Evaluating the Biological Impacts of Contaminants of Emerging Concern
The US EPA defines contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) as chemicals that have been recently detected in aquatic environments and that may cause adverse effects in biota, but for which no regulatory standards exist. Chemicals such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), perfluorinated compounds, personal care products, and human and veterinary pharmaceuticals are considered CECs. We are interested not only in the biological consequences of exposures to these compounds, but also in the development of robust screening methods that can be utilized to assess their presence in the natural environment.
Much of our recent work has focused on thyroid hormone-disrupting CECs. Though thyroid hormones are most well known for their roles in growth and development, but recent evidence suggests that they also play a key role in reproduction and immunity. As such, we are interested in how early life stage exposures to thyroid hormone inhibitors affect not only growth and development, but also reproductive endocrinology, reproductive output, immune system development and disease resistance. Publications related to this work can be found here, here and here.
Our lab is also interested in improving the methods utilized to screen for endocrine-disrupting CECs. Specifically, we have investigated whether the phenotype of adult fish utilized in routine screening assays can influence the outcome of such assays. Our finding suggest that the phenotype of female fish affects their responses to anti-estrogenic and androgenic compounds as detailed in a manuscript found here.
Much of our recent work has focused on thyroid hormone-disrupting CECs. Though thyroid hormones are most well known for their roles in growth and development, but recent evidence suggests that they also play a key role in reproduction and immunity. As such, we are interested in how early life stage exposures to thyroid hormone inhibitors affect not only growth and development, but also reproductive endocrinology, reproductive output, immune system development and disease resistance. Publications related to this work can be found here, here and here.
Our lab is also interested in improving the methods utilized to screen for endocrine-disrupting CECs. Specifically, we have investigated whether the phenotype of adult fish utilized in routine screening assays can influence the outcome of such assays. Our finding suggest that the phenotype of female fish affects their responses to anti-estrogenic and androgenic compounds as detailed in a manuscript found here.