Inhalation Toxicology Core
Semi-volatile PCBs: Sources, Exposures, Toxicities
Inhalation exposure to the more volatile PCBs in urban
areas, near the Great Lakes, in areas where dredging is occurring, and at
landfills and remediation sites has the potential to cause neurological,
reproductive, and immunological toxicity in animals and humans. Projects
1, 2, and 3 will investigate the toxicological responses to atmospheric
PCBs.
Our primary goal is to serve the other research support cores and the projects
with state-of-the-art animal facilities and rigorously controlled inhalation
exposures to realistic mixtures of airborne PCB congeners. In order to achieve
this goal, we have established four specific aims:
Aim 1) Generate controlled PCB atmospheres in exposure chambers and collect airborne PCBs resulting from vaporization of common industrial PCB mixtures to facilitate the creation of a model exposure mixture, (supports Projects 1, 2, 3, 5 and the Synthesis Core)
Aim 2) Perform acute, subacute and subchronic inhalation exposures to laboratory animals to defined mixtures of atmospheric PCBs and to individual congeners, (supports Projects 1, 2, and 3)
Aim 3) Provide a rodent vivarium for experimental animals used for the isrp and execute a quality assurance program to monitor their health and welfare, (supports Projects 1, 2, and 3)
Aim 4) Perform necropies on exposed, control and sentinel
rodents and distribute tissues to project investigators in the isrp. (supports
Projects 1, 2, and 3)
The Inhalation Toxicology Core will be created within the existing Inhalation
Toxicology Facility (ITF) of the Environmental Health Sciences Research
Center which consists of 6,000 ft2 of contiguous laboratories and offices.
The ITF is nationally recognized for innovative animal models and exposure
delivery systems. A full array of inhalation toxicology, aerosol science,
and bioassay services are rendered. The Inhalation Toxicology Core is well
equipped for generating and quantifying PCB vapors or aerosols; for performing
nose-only inhalation exposures of rats in acute, subacute or subchronic
protocols; and for determining the degree of exposure and response. The
development of innovative exposure delivery systems for PCB mixtures representative
of atmospheric congeners is an essential concurrent activity.
Core Leader: Peter S. Thorne, PhD
Dr. Thorne is a professor of toxicology in the University of Iowa's Department
of Occupational and Environmental Health with a secondary appointment in
the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He has over 23 years
experience in toxicology research involving laboratory animals. He is the
founder and director of the closely aligned Inhalation Toxicology Facility
within the Environmental
Health Sciences Research Center. Dr. Thorne served for many years on
the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. He will have overall responsibility
for the Core and will serve as the primary contact with other Project and
Core Leaders in the isrp. Dr. Thorne will supervise Ms. Adamcakova-Dodd
and Dr. Hadina. He will provide investigators with guidance on the inhalation
exposures and data analysis and will contribute to the drafting of presentations,
progress reports and publications.