NIEHS Superfund Research Program - Research Brief Podcasts

NIEHS Superfund Research Program
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NIEHS Superfund Research Program - Research Brief Podcasts

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Superfund Research Program (SRP) produces a monthly Research Brief Podcast that highlights the research of SRP grantees. The SRP is a network of university grants that seek solutions to the complex health and environmental issues associated with the nation's hazardous waste sites. The research conducted by the SRP is a coordinated effort with the Environmental Protection Agency, which is the federal entity charged with cleaning up the worst hazardous waste sites in the country. For information on how NIEHS interacts with its online visitors, check out its Web Policies - http://www.niehs.nih.gov/about/od/ocpl/policies/

  1. DEC 3

    Combining Plants and Sunlight to Break Down Hazardous Compounds

    Researchers funded by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program designed a new material that effectively degrades harmful compounds, like PFAS, and bacteria. By combining the power of sunlight and a component of plants, called lignin, this approach harnesses sustainable and renewable resources to reduce exposures and protect health.

    5 min

  2. NOV 6

    User-friendly Technology Detects NDMA in Water

    A new technology, developed by researchers at the NIEHS-funded Massachusetts Institute of Technology Superfund Research Program Center, can detect the contaminant N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in water. This breakthrough tool offers a quick way to monitor NDMA by triggering a visible color change when light interacts with the contaminated solution.

    4 min

  3. OCT 2

    Passive Samplers Track PFAS, Show Contamination Reduction in Cape Fear River

    Common low-cost samplers may be an effective technology for tracking PFAS levels in aquatic environments, according to a study funded by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP). The research team found that frequently used passive sampling devices, which collect samples over time, can monitor how PFAS mitigation strategies affect PFAS levels along a stretch of the Cape Fear River in North Carolina. Erin Baker, Ph.D., a project leader at the Texas A&M SRP Center and part of the analytical core at the North Carolina State University SRP Center, led the team.

    6 min

  4. SEP 4

    Early Life Exposures May Shape Infant Immune System

    Exposure to certain chemicals during early pregnancy may influence how a baby’s immune system develops, according to a study partly funded by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP). The scientists discovered that some per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and metals may alter how an infant’s immune system responds to environmental triggers.

    5 min

  5. AUG 7

    Pyrite Improves Electrochemical System for Removing a Chemical Mixture

    Adding a common mineral, pyrite, to an electrochemical system can simultaneously remove organic and heavy metal contaminants from groundwater, according to a study funded in part by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP). Led by Akram Alshawabkeh, Ph.D., researchers at the Northeastern University SRP Center found that combining two types of remediation techniques – one that relies on applying an electrical current to destroy contaminants and one that uses minerals to adsorb contaminants – removed pollutants more effectively than either strategy alone.

    5 min

  6. JUL 10

    Environmental Factors Alter PFAS Removal by Specialized Nanomaterials

    Researchers funded by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP) revealed how characteristics of water treatment systems may alter the ability of novel nanomaterials to remove PFAS. Scientists should be aware of factors like water pH ' a measure of acidic or basic conditions ' or salt level to ensure that these nanomaterials effectively remove PFAS in aqueous environments, according to the team based at the State University of New York at Buffalo.

    4 min

  7. JUN 5

    High Seafood Diet May Lead to Increased PFAS Exposure

    A study funded by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP) found that consuming some types of commercial seafood in high quantities may increase the risk of PFAS exposure. Led by Celia Chen, Ph.D., Kate Crawford, Ph.D., and Megan Romano, Ph.D., at Dartmouth College, the research team believes their findings can support the development of consumption guidelines to protect communities from further PFAS exposure.

    5 min

  8. MAY 1

    Engineering Hydrogel Beads to Enhance Bioremediation of Groundwater Contaminant

    Oregon State University scientists and engineers developed an approach to cleaning polluted groundwater that uses tiny beads containing chemical-eating bacteria. In this study, funded by the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP), the team identified a formula to maximize bead durability and bioremediation, or the removal of contaminants using bacteria.

    5 min
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About

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Superfund Research Program (SRP) produces a monthly Research Brief Podcast that highlights the research of SRP grantees. The SRP is a network of university grants that seek solutions to the complex health and environmental issues associated with the nation's hazardous waste sites. The research conducted by the SRP is a coordinated effort with the Environmental Protection Agency, which is the federal entity charged with cleaning up the worst hazardous waste sites in the country. For information on how NIEHS interacts with its online visitors, check out its Web Policies - http://www.niehs.nih.gov/about/od/ocpl/policies/

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