Category Archives: PROTECT Research

Glyphosate, Widely-Used Herbicide, is Linked with Increased Rate of Preterm Births

By lura | Published: May 20, 2021

Para español, haga clic aquí. Glyphosate, the chemical used in Roundup and other popular weed killers, is the most-used herbicide in the world—and new PROTECT research suggests glyphosate exposure may contribute to higher rates of preterm birth. In a paper published in the May 2021 issue of Environmental Health Perspectives, PROTECT researchers presented the results […]

Also posted in Project 1 (Targeted Epidemiology) | Comments closed

Project 4 Researchers Identify Optimal Conditions and Materials for Hydrogen Peroxide Generation in Flow-through Reactor

By lura | Published: April 29, 2021

Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs), such as the electro-Fenton (EF) process, are widely used in wastewater treatment to remove environmental contaminants. AOPs eliminate contaminants via oxidation. In the electro-Fenton process, hydrogen peroxide is continuously produced at the cathode, then catalyzed into highly oxidative hydroxyl radicals. Chemical reactions involving these hydroxyl radicals result in oxidation of the […]

Also posted in Project 4 (Green Remediation) | Comments closed

PROTECT Researchers Identify Environmental Chemicals Targeting Miscarriage Genes

By lura | Published: April 1, 2021

PROTECT studies the impacts of environmental contamination on birth outcomes by following a cohort of pregnant women in Puerto Rico, where contamination is extensive and adverse birth outcomes such as preterm birth occur at high rates. Miscarriage, or early pregnancy loss prior to 20 weeks gestation, is the most common pregnancy complication, but is challenging […]

Also posted in Project 2 (Toxicology) | Comments closed

PROTECT Study Finds Associations Between Metals Contamination, Poor Psychosocial Status, and Risk of Preterm Birth

By lura | Published: March 2, 2021

Graphic depicting the process of using K means clustering to sort PROTECT cohort into "good" and "poor" psychosocial status, in order to compare the impacts of metals contamination on birth outcomes in each cluster

Research has previously shown that exposure to metals and a mother’s experience of psychosocial stress during pregnancy can both increase the odds of adverse birth outcomes, including preterm birth. But these studies looked at metals exposure and psychosocial stress independently. In a study recently published in Environment International, PROTECT Project 1 researchers conducted an analysis […]

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PROTECT Biostatisticians develop a statistical tool to reduce Limits of Detection (LOD) challenges in environmental exposure models

By Alessandra Bryant | Published: December 9, 2020

Scientific studies that investigate the effects of environmental exposures on human health often must rely on imperfect measurement processes to quantify the concentration of environmental contaminants in biosamples. These imperfect measurement processes can result in challenges such as the limit of detection (LOD), which is defined as the minimal concentration of an environmental contaminant that […]

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PROTECT Study finds predictors of metals exposures which contribute to higher toxicity levels amongst Puerto Rican Women compared to US Population.

By Alessandra Bryant | Published: November 19, 2020

In a recent publication, PROTECT researchers found that toxic and essential metals are present at higher levels in pregnant Puerto Rican women compared to those from the general US population. Researchers identified that diet, water sources, and smoking were predictors and sources of these metals exposure. Amongst these predictors, smoking was the most significant predictor […]

Also posted in News on Environmental Health, News on Premature Birth, Project 1 (Targeted Epidemiology), PROTECT Team | Comments closed

Protect Trainee Jill Riddell visits Butler Cave to study Karst Sediment Chemical Characteristics

By Alessandra Bryant | Published: November 17, 2020

Recently, PROTECT trainee Jill Riddell (Ph.D. candidate, West Virginia University) visited Butler Cave to study and characterize its karst sediments in terms of organic carbon, grain size, and elemental/mineralogical composition. The Butler Cave-Sinking Creek System in Bath and Highland Counties, Virginia, USA is an elongate cave passage that follows the axis of the Sinking Creek […]

Also posted in News on Environmental Health, Project 3 (Fate & Transport), PROTECT Team, PROTECT Trainees | Comments closed

PROTECT Study exposes how severe hurricanes can lead to adverse birth outcomes

By Alessandra Bryant | Published: September 25, 2020

In a recent study published in Population and Environment, PROTECT researchers found that women in Northern Puerto Rico who were pregnant during Hurricane Maria were exposed to higher levels of phthalates, chemicals shown to be related to preterm birth, after Maria compared to before. Women who experience a severe hurricane while pregnant are at higher […]

Also posted in News on Environmental Health, Project 1 (Targeted Epidemiology), PROTECT Team | Comments closed

PROTECT Study shows increased levels of toxic chemicals in drinking water as a result of Hurricanes Maria & Irma

By Alessandra Bryant | Published: August 12, 2020

In a recent study evaluating the degradation of drinking water quality after Hurricanes Maria & Irma, PROTECT researchers found that strong winds and flooding caused increased levels of metals and organic micropollutants contamination in drinking water. Drinking water quality degradation in municipal and private well water systems arises due to impaired regional water cycles and/or […]

Also posted in News on Environmental Health, Project 4 (Green Remediation), PROTECT Team | Comments closed

Recent PROTECT Study uses Computational Modeling of Bubbles to improve electrochemical removal of chemical pollutants in water

By Alessandra Bryant | Published: August 10, 2020

A recent Project 4 study reveals efficient ways of exploiting the generated hydrogen and oxygen bubbles by electrochemical methods to enhance removal of contaminants from water. Access to clean water is a global challenge. One method for cleaning contaminated water is applying a low level electric current through electrodes (e.g. an electrical conductor) to generate […]

Also posted in News on Environmental Health, Project 4 (Green Remediation), PROTECT Team | Comments closed

PROTECT Study finds that among metals, maternal blood lead concentrations were strongly associated with increased risk of preterm birth

By Alessandra Bryant | Published: May 11, 2020

PROTECT explores how environmental exposures during pregnancy may impact preterm birth risk, specifically studying a Puerto Rican cohort due to higher levels of preterm birth compared to the U.S. mainland. In this instance, pregnant women in this cohort had relatively low blood lead (Pb) concentrations when compared to the general US population. However, despite the […]

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PROTECT Study finds further evidence that exposure to metals, phthalates, pesticides, among other chemicals contribute to negative birth outcomes such as miscarriage

By Alessandra Bryant | Published: May 7, 2020

A recent PROTECT study from Project 2 provides the scientific community with further evidence that exposure to chemicals such as metals (cadmium, arsenic, lead and chromium), phthalates (dibutyl phthalate, diethylhexyl phthalate), volatile organic compounds (trichloroethylene, carbon tetrachloride), pesticides (dieldrin, atrazine, parathion) and polycylic hydrocarbons (naphthalene) may be harmful during pregnancy and ultimately cause adverse birth […]

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PROTECT Study Finds Decrease in Phthalate Exposure Coincides with Increase in Phthalate Replacement Chemicals in PROTECT Cohort

By Alessandra Bryant | Published: May 6, 2020

Phthalates are chemicals commonly used in industrial and consumer products that act as plasticizing agents, which serve to make materials softer or more flexible. These chemicals are typically found in consumer items such as food packaging and personal care products. Some of the common phthalates found in consumer products are di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di-isononyl phthalate […]

Also posted in News on Environmental Health, News on Premature Birth, Project 1 (Targeted Epidemiology), PROTECT Team | Comments closed

Individuals with socioeconomic disadvantage among Puerto Rican cohort have elevated levels of oxidative stress according to recent PROTECT Study

By Alessandra Bryant | Published: March 25, 2020

Stress is generally defined as demands that tax or exceed the adaptive capacity of an organism, which can result in psychological and biological changes. Oxidative stress is an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in the body which can ultimately cause adverse chemical reactions and may negatively impact health[1]. First author of our recent publication […]

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PROTECT Study finds increased levels of flame retardant and plasticizing chemicals associated with the use of personal care products among pregnant women in Puerto Rico.

By Alessandra Bryant | Published: March 20, 2020

In a recent Study published in Environmental Research Journal, PROTECT researchers detected metabolites of several organophosphate esters (OPE), a class of chemicals used in consumer products as flame retardants and plasticizers, in urine samples collected from women during pregnancy in Puerto Rico. This is concerning since some OPEs have been associated with adverse reproductive health […]

Also posted in Media Coverage of PROTECT, News on Environmental Health, News on Premature Birth, Project 1 (Targeted Epidemiology), PROTECT Team | Comments closed

PROTECT Study evaluates how CVOC chemicals are distributed and travel through the Karst System of Northern Puerto Rico

By Alessandra Bryant | Published: November 22, 2019

Chlorinated Volatile Organic Compounds (CVOCs) are a type of chlorinated solvent that are commonly used in industrial, business, and home settings. Some examples of common products which contain CVOCs include industrial solvents, metal surface degreasers, paint removers, and textile cleansing agents.. They are highly volatile, slightly soluble in water, and resistant to degradation, meaning they […]

Also posted in Media Coverage of PROTECT, News on Environmental Health, Project 3 (Fate & Transport), PROTECT Team, PROTECT Trainees | Comments closed

PROTECT Study links common chemicals to preterm births in Puerto Rico

By Alessandra Bryant | Published: October 2, 2019

This publication was recently featured and honored in the NIEHS Newsletter Papers of the Month PROTECT researchers have identified an association between exposure to chemicals found in many common consumer products and a shorter duration of pregnancy, thus increasing the risk of preterm birth. More specifically, the scientists found that higher urinary concentrations of phthalate […]

Also posted in Media Coverage of PROTECT, News on Premature Birth, Project 1 (Targeted Epidemiology), PROTECT Team | Comments closed

PROTECT DMAC Demonstrates State-of-the-art Data Management Framework as a Model for Multidisciplinary Research

By Alessandra Bryant | Published: July 18, 2019

Almost all of today’s automated systems generate some form of data either for diagnostic or analysis purposes. A data management framework and repository are commonly employed whenever a large amount of data is collected, providing a capability to deliver secure and reliable storage, data exploration and data sharing. Designing an effective data management framework plays […]

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Concentrations of phenols, parabens and triclocarbans appear in higher levels among Puerto Rico cohort compared to mainland U.S.

By Alessandra Bryant | Published: June 24, 2019

Recent environmental articles have increasingly focused on the potential dangers of chemicals that seem ever present and almost unavoidable in many facets of modern life. At CRECE, PROTECT and ECHO, we study many different chemicals which are present in the environment and lifestyle products to see how they impact pregnancy outcomes and children’s development in […]

Also posted in Media Coverage of PROTECT, News on Premature Birth, Project 1 (Targeted Epidemiology), PROTECT Team | Comments closed

PROTECT Study intermediate report: associations between demographic risk factors and preterm birth in the first 1000 participants

By Alessandra Bryant | Published: June 24, 2019

Since PROTECT has started studying the environmental causes of higher levels of preterm birth in Puerto Rico preterm birth rates have dropped significantly; from 18% of all births in 2011 which was considered the highest in the world, to 11% by 2017.[1] However, this rate still ranks amongst the highest rates in the world; especially […]

Also posted in Enrichment Core F (Community Engagement), News on Premature Birth, PROTECT Team, Research Core C (Human Subjects & Sampling) | Comments closed

PROTECT study finds that chemicals found in many household consumer products were widely associated with hormone concentrations in pregnant women

By Alessandra Bryant | Published: June 14, 2019

Since plastic became known as the “miracle material that has made modern life possible” in 1950, humanity has produced 9.2 billion tons of plastic. [1] Plastics are produced using a large variety of materials which are often harmful to the environment and have been commonly found in human tissue. [2] PROTECT studies Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals […]

Also posted in Media Coverage of PROTECT, News on Premature Birth, Project 1 (Targeted Epidemiology), PROTECT Team | Comments closed

PROTECT Researchers evaluate Hurricane Maria’s Impact and suggest a ‘Visionary Rebuilding’ plan for Government Institutions

By Alessandra Bryant | Published: November 8, 2018

The impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria on the island is massive, with over a thousand lives lost and over $90 billion dollars in damage, part of which decimated the electric grid and 80% of the agricultural sector. Many Puerto Ricans were left homeless and a total of 215,000 people left the island for the […]

Also posted in Enrichment Core F (Community Engagement), Media Coverage of PROTECT, News on Environmental Health, PROTECT Team | Comments closed

PROTECT and University of Kentucky SRC Collaborative Study on Water Remediation

By lura | Published: November 8, 2018

At the 2016 Annual Superfund Research Program Meeting, researchers from PROTECT and the University of Kentucky SRC discovered their respective research on water remediation overlapped in interesting and potentially significant ways. PROTECT’s Project 5 developed a technology that uses both palladium powder catalyst and electrolysis to remove contaminants from groundwater through a process called electro-Fenton. […]

Also posted in Media Coverage of PROTECT, News on Environmental Health, Project 4 (Green Remediation) | Comments closed

Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) among pregnant women may contribute to adverse birth outcomes

By Alessandra Bryant | Published: October 30, 2018

Pregnant women and their fetuses represent susceptible populations to environmental contaminants. Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) among pregnant women may contribute to adverse birth outcomes such as preterm birth. This study assessed longitudinal urinary PAH metabolite concentrations over two time points in pregnancy cohorts in Boston (N = 200) and Puerto Rico (N = […]

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PROTECT Study shows widespread presence of phthalates from multiple sources in karst aquifers in Puerto Rico

By Alessandra Bryant | Published: October 29, 2018

Phthalates are widely used in many consumer products; DEHP is the most frequently used plasticizer in the market. Their extensive use results in spatially-widespread sources that are difficult to identify. Their presence in groundwater is related to land use patterns and is influenced by hydrogeologic characteristics. Phthalate contamination is important to evaluate in eogenetic karst […]

Also posted in News on Environmental Health, Project 3 (Fate & Transport), PROTECT Team | Comments closed

Elevated Levels of Triclocarban Associated with Soap Use in Puerto Rico

By lura | Published: October 22, 2018

Recent analysis from the CRECE Center, which draws on the PROTECT cohort to study effects of in-utero exposure on child development, reveals strong correlations between the use of specific bar soap brands and urinary triclocarban levels. Triclocarban has historically been used in antibacterial soaps, but the chemical was banned by the Food & Drug Administration […]

Also posted in Media Coverage of PROTECT, News on Premature Birth, Project 1 (Targeted Epidemiology) | Comments closed

How important are subsurface sediments to the overall function of karst aquifers?

By Alessandra Bryant | Published: October 17, 2018

All aquifers contain a “matrix” – the solid component through which the water flows – but karst aquifers also contain sediments that can move dynamically between mobile (readily transported) and stationary (stored) pools. Both pools of sediments can influence contaminant mobility and storage as well as hinder or enhance remediation efforts. PROTECT Researchers & Trainees […]

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Welton granted NIEHS Award to Study Impacts of Traumatic Experiences & Prolonged Recovery due to Hurricane Maria on Preterm Birth Outcomes

By Alessandra Bryant | Published: September 27, 2018

Michael Welton is Post-Doctoral Research Fellow & Teaching Associate in the College of Public Health at University of Georgia. Welton works with the Human Subjects & Sampling Core within PROTECT as well as the Human Subjects Core in CRECE, and has been working on the NIH funded ZIP Study (Zika in Infants and Pregnancy) for […]

Also posted in News on Environmental Health, News on Premature Birth, PROTECT Team, Research Core C (Human Subjects & Sampling) | Comments closed

One Year Later, PROTECT and CRECE Researchers Investigate the Health Impacts of Hurricane Maria

By lura | Published: September 20, 2018

One year ago, on September 20th, 2017, Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico as a Category 4 hurricane and proceeded cross the island from the southeast to the northwest, leaving devastation in its wake. In the weeks and months that followed, PROTECT and CRECE team members in Puerto Rico reached out to provide essential […]

Also posted in News on Environmental Health, PROTECT Team | Comments closed

Trichloroethylene metabolite S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)-L-cysteine (DCVC) stimulates premature death in cell critical to placental development during the first-trimester of pregnancy

By Elle Russell | Published: June 1, 2018

Today’s trainee spotlight was written by Elana Elkin on the publication “Trichloroethylene metabolite S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)-L-cysteine induces lipid peroxidation-associated apoptosis via the intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis pathways in a ﬁrst-trimester placental cell line.” Authors: Elana R. Elkin, Sean M. Harris, Rita Loch-Caruso Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a manmade chemical commonly used to clean grease off metal machine parts […]

Also posted in Project 2 (Toxicology), PROTECT Team, PROTECT Trainees | Comments closed

PROTECT Investigators Improve Electrochemical Production of Hydrogen Peroxide for Groundwater Treatment

By Elle Russell | Published: May 17, 2018

A recent study conducted by PROTECT’s Project 5 developed a cost-effective and simple approach to improving the electrochemical production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which is crucial for the treatment of contaminated groundwater. The study, published by Electrochimica Acta, evaluated Rates of H2O2 electrogeneration by reduction of anodic O2 at RVC foam cathodes in batch and flow-through […]

Also posted in Project 4 (Green Remediation), PROTECT Team | Comments closed

Watkins Receives NIEHS Award to Study Impacts of Hurricane-related Exposure and Stress on Pregnancy Outcomes and Child Development in Puerto Rico

By Elle Russell | Published: May 9, 2018

Dr. Deborah Watkins, a researcher for both PROTECT’s Project 1 and CRECE’s Project 3, has been awarded a grant by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) to study the impacts Hurricane Maria has had on pregnant women, pregnancy outcomes, and early child development in Puerto Rico. Specifically, Watkins aims to study environmental exposures […]

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Spatiotemporal assessment of CVOC contamination in karst groundwater sources and exposure at tap water point of use in Puerto Rico

By Elle Russell | Published: April 12, 2018

The “Trainee Publication Spotlight Series” aims to provide PROTECT trainees with opportunities to practice translating their research in a manner that would be understandable to non-scientific laypeople. Today’s trainee spotlight was written by Norma I. Torres on the publication “Spatiotemporal assessment of CVOC contamination in karst groundwater sources and exposure at tap water point of […]

Also posted in Project 3 (Fate & Transport), PROTECT Trainees | Comments closed

PROTECT Welcomes Hyldegaard, Guedes, and Corley to the Team

By Elle Russell | Published: April 4, 2018

We are pleased to welcome several new team members: Bente Hyldegaard and Paula Guedes, who will be working in the PROTECT lab as visiting scholars, and Sarah Corley, who will be working with our centers as a Public Health Specialist. Read on to learn more about each of these talented individuals. Bente Højlund Hyldegaard is a […]

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Former ROUTES Scholar, Gregor, Publishes with Project 5 of PROTECT

By Elle Russell | Published: January 4, 2018

On September 7th, 2017, Karst Groundwater Contamination and Public Health published a study by former ROUTES Scholar Savannah Gregor, former PROTECT Trainee Noushin Fallahpour, PROTECT Associate Research Scientist Ljiljana Rajic, and PROTECT Co-Director Akram Alshawabkeh on a pilot scale study of electrochemical remediation of contaminated groundwater. This publication, which is titled “Electrochemical Remediation of Contaminated Groundwater: Pilot Scale Study” is Gregor’s first as […]

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PROTECT Project 4 Team Members Present at AGU Conference in New Orleans

By Elle Russell | Published: December 21, 2017

PROTECT Project 4 Leader Dr. Ingrid Padilla and several of her student trainees attended and presented at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Annual Conference that was held in New Orleans, Louisiana from December 11th-15th, 2017. The AGU works to bring together “a community of Earth and space scientists that collaboratively advances and communicates science and […]

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Padilla Presents PROTECT Research at International Society of Exposure Science Conference

By Elle Russell | Published: December 13, 2017

From October 17-20, 2017, Dr. Ingrid Padilla, PROTECT Project 4 Leader, attended the 27th Annual Conference of the International Society of Exposure Science (ISES), where she presented on the “Influence of Hydrogeological Factors on Exposure to Emerging Contaminant in Karst Environments.” The 3-day long conference was held in Raleigh, North Carolina, and featured approximately 600 […]

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Lin and Rajic Present at AEHS Conference

By Elle Russell | Published: October 31, 2017

PROTECT Project 5 researchers and trainees presented at the 33rd Annual International Conference on Soils, Sediments, Water, and Energy held on October 16 to 19th, 2017, in Amherst, Massachusetts. This national conference was organized by the Association for Environmental Health and Sciences Foundation (AEHS) which includes a wide variety of representation from academia, state and federal […]

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PROTECT Project 5 Researchers Visit West Virginia’s Karst Caves

By Elle Russell | Published: August 15, 2017

From June 1st through 4th, 2017, PROTECT Project 5 team members Dr. Dorothy Vesper, Dr. Lily Rajic, Kimberly Hetrick, and Emily Bausher visited karst caves in Monroe County, West Virginia. For this trip, the team had goals of collecting and characterizing sediment samples as well as investigating the potential impacts of suspended sediments on electrochemical […]

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Berroa, Gregor, and Elbakri–Former ROUTES Scholars–Publish with Project 5 of PROTECT Center

By Elle Russell | Published: August 2, 2017

On June 12th, 2017, the International Journal of Electrochemical Science published a study by former ROUTES Scholars David Berroa, Savannah Gregor, and Sarah Elbakri on nitrate removal from aqueous solution via electrochemical processes as well as the feasibility of these processes to minimize the production of ammonia during the nitrate reduction. Nitrates are commonly found […]

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PROTECT and CRECE Team Members Present at Ibero-American Conference of Health-Promoting Universities in Spain

By Elle Russell | Published: July 10, 2017

From June 26th to 30th, 2017, PROTECT and CRECE Team members Carmen Vélez-Vega, Hector Torres, and Colleen Murphy attended the 8th Ibero-American Conference of Health-Promoting Universities where they presented on four different posters. Covered in the team members’ presentations was research from PROTECT, CRECE, and The Zika in Infants and Pregnancy (ZIP) study. Carmen Vélez-Vega […]

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PROTECT Team Members Publish on Phenol, Paraben Relation to Hormonal Changes in Pregnant Women

By Elle Russell | Published: November 14, 2016

A November publication released by Environmental Research and authored by Project 1 trainee Amira Aker and multiple researchers revealed interesting findings on the relation contaminants such as phenols and parabens have on hormone changes during pregnancy. Researchers twice measured phenol/paraben biomarkers of 106 child-bearing participants during their pregnancies. Exposures to certain contaminants were found to be associated […]

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PROTECT and CRECE to Take Part in National Study on Children’s Health

By Elle Russell | Published: October 4, 2016

PROTECT and CRECE will be taking part in a new national study led by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) which aims to investigate the ways in which early exposure to a range of environmental factors influence the short- and long-term health of children. The study is part of the NIH’s new Environmental Influences on […]

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PROTECT and CRECE to Study Zika in Pregnancy

By Ljiljana Rajic | Published: July 21, 2016

On Friday, July 15th, PROTECT and CRECE received funding from the NIEHS to study the Zika virus in Puerto Rico. This funding is part of the Zika Infants and Pregnancy (ZIP) study, which aims to enroll 10,000 women from 15 different countries in a study to assess the outcomes of a Zika infection during pregnancy. […]

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PROTECT researcher Gu talks toxicogenomics at Harvard School of Public Health

By protect | Published: February 5, 2015

On January 23rd, Professor April Gu, Project 5 investigator, gave a talk to an audience from clinical and environmental disciplines at the Harvard School of Public Health entitled, “Develop a Quantitative Toxicogenomics Technology Platform For Toxicity Assessment and Water Quality Monitoring.” During her presentation on her work in PROTECT, Professor Gu described the concept and […]

Also posted in Enrichment Core B (Research Translation), Events, Project 4 (Green Remediation), PROTECT Events and Presentations | Comments closed

PROTECT is hiring a Senior Research Scientist/Engineer

By protect | Published: November 20, 2014

The PROTECT Center is seeking a Senior Research Scientist/Engineer with experience and a focus on environmental health, specifically one or more of the following: Health informatics Geospatial informatics Environmental epidemiology This individual will work closely with scientists from different disciplines across multiple institutions to analyze large, complex environmental/biological datasets. Responsibilities Perform applied research and analysis […]

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PROTECT at NU’s Pop-Up Open Lab Experience

By protect | Published: November 4, 2014

On October 27th, Professor Dave Kaeli and trainees from Core D and Project 5 presented at the 6th annual Northeastern Pop-Up Open Lab Experience and Reception entitled, “Aha! Making Sense from Big Data.” Through posters and software demonstrations, the group on how the PROTECT Center uses various kinds of data to explore the relationship […]

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PROTECT trainees present their work in Amherst, MA

By Ljiljana Rajic | Published: October 28, 2014

PROTECT Project 5 trainees presented their work at the 30th Annual International Conference on Soils, Sediments, Water, and Energy October 20-23, 2014, in Amherst, Massachusetts. Presentation titles: Noushin Fallahpour: Hydrochlorination of TCE by Pd and H2 produced from a copper foam cathode in a circulated electrolytic column at high flowrate Roya Nazari: Degradation of chlorobenzene in simulated groundwater using […]

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June 2014 Spotlight: PROTECT awarded five-year renewal grant

By protect | Published: June 4, 2014

PROTECT has received a five-year, $13.5 million renewal award from the National Institutes of Health to continue its interdisciplinary investigation into the complex relationship between contamination and preterm birth. Click here to access the full article.

Also posted in Enrichment Core F (Community Engagement), Media Coverage of PROTECT, Project 1 (Targeted Epidemiology), Project 2 (Toxicology), Project 3 (Fate & Transport), Project 3 (Non-targeted Analysis), Project 4 (Green Remediation), PROTECT Team, Research Core C (Human Subjects & Sampling), Research Core D (Data Management & Modeling) | Comments closed

Alshawabkeh presents invited plenary at IAP2014 in Leeuwarden, the Netherlands

By protect | Published: May 29, 2014

Dr. Akram Alshawabkeh, PROTECT co-director and Project 5 leader, presented an invited plenary lecture at the 2014 International Conference on “Interfaces Against Pollution (IAP2014)”, held in Leeuwarden, the Netherlands, May 26 – 28, 2014. Dr. Alshawabkeh described basics and principles of electrochemical methods for in situ treatment of contaminated soil and groundwater with a focus on solar-powered […]

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PROTECT represented at RISE2014

By protect | Published: May 22, 2014

Five members of PROTECT presented at this year’s Research, Innovation, and Scholarship Expo. RISE is an annual exhibit of exciting new research at Northeastern University that can be translated into real-world applications. Below are descriptions of their posters, which are available for download. Leiming Yu’s presentation illustrated how PROTECT [Core D] efficiently manages big data and distributes […]

Also posted in Project 3 (Non-targeted Analysis), Project 4 (Green Remediation), PROTECT Events and Presentations, Research Core C (Human Subjects & Sampling) | Comments closed

October 2013 Spotlight: Recent Research

By mnobrega | Published: October 8, 2013

In September, the PROTECT article “Urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations among pregnant women in Northern Puerto Rico: Distribution, temporal variability, and predictors” was accepted for publication in Environment International. The paper documents recent PROTECT work showing that detectable concentrations of phthalate metabolites among pregnant women living in Puerto Rico are prevalent, and metabolite concentrations tend to […]

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PROTECT recruits 500th participant!

By mnobrega | Published: April 8, 2013

The first week of April saw very exciting news – the 500th woman has been recruited into the cohort of participants! This is an important milestone that will enable the program to reach its goal of 800 participants by March 2014.

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PROTECT researcher at UMichigan awarded $1.4M grant from Preventing Preterm Birth Initiative

By mnobrega | Published: November 26, 2012

PROTECT researcher and University of Michigan professor Rita Loch-Caruso is part of a team at the University of Michigan that has earned $1.4 million in support from the Preventing Preterm Birth Initiative, part of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Grand Challenges in Global Health, to study a leading cause of premature birth. For more […]

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PROTECT Cohort Recruits 400th Woman!

By mnobrega | Published: November 11, 2012

Friday November 8th, PROTECT recruited its 400th woman into the study cohort being led by the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus team (see picture). This exciting milestone marks the half-way point into the cohort of 800. Learn more about the data being collected on this cohort here.

Also posted in Research Core C (Human Subjects & Sampling) | Comments closed

Alshawabkeh work profiled in SRP Research Brief

By mnobrega | Published: August 14, 2012

PROTECT Director and Project 5 leader Akram Alshawabkeh and his team recently saw their work in novel methods for groundwater decontamination published by the SRP as part of its Research Briefs series. The Research Brief, published in July, highlights a recent paper by the Project 5 team which developed a method to remediate TCE. Read […]

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Meeker gives talk on Endocrine Disruptors [VIDEO]

By mnobrega | Published: June 1, 2012

Project 1 Leader John Meeker recently gave a TED-style talk on Endocrine Disruptors as part of the UMich Environmental Sciences Department’s 125th anniversary celebration.

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PROTECT researcher links amniotic fluid to chemical exposure in fetuses

By mnobrega | Published: March 26, 2012

An article in Science of the Total Environment co-authored by Project 2 Leader Rita Loch-Caruso has described work by her and her colleagues showing that PBDEs (a chemical found in flame retardants and considered to hurt brain development) are present in amniotic fluid, which surrounds the fetus in the womb. While the study size was small […]

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First PROTECT Baby Born

By mnobrega | Published: August 23, 2011

PROTECT is proud to announce the first baby in the study cohort was born on August 19, 2011. Our congratulations to the family! Learn more about the Human Subjects and Sampling Core which is working directly with the women (and babies) in the study cohort here.

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PROTECT’s Meeker & Ferguson Relate BPA, Altered Thyroid Hormones

By mnobrega | Published: July 11, 2011

Project 1 leader John Meeker and his graduate student Kelly Ferguson have jointly published a paper in Environmental Health Perspectives that links BPA and altered thyroid activity. As told by the U. of Michigan News Service: ANN ARBOR, Mich.—A link between chemicals called phthalates and thyroid hormone levels was confirmed by the University of Michigan in […]

Also posted in Project 1 (Targeted Epidemiology) | Comments closed

PROTECT WVU Researchers at Buckeye Cave Again!

By mnobrega | Published: June 4, 2011

PROTECT researchers Prof. Dorothy Vesper and graduate student Amanda Laskoskie (West Virginia University) recently took another trip to Buckeye Cave (Amanda’s local research site that she uses to develop the models that will be used to understand how pollutants may travel through Puerto Rico’s aquifers.) At this trip, John and Amanda got the ISCO automated […]

Also posted in Project 3 (Fate & Transport), Project 4 (Green Remediation), PROTECT Events and Presentations | Comments closed

WVU researchers visit local research site, Buckeye Cave

By | Published: May 10, 2011

PROTECT researchers Prof. Dorothy Vesper and graduate student Amanda Laskoskie (West Virginia University) recently took a trip to Buckeye Cave in West Virginia. Buckeye Cave, formed from the same geological processes as the karst (limestone) aquifers in Puerto Rico, is Amanda’s local research site that she uses to develop the models that will be used […]

Also posted in Project 3 (Fate & Transport), Project 4 (Green Remediation), PROTECT Events and Presentations | Comments closed

Roger Giese to present PROTECT research at Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Showcase

By mnobrega | Published: May 6, 2011

Project 3 Leader Roger Giese will present his work and that of the PROTECT at the 2011 Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Showcase. The talk, entitled “Does the Environment Contribute to Preterm Birth?”, will be held at Northeastern University on May 13, 2011. For more information and to register, please visit the event website.

Also posted in Project 3 (Non-targeted Analysis) | Comments closed

Meeker publishes on phthalates, PCBs

By mnobrega | Published: March 10, 2011

PROTECT Project 1 leader John Meeker’s newest paper, with Kelly Ferguson and Rita Loch-Caruso, titled “Urinary phthalate metabolites in relation to biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress: NHANES 1999–2006,” is available for viewing online. In addition, several articles have been written about Meeker’s recent study which found that polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) exposure may negatively impact […]

Also posted in Project 1 (Targeted Epidemiology) | Comments closed

Meeker paper recognized as one of NIEHS Extramural Papers of the Month

By mnobrega | Published: February 4, 2011

PROTECT Project 1 researcher John Meeker was recognized for his paper discussing findings that sperm may be harmed by bisphenol A (BPA), showing that urinary concentrations of the chemical may be related to decreased sperm quality and concentration. This study was one of the first of its kind; the researchers are continuing this line of […]

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John Meeker featured in several recent articles

By mnobrega | Published: August 27, 2010

UMich Assistant Professor John Meeker‘s (leader, Project 1) work has been featured in several recent news articles. http://www.aolhealth.com/2010/08/04/exposure-to-plastic-chemical-may-harm-male-fertility/ http://blogs.nature.com/news/thegreatbeyond/2010/08/bisphenol_a_and_sperm_damage.html http://pubs.acs.org/isubscribe/journals/cen/88/i24/html/8824news4.html Dr. Meeker was also featured in another interesting article on plastics from last year: http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/dangers-of-plastic

Also posted in Media Coverage of PROTECT, News on Environmental Health, Project 1 (Targeted Epidemiology) | Comments closed

PROTECT profiled by Associated Press

By mnobrega | Published: May 16, 2010

Mark Melia of the Associated Press looks carefully at the background problem – the high rate of preterm birth in Puerto Rico – and what PROTECT will be studying to combat this issue…read full article.

Also posted in Media Coverage of PROTECT, News on Environmental Health, News on Premature Birth | Comments closed

Northeastern awarded $9.9 million NIH grant

By mnobrega | Published: April 15, 2010

Northeastern University has received a $9.9 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study the impact of exposure to environmental contamination on preterm birth rates and to develop sustainable solutions. Read full article…

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Chemicals May Play a Role in Pre-Term Births

By mnobrega | Published: July 10, 2009

The Association of Schools of Public Health features research findings of PROTECT investigators: (ASPH Friday Letter – July 10, 2009) – A University of Michigan School of Public Health study of expectant mothers suggests that a group of common environmental contaminants called phthalates, which are present in many industrial and consumer products including everyday personal […]

Also posted in Media Coverage of PROTECT, News on Environmental Health, News on Premature Birth, Project 1 (Targeted Epidemiology) | Comments closed

Phthalates May Play a Role in Pre-Term Births

By mnobrega | Published: July 7, 2009

July 7, 2009

Also posted in Media Coverage of PROTECT, News on Environmental Health, News on Premature Birth, Project 1 (Targeted Epidemiology) | Comments closed

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