Comparative risk estimates of an expanded list of PAHs from community and source-influenced air sampling.

There are few ambient air measurements of extended lists of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (cPAHs); which are pollutants useful in source identification and significant contributors to cumulative inhalation cancer potency. We present findings from a multi-year ambient air sampling study with comparisons of cancer risk estimates for monitoring sites influenced by a variety of sources based on Minnesota Department of Health guidance. Cancer risks were calculated from raw cPAH measurements and cPAH measurements adjusted by wind direction to reflect the full potential impact of the facility's air emissions.

Analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in air using passive sampling calibrated with active measurements.

There are limited ambient air measurements of extended (beyond EPA Priority 16) lists of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). We measured air concentrations of 45 PAHs using passive and active air sampling at 15 sites in a central urban community and one rural site for two years. Passive sampling was conducted with cylindrical XAD-based samplers deployed to capture spatial variability.

Traffic, air pollution, minority and socio-economic status: addressing inequities in exposure and risk.

Higher levels of nearby traffic increase exposure to air pollution and adversely affect health outcomes. Populations with lower socio-economic status (SES) are particularly vulnerable to stressors like air pollution. We investigated cumulative exposures and risks from traffic and from MNRiskS-modeled air pollution in multiple source categories across demographic groups.

Cumulative risk assessment and environmental equity in air permitting: interpretation, methods, community participation and implementation of a unique statute.

In 2008, the statute authorizing the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to issue air permits was amended to include a unique requirement to analyze and consider "cumulative levels and effects of past and current environmental pollution from all sources on the environment and residents of the geographic area within which the facility's emissions are likely to be deposited." Data describing the Statute Area suggest it is challenged by environmental and socioeconomic concerns, i.e.

Role of the bacterial organomercury lyase (MerB) in controlling methylmercury accumulation in mercury-contaminated natural waters.

The curious phenomenon of similar levels of methylmercury (MeHg) accumulation in fish from contaminated and pristine environments may be explained by the observation that the proportion of total mercury (HgT) present as MeHg is inversely related to HgT in natural waters. We hypothesize that this "MeHg accumulation paradox" is explained by the quantitative induction of bacterial enzymes that are encoded by the mercury resistance (mer) operon, organomercury lyase (MerB), and mercuric reductase (MerA) by inorganic Hg (Hg[II]). We tested this hypothesis in two ecosystems in New Jersey: Berry's Creek in the Meadowlands (ML) and Pine Barren (PB) lakes.

The bioaccessibility of low level radionuclides from two Savannah river site soils.

Risk assessments for inorganic contaminated soils are often based on total concentration of a contaminant. However, strong binding of metals in soil can reduce the oral bioavailability. Since oral bioavailability of inorganics is generally less than 100% and partially dissolution-limited, human gastrointestinal dissolution models that measure bioaccessibility instead of the total extractable mass should be used to develop radionuclide source terms.

Oral bioavailability of lead and arsenic from a NIST standard reference soil material.

The oral bioavailability of soil contaminants is measured using in vitro or in vivo techniques. Current efforts in our laboratory are focused on the comparisons of in vitro methods for bioavailability estimation with the presently employed in vivo techniques, such as animal models. We present a comparison of two techniques for oral bioavailability estimation: in vitro dissolution and in vivo rat feeding using a standard reference soil.

The estimation of the bioaccessibility of heavy metals in soils using artificial biofluids by two novel methods: mass-balance and soil recapture.

The possible human health effects resulting from the ingestion of soil bound heavy metals can be poorly estimated if concentration of total metals in soil, rather than bioavailable fraction of metals, are incorporated into dose calculations. Information regarding bioavailability often is obtained from animal studies, which are not easily conducted and still may not represent human conditions. A rapid simulation of the bioaccessible fraction of contaminant in a soil, in which that fraction is mass soluble in gastrointestinal tract fluids, has been employed in an in vitro sequential extraction technique.