those exposed through drinking water. Given the known ability of As(III) to activate Nrf2, these data suggest that inhaled, dust-contained arsenate will be more effective in activating Nrf2 target genes in the lung than arsenic exposure through ingestion. Further studies are underway to determine the tissue bioavailability of As(III) in the lung of mice exposed to inhaled AsSid PM and ultimately to identify the arsenic species involved in arsenic lung toxicity.
Superfund Mandates:
Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances, Methods and technologies to detect hazardous substances in the environment
Key Words: Arsenic species, Bioavailability, Inhalation exposure
Funding: Supported by NIH grant P42 ES004940
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. T-12 | Roselyn Tanghal | Southern California SRP-SHARP Center
Adherence to a Planetary Health Diet is Associated with Lower PFAS Exposure in the Multiethnic Cohort
R. Tanghal1, Z. Li1, A. Paik1, H. Wang1, S. Han1, S. Andra2, R.O Wright2, J.A. Goodrich1, A.C. Maretti-Mira4, L. Golden-Mason3, D.V. Conti1, V. W. Setiawan1, L. Chatzi1
1 Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90032, United States
2 Department of Environmental Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States
3 Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, United States
Background and Purpose: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are environmentally persistent chemicals linked to adverse health outcomes. While prior studies have identified diet as a key source of exposure, its potential role as a mitigator for PFAS burden remains largely unexplored. The Planetary Health Diet (PHD), proposed by the EAT-Lancet Commission, is a new dietary framework designed to promote human health and minimize environmental impact, and it may also lower PFAS levels by limiting intake of processed meat and emphasizing plant-based foods. This study examines the association between PHD adherence and PFAS concentrations in a diverse population.
Methods: We analyzed a subset of 2,783 participants from the Multiethnic Cohort. Plasma PFAS levels were measured in samples collected between 1994 and 2004 using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LCMS). Planetary Health Diet Index (PHDI) scores were derived from baseline validated food frequency questionnaires (1993-96) and categorized into quintiles. We conducted multivariate linear regression analyses to assess the association between PHDI quintiles and PFAS concentrations. Analyses were adjusted for age at blood draw, sex, race and ethnicity, study area, time between baseline entry and blood draw, body mass index and alcohol intake.
Results: The study included male (44%) and female (56%) participants, with a mean age of 65 years. Japanese Americans comprised 56% of the cohort. PHDI scores ranged from 33 to 120, with higher values reflecting greater adherence. Greater adherence to the PHD was associated with lower plasma concentrations for both legacy and emerging PFAS. Participants in the highest quintile had, on average, 3.79 ng/mL lower sum legacy PFAS concentrations (Q5 versus Q1 beta: -3.79, 95% CI: -6.26, -1.33; trend P=0.004), whereas associations with sum emerging PFAS were weaker (beta: -0.15, 95% CI: -0.40, 0.10; trend P=0.811). A higher PHDI score was also associated with lower plasma concentrations of perfluorosulfonic acids (PFSAs) (beta: -3.31, 95% CI: -5.55, -1.07; trend P=0.005) and perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) (beta: -0.47, 95% CI: -1.00, 0.06; trend P=0.066).
Conclusion: Higher adherence to the PHD is associated with lower PFAS concentrations, particularly legacy PFAS and PFSAs. These findings suggest that dietary patterns aligned with the PHD may help reduce PFAS exposure and mitigate associated health risks.
Superfund Mandates:
Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances
Key Words: PFAS, exposure, dietary pattern
Funding: P42ES036506
Poster Presentations (Tuesday, Dec. 9) - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster
No. T-13
| Kristen Riedinger | MIT SRP
Low-level N-nitrosamine occurrence in disinfected drinking water and relationships with standard water quality indicators
K.
Riedinger1, N.A. Bugher1, A.S. Wardle1, K.M. Vandiver2, B. Baskaran3, Z. Michael1, G.A. deVera1, D.L. Plata1
Affiliation:
1 Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
2 Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
3 Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) is a probable human carcinogen that can be formed in drinking water treatment systems as a byproduct of chloramination and chlorination. Occurrence of NDMA and other N-nitrosamines in the United States has been previously assessed using a variety of techniques, but few studies have been able to distinguish between levels between concentrations above and below suggested screening levels (e.g., 0.7 ng/L for NDMA). This study evaluated the presence of NDMA and seven other N-nitrosamines in two drinking water distribution systems in the northeastern United States (n=40 locations) and assessed factors influencing its occurrence. NDMA was present in 98% of water samples across both systems (MDL 0.15 ng/L) with higher concentrations in the system utilizing chloramination (0.39-1.32 ng/L) than the system utilizing chlorination (0.200.54 ng/L). Samples were collected before and after flushing taps, and higher concentrations of NDMA were observed in samples collected prior to flushing, suggesting increased formation due to temporary stagnation. NNitrosomorpholine was the only other N-nitrosamine detected in samples taken after tap flushing (5% detection rate; MDL 0.21 ng/L), though four additional nitrosamines were detected before flushing in at least one sample. Water quality parameters (i.e., chlorine residual, dissolved organic carbon, total dissolved nitrogen, specific UV absorbance, pH, temperature, specific conductance) and other disinfection byproducts (trihalomethanes) were measured to assess correlations with NDMA occurrence, and NDMA concentrations were negatively correlated with residual chlorine (i.e., a proxy for water age) in both distribution systems. These observations illustrate the potential prevalence of low-level nitrosamine occurrence in disinfected drinking water and provide a framework for system-specific understanding of NDMA occurrence, which can aid in prioritizing locations where further investigation may be needed to mitigate potential exposure risks.
Superfund Mandates:
Methods and technologies to detect hazardous substances in the environment
Key Words: N-nitrosamines, NDMA, Drinking Water
Funding: NIH-NIEHS Superfund Research Program Grant P42-ES027707, NIH-NIEHS Training Grant in Environmental Toxicology T32-ES007020, and MathWorks Fellowship
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster
No. T-14
| Allison Dickey | Texas A&M University SRP - NCSU
Visualizing Structural Relationships through Clustering in Mass Spectrometry Datasets
A. Dickey1, F. Wright2, E. Baker3
Affiliation:
1 Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University
2 Departments of Statistics and Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University
3 Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
We have developed a Shiny application to visualize molecule clustering through dendrograms based on mass spectrometry features that are detected in a platform containing coupled liquid chromatography, ion mobility spectrometry and mass spectrometry separations (LC-IMS-MS). The use of feature-based clustering in this app expands on the Structural-based Connectivity and Omic Phenotype Evaluations (SCOPE) cheminformatics toolbox (https://github.com/MelOdenkirk/SCOPE) and allows structural and biological relationships to be identified without prior knowledge of molecular formulas. Feature-based clustering can also be used to classify unknown compounds from non-targeted mass spectrometry analyses into structural groups. Potential features that can be included in the clustering are the LC retention times, IMS collision cross sections, MS m/z values and calculated Kendrick mass defects (KMD). The KMD can be useful in identifying molecules that belong to a homologous series and it is available in the app for two molecular fragments (CH2, CF2). The app can also generate scatter plots for selected features, which enables comparisons between the molecule clustering displayed on the dendrograms and the individual features which can help identify dataset outliers. The app can be used with different types of datasets and we will present examples of the dendrograms that can be generated using features from two previously published studies. In the first study, mice were exposed to either PFAS hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) or Nafion byproduct 2 (NBP2) [1]. Changes to the hepatic lipid abundance were evaluated in the study and here we will show how the lipid regulation is linked with the lipid subclasses. In the second study, non-targeted mass spectrometry was used to analyze aquatic passive samplers that were located near a fluorochemical manufacturer [2]. PFAS with previously unknown structures were elucidated in the study and we will discuss how these molecules cluster with PFAS molecules that have known structures and classes.
1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141654
2. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adj7048
Superfund Mandates:
Methods and technologies to detect hazardous substances in the environment
Key Words: dendrogram, clustering, cheminformatics
Funding: This research was funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health grant P42 ES027704.
Poster Presentations (Tuesday, Dec. 9) - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster
No. T-15
| Aleida Machorro | Rice University – BCM-Rice SRP
Surface-Enhance Infrared Absorption Spectroscopy for Chemical Detection of PFAS Using a Compact and Dense Array of Gold Cross Antennas
A.
Machorro1 , A.B. Sanchez-Alvarado2, N. Craft2, P. Nordlander2,3, N.J. Halas3
Affiliation:
1 Applied Physics Graduate Program, Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA; Laboratory for Nanophotonics, Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA
2 Laboratory for Nanophotonics, Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA; Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA
3 Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA; Laboratory for Nanophotonics, Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA; Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA; Department of Materials Science and Nanoengineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used in products due to their durability and heat, oil, and water resistance. However, their bioaccumulation and toxicity are hazardous to humans and animals, causing serious health effects such as cancer or disruption of regular reproductive functions. These qualities have made their detection in soil, water, and other sources a public health matter. Traditional techniques have not been sufficient to monitor these contaminants constantly. Here, we show compact and dense arrays of gold antennas that can detect PFAS using conventional IR sources. By changing the size of these antennas, we can tune them to access a specific frequency range in the electromagnetic spectrum where the IR modes of the target molecules to be detected are. Other factors we tested to improve the response are the distance between them to increase packing density and their lattice, which, alongside size, are optimized through simulations. Using these antennas to enhance the IR vibrations of low-concentration samples will allow constant monitoring and informed decisionmaking over these hazardous contaminants.
Superfund Mandates:
Advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects on human health of hazardous substances, Methods and technologies to detect hazardous substances in the environment
Key Words: Detection, PFAS, Infrared
Funding:
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. T-16 | Danielle Delp | Michigan State University SRP – Rutgers University
Spatial variation in dechlorination of 1,2-dichlorobenzene in the Tittabawassee River, Saginaw River & Bay Superfund site
D. Delp1, N. Aviges1, B. Upham2, R. Dean3, A. Cupples2, G. Zylstra1, S. Hashsham2, D. Fennell1
Affiliation:
1 Rutgers University
2 Michigan State University
3 United States Environmental Protection Agency
Over 50 miles of the Tittabawassee and Saginaw rivers in Michigan have been contaminated with chlorinated dibenzop-dioxins and -furans (PCDD/Fs) due to previous chemical manufacturing operations in Midland, MI. Sediments contaminated with these toxic and carcinogenic compounds require remediation to protect local communities from exposure. A potential solution is to stimulate organohalide respiring bacteria (OHRB) in situ to transform the PCDD/Fs into less-chlorinated congeners that have lower toxicity. This study aims to investigate whether PCDD/Fs are dechlorinated by intrinsic OHRB and to identify the responsible organisms. Our current PCDD/F studies are investigating the dechlorination of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran (2,3,7,8-TCDF), the primary PCDD/F congener. A variety of remedial stimulatory treatments are being examined, including 1,2dichlorobenzene (1,2-DCB), an aromatic organohalide with an analogous structure to the most toxic 2,3,7,8-PCDD/F congeners, as an alternative, more readily available substrate to stimulate OHRB activity. 1,2-DCB was previously shown to stimulate OHRB to dechlorinate 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in Passaic River, NJ, sediment microcosms.
Surficial riverine sediments were recovered from eight locations along a 30-mile stretch of the Tittabawassee River between Midland and Saginaw, MI. Sediments were incubated in batch-scale (60 mL) anaerobic microcosms for 190 days to observe the dechlorination of 1,2-dichlorobenzene (1,2-DCB). We also established initial sediment microcosms (100 mL) amended with 2,3,7,8-TCDF and other amendments, including 1,2-DCB.
Dechlorination of 1,2-DCB to chlorobenzene and ultimately to benzene was observed in microcosms from six of the eight locations. Microcosms from one location exhibited a final step to monochlorobenzene, while those from another location showed no substantial activity. The rate and extent of dechlorination varied between locations; however, no clear trend was observed between activity and distance from the source of the contamination in Midland. Samples from select post-incubation microcosms were sent for 16S rRNA gene sequencing to identify the major bacterial species that were enhanced during incubation. Results from initial incubations co-amended with 2,3,7,8-TCDF and 1,2-DCB indicate that OHRB were able to fully dechlorinate 1,2-DCB within 60 days of incubation; however, simultaneous dechlorination of 2,3,7,8-TCDF was not observed even after 360 days of incubation. Additional investigations are underway testing co-amendment with activated carbon, vitamin B12, and a novel electron donor to further stimulate the bacterial community.
The findings suggest that the ability to dechlorinate 1,2-DCB was widespread along the river; however, the bacterial community may not be uniform across the entire impacted Tittabawasse-Saginaw River system, given the variation in rates and extents of dechlorination. It is yet to be determined how the results with 1,2-DCB translate to dechlorination of PCDD/Fs. Ultimately, remedial treatments at different locations may need to be altered to meet the unique needs of the in situ bacterial consortia
Superfund Mandates:
Methods and technologies to detect hazardous substances in the environment, Basic biological, chemical, and physical methods to reduce the amount of toxicity of hazardous substances
Key Words: bioremediation, dioxin, furan
Funding: Superfund Grant #P42ES004911
Poster Presentations (Tuesday, Dec. 9) - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. T-17 | Tate Matthews | Texas A&M University SRP
Characterization of Volatile Organic Compounds from a Tire Recycling Facility Fire in Jackson, MS
T. Matthews1, A. Holman1, O. Oledji2, A. Presto2, N. Johnson1
1 Texas A&M University
2 Carnegie Mellon University
Complex mixtures of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are often released during environmental disasters, yet their composition and health implications remain poorly characterized. This study presents a case study of a prolonged tire fire in Jackson, Mississippi, as an example of rapid disaster response and VOC mixture assessment. On August 17, 2024, a fire ignited at a tire recycling facility, producing smoke plumes that raised community concerns about air quality and health risks. While initial monitoring by state agencies reported particulate matter and other pollutants below acute guideline thresholds, characterization of VOC mixtures remained limited. To address this gap, the Texas A&M University mobile responding to air pollution in disasters (mRAPiD) laboratory was deployed from September 5–7 to conduct non-targeted analysis (NTA) using a proton transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometer (PTR-ToF-MS). Ninety VOCs were detected across multiple sites, with 34 compounds uniquely associated with the tire fire source. Targeted quantification identified elevated concentrations of benzene, toluene, and ethylbenzene/xylenes at the facility relative to background locations. Hazard screening via the U.S. EPA CompTox Chemicals Dashboard indicated that many detected VOCs lacked toxicity data, but available profiles suggested potential risks for acute inhalation, dermal toxicity, and irritation. These findings highlight the value of rapid NTA in disaster response for identifying complex VOC mixtures and informing community risk communication, particularly for small-scale but persistent industrial fires that may otherwise be overlooked
Superfund Mandates:
Advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects on human health of hazardous substances, Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances, Methods and technologies to detect hazardous substances in the environment
Key Words: VOC, air monitoring, hazard
Funding: T32 ES026568 P42 ES027704
Poster No. T-18
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
| Meredith Schervish | Texas A&M University SRP
Historical air quality changes at Superfund sites in Texas
M. Schervish, W.A. Chiu
Affiliation: Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Superfund sites are designated based on contamination of hazardous pollutants from sources such as manufacturing, mining facilities, and landfills. Clean up and removal of a site from the registry may lead to additional air quality co-benefits that are not assessed during the clean up process. In this work we utilize historical air quality monitoring data from the EPA monitoring sites, TCEQ, and IMPROVE network to assess air pollution changes near superfund sites in Texas before and after their designation. We identify Superfund sites not designated explicitly for air quality reasons and assess whether “clean up” led to co-beneficial air quality improvements. Additionally we compare with monitors at locations not near a designated Superfund site to assess whether the Superfund designation led to additional benefits beyond general air quality improvement or whether Superfund designation brought additional polluters to the area, leading to less improvement. We perform HYSPLIT back trajectories to identify sources of air pollutants at the monitoring sites and assess exposure to populations before and after Superfund designation. Overall, we aim to identify whether Superfund designation has led to additional air quality co-benefits near sites and whether regional monitors not near a designated site have experienced similar air quality improvement.
Superfund Mandates:
Methods and technologies to detect hazardous substances in the environment
Key Words: air quality, monitoring, PM2.5
Funding: NIH
Poster Presentations (Tuesday, Dec. 9) - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No.
T-19
| Taekyoung Kim | University of California Berkeley
A Colorimetric TOP Assay Coupled with EPA Method 1633 for Standardized PFAS Precursor Oxidation and Total PFAS Analysis
T. Kim1, D.L. Sedlak1, C.P. Higgins2
Affiliation:
1 University of California Berkeley
2 Colorado School of Mines
The Total Oxidizable Precursor (TOP) assay is used to convert PFAS precursors into measurable perfluoroalkyl acids (PFCAs), but oxidation efficiency and detection can be strongly influenced by matrix effects. In complex samples (e.g., hazardous waste sites and industrial wastewater) containing surfactants or solvents, suppression of radical generation and ionization often leads to underestimated PFCAs yields.
Conventional TOP assays typically require at least 6.5 hours to overnight oxidation, and previously relied on mass-labeled PFAS to verify oxidation efficiency. However, these tracers have now been incorporated into the EIS (extracted internal standards) of U.S. EPA Method 1633, leaving no practical compound available to serve as an oxidation efficiency indicator.
To address these limitations, we developed a new colorimetric TOP protocol using nitrobenzene as an oxidation efficiency tracer. Its visible color changes during oxidation reflect radical formation and the progress of precursor oxidation, eliminating the need for mass-labeled precursor standards. The revised protocol was further integrated with EPA Method 1633, providing a consistent framework for precursor oxidation and total PFAS analysis.
This colorimetric indicator allows users to determine in real time whether oxidation has reached completion before LC-MS/MS analysis. When no color change occurs, it indicates excessive matrix interference and incomplete oxidation, allowing reprocessing before invalid measurements occur. This capability prevents unnecessary LC-MS/MS runs, reducing analysis time and cost while improving reproducibility.
Validation with aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF) and semiconductor wastewater confirmed that nitrobenzene color change strongly correlates with ΔPFCA formation measured by LC-MS/MS. Overall, this approach offers a rapid, low-cost, and standardized method for verifying precursor oxidation and enhancing quality assurance in total PFAS quantification.
Superfund Mandates:
Methods and technologies to detect hazardous substances in the environment
Key Words: PFAS, Modified 1633, TOP Assay
Funding: Grant P42 ES004705
Poster
No. T-20
Poster Presentations
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
| Olivia Jones | University of North Carolina Chapel Hill SRP
Validation of a national machine learning model for arsenic in groundwater at a regional scale: implications for exposure assessment
O. Jones1, C.E. Harrington,1, A.J. Gardner1, L.A. Eaves1,2, R.C. Fry1,2
Affiliation:
1 Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
2 Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
North Carolina (NC) has one of the largest populations reliant on well water, and high levels of iAs in well water have been identified. Where limited or no iAs testing has been conducted, machine learning (ML) can identify areas potentially at risk for elevated iAs, helpful for mitigation efforts as well as exposure assessment. However, few studies validate ML results using external datasets. In this study, we analyze the levels of agreement between national-scale ML models of iAs in comparison to iAs measured in private well tests. National-scale ML models of estimated iAs concentration range (ug/L), probability of concentration >5 μg/L, and probability of concentration 5 μg/L were obtained from Lombard et al. These models were compared to the mean, % tests above limit of detection, and % tests above EPA MCL variables calculated from direct measurements of iAs in NC wells , obtained from the NCWELL database compiled by Eaves et al. Comparisons examined whether ML outputs agreed with NCWELL indicators across three spatial scales (census tract, geological formation, 1x1 km grid). We found that all ML outputs had >90% agreement with NCWELL indicators for all spatial scales. Across the spatial scales, areas with disagreement were located in regions with known high iAs concentrations. These findings indicate that national-scale ML models hold promise for iAs detection in low/no testing areas. Additionally, these results may be used to enhance national models to regional scales that have specific geologic or anthropogenic factors influencing contamination.
Superfund Mandates:
Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances
Key Words: Arsenic, Machine learning, Private wells
Funding: This study was funded by the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences (P42ES031007).
Poster Presentations (Tuesday, Dec. 9) - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. T-21 | Cailee Harrington | University of North Carolina Chapel Hill SRP
Well Water Arsenic and Diabetes Prevalence in North Carolina
C. Harrington1, LA. Eaves1,2, E.D. Brown3, A.P. Keil4, M. Serre1,2, M. Stybio2,5, R.C Fry1,2
Affiliation:
1 Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
2 Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
3 Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, UNC Chapel Hill.
4 National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD
5 Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
High concentrations of inorganic arsenic (iAs) have been found in well water samples in areas of North Carolina (NC), ranging above 800 ppb. Elevated iAs levels pose a significant public health threat and have been strongly linked to diabetes and many other health effects. Despite elevated iAs identified in NC and high rates of well water usage in the state, no studies have assessed the associations between iAs and diabetes in NC. To fill this gap, we analyzed the relationship between iAs measured in private well water and diabetes prevalence in NC census tracts (n=1,575) using an ecologic study design. Mean census tract iAs concentrations were derived from the NCWELL database of well water tests from 1998-2019 (n=110,383 iAs tests). Census tract crude diabetes prevalence estimates were obtained from the CDC PLACES study. Using general linear regression models, these diabetes estimates were regressed against log-transformed mean iAs from NCWELL. A significant, positive association was observed between iAs and diabetes (β=1.62, p<0.0001). This is equivalent to an estimated average increase in diabetes prevalence of 1.62% for each increase in 10 ppb iAs. These results are in agreement with numerous studies in other locations that have found associations between iAs exposure and diabetes. The finding of an association in NC provides evidence for the need to identify and assist individuals with exposure to elevated iAs in well water in the state.
Superfund Mandates:
Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances
Key Words: Arsenic, diabetes, private wells
Funding: This study was funded by UNC Superfund Research Program.
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No.
T-22
| Xenia De Gracia Medina | University of Arizona The DUST Center SRP
Why Some Mine Tailings Are More Toxic Than Others: The Role of Climate and Minerals in Human Health Risk
X. De Gracia Medina, M. Alghzawi, R.A. Root, B. Song, J. Chorover
Affiliation:
University of Arizona
Legacy mine tailings are persistent sources of arsenic (As) and other toxic elements that can threaten nearby communities. Current health risk assessments often rely on default bioavailability values that do not reflect how the local climate and mineralogy controls As exposure hazard. In this study, we examined tailings from eleven sulfidic legacy mining sites across the western United States. The sites span a range in climate, from arid deserts to humid mountain regions. At each site, we collected 10 cm depth-resolved samples to >1 m for pH, mineralogy, and As in vitro bioaccessibility (IVBA). The IVBA is used to estimate the amount of As that could dissolve in the human stomach if tailings dust is ingested. Synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) was used to identify depth (and climate) driven arsenic speciation and the atomic-scale environmental dynamics. Our results show that climate strongly influences the depth and intensity of tailings oxidation. Arid sites had shallow weathering fronts and higher surface As bioaccessibility, often associated with iron minerals like ferrihydrite and jarosite. In contrast, wetter sites formed more stable arsenic minerals, such as scorodite, which lowered bioaccessibility. These mineral transformations, and the redox gradients that drive them, play a strong role in controlling As lability and bioaccessibility. By linking bioaccessibility with mineralogical and climatic controls, our findings highlight the benefit of linking site-specific analyses to risk models. Incorporating these mechanistic insights can help improve exposure estimates and better protect communities living near abandoned mine lands under changing climate conditions.
Superfund Mandates:
Key Words: bioaccessibility, arsenic, mine tailings, climate, speciation, risk assessment
Funding: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Poster Presentations (Tuesday, Dec. 9) -
Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances, Methods and technologies to detect hazardous substances in the environment
Poster Presentations (Tuesday,
9) - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. T-23
| Mackenzie Freeman | University of New Mexico METALS SRP
Tracing the Environmental Dust Release from the Jackpile Mine, Pueblo of Laguna, NM by Particulate Matter Capture by Lichen
M. Freeman1, E. El Hayek2, J. Cerrato3, T. Mackey1, A. Roros1, A. Garcia4, G. Jojola4, C. Shuey5, A.J Brearley1
Affiliation:
1 Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of New Mexico
2 COP Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of New Mexico
3 Civil Engineering, University of New Mexico
4 Environmental and Natural Resources, Pueblo of Laguna
5 Southwest Research and Information Center
The Western USA hosts significant uranium deposits that were exploited during the uranium boom of the 1950s. Many of these mines were later abandoned with minimal to no remediation; this project focuses on the JackpilePaguate abandoned uranium mine on the Pueblo of Laguna in New Mexico. No environmental monitoring of particulate matter produced as a result of open pit mining was carried out during the three-decade period of uranium ore extraction. This study uses lichen as a passive bio-monitor for understanding legacy environmental air quality in and around the mine site and surrounding communities, as well as in sites more distant from the mine for background environment metals concentrations.
The mineralogical and trace element compositions of lichens and extracted particulate matter (PM) have been studied using SEM and ICP-MS. SEM analyses of extracted PM have found PM10 to >PM2.5 particulates of various metal alloys of likely anthropogenic origin, but no U-bearing particulates to date. ICP-MS data show elevated concentrations of metals such as U, Ti, Ni, As, Cd and Pb, particularly in the PM accumulated in the lichen over their entire lifespan, years up to several decades in some cases. Notably, this study has developed a method for PM extraction from lichens for detailed characterization. These samples can be used for future analyses of the ultrafine-grained PM fraction (,1 micron) using TEM, to understand the characteristics of both natural and anthropogenic dust carriers of elevated metals concentrations.
Superfund Mandates:
Methods and technologies to detect hazardous substances in the environment
Key Words: Jackpile Uranium Mine, Lichen, Particulate Matter
Funding: METALS Superfund Research Center NIEHS grant P42 ES025589
Poster Presentations
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. T-24 | Nikki Barlow | Texas A&M University SRP
Leveraging Ion Mobility Spectrometry-Mass Spectrometry (IMS-MS) For Rapid
Exposure Assessment of Complex Chemical Mixtures
N. Barlow1, T. McDonald1, J. Dodds2, E. Baker2, I Rusyn1
Affiliation:
1 Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
2 University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
Military personnel may encounter complex and potentially hazardous chemical exposures during deployment, training, and occupational activities. Rapid and accurate exposure assessments to determine potential exposures are crucial for protecting warfighters’ health, informing risk mitigation strategies, and guiding medical interventions or countermeasures.
Traditional analytical techniques, such as LC-MS and GC-MS, are typically used to detect one compound or a narrow class of chemicals at a time. While these methods offer high quantitative sensitivity, they are limited in scope and are not well-suited for characterizing the complex mixtures of contaminants encountered in real-world scenarios. This study evaluated the potential of ion mobility spectrometry-mass spectrometry (IMS-MS) as a rapid and efficient analytical platform for characterizing diverse chemical mixtures in human serum.
To assess IMS-MS performance on human serum samples, extraction methods were developed using a surrogate serum matrix spiked with a range of contaminants relevant to military and environmental exposures. IMS–MS was compared with traditional targeted techniques to evaluate analytical sensitivity, resolution, and throughput for both targeted and non-targeted analyses.
Our findings demonstrate the utility of IMS-MS for rapid and high-throughput toxicant screening in human serum, with enhanced separation and detection of components in complex chemical mixtures. The added ion mobility separation improves specificity and facilitates the detection of both expected and unexpected chemical species.
This study highlights the potential for IMS-MS to be integrated into biomonitoring and exposure surveillance programs. Integrating IMS-MS into military health systems could transform real-time exposure assessments and risk management for active-duty personnel and veterans, strengthening long-term force health protection and operational readiness.
Superfund Mandates:
Methods and technologies to detect hazardous substances in the environment
Key Words: Ion Mobility Spectrometry-Mass Spectrometry (IMS-MS), Chemical Mixtures, Exposure Assessment
Funding: National Institutes of Health (P42 ES027704 and T32 ES026568) and Henry M. Jackson Foundation (HJFA #67659, DOD HU00012420063)
Poster Presentations (Tuesday, Dec. 9) - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. T-25 | Devin Teri | Texas A&M University SRP
Method Development for Exposure Assessment Using Passive Sampling Devices and Ion Mobility Spectrometry-Mass Spectrometry
D. Teri1, T-H. Yen1,2, H-Y. Yang2,3, JU. Dodds4, E.S. Baker4, Y-S. Luo3,5, I Rusyn1
1 Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA
2 Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
3 Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
4 Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
5 Institute of Food Safety and Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
Understanding personal exposure to environmental chemicals is essential for assessing health risks in real-world settings. Silicone wristbands have emerged as promising passive samplers that non-invasively capture a wide range of organic compounds from an individual's environment. This study aimed to demonstrate the use of ion mobility spectrometry–mass spectrometry (IMS-MS), combined with a curated collision cross section (CCS) database, to identify environmentally relevant chemicals captured by wristbands in a human exposure assessment context.
We hypothesized that silicone wristbands, coupled with IMS-MS and CCS matching, provide a rapid, highly informative, and scalable exposure assessment tool. Our primary objective was to establish and apply an IMSMS analytical workflow that incorporates a recently developed reference library of CCS values for over 2,000 environmental chemicals, including pesticides, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and disinfection by-products.
To maximize the range of detected chemicals, we analyzed wristband extracts using multiple ionization modes: electrospray ionization in both positive and negative modes (ESI+/ESI−), and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI+). Lab-based mock exposure studies using wristbands immersed in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) spiked with representative chemical mixtures were used to optimize sample preparation and instrument parameters, such as solvent composition and analyte concentration, for improved recovery and sensitivity. The method was then tested using wristbands worn by volunteers to confirm that the CCS-based identification aligns with expected environmental exposures and that the extraction procedures yield reliable results.
In the future, this method will be applied to field samples from an exposure assessment study of hospital personnel and agricultural workers. Distinct exposure profiles are anticipated; for instance, increased PFAS and disinfectant residues in hospitals, and higher pesticide and PAH levels in agricultural settings.
Ultimately, this study advances personalized exposure assessment by combining passive sampling with highresolution IMS-MS and a comprehensive CCS database. The methodology will enable the detection of both legacy and emerging contaminants with greater confidence and specificity. By establishing a scalable, validated approach, this study supports broader efforts to link hazardous chemical exposures with potential adverse human health outcomes.
Superfund Mandates:
Advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects on human health of hazardous substances, Methods and technologies to detect hazardous substances in the environment
Key Words: Personal Exposure Assessment, Ion Mobility Spectrometry–Mass Spectrometry (IMS-MS), Silicone Wristbands
Funding: P42 ES027704
Poster Presentations
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. T-26 | Allison Fry | Texas A&M SRP – University of North at Carolina Chapel Hill
Integrating Computational Chemistry and Ion Mobility Spectrometry into Non-Targeted Analysis Workflows for Structural Elucidation of Emerging PFAS
A. Fry1, C. Leritano2, W.S. Hopkins2, P.B. Armentrout3, E.S. Baker1
Affiliation:
1 Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2 Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON
3 Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of persistent environmental contaminants with remarkable diversity in chemical structure. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s CompTox Chemicals
Dashboard currently lists over 14,000 unique PFAS, and that number continues to rise as advanced non-targeted analysis (NTA) workflows are applied to identify new chemicals. Ion mobility spectrometry in combination with mass spectrometry (IMS-MS) has been demonstrated as a useful method for the detection and identification of PFAS in NTA. Specifically, MS provides fragmentation and precursor mass information for each detected feature while IMS enables structural analyses which can be converted into collision cross section (CCS) values for normalization and transfer to laboratories worldwide. While experimental CCS values aid in molecular size comparisons, computational chemistry methods have been created to illustrate specific bonding and conformations of molecular structures. A theoretical CCS value can be evaluated for each computational structure for direct comparison with experimental numbers. Error between experimental and theoretical CCS values however must be low (<3%) for structural assignments to be made, especially for unknown analytes identified through NTA. In this work, we created an optimized computational workflow to calculate theoretical Boltzmann-weighted (BW) CCS values of PFAS as current approaches are better suited to investigating more organic-like molecular structures and fail to accurately model the unique electronic properties of fluorine required for PFAS. Although these calculations require more time and resources compared to alternative prediction-based approaches, such as machine learning, current algorithms are often incapable of predicting different CCS values for stereoisomers, including different gas-phase conformations, which are critical when utilizing IMS for NTA applications. In the proposed computational workflow, first, an ensemble of candidate structures for a given analyte is generated using the global optimizer algorithm within the ORCA computational suite. Each candidate is then refined by performing density functional theory (DFT) calculations in Gaussian to optimize geometry, electronic energy, and thermochemical properties. The resulting ensemble of low-energy conformers is then used to calculate individual theoretical CCS values via the trajectory method in MobCal-MPI. The thermochemistry data, coupled-cluster energies, and theoretical CCS values are finally integrated to produce a Boltzmann-weighted CCS value. This workflow was assessed using 50 experimental CCS values representing seven PFAS classes. The average percent error between the 50 theoretical BW-CCS and experimental CCS values was 1.6%. Moreover, 11 new PFAS structures were also proposed for detected features in NTA studies with average errors of 1.3%. The integration of this new computational workflow with experimental IMS-MS measurements thus provides a new way to assign structures to emerging environmental contaminants from NTA.
Superfund Mandates:
Methods and technologies to detect hazardous substances in the environment
Key Words: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), computational chemistry, non-targeted analysis
Funding: This research was funded by the NIEHS P42 ES027704
Poster Presentations (Tuesday, Dec. 9) - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. T-27 | Kara Joseph | Texas A&M SRP – University of North at Carolina Chapel Hill
Maternal PFAS Transfer through Lactation: Dolphin Milk Reveals Routes of Early-Life Exposure
K. Joseph1, A.T. Fall2, J.N. Dodds1, W.A. Chiu2, M.L. Power3, E.S. Baker1
Affiliation:
1 Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2 Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University
3 Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) continue to increase in concentration and prevalence in the environment due to the creation of emerging PFAS and lack of breakdown of legacy compounds. PFAS are known to both bioaccumulate and biomagnify, therefore, species higher on the food chain, such as marine mammals, are highly exposed to these chemicals. Although studies suggest that considerable maternal transfer of persistent organic pollutants occurs via lactation, data is still lacking on the temporal trends associated with PFAS exposure. In this study, we first optimized the extraction for PFAS from 1 mL and 5 mL of milk using QuEChERS extraction method to account for precious breast milk samples that are often only available in small volumes. We then utilized a set of dolphin breastmilk samples from an individual mother across a two-year lactation period to evaluate longitudinal trends in PFAS concentrations and profiles. Thirty PFAS were detected using a multidimensional platform combining liquid chromatography, ion mobility spectrometry, and mass spectrometry (LC-IMS-MS), and of these, 20 PFAS were detected continuously across the nursing window of 103-706 days. Quantitative analysis specifically showed concentrations of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) alone surpass weekly intake recommendations from the European Food Safety Authority and Food Standards Australia New Zealand by 1,000-fold. PFOS, however, decreased slightly over time, possibly due to transfer from feedings. Non-targeted analysis also identified 12 additional compounds including two long-chained perfluorosulfonic acids not traditionally evaluated in targeted analyses, as well as the PFOS precursors, perfluoroethylcyclohexane sulfonate (PFECHS) and 2-(N-ethylperfluorooctanesulfonamido) ethyl phosphate (SAmPAP). This study therefore suggests that breastmilk is a major contributor to early-life PFAS exposure to mammals, particularly for long-chained PFAS.
Superfund Mandates:
Methods and technologies to detect hazardous substances in the environment
Key Words: PFAS, non-targeted analysis, milk
Funding: NIEHS P42 ES027704, National Science Foundation
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. T-28 | Johanna Ganglbauer | University of Rhode Island STEEP SRP
Standardizing data reporting and quality control of PFAS contamination levels across projects
J. Ganglbauer1, J. Sankey1, J.A. Areiza,2, F. Fischer2, A. Slitt2, M-A. Bind4, S. Vojta1, J. Becanova1, R. Lohmann1, H. Dekker3
Affiliation:
1 University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanography
2 University of Rhode Island, College of Pharmacy
3 University of Rhode Island, Libraries
4 MGH Biostatistics Center
Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent and ubiquitous environmental contaminants with harmful effects on human health. They are contained in everyday life products such as textiles and water/grease resistant coatings along with firefighting foams. Long-range transport of PFAS around the world is facilitated by hydrologic and atmospheric processes and bioaccumulation in animals.
One central goal of the Superfund research center, STEEP, is the detection of PFAS in environmental matrices such as water, sediment, and biospecimens (i.e., liver and serum from mice and humans). Passive sampling techniques are frequently employed to aid in the detection of PFAS. Detection and quantification of 60 targeted PFAS compounds are measured by liquid-chromatography tandem high-resolution mass spectrometry (LCHRMS/MS). Analysis is conducted with SCIEX instrumentation and software. The raw data product of SCIEX is a cumbersome table that needs to be further analyzed using a harmonized approach.
Jupyter notebooks have been developed to automate and standardize data processing of results from targeted LC-HRMS/MS analysis. By integrating code, data, and narrative in a single, shareable document, they help ensure that analytical workflows are transparent, reproducible, and consistently formatted.
The developed routine combines raw data from multiple sets of samples (batches) and runs (different sets of targeted compounds), and flags values failing the quality control criteria. Quality control criteria incorporated in the routine have been adopted from guidelines of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, 1633A) and compared to guidelines of the Department of Food and Drug Administration (FDA, Q2(R1)). To maintain the necessary flexibility for research and work across disciplines, certain criteria and calculation methods can be adjusted by researchers, and threshold values can be set as input parameters.
The output of the routine consists of a long-format table comprising the most relevant information in open format (.csv), as well as a spreadsheet. The spreadsheet is used to guide researchers through quality control and further investigate details of the LC-HRMS/MS measurement.
Superfund Mandates:
Methods and technologies to detect hazardous substances in the environment
Key Words: per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), quality control, data management
Funding: This study was funded by the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences (P42ES027706).
Poster Presentations (Tuesday,
Dec. 9)
- Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. T-29 | Olga Skende | URI STEEP SRP
Apple juice concentrate-mediated inhibition of Organic anion transporting polypeptide (Oatp) activity alters systemicand hepatic disposition of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
O. Skende1, S. Ryu1, S. Vojta2, J. Becanova2, J. Zeng1, A.L. Slitt1
Affiliation:
1 Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, United States
2 Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, United States
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of persistent organic pollutants utilized in consumer products and industrial applications for their hydrophobic properties and resistance to degradation. Extensive PFAS exposure poses significant concern because many PFAS accumulate in plasma and tissues, have substantial absorption in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), undergo enterohepatic recirculation, and are slowly eliminated from the body. Many PFAS are ionized at physiological pH and rely on transporters for cellular uptake. In previous studies, PFAS were screened as possible human hepatic Organic Anion Transporting Polypeptide 2B1 (OATP2B1) substrates, PFBS and 6:2FTS were considered to be probable substrates. Polyphenols such as naringin and hesperidin, which are present in apple juice concentrate (AJC), have been shown to be inhibitors of OATPs, and it is known that apple juice consumption can decrease bioavailability of drugs that are OATP substrates. In vitro assays using a human OATP2B1 transfectant, the OATP inhibitors rifamycin sv, naringin, and hesperidin inhibited the uptake of PFBS and 6:2FTS. Thus, it was hypothesized that AJC administration can decrease PFAS absorption in mice, presumably through Oatp inhibition. C57Bl/6J male mice (n=5-6/ treatment group) were administered a single oral dose of a PFAS cocktail (0.1mg/kg of PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, PFBS and 6:2FTS at equal ratios) or 2 daily doses of either 4X AJC/0.5%Tween20 or PBS/0.5%Tween20 for 7 days. Blood was collected via the submandibular vein 2hrs, 5hrs, 24hrs, 48hrs, and 72hrs post PFAS dosing. Blood and tissues were collected 7 days post PFAS administration. Additional C57Bl/6J male mice (n=6/treatment group) were administered PFAS cocktail and 2 doses of either 4XAJC/0.5%Tween20 or PBS/0.5%Tween20, every day, for 7 days. Blood and tissues were collected after 7 days of PFAS dosing. All samples were processed utilizing QuEChERS extraction method for LC/MS analysis. AJC administration decreased PFOS and PFOA area under the plasma concentration time curve to 73% and 62% of the PBS controls, respectively, and delayed PFBS, PFHxS, and 6:2TS absorption. Daily 4X AJC administration for 7 days decreased PFOS and PFOA plasma concentrations to 89% and 67% of PBS controls, respectively. PFBS, PFHxS, and 6:2FTS plasma concentrations were not impacted by AJC administration. AJC decreased liver PFOS and PFOA concentrations to 80% and 58% of PBS control, in mice that received a single PFAS dose and 75% and 59%, in mice that received multiple PFAS doses. Overall, this study is demonstrating the potential of AJC to decrease or delay PFAS absorption, through the inhibition of Oatp transporters in the GIT
Superfund Mandates:
Basic biological, chemical, and physical methods to reduce the amount of toxicity of hazardous substances
Key Words: PFAS, mechanisms, toxicokinetics
Funding: NIH, Sources Transport Exposures Effects of PFASs (STEEP), P42ES027706
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No.
T-3
0 | Sarah Black | Wayne State University CLEAR SRP
Urban Flora as Forensic Tools: Phytoscreening Potential VOC Hotspots Across Detroit’s Industrial Corridors
S. Black, G.A Szewc T.M Shaible, M. Sergeant, E.L Wiese, S Scott, Al. Kosinski, A.T Ceely, L Kramp, B.F O’Leary, R.P. Lekshmy, G.R Hood
Affiliation:
Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
Groundwater contaminated by volatile organic compounds (VOCs) poses serious risks to human health, particularly during fetal development. Detroit, a historically industrial city, contains thousands of known and unknown VOC point sources and currently has the highest preterm birth rate in the United States (~15%; Miller et al., 2020) This health crisis is exacerbated by the difficulty and cost of monitoring subsurface VOC plumes. Phytoscreening, the use of aboveground plant tissues to detect belowground contamination, offers a low-cost alternative for plume detection.
To systematically identify unknown VOC sources across Detroit, we implemented a citywide phytoscreening approach along major roadways of historical industrial significance. We hypothesized that (1) highways in Detroit exhibit higher VOC contamination than non-industrialized urban land (historic parks), and (2) VOC concentrations along highways increase with traffic density and proximity to downtown. We sampled vegetation along five major roads (Woodward Ave, Fort St, Grand River Ave, Gratiot Ave, and Jefferson Ave) converging in Detroit’s city center (Campus Martius). Every 1 km, three plants representing up to five co-occurring species were collected, continuing outward to the city limits and then at 10, 30, and 50 km beyond. Five historic parks that have not previously been industrialized, were also sampled for comparison. Plant organs (leaves, stems, and galls, when present) and co-located soil samples (N = 2,398) were analyzed for BTEX compounds, TCE, PCE, and total VOCs.
Preliminary results indicate that VOC presence is not significantly correlated with traffic volume or distance from roads but is instead associated with historical land use along these corridors. Ongoing analyses aim to (1) map newly discovered VOC point sources and (2) develop predictive models of VOC contamination based on land use patterns.
Superfund Mandates:
Methods and technologies to detect hazardous substances in the environment
Key Words: phytoscreening, environment, VOC
Funding:
Poster Presentations (Tuesday, Dec. 9) - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster
No. T-3
1 | Karoline Tangen | Wayne State University CLEAR SRP
Linking Historical Industrial Legacies to Present-Day VOC Exposure: A Pollution Index Approach in Detroit
K.
Tangen, Y. Wager and Q. Wang
Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
Historic industrial activities in Detroit have left behind numerous contaminated sites, many of which may continue to influence the present-day air quality in surrounding residential communities. To systematically evaluate these potential impacts, we first collected and classified all documented historical pollutants into scientific categories and assigned weighted scores to represent their relative severity. For each sampled residence, all pollution sources within a 5 km radius were identified, and the distance between each source and the residence was incorporated as a weighting factor. These weighted contributions were then aggregated into a cumulative “pollution index,” with optional integration of soil-related correlation coefficients to account for local geochemical influences on vapor mobility.
The resulting pollution index was compared against soil vapor volatile organic compound (VOC) concentrations (benzene and tetrachloroethylene) measured directly at each residence, enabling an assessment of whether proximity to historical contamination sites is statistically associated with current environmental exposures. This approach provides a framework to bridge historical land-use legacies with present-day vapor intrusion risks, offering a quantitative index of cumulative pollution burden
Superfund Mandates:
Methods and technologies to detect hazardous substances in the environment
Key Words:
Funding:
Poster Presentations (Tuesday,
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. T-32 | Sheng Liu | Yale University
SRP
Evaluating 1,4-Dioxane Exposure in Long Island, New York: Comparison of Environmental, Biological, and Survey-Based Measures
S. Liu1,2, N.C. Dezie1, N.P. Johnson1, D. Berardi1, C.J. Clark1,3, C.W. Loughlin1, K.M. Sorrentino1, X Ning1, J.L. Warren4, Z. Liew1, C.H. Johnson1, K.J. GodriPollitt1
Affiliation:
1 Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, USA
2 Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, USA
3University of Minnesota, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55454, USA
4 Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, USAl
1,4-Dioxane (1,4-DX), found in solvents and personal care products, is a potential carcinogen with limited human exposure data available. Despite reductions in US industrial emissions, 1,4-DX’s high mobility and environmental persistence underscore that 1,4-DX continues to pose a concern for US drinking water quality. A national monitoring campaign conducted by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from 2013 to 2015 under the Third Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR3) found that over one-fifth of the US public drinking water supplies contained detectable levels of 1,4-DX. To better understand 1,4-DX exposure from drinking water, the Yale Superfund Center conducted the Water & Health on Long Island Study with 92 residents of Long Island, New York, an area with historically high 1,4-DX drinking water concentrations. Tap water, blood samples, and interview questionnaire data were collected to assess the relationship between water and blood 1,4-DX concentrations, and to evaluate exposure determinants. Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) high resolution gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS) was used to quantify 1,4-DX concentrations in water and blood samples. The results showed 1,4-DX detection in 32% of water and 24% of blood samples, with 24% of water samples exceeding New York’s Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 1 µg/L. There was no correlation between water and blood 1,4-DX concentrations (r=-0.11, p=0.32). Homes on public water systems with reported MCL exceedances had a higher percentage of detectable 1,4-DX in tap water (44% vs. 28%) (p=0.20). Water consumption and personal care product use were not linked to blood 1,4-DX levels. Homes built before 1960 had 5.2-fold higher odds of 1,4-DX detection in water compared to newer homes (95% CI: 1.4, 19.2), and homes located within 2 km of a Superfund site had 4.7-fold higher odds compared to more distant homes (95% CI: 1.46, 15.1). The lack of correlation between 1,4-DX in paired water and blood samples suggests other exposure sources or differing timeframes captured by the samples. Larger studies could clarify exposure determinants and metabolomic impacts to better assess the potential health burden of 1,4-DX.
Superfund Mandates:
Advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects on human health of hazardous substances, Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances, Methods and technologies to detect hazardous substances in the environment
Key Words: 1,4-dioxane, water contaminants, exposure
Funding: This research was funded by the Yale University Superfund Research Program (SRP), which is supported by a grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health under award number P42ES033815. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No.
T-3
3 | Domenica Berardi | Yale University SRP
Evaluation of drinking water 1,4-dioxane contamination and metabolomic profiles in residents of Long Island, New York
D. Berardi1, S. Liu1,2, N.P. Johnson1, C.J. Clark11,3, C.W. Loughlin1, K.M. Sorrentino1, X.Ning1, J.L. Warren4, Z.Liew1, K.J. GodriPollitt1, N.C. Deziel1, C.H. Johnson1
Affiliation:
1 Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, USA
2 Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, USA
3 University of Minnesota, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55454, USA
4 Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, USA
1,4-Dioxane (1,4-DX) is a synthetic industrial chemical and an emerging drinking water contaminant classified as a possible human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Additional health concerns for 1,4-DX include potential neurological effects, respiratory, eye, and dermal irritation. However, the absence of robust data supporting 1,4-DX carcinogenicity and toxicity in humans has prevented the establishment of regulatory standards in drinking water. Early biological effects are difficult to detect prior to clinical disease. With this regard, metabolomics represents a powerful tool to assess early exposures and biological changes in the years preceding clinical manifestation of health disorders and diseases. In this study, tap water and blood samples were collected from 92 residents of Long Island, New York, an area with historically high 1,4-DX drinking water concentrations. Tap water samples analyzed for 1,4-DX using headspace solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) following a modified version of EPA Method 522. We applied a metabolomics analysis using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LCMS) to interrogate small molecules in blood samples. We assessed the relationship between detection of 1,4DX in drinking water, and compared metabolic profiles, therefore revealing small but significant differences by water exposure status (fold change <20%, false-discovery-rate-corrected p<0.05) in the expression of lipid and oxidative stress-related metabolites. Our results provide the first evidence of metabolic differences in relation to 1,4-DX exposure in an impacted community, indicating potential early biological perturbations, and establishing a foundation for future, larger studies aimed at clarifying exposure determinants that can inform regulatory and public health interventions.
Superfund Mandates:
Advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects on human health of hazardous substances, Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances
Key Words: 1,4-dioxane, metabolomics, early-exposures
Funding: Yale University Superfund Research Program (SRP)
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster
No. T-34
| Kelsey Staniec | URI STEEP SRP
Ultrashort-Chain PFAS in Rhode Island Drinking Water Sources
K. Staniec, J. Bevcanova, S. Vojta, R. Lohmann
Affiliation:
Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island
Ultrashort-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are historically understudied relative to their longer-chain counterparts due to their inability to be quantified using standard PFAS extraction methods. Recently, these compounds, particularly trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), have been found to be ubiquitous in many environmental media. This study sought to quantify five ultrashort-chain PFAS compounds (TFA, PFPrA, TFMS, PFEtS, PFPrS) in drinking water source sites across Rhode Island. 320 samples were collected from 220 unique sites during the time period from summer 2024 to spring 2025. These samples were then measured via direct injection onto an HPLC-MS instrument. Of the compounds of interest, only TFA, PFPrA, and TFMS were consistently detected. TFA was present in nearly every sample at concentrations ranging from <50ng/L to >2000ng/L. PFPrA and TFMS were detected in fewer samples than TFA and were generally present at concentrations <15ng/L. Though there are currently no guidelines in the United States for TFA concentrations in drinking water, these high source water levels highlight the need for further research into the health effects of ultrashort-chain PFAS on both humans and biota. There was no significant correlation found between the concentrations of different compounds in a sample, nor was there a clear pattern in the spatial distribution of ultrashort PFAS throughout the state. This spatial ambiguity implies a lack of major point sources for ultrashort PFAS in Rhode Island, a trait that differs from their longer-chain counterparts and prompts deeper investigation into the sources of these compounds.
Superfund Mandates:
Methods and technologies to detect hazardous substances in the environment
Key Words: PFAS, TFA, Groundwater
Funding: STEEP
Poster Presentations (Tuesday, Dec. 9) - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster
No. T-35
| Qiang Zhang | Michigan State SRP - Emory University
An Integrated Microbial Remediation and Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic (PBPK) Model of Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-Dioxin and Dibenzofurans
Q.Zhang1, C. Song2, D. Tafazul Islam3, S.A. Hashsham3
Affiliation:
1 Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University
2 Lexington High school, Lexington, MA
3 Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Background & Purpose: Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF) are persistent environmental pollutants. Their long half-lives, both externally at polluted sites and internally in the human body, pose significant health concerns on chronic exposures to these toxic compounds. Microbial reductive dechlorination and respiration have been studied as an economical strategy for remediating PCDD/Fcontaminated sites. However, it is a decades-long lengthy remediation process with risk of elevated total toxic equivalency (TEQ) at some points in time as congeners of higher toxic equivalent factor (TEF) values may be transiently produced. Should microbial remediation be implemented, health risk assessment for humans living near the contaminated sites requires an integrated approach that can predict both the evolving environmental PCDD/F congeners and the tissue burdens resulting from chronic exposures to these mixtures. Here we aim to develop a computational modeling framework that can quantitatively describe the external-to-internal PCDD/F exposure continuum.
Methods: To this end, we adapt and integrate two models we recently published: (i) a comprehensive model that employs first-order kinetics to predict the dichlorination of 75 PCDD and 135 PCDF congeners, and (ii) a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model for mixtures of dioxin-like PCDD/F congeners that can induce liver binding proteins resulting in their nonlinear tissue accumulations. The integrated model is implemented in the MATLAB-compatible freeware Octave.
Results and Conclusions: The model is applied to simulate dechlorination of PCDD/F by organohaliderespiring bacteria including Dehalococcoides mccartyi and lifetime human exposure to evolving PCDD/F mixtures starting at concentrations representative of the Tittabawassee and Saginaw Rivers in MI, USA. The model allows us to make preliminary predictions of transformation of PCDD/F congeners and TEQ at the sites and, with the assumption of proportional intake of congeners, the relative contributions of individual dioxin- like congeners to blood or tissue TEQs. In summary, we have developed an integrated microbial remediation and PBPK modeling framework to predict evolving tissue accumulation and TEQs of PCDD/F congeners, which can assist in, upon future improvement on quantifying related uncertainty and variability, assessing health risk for people living near the contaminated sites under microbial remediation..
Superfund Mandates:
Advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects on human health of hazardous substances, Methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances, Basic biological, chemical, and physical methods to reduce the amount of toxicity of hazardous substance
Key Words: Dioxin, remediation, PBPK model
Funding: NIEHS
Poster
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. T-36 | Vijay Hemmadi | University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Rhamnolipids Enable Scalable Bioremediation of PCB- and PCE-Contaminated Sites via Stimulation of Dehalobium chlorocoercia DF-1
V. Hemmadi1, R.S. Makkar1, C.W. Marshall2, A.R. Place3, H.D. May4, K.R. Sowers1
Affiliation:
¹ Department of Marine Biotechnology, Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, U MBC, Baltimore, MD, USA
² Department of Biological Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 53233, USA
³ University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, Baltimore, MD 21202, USA
⁴ Hollings Marine Laboratory, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29412, USA
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and chlorinated ethenes like perchloroethene (PCE) are persistent pollutants with strong C-Cl bonds, hydrophobicity, and stability, posing neurological, endocrine, and carcinogenic risks. Despite regulatory bans, they remain widespread at Superfund sites. Conventional remediation is costly and disruptive, underscoring the need for sustainable alternatives. In situ microbial degradation offers a low-cost, eco-friendly approach: aerobic microbes oxidize PCBs’ biphenyl rings, while anaerobic organohalide-respiring bacteria (OHRB) reductively dechlorinate them.
Dehalobium chlorocoercia DF-1 (DF-1), an OHRB, removes meta- and para-chlorines from PCBs and PCE, producing congeners more amenable to aerobic degradation. DF-1’s ability to grow in sediment-free media enables controlled lab and pilot-scale applications. Our lab developed a “synergistic system” combining DF-1 with the aerobic degrader Burkholderia xenovorans LB400 on activated-carbon pellets. The carbon concentrates PCBs near DF-1 biofilms for reductive dechlorination, followed by LB400-mediated mineralization. This process proved effective in pilot-scale PCB bioaugmentation. However, DF-1’s slow growth and reliance on undefined Pseudodesulfovibrio sp. extracts limit scalability.
We identified DF-1’s growth factor as a thermostable, low-molecular-weight biosurfactant released upon Pseudodesulfovibrio lysis. LC-ESI-MS analyses revealed two rhamnolipid congeners, Rha-Rha-C10-C10 and Rha-Rha-C10-C12:1, as active compounds. Both extracted and commercial rhamnolipids stimulated DF-1 growth and dechlorination of PCE, PCB-61, and PCB-199 in a concentration-dependent manner, with optimal activity at submicellar levels (0.25 to 1 µg mL ¹). Supplementation enhanced chloride release, dechlorination rates, and cell yield, indicating improved substrate bioavailability.
This study provides the first evidence that rhamnolipids can replace undefined lysates to sustain DF-1 activity, enabling reproducible, scalable cultivation. Integrating rhamnolipid-stimulated DF-1 into activated-carbon systems offers a practical, sustainable platform for bioremediation of PCB- and PCE-contaminated environments aligned with Superfund remediation goals
Superfund Mandates:
Basic biological, chemical, and physical methods to reduce the amount of toxicity of hazardous substance
Key Words: Rhamnolipids; Biosurfactants; Dehalobium chlorocoercia DF-1; Pseudodesulfovibrio sp.; Polychlorinated biphenyls; Perchloroethene; Bioremediation
Funding: This work was partly supported by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program, Small Business Innovation Research (Award No. 2R44ES032365), National Institute of Environmental Health Science (Superfund Research Program grant 5R01ES016197
Poster Presentations (Tuesday, Dec. 9) - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster
No. T-3
7 | Tafazul Islam Dar | Michigan State University
In Search of the Rare Organohalide Respiring Bacteria (OHRB) in Metagenomes of Tittabawassee and Kawkawlin River Sediments
T. I. Dar1, E. Telli2, N. Telli3, M. Zaffar Hashmi4, D. Depp5, P.B. Hatzinger6, M. Williams1, B. Upham7, G. Zylstra8, D. Fennell5, A. Cupples1, S. Hashsham1
Affiliation:
1 Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
2 Department of Food Hygiene and Technology, Konya, Turkey
3 Department of Food Processing, Vocational School of Technical Sciences, Konya Technical University, Konya, Turkey 4 Department of Environmental Health and Management, Health Services Academy, Park Road, Chak Shahzad, Islamabad, Pakistan
5 Department of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
6 Biotechnology Development and Applications, APTIM, Lawrenceville, NJ, USA.
7 Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
8 Department of Biochemistry & Microbiology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
Asking “are you there?” and “who is there?” are the two most common questions asked when analyzing complex microbial communities. For polychlorinated-p-dioxin and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs)-contaminated sites, the first question is critically important because the few organohalide respiring bacteria (OHRB) that are known to respire selected congeners of PCDD/Fs are rare and generally low in abundance (say <0.0001% to 1%). Three strains of Dehalococcoides mccartyi (strains 195, CBDB1, and DCMB5) are currently known to dechlorinate PCDD/Fs. Routine metagenomic analyses may either fail to detect their presence or make a call on their presence with poor confidence levels. Establishing the true positives with a corresponding level of confidence or certainty remains a challenge for these rare species. We developed and validated an approach to quantify the presence and diversity of OHRB in metagenomic sequences based on reductive dehalogenase A genes (RdhA) as markers. A total of 1,342 RDase genes from Dehalococcoides mccartyi genomes (NCBI) and 1,542 RDase genes from uncultured bacterial genomes (ENA) were included in the database. The approach is based on Standard-Addition Metagenomics (SAM) - a spike-in–based calibration of metagenomic detection to quantify the limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) for rare D. mccartyi RDases This is akin to standard-addition in analytical chemistry and expected to make high-confidence calls for the presence of specific RDases as well as potentially indicate the D mccartyi strain(s) they belong to. In SAM, defined levels of D. mccartyi genomes and/or RDase reads are added in silico to Tittabawassee River (TR) and Kawkawlin River (KR) sediments metagenome sequences obtained using Element Biosciences’ AVITI platform or Illumina 6000. Genome-level spikes (150-bp fragments generated via Seq2mgs) were mixed at 0.00001%–1%, and RDase-level spikes were in the range of 100 to 10,000 read equivalents per targeted RDase. The resulting spiked and unspiked TR and KR metagenomes were analyzed with nucleotide (Bowtie2, minimap2, Metapresence, Bracken/KrakEN) and amino-acid (DIAMOND, ShortBRED) pipelines. To evaluate the distribution of spiked reads to closely related strains of D mccartyi, we also used a set of 67 D. mccartyi genomes and three controls (Dehalogenimonas lykanthroporepellens, Acetobacterium woodii, and Escherichia coli). Statistical approaches were used to establish the parameters routinely used to evaluate abundance including log2(FC), −log₁₀(padj), and moderated t) leading to LOD/LOQ and true-positive confidence calls (99.9 to 80%).
Using up to 96.5M reads by the AVITI system and ~36M reads on Illumina 6000 for TR/KR and the above-mentioned nucleotide and amino-acid based pipelines integrated with SAM, it could be concluded that the three D. mccartyi strains (195, CBDB1, and DCMB5) implicated in the respiration of PCDD/Fs congeners are not present above the LOD afforded by this approach. Ongoing work is focused on high-throughput qPCR-based generation and purification of RDase amplicons from TR/KR sediments followed by sequencing on the AVITI system enhancing the approach to analyzing species and genes related to rare functions
Superfund Mandates:
Advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects on human health of hazardous substances, Basic biological, chemical, and physical methods to reduce the amount of toxicity of hazardous substances
Key Words: Metagenome Sequences, Standard-Addition Metagenomics, Limit of Detection
Funding: MSU Superfund Research Center, Project 4
Poster Presentations (Tuesday,
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. T-38 | Brandon Beck | Oregon State University – PNNL SRP
Investigation into the bioremediation of retene, an alkylated PAH
B. Beck, M. Azizian, A Maynard, L Semprini
Affiliation: Oregon State University
Previous research has shown retene (1-methyl-7-isopropyl phenanthrene) to be an abundant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) present in sites contaminated with crude oil. Bioremediation is a promising avenue for transforming PAHs, however most studies focus on remediating parent PAHs as opposed to alkylated PAHs like retene. This poster presents data comparing the transformation of retene to that of phenanthrene by several groundwater microorganisms known to transform PAHs including Rhodoccocus rhodochrous ATCC 21198. Briefly, the methods are as follows: 30 mg of a pure cell culture are added to batch bottles containing 100 mL of mineral salts media and either 250 ng/mL retene or phenanthrene. Each experiment contains a set of active-cell bottles, a set dead (autoclaved) cell bottles, and a set of active-cell bottles that are fed a secondary substrate such as isobutane or toluene that is known to be utilized by the microbe to test for cometabolic transformation of the PAH. The concentration of retene and phenanthrene is monitored using ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography paired with fluorescence spectrometry. Samples are taken using a 1 mL glass syringe and extracted using a 1:1 ratio of sample to methanol then centrifuged to remove cellular material. Our data thus far shows that while Rhodococcus rhodochrous 21198 is able to successfully transform phenanthrene, retene is not metabolized. This indicates that special attention needs to be paid to alkylated PAHs when selecting a microorganism to remediate a site. Additional microorganisms such as Mycobacterium sp. strain ELW1 will be tested and any transformation products generated will be identified via high resolution mass spectrometry
Superfund Mandates:
Basic biological, chemical, and physical methods to reduce the amount of toxicity of hazardous substances
Key Words: Bioremediation. PAHs. Fluorescence
Funding: National Institute Of Environmental Health Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award P42ES016465
Poster
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No.
T-
39 | Jiali Yu | University of Missouri_Texas A&M SRP
Mining Fungal Diversity for Superior Bioremediation of PAHs and PCBs
J. Yu1, A. Shaefer2, S.Y. Dai1,3
Affiliation:
1 Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
2 Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
3 Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.
Bioremediation of superfund chemicals using fungal species holds great promise for remediating soil contaminants as fungi secrete extracellular enzymes to break down complex organic matters in the environment. However, significant challenges exist to achieve site bioremediations. First, superfund sites are typically contaminated with toxins from various chemical categories, which pose significant barriers for chemical removal methods. Second, the bioavailability of microorganisms in environmental soil samples may be limited, which in turn limits the biological degradation efficiency. Third, the toxins themselves could inhibit the growth of microorganism. To overcome the challenges, we have identified a potent fungal strain that can efficiently degrade toxin mixtures (i.e., PAH and PCB mixtures), with an enhanced toxin removal capacity when a natural biomass substrate (i.e., lignin) is added to the remediation system. Screened from a library of 58 fungal isolates, including seven Ascomycetes soil fungi and 51 Basidiomycetes with 48 white rot and three brown rot fungal isolates across 25 species, white rot fungi outperformed brown rot fungi and soil fungi. 19 isolates with removal capacity to both PAHs and PCBs were white rot isolates. The best performing fungal isolate showed a complete removal (100%) of chlorobiphenyl and 92.6% removal of naphthalene in seven days. This result highlighted that this fungal isolate can serve as a single agent to remediate both PAH and PCB contaminants simultaneously. Furthermore, with ligninolytic enzymes induced by lignin, we observed an increase in naphthalene removal efficiency by 58.9% with supplementation of 30 mg/L lignin in only three days of treatment. Our results highlighted the potential application of using white rot fungi to remediate PAH and PCBs at contaminated superfund sites, using inexpensive augment agents, lignin. The strain-specific performance variation underscores the importance of isolate selection, while the lignin enhancement effect provides further direction for optimizing cultural conditions during fungal bioremediation of environmental contaminants. Future research will focus on optimizing soil treatment conditions and application to environmentally collected soil samples.
Superfund Mandates:
Basic biological, chemical, and physical methods to reduce the amount of toxicity of hazardous substances
Key Words: bioremediation, white rot fungi, soil contaminants
Funding: NIH R01ES032708
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster
No. T-
40 | Andres Sanchez Alvarado | BCM-Rice SRP – Rice University
Aluminum Nanocrystals for Advanced Detection and Degradation of Environmental
Contaminants
A. Sanchez Alvarado1, O. Neumann2, T.P. Senftle3, P. Nordlander4, N.J. Halas2
Affiliation:
1 Department of Chemistry, Rice University, 6100 Main St., Houston, TX 77005
2 Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University
3 Department of Chemical and Bioengineering, Rice University
4 Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University
Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of widely used environmentally persistent compounds that have been found in bloodstream and linked to harmful health effects. The remarkable stability of PFAS makes them hazardous even at ultralow concentrations because they can bioaccumulate over long periods of time. Surfaceenhanced vibrational spectroscopies, like Raman scattering (SERS) and infrared absorption (SEIRA), offer a non-destructive inexpensive alternative to standard detection techniques that rely on mass spectrometry. Taking advantage of the characteristic vibrational modes of C–F and C–O bonds on PFAS molecules, SERS and SEIRA have the potential for real-time on-site analysis at parts-per-trillion (ppt) concentrations. Aluminum nanomaterials have garnered great interest in their use for catalytic and sensing applications because of their capacity to support localized surface plasmon resonances excited by UV wavelengths of light, as well as the high abundancy of the metal. Colloidal aluminum nanocrystals (Al NC) have been previously demonstrated to generate solvated electrons, and as substrates for SERS and SEIRA spectroscopies. Nonetheless, compared to noble metals, there is still little research on plasmon-assisted chemical processes and sensing based on aluminum.
As platforms for advanced chemistry and chemical sensing, Al NC may be used for both purposes. Using aluminum octopods with a resonant frequency near the UV, solvated electrons are generated to drive liquidphase chemical processes. These same nanocrystals are also used to form assemblies that screen mid-IR wavelengths into high local field junctions to enhance molecular vibrational absorption. The generation of solvated electrons for driving reductive organic chemical reactions can be exploited to remediate PFAS by direct dehalogenation, avoiding the toxic by-products. Additionally, after assembling Al NC into aggregates on substrate, the contaminants can be detected at ultralow concentrations by means of SEIRA. Our work demonstrates the use of colloidal Al NC in the chemical detection and remediation of forever chemicals, PFAS.
Superfund Mandates:
Methods and technologies to detect hazardous substances in the environment
Key Words: SERS, SEIRA, PFAS
Funding: Superfund Research Program, Welch Foundation
Poster Presentations (Tuesday,
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster
No. T-4
1 | Peixuan Jin | BCM-Rice SRP – Rice University
Transition Metals Act as Oxidation Sites for Enhanced PAH Removal During PyrolyticTreatment of Ion-Exchanged Bentonite Clays
P.Jin1, S.B. Denison1, S. Glass1, T. Senftle1, K. Zygourakis1, B. Morrthy2, P.J.J. Alvarez1
Affiliation:
1 Rice University
2 Baylor College of Medicine
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are persistent soil contaminants commonly associated with terrestrial oil spills and creosote sites, requiring remediation to protect human health and restore environmental quality. Earlier work demonstrated that transition metal cations added to clays can catalyze the pyrolytic degradation of PAHs, lowering the reaction temperatures below those required for other common thermal remediation approaches, thus reducing treatment costs and preserving soil fertility. However, the catalytic role of the transition metals introduced by ion-exchange is not fully understood. We explored how transition metal cations function as oxidation sites, enhancing PAH adsorption and initiating catalytic pyrolysis via π-bond-cation electrostatic interactions. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to assess PAH adsorption on bentonite surfaces doped with a range of transition metal cations, which were selected to span different regions of the periodic table and to represent metals with varying oxidation states and redox flexibilities. These calculations reveal that site reactivity toward PAHs is determined by the reducibility of the transition metal cation. Reducible cation sites, such as Fe³⁺ and Cu²⁺, promote pyrolysis by accommodating electron transfer from the aromatic πbonds of the PAH molecule. We show that PAH adsorption and C-H activation energies scale linearly with the hydrogen atom adsorption energy on the doped bentonite surfaces, demonstrating that PAH pyrolysis activity is directly correlated to site reducibility. Pyrolysis experiments confirmed these findings, with reducible Fe³⁺ and Cu²⁺ ion-exchanged bentonite showing higher pyrene removal efficiency compared to less-reducible cations, such as Co²⁺ and Zn²⁺. This study provides guidance for the selection of appropriate ion-exchanged cations for enhancing the catalytic activity of bentonite clays for pyrolytic remediation of PAH-contaminated soils.
Superfund Mandates:
Advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects on human health of hazardous substances
Key Words: pyro-catalysis, soil contamination, Density functional theory
Funding: BCM-Rice Superfund Research Program
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. T-42 | Kaylyn Dinh | Texas A&M University SRP
Novel Sorption Strategies to Reduce Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Milk
K.Dinh1, M. Wang2, T. Phillips1, N. Johnson1
1 Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
2 University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
Background and Purpose: Breastfeeding is a major exposure pathway of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) for nursing infants. Growing concern regarding the presence of PFAS in breast milk has prompted mothers and their families to question whether they should continue to breastfeed and the potential adverse health outcomes for their children. Currently, technologies to reduce PFAS in milk, including human breast milk and bovine milk, are absent. The application of clay-based sorbents, including calcium montmorillonite (CM) and amended CM, has been shown to stably adsorb PFAS from various matrices, including water and soil. Importantly, these clays are safe for human and animal consumption while having a high binding affinity and capacity for environmental contaminants. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the efficacy of claybased sorbents to reduce PFAS in a milk matrix and establish initial proof-of-concept as a mitigation strategy
Methods: In these experiments, our approach entailed using comprehensive kinetic studies to evaluate binding efficiency and milk nutrient analysis to examine the impact pre- and post-filtration. Native and internal standard solutions of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) were spiked into bovine milk, CM, amended CM sorbents and activated carbon (AC) for comparison were added into spiked milk individually at 0.05-1% w/v and shaken at various time intervals (5-120 min). Supernatants were subjected to QuEChERS extraction, dispersive solid phase extraction clean-up, and analyzed via LC-MS/MS. Although filtration techniques exist, they are primarily used in water and are not feasible in milk without impacting the nutritional composition. To test this, bovine milk was filtered through a commercially available water filter pitcher and sent to TX DHIA for nutrient analysis.
Results: CM, CM-carnitine, CM-choline, and AC, added at 0.2% w/v, were effective at reducing PFOA and PFOS. Notably, parent CM reduced PFOA and PFOS by 43% and 55%, CM-carnitine reduced PFOA and PFOS by 36% and 58%, and CM-choline reduced PFOA and PFOS by 51% and 31%. Reduction of PFOA and PFOS was variable for activated carbon which showed the least amount of reduction at 32% and 29%, respectively The kinetic study at varying time intervals suggested stable adsorption of PFAS on all sorbents that fit the pseudo-second-order model. Regarding nutrient composition, clay sorbents did not impact milk fat, protein, milk urea nitrogen, lactose, or solids-non-fats levels. However, the addition of AC significantly reduced protein levels. Following filtration of bovine milk through the water filter pitcher, nutrients were all significantly reduced, emphasizing current technology for are not appropriate for milk.
Conclusions: Overall, our preliminary data demonstrates the initial experimental proof-of-concept that montmorillonite clay effectively reduces PFOA and PFOS in cow’s milk without impacting nutritional composition and that current technologies are not feasible in milk. Since the composition of cow’s milk varies from human breast milk, future studies will utilize human breast milk samples to evaluate sorption capacity of clay-based sorbents and test for reduction of several different classes of PFAS in addition to legacy compounds.
Superfund Mandates:
Basic biological, chemical, and physical methods to reduce the amount of toxicity of hazardous substances
Key Words: PFAS, remediation, milk
Funding: Superfund Pilot Project Program P42 ES027704
Poster Presentations (Tuesday, Dec. 9) - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. T-43 | Xenophon Xenophontos | Texas A&M University SRP
Novel Clay-Based Sorbents for PFAS Designed Using Molecular Simulations
X. Xenophontos1 , J.O. Oladele2,3, M Wang2,3,4, K. Lilly5, L. Marytinez1, TD. Phillips2,3, P Tamamis1,5
Affiliation:
1 Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
2 Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
3 Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, US
4 Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
5 Department of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77840, USA
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been detected both in the environment and in the human body and have been associated with numerous diseases, including cancer. Clay constitutes an appealing solution for environmental remediation as a broad-acting sorbent. Our past studies showed that clay, amended with choline or carnitine, could increase PFAS binding propensity [1,2]. This paved the way for the design of novel supplement-amended clays to augment the sorption of PFAS. In this study, we initially utilized computational methods to screen a set of chemical compounds, which were either supplements or generally recognized as safe (GRAS). This led to the development of a novel library of computationally designed chemical compoundamended clays, with amendments selected based on their capacity to bind to clay. Subsequently, a series of computational techniques allowed us to select chemical compound-amended clays based on their potential to enhance clay sorbing capacity for PFAS [3]. Experimental techniques were then used to study the sorption of the computationally designed systems [3]. Both the computational and experimental results demonstrate that in particular instances, caffeine-, riboflavin- and curcumin-amended clay can improve the binding of different PFAS compared to parent clay in acidic conditions [3], as well as in neutral conditions to a lesser extent [4]. Our computational studies, encompassing modeling, simulations, and structural analysis, provide atomistic insights of the PFAS binding mechanisms and shed light on the designed systems’ adsorption properties [3]. Both the novel library of chemical compound-amended clays and the approach utilized could guide the future design of improved adsorbents.
1. Hearon SE, Orr AA, Moyer H, Wang M, Tamamis P, Phillips TD. Montmorillonite clay-based sorbents decrease the bioavailability of per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from soil and their translocation to plants. Environ Res. 2022;205:112433.
2.Wang M, Orr AA, Jakubowski JM, Bird KE, Casey CM, Hearon SE, Tamamis P, Phillips TD. Enhanced adsorption of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) by edible, nutrient-amended montmorillonite clays. Water Res. 2021;188:116534.
3.Xenophontos X, Oladele JO, Wang M, Lilly K, Martinez L, Phillips TD, Tamamis P. Caffeine, riboflavin and curcumin amended clays for PFAS binding. Comput Chem Eng. 2025;201:109215.
4.Oladele JO, Xenophontos X, Wang M, Tamamis P, Phillips TD. Adsorption of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances by Edible Nutraceutical-Amended Montmorillonite Clays: In Vitro, In Vivo and In Silico Enterosorption Strategies. Water Air Soil Pollut. 2025;236(5):293.
Superfund Mandates:
Basic biological, chemical, and physical methods to reduce the amount of toxicity of hazardous substances
Key Words: PFAS, Montmorillonite Clay, Molecular Simulations
Funding: Texas A&M University Superfund Center: P42 ES027704
Poster
No. T-44
Poster Presentations (Tuesday,
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
| Johnson Oladele | Texas A&M University SRP
Characterization of industrial organoclays for the remediation of Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
J.Oladele, T. Phillips
Affiliation:
Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Background and Purpose: PFAS represent a broad class of chemicals that are persistent in the environment and result in widespread exposures following disasters and emergencies such as floods and droughts. PFAS exposure has been linked to deleterious health effects which pose major threats to public health, and dietary intake has been recognized as the principal source of exposure to animals and humans. Given the amphipathic nature of these toxins, this study was designed to provide effective and potentially scalable strategies to remediate PFAS toxicity using organoclays containing a positively charged quaternary amine and aliphatic hydrocarbon chains to bind PFAS with high affinity. Importantly, this study was designed to investigate and characterize the adsorption behavior of four PFAS (PFOA, PFOS, PFBS and GenX) onto active binding surfaces of four organoclay products ENT, OT2, and ATB and ATM (produced under the names, Enviro-Trol, Agri-Trol and Organo-Trol).
Methods: ENT, OT2, and ATB and ATM were synthesized by our industrial partner via modification of sodium bentonite clay with different concentrations of a hydrophobic quaternary amine (HQA). This study evaluated the key PFAS binding markers for these organoclays including Gibbs free energy (∆G), adsorption capacity, and binding affinity for PFAS. These parameters served as indicators for predicting the bioavailability of PFAS under the experimental settings. Additionally, the proof-of-concept for the protective role of the organoclay in PFASmediated toxicity was established using a living organism (Hydra vulgaris) as an ecotox-sensitive in vivo model.
Results: The results showed varied PFAS adsorption behavior from pH 2 to 10. All the organoclays demonstrated the highest PFAS binding at pH 2. OT2 showed the highest adsorption for PFOA (78%), PFOS (47%), GenX (54%), and PFBS (66%), followed by ATM, while ATB and ENT showed slightly lower binding. Isotherm data indicated that all the binding followed a Freundlich model with high adsorption capacity. Moreover, they were all thermodynamically favorable with ∆G values ranging from -/20.00/ to -/30.96/ kJ/mol. In vivo data indicated lethality to hydra vulgaris (complete disintegration and death) following PFAS exposure, however, inclusion of the organoclays into the aqueous media of hydra resulted in over 95% to 100% protection from PFAS toxicity.
Conclusions: Our findings demonstrated that HQA-modified sodium bentonite clays were highly effective as PFAS binders and implied that these organoclays could be packed into permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) to trap PFAS during groundwater treatment, or as in situ capping materials for sediment remediation in lakes and rivers to sequester PFAS. Moreover, these organoclays might be incorporated into filtration systems for removal of PFAS during wastewater treatment. Embedding these organoclays into landfill liners, caps to prevent offgasing, or polymer membranes could also facilitate selective sorption and remediation of PFAS and prevent toxic leachates into the urban, rural and agricultural zones.
Superfund Mandates:
Basic biological, chemical, and physical methods to reduce the amount of toxicity of hazardous substances
Key Words: PFAS; organoclays; ecotoxicity model
Funding: The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences [P42 ES027704]; the United States Department of Agriculture [Hatch 6215]
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. T-45 | Madison McFarland | Texas A&M University SRP
Expanding Clay-Based Remediation Strategies to Reduce Aflatoxin M1 Contamination in Milk
M. McFarland1,2, N.M. Johnson1,2, J. Oladele1, T Phillips1
1 Interdisciplinary Program in Toxicology, Department of Veterinary Physiology & Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, T X
2 Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a potent mycotoxin produced by the Aspergillus species, commonly found in humid and temperate regions, where it contaminates various crops such as corn, peanuts, rice, and other groundnuts. Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), the hydroxylated metabolite of AFB1, is formed in the liver and excreted in the breast milk of both humans and animals. Both AFB1 and AFM1 are classified as Group I carcinogens and are associated with acute and chronic health effects, including hepatocellular carcinoma, immunosuppression, and growth impairment. Environmental disruptions such as floods, droughts, and temperature fluctuation can create ideal conditions for Aspergillus growth and aflatoxin production, amplifying risks of food and milk contamination. Despite these risks, limited research has explored effective methods to remediate AFM1 in milk.
It is hypothesized that post-lactational clay-based remediation can reduce AFM1 levels in milk by actively binding to the toxin for proper removal. Previous studies have used clay sorbents to bind superfund priority chemicals, such as per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Initial binding assays demonstrated an average removal efficiency of 68% when calcium montmorillonite (CM) clay was added to a 5 ppm AFM1 solution. In comparison, CM clay exhibited an average removal efficiency of 94% for AFB1, indicating reduced binding affinity for AFM1. To address this limitation, current research focuses on enhancing CM clay with bioactive amendments. Chlorophyll, chlorophyllin, caffeine, curcumin, and riboflavin-amended CM clays are currently being investigated to optimize AFM1 adsorption.
Future studies aim to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the optimized clay formulation in reducing AFM1 levels in cow milk, while preserving its nutritional value and composition. Additional in vitro studies will evaluate the clay’s ability to reduce AFM1 bioavailability, specifically in hepatic (metabolic) and intestinal (absorption) models. By expanding the application of clay sorbents previously developed for Superfund priority contaminants to address dietary toxin exposure, this research bridges environmental remediation and food safety to protect human health. Overall, this work will advance AFM1 mitigation strategies with potential applications in agriculture and public health, ultimately reducing milk waste and human exposure to this potent toxin
Superfund Mandates:
Advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects on human health of hazardous substances, Basic biological, chemical, and physical methods to reduce the amount of toxicity of hazardous substances
Key Words: Aflatoxin M1, Remediation, Milk
Funding: P42 ES027704
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. T-46 | Yu Ting | University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Characterization of biokinetics in sorption-mediated microbial dechlorination of organochlorines
Y.Ting, 1 , N. Lombard1, K.R. Sowers2, U. Ghosh1
Affiliation:
¹ Department of Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, 21250, USA
² Department of Marine Biotechnology, Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21202, USA
Microbial dechlorination of chloroethenes (CEs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), when scaled successfully, provide promising approaches for remediation of large contaminated sites. Integrating microbial dechlorination with strong sorbent amendments is an emerging strategy for combining the benefits of microbial dechlorination with sorption. However , quantitative descriptions of how microbial degradation rates are influenced by the presence of sorbents like activated carbon are lacking. This study seeks to elucidate the mechanistic effects of solid surfaces on the biokinetic behavior of dechlorinating microorganisms via careful experimentation coupled with novel modeling interpretation. A sediment-free culture of Dehalobium chlorocoercia strain DF-1 was employed to inoculate dry solids (activated carbons, biochars, silica sand, and graphite) under anaerobic conditions. After a 2-h attachment phase, the solids were transferred to minimal medium, incubated at 28 °C, and sampled for dechlorination activity and growth. CEs were introduced in neat form and quantified via headspace gas chromatography with GC-FID, whereas PCBs were introduced through pre-equilibrated polyethylene (PE) passive samplers and analyzed by GC-ECD following hexane extraction from the PE. Biokinetic models were developed to couple dechlorination and sorption processes, effectively describing OC mass transfer in the aqueous phase. Results indicate that strain DF-1 attaches efficiently to all tested solids while maintaining halorespiring activity comparable to its planktonic form. The effect of contaminant hydrophobicity on mass transfer and microbial kinetics was examined for perchloroethene (PCE; log Kow = 2.5), PCB61 (log Kow = 6.04), and PCB199 (log Kow = 7.20). Overall, the results provide essential insights for developing predictive models for scaling and optimizing integrated bioaugmentation–sorption strategies for in-situ remediation of OCs.
Superfund Mandates:
Basic biological, chemical, and physical methods to reduce the amount of toxicity of hazardous substances
Key Words: microbial dechlorination; polychlorinated biphenyls; perchloroethene
Funding: Superfund Research Program (R01ES032719)
Poster Presentations (Tuesday,
9) - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. T-47
| Kelsey Graves | University of Arizona SRP
Uranium Adsorption by Novel Bioinspired Hydrogel Polymer
K. Graves1, R. Nanayakkara2, D. Loy2, R. Maier1, D. Hogan1
1 Department of Environmental Science, University of Arizona
2 Department of Chemistry, University of Arizona
Uranium (U) contamination is a significant concern due to its toxicity, potential additive or synergistic effects with heavy metals, and carcinogenic properties from radiation exposure. In the United States, uranium mining has primarily occurred in western states, particularly in the Four Corners region of Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico. The Navajo Nation, the largest Native American reservation, spans much of this area and is impacted by extensive uranium contamination of water resources due to historical mining activities and regional geology. Additionally, the Navajo Nation’s dispersed communities make public and regulated water utilities difficult to access for many. Consequently, many members on the reservation face elevated uranium levels in their water from unregulated private wells, posing both human and ecological health risks. A community-based approach, with a passive point-of-use system could offer a solution for the treatment of these waters.
This study investigates a novel bioinspired glycolipid hydrogel for the removal of uranium from groundwater. The hydrogel, made from rhamnolipids synthesized using green chemistry principles, was examined for its potential to remediate uranium in model solutions.
Initial experiments characterized the effect of pH on U stability and hydrogel sorption. To identify a suitable U concentration for hydrogel analysis, the stability of U solutions ranging from 1000 mg/L to 1 mg/L were evaluated from pH 3 to 9. Results indicated U precipitation increased sharply above pH 6. Thus, pH conditions ranging from 2 to 6 were initially evaluated to establish the functional sorption range of the material while avoiding uranium precipitation. In a 50 mg/L U solution, hydrogel sorption was the highest at pH 6 and 5.5 (~150 mg/g) and decreased with increasing acidity. These data will be used to establish the test conditions for continued hydrogel characterization. Future work will focus on sorption kinetics, isotherm modeling to determine sorption mechanisms, metal recovery and hydrogel regeneration, and performance in mixed metal systems. Finally, the hydrogel will be tested against real-world samples. Together, these data will provide insight to the conditions under which this hydrogel technology may be suitable for treatment of uranium contaminated waters.
Superfund Mandates:
Basic biological, chemical, and physical methods to reduce the amount of toxicity of hazardous substances
Key Words: Uranium, Novel Adsorbents, Groundwater
Funding: SPR grant No. P42 ES004940
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No.
T-4
8 | Justin Sankey | URI/Harvard STEEP SRP
Investigation of Resin-Based Activated Carbon Fiber Felt for Remediation of Perfluoroalkyl Acids (PFAAs)
J.Sankey, J. Becanova, S. Vojta, J. Ganglbauer, R. Lohmann
Affiliation:
University of Rhode Island - Graduate School of
Oceanography
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a man-made class of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that are ubiquitous in the environment. PFAS have been incorporated into many commercially available products through the application of stain-, water- and grease-resistant coatings, and they have been widely utilized in aqueous film forming foams (AFFF) for firefighting. PFAS have been linked to a myriad of health effects including several forms of cancer, fatty liver disease, difficulties during pregnancy, and even neurological disorders. Given their widespread application, ubiquity in the environment, and link to numerous health effects, the EPA set maximum contamination levels (MCLs) in drinking water for PFOA and PFOS as 4.0 ppt and PFHxS, PFNA and HFPOS-DA (GenX) as 10 ppt. Given the broadening of EPA recommendations and regulation on PFAS, it is paramount that we investigate remediation technologies for a broad range of PFAS compounds to meet the everincreasing stringency of regulation on the chemical class. To this end, we have investigated resin based activated carbon fiber felt (ACFF) for potential application as a remediation technology for a mixture of 11 perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) under varying environmental conditions through batch sorption and rapid small scale column tests (RSSCTs). Preliminary results of non-degassed fibers suggest high affinity of the fibers for PFAAs with log Kd values on the order of 5-6 and RSSCTs exhibiting 100% removal efficiencies of a mixture of 11 PFAA compounds up to 30,000 bed volumes. These preliminary results compared to previous studies of granular activated carbon (GAC), the most commonly employed remediation technology for PFAS in water, suggest resin-based ACFFs boast higher removal efficiencies for PFAAs and possess similarly high log Kd values
Superfund Mandates:
Methods and technologies to detect hazardous substances in the environment
Key Words: greenspace, chronic lung disease, windows of susceptibility
Funding: NIEHS - SRP - STEEP
Poster Presentations (Tuesday, Dec. 9) - Abstracts
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. T-49 |
Hanwei Wang | USC
Matrix Effects on PFAS Degradation Pathways in UV/Nitrite Advanced Reduction Processes
H. Wang, D.L. McCurry
Affiliation:
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Southern California
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are highly persistent synthetic compounds that have raised global concern due to their exceptional resistance to degradation, environmental ubiquity, and adverse health implications. The strength of the carbon–fluorine bond results in environmental half-lives exceeding several decades, rendering conventional treatment ineffective. Human exposure occurs through multiple pathways, including contaminated drinking water, PFAS-treated food packaging, household products, and occupational settings such as manufacturing and firefighting. Increasing toxicological and epidemiological evidence has linked PFAS exposure to developmental, immunological, and carcinogenic effects, underscoring the urgent need for effective degradation and removal strategies.
This study evaluates the degradation of representative PFAS compounds in wastewater effluents using a UVbased advanced reduction process (UV/ARP) with nitrite as a sensitizer. Upon UV irradiation, nitrite produces reactive species—primarily hydrated electrons—capable of reducing C–F bonds and promoting defluorination. Comparative experiments were conducted using effluents from an anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) and a conventional aerobic treatment system. The results demonstrate distinct PFAS degradation efficiencies between the two matrices, attributed to variations in dissolved organic matter composition, background anions, and redox environments. These findings emphasize the critical role of matrix effects in controlling PFAS degradation kinetics and mechanisms in UV/nitrite systems and provide mechanistic insights to guide the optimization of ARP design for full-scale wastewater treatment and environmental remediation applications.
Superfund Mandates:
Basic biological, chemical, and physical methods to reduce the amount of toxicity of hazardous substances
Key Words:
Funding: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
Poster Presentations (Tuesday,
2025 Meeting, December 8-10, 2025
Poster No. T-50 | Adelina Rolea | Columbia University N. Plains SRP
Arsenic and Uranium Water Treatment Using Active Iron and Sulfur Cycling in a Bioreactor
A.Rolea1, J.Chin-Drachman2, R. Dirks2, A. Basu3, B. Mailloux4, S. Chillrud1, B. Botstick1
Affiliation:
1 Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University
2 Columbia College, Columbia University
3 Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University
4 Barnard College, Columbia University
Background & Purpose: Arsenic (As) and uranium (U) are common contaminants in drinking water sources, especially groundwater. It is difficult to consistently treat drinking water that contains As and U in water. Here, we demonstrate the formation of an iron-based treatment media utilizing photosynthetic Fe- and S-metabolizing microorganisms naturally present in groundwater within an illuminated, flow-through bioreactor.
Methods: Fe(II) oxidation produces Fe treatment media within the bioreactor. To ensure efficient physical fluid mixing and facilitate growth of a microbial film on the surfaces of the bioreactor, it was constructed using clear PVC pipe and a 3D-printed PLA static mixer insert coated in clear silicone.
Results: X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) of solids post treatment indicates 1) that the biogenic minerals are primarily ferrihydrite and other poorly crystalline minerals, and 2) the presence of rapid S cycling, including sulfate reduction to sulfides. The filter media removed As and U (influent concentrations 50 ug/L) by changing their oxidation states. At a fast flow rate of 21 mL/min (10 minutes residence time), 65-98% of the arsenic and 30-40% of the uranium was removed. In contrast, the bioreactor did not remove As at lower flow rates it removed <50% of As at a flow rate of 1.6 mL/min (100-200 minute residence time) and As removal stopped completely after periods of very slow flow (0.67 mL/min, 170 and 250 minute residence times) and zero flow. In contrast, U removal increased during and after stopped-flow conditions, to 92% and 52% respectively. Conclusions: XAS demonstrates that arsenate in groundwater is partially reduced to arsenite during sorption. In previous work, Fe and S cycling in miniaturized bioreactors was shown to generate ample ferrous iron that may serve as a reductant for soluble uranyl species, which could promote the potential precipitation of uranium (IV)oxide solids. Removal of As and U increased with hydraulic flow rate of the influent water, likely due to enhanced physical mixing. Under static, dark conditions, sulfate reduction results in arsenic desorption, likely via formation of soluble thioarsenates that adsorb poorly to iron oxide minerals. While As removal stopped completely after periods of very slow flow, U removal increased during and after stopped-flow conditions. This geochemical “switch” from oxidizing conditions to reducing conditions is likely useful to regenerate the sorption media. More research is needed to 1) characterize the contaminant adsorbates and the adsorbent iron media and 2) understand if and how the mineralogy transforms as the iron media ages. Our preliminary results indicate that a scaled-up version of the bioreactor design has the potential to effectively remove metal(loid) contaminants from freshwater at a convenient 1.5 gallons per minute, within the range for typical household faucet flow rates.
Superfund Mandates:
Basic biological, chemical, and physical methods to reduce the amount of toxicity of hazardous substances
Key Words: microbial redox cycling
Funding: NIH, NIEHS SRP Grant, P42ES033719, Columbia University Northern Plains Superfund Research Program