You are here:
AN INTEGRATED RESEARCH AGENDA TO EVALUATE TAP WATER DISINFECTION BYPRODUCTS AND HUMAN HEALTH: PART 1
Citation:
Lynberg, M. C., D. L. Ashley, P Mendola, J. R. Nuckols, K. P. Cantor, B. C. Blount, L. C. Backer, P. Langlois, P. Singer, AND C. Wilkes. AN INTEGRATED RESEARCH AGENDA TO EVALUATE TAP WATER DISINFECTION BYPRODUCTS AND HUMAN HEALTH: PART 1. Presented at International Society for Environmental Epidemiology, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, August 11-15, 2002.
Description:
An Integrated Research Agenda to Evaluate Tap Water Disinfection Byproducts and Human Health: Part I
Michele Lynberg1, David Ashley 2, Pauline Mendola3, J. R. Nuckols4, Kenneth Cantor5, Benjamin Blount 2, Philip Singer6, Charles Wilkes7, Lorraine Backer1, and Peter Langlois8
1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health ?Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects; 2 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health?Division of Environmental Health Laboratory; 3 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory; 4 Colorado State University - Department of Environmental Health; 5 National Cancer Institute; 6 University of North Carolina - Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering; 7 Wilkes Technologies, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland; 8 Texas Department of Health
A number of epidemiologic studies of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) have suggested an association between DBPs in tap water and the risk of adverse human health outcomes including bladder cancer and adverse reproductive outcomes (spontaneous abortion, birth defects, and intrauterine growth retardation). However, study results require further elaboration. Important public health questions remain, including: 1) whether genetic polymorphisms modulate the risk associated with exposure to DBPs in tap water; 2) what activities and environmental factors influence exposure levels; 3) what epidemiologic and exposure research is needed to provide the best data for risk-based decision-making for future tap water regulations; and 4) whether exposure to short-term peaks in tap water DBP levels increases risk for adverse reproductive outcomes? In order to address these issues, researchers need to improve their understanding of DBP formation and stability, human exposure, metabolism, and genetic susceptibility. Successful research requires an interdisciplinary approach with collaboration among scientists with diverse backgrounds (e.g., engineers, epidemiologists, toxicologists, GIS experts, analytical chemists). To begin to address these complex issues, CDC participates in a unique collaboration with investigators from academic institutions (Colorado State University, University of North Carolina, University of Iowa), federal agencies (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and National Cancer Institute), and state agencies (Texas and New York Departments of Health). The interdisciplinary research team designed and is implementing a comprehensive tap water DBP research program consisting of 6 studies that will: 1) evaluate drinking water levels of selected DBPs in blood after showering and assess the potential effect of genetic polymorphisms on these levels; 2) investigate the relative magnitude of exposure to DBPs from typical water use activities in a household; 3) evaluate the utility of a computer-based, predictive model for DBP exposure in epidemiologic studies; 4) evaluate alternative data gathering methods for use in epidemiologic studies concerning DBP exposure; 5) identify new markers of exposure to DBPs in urine; and 6) evaluate maternal consumption and use of tap water and the risk of neural tube defects, oral cleft defects, and cardiac defects. Using this multidisciplinary approach, the collaborative research team is in a unique position to improve exposure assessment to DBPs, to understand the biology and biochemistry underlying the health effects of DBPs, and to provide important data for risk-based decision making for future drinking water regulations.
This is an abstract of a proposed presentation and does not necessarily reflect EPA policy.