Mode of Program Participation
Academic Scholarship
Participation Type
Poster
Presentation #1 Title
WATER CONTAMINANTS IN CENTRAL APPALACHIA: Potential Health Risks
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
In a previous study in 2006 we found that tap water in southwest Virginia was causing neural tube defects (NTDs) in our mouse colony. Our further studies determined that the contaminant was present in river water entering the municipal treatment plant and was not removed during the water treatment process. In 2012 a study reported an elevated prevalence rate of birth defects in coal regions of West Virginia. While the data in that report were misleading the question remains unconfirmed. The goal of this study is to identify teratogenic components that may be in local water sources and evaluate possible synergism with naturally occurring water components in coal regions of Appalachia.
Human activities have contaminated most of the nation’s rivers and streams; many of these anthropogenic pollutants are not removed during the water treatment process. Additionally, naturally occurring elements can leach into the water supply from the surrounding soil and can cause adverse birth outcomes. Environmental contaminants can act synergistically as a mixture; for example, the toxicity of a known teratogen might be enhanced in the presence of naturally occurring elemental toxicants. Our study will employ a high throughput screening of water mixtures using an in-vitro cell culture assay that is a model for NTD formation, and Daphnia, a whole animal system, that is used to screen for reproductive and developmental effects. These high throughput tests can evaluate large numbers of water mixtures and will identify combinations of contaminants that have a high potential for altered development in mammals.
Co-author Thorpe will not be presenting.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
VCOM
WATER CONTAMINANTS IN CENTRAL APPALACHIA: Potential Health Risks
In a previous study in 2006 we found that tap water in southwest Virginia was causing neural tube defects (NTDs) in our mouse colony. Our further studies determined that the contaminant was present in river water entering the municipal treatment plant and was not removed during the water treatment process. In 2012 a study reported an elevated prevalence rate of birth defects in coal regions of West Virginia. While the data in that report were misleading the question remains unconfirmed. The goal of this study is to identify teratogenic components that may be in local water sources and evaluate possible synergism with naturally occurring water components in coal regions of Appalachia.
Human activities have contaminated most of the nation’s rivers and streams; many of these anthropogenic pollutants are not removed during the water treatment process. Additionally, naturally occurring elements can leach into the water supply from the surrounding soil and can cause adverse birth outcomes. Environmental contaminants can act synergistically as a mixture; for example, the toxicity of a known teratogen might be enhanced in the presence of naturally occurring elemental toxicants. Our study will employ a high throughput screening of water mixtures using an in-vitro cell culture assay that is a model for NTD formation, and Daphnia, a whole animal system, that is used to screen for reproductive and developmental effects. These high throughput tests can evaluate large numbers of water mixtures and will identify combinations of contaminants that have a high potential for altered development in mammals.
Co-author Thorpe will not be presenting.
