POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS: ULTRASENSITIVE DETECTION,EARLY LIFE EXPOSURES-CLINICAL OUTCOMES (PRETERM BIRTHS, CHRONICLUNG DISEASE, AND NEUROCOGNITIVE DEFICITS), PREVENTION ANDREMEDIATION

Project Summary The preterm birth (PTB) rate in Harris County, which includes Houston, TX (the 4th largest city in the US), is an alarming 12.1 % (national average in US is 9.6%). The over-arching hypothesis of the BCM-Rice SRP is that maternal exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) emanating from superfund sites, as well as other environmental chemicals, increases the risk of PTBs and augments major neonatal morbidities such as BPD. The Specific Aims of the overall center are:. The overall goal of project 1 is to develop new and innovative approaches [Surface-Enhanced Raman and Infrared Absorption Spectroscopies (SERS and SEIRA)], combined with Machine Learning (ML) that enable the rapid, streamlined analysis of soil, water, and air samples for the presence of PAHs. 2. To test the hypothesis that exposures to PAHs at Superfund sites are major PTB risk factors, and that placental epigenome alterations contribute to PTB (biomedical project 2).. Furthermore, we will test the hypothesis that the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) and cytochrome P450 (CYP)1A/1B1 enzymes play a key role in PAH-mediated neonatal lung injury in mice (project 3). 3 To test the hypothesis that pyrolytic treatment of contaminated soils under carefully selected conditions will reliably achieve regulatory compliance and eliminate toxicity while recovering soil fertility to facilitate ecosystem restoration (project 4). 4. To develop innovative strategies to prevent and reduce the public health burden associated with PAHs and other hazardous chemicals present in Superfund sites [Community Engagement Core (CEC) (Core B)], and develop partnerships with primary stakeholders (i.e. EPA, ATSDR, TCEQ), communicate with NIEHS, and foster collaborations within the SRP, with sister SRP centers, and develop technology transfer [Administrative Core (AC) (Core A)]. 5. To train students and postdoctoral fellows in a cross-disciplinary manner, so that the next generation scientists, engineers, and physicians will make fundamental contributions to Environmental Health [Research Experience and Training Coordination Core (RETCC) (Core C)]. 6. To seek support of Research Support Cores that will be a central resource for multi-omics and chemical studies (Projects 1-4), and to support the management and integration of assets across all the projects and cores of the center via the Data Management and Analysis core (DMAC/Core F). Thus, this SRP uses a systems approach that integrates environmental science research, biomedical research projects, and cores to determine the mechanisms by which PAHs contribute to PTBs. and understand the factors could be targets for interventions to prevent and reduce the health burden associated with PAHs present in Superfund sites.