The General motors Foundry at Massena, Ny is a designated Superfund Site and has contributed to contamination of soils, sediments, water and air in the vicinity. The contaminants of particular concern to this project are principally polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and to a lesser extent polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAGs). These substances have accumulated in fish, wildlife and the local human population. This project focuses upon the impact of these substances on a Native American population which lives immediately adjacent to the site, and which is particularly vulnerable to contamination with these chemicals because their traditional life style includes consumption of local fish and wildlife. In our past investigations we have shown that, until recently, there was a clear correlation between fish consumption and levels of PCBs in breast milk, although this relationship has decreased as the population has heeded advisories against fish consumption. The present application is focused on study of physical growth and cognitive development of older children as well as physical and mental health of adults. These studies of the human population are based on previous and concurrent study in animal systems designed to explore the effects of these xenobiotics on neuronal, hormonal and immune systems. The specific hypotheses to be tested are that different congeners have different biologic effects, that congeners of these xenobiotics function as estrogenic or anti-estrogenic agents, interfere with normal thyroid faction, disrupt normal regulation of brain levels of critical neurotransmitters such as dopamine, and interfere with both normal growth and development and cognitive function. We hypothesize that the effects of these substances are different in the developing organism than in adults, and we will explore the biologic effects of both parent compounds and degradation products in in-utero and lactationally exposed rats. Of the ten specific projects, two are focused on study of the Native American population, four are biomedical, two focus on ecology or biodegradation and two are developing technologies that will allow clean up. These research projects will be supported five cores: administration, epidemiology and biostatistics, laboratory services, training and technology transfer and outreach.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
Type
Hazardous Substances Basic Research Grants Program (NIEHS) (P42)
Project #
2P42ES004913-06
Application #
2153834
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (SRC (G3))
Project Start
1992-04-01
Project End
2000-03-31
Budget Start
1995-04-01
Budget End
1996-03-31
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
1995
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
State University of New York at Albany
Department
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
City
Albany
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
12222
Aminov, Zafar; Haase, Richard; Rej, Robert et al. (2016) Diabetes Prevalence in Relation to Serum Concentrations of Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) Congener Groups and Three Chlorinated Pesticides in a Native American Population. Environ Health Perspect 124:1376-83
Schell, Lawrence M; Gallo, Mia V (2012) Overweight and obesity among North American Indian infants, children, and youth. Am J Hum Biol 24:302-13
Schell, Lawrence M; Burnitz, Kristopher K; Gallo, Mia V (2012) Growth as a mirror: is endocrine disruption challenging Tanner's concept? Ann Hum Biol 39:361-71
Schell, Lawrence M; Gallo, Mia V; Cook, Katsi (2012) What's NOT to eat--food adulteration in the context of human biology. Am J Hum Biol 24:139-48
Schell, Lawrence M; Gallo, Mia V (2010) Relationships of putative endocrine disruptors to human sexual maturation and thyroid activity in youth. Physiol Behav 99:246-53
Haase, Richard F; McCaffrey, Robert J; Santiago-Rivera, Azara L et al. (2009) Evidence of an age-related threshold effect of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on neuropsychological functioning in a Native American population. Environ Res 109:73-85
Schell, Lawrence M; Gallo, Mia V; Ravenscroft, Julia et al. (2009) Persistent organic pollutants and anti-thyroid peroxidase levels in Akwesasne Mohawk young adults. Environ Res 109:86-92
Goncharov, Alexey; Rej, Robert; Negoita, Serban et al. (2009) Lower serum testosterone associated with elevated polychlorinated biphenyl concentrations in Native American men. Environ Health Perspect 117:1454-60
Ye, Xibiao; Fitzgerald, Edward F; Gomez, Marta I et al. (2008) The ratio of specific polychlorinated biphenyls as a surrogate biomarker of cytochrome P4501A2 activity: a pharmaco-metabonomic study in humans. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 17:1013-5
Kim, Jongseol; Cho, Young-Cheol; Frohnhoefer, Robert C et al. (2008) Dechlorination of individual congeners in aroclor 1248 as enhanced by chlorobenzoates, chlorophenols, and chlorobenzenes. J Microbiol Biotechnol 18:1701-8

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