Approaches for PAH Source and Fate Determination in Exposures

Oregon State University, Corvallis OR

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Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY – ANDERSON PROJECT The first aim of this project is to develop a generalizable approach to discover the sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This aim addresses SRP Mandate #3: Develop methods and technologies to detect hazardous substances in the environment. By helping remediators and risk assessors to identify the sources of PAHs, we will enable them to understand the systemic behavior of a polluted site and thereby to optimize their plans to remediate the site and to evaluate the impact of the remediation. The second aim of this project is to determine whether alkylated PAHs (a-PAHs) move through the environment in the same way as their parent compounds. This aim addresses SRP Mandate #2: Develop methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances. The proposed work will help scientists and policy makers to understand the real-world human exposures of these recently discovered prevalent chemicals. The third aim of this project is to predict the concentrations of a-PAHs in crayfish and shellfish based on concentrations measured by passive sampling devices in the surrounding water. This aim addresses SRP Mandate #1: Develop advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effects on human health of hazardous substances. This research will give Superfund managers and public health officials a rational, low-cost basis for limiting access to fishing and for prioritizing Superfund sites for remediation. We propose to learn to associate any given environmental PAH with a legacy source (such as a specific Superfund site) or a contemporary source (such as automobile traffic, floods, or wildfires). To this end, we will couple stationary passive sampling devices with analytical tools (gas chromatography combustion isotope ratio mass spectrometry, or GC/C/IRMS instruments) that can measure the ratios of stable isotopes of carbon and hydrogen. Those ratios will serve as “fingerprints” or forensic signatures of specific PAH sources. We propose to learn to identify the sources of PAHs to which individual people are exposed. To this end, we will couple passive sampling wristbands with the same GC/C/IRMS instruments. We will initiate the research plan for each of the center’s overall integrative research goals by identifying PAHs in air, water, and sediment at Superfund sites and determining which of those PAHs are present in the highest concentrations. We will also collaborate with the Community Engagement Core and the Research Translation team to translate our research products, such as computer models that a) predict PAH toxicity, adverse impacts, AhR binding, gene expression response, and carcinogenicity on the basis of chemical structure and tissue dose, b) predict whether a given PAH mixture will exhibit additive toxicity, and if so, which components in the mixture are likely responsible for the observed effects, and c) predict synergistic and / or antagonistic toxicity in PAH mixtures via a mechanism involving PAH metabolites.