Project Summary:
The preterm birth rate in Harris County, Houston, TX is an alarming 13.6% (national average in US is
9.6%), and in areas surrounding the superfund sites, the preterm birth (PTB) rate is even higher (> 20%).
There are 15 superfund sites in Harris County, posing a significant health risk to people living in the
vicinity of these sites. Preterm birth (PTB) often leads to many complications including chronic lung
disease, also termed bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), and some of these patients develop
neurocognitive deficits later in life. One of the possible risk factors for PTBs are polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAHs), present in contaminated soil, sediments, and water at various superfund sites
across the US, including the greater Houston area. The over-arching hypothesis of the BCM-Rice SRP
is that maternal exposure to PAHs, which are present in superfund sites, increases the risk of PTBs and
incrementally augments major morbidities such as BPD and neurocognitive deficits. The Specific Aims
of the overall center are: 1. To develop ultrasensitive detection and identification strategies (e.g., surface-
enhanced Raman Spectra (SERA) and surface-enhanced Infrared Absorption spectroscopy (SEIRA) for
primary and secondary PAH-based compounds in air, water, and soil based on optically active
engineered nanomaterials (project 1). This method is highly innovative and because it can detect PAHs
at 1 ppb levels, it will be very helpful for risk assessment. 2. To determine molecular mechanisms by
which maternal exposure to PAH mixtures increases the risks for PTBs, which in turn leads to BPD and
neurocognitive deficits. 3. To develop novel remediation technologies to treat sediments from Superfund
sites in a manner that completely removes the health risks while adding value to the impacted media.
This research should help in risk assessment. 4. To develop novel strategies to prevent and reduce the
health burden associated with PAHs present in superfund sites (e.g., Patrick Bayou, San Jacinto waste
Pitts) through our Community Engagement Core (CEC). 5. To develop partnerships with primary
stakeholders (i.e. EPA, ATSDR), NIEHS, investigators within the center and other centers, to explore
commercialization possibilities through the Administrative and Research Translational Core (AC). 6.
Train students and postdoctoral fellows in a cross-disciplinary manner, so next generation scientists,
engineers, and physicians will make fundamental contributions to Environmental Health [Research
Experience and Training Coordination Core (RETCC)]. 7. To support the management and integration
of assets across all the projects and cores of the center [data management and Analysis core (DMAC)].
The biomedical and environmental Science projects are well integrated, and they will be supported by
the AC, the research support core (RSC), and the DMAC. The overall goal to reduce the health burden
associated with PAHs in superfund sites.
