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Grantee Research Project Results

2023 Progress Report: Innovative methodology based on a non-targeted screening approach combined with activity patterns for estimation of soil and dust ingestion rate in children.

EPA Grant Number: R840199
Title: Innovative methodology based on a non-targeted screening approach combined with activity patterns for estimation of soil and dust ingestion rate in children.
Investigators: Quinete, Natalia , Gardinali, Piero , Bagner, Daniel , George, Florence
Institution: Florida International University
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: June 1, 2021 through May 6, 2025
Project Period Covered by this Report: June 1, 2023 through May 31,2024
Project Amount: $1,217,193
RFA: Estimating Childrens Soil and Dust Ingestion Rates for Exposure Science (2020) RFA Text |  Recipients Lists
Research Category: Children's Health , Endocrine Disruptors , Human Health

Objective:

The specific objectives are:

 Aim 1: Development of a non-targeted screening approach to estimate soil and dust ingestion by children.  

Aim 2: Activity pattern study to estimate soil and dust ingestion by children.  

Aim 3: Statistical calculations combining both approaches for accurate estimation of soil and dust ingestion rate by children. 

Progress Summary:

  • Emily Mejias left at the end of December 2023 to pursue a graduate program and a new project coordinator, Monica Perez, received training and started working on the project beginning of December 2023.
  • Additional undergraduate students (a total of 7) were trained during this period to help with family recruitment as well as with chemical analysis and data processing. 
  • All personnel went through CITI IRB training and safety training to work in recruitment and the lab, and the last amendment was recently submitted and approved to the initial Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved on 10 October 2021 to account for changes of personnel involved in the project. 
  • A total of 55 children completed at least one round of sampling, and we collected at least one round of REDCap surveys for 68 children.  
  • A total of 49 children/families completed one year (Y1) of sample collection (N=887 samples) and surveys (N=361), and 12 families completed a second year (Y2) of sampling (N=206 samples) and surveys (94) by July 2024.
  • We completed non-targeted analysis for all matrices collected (urine, soil, dust, food, and water), which were extracted and analyzed by LC-Orbitrap MS by August 2024 and further processed by Compound Discoverer for identification of chemicals of concern. 
  •  21 children/families did not complete a full year of sampling/surveys due to unresponsiveness to contact attempts or official dropping out of the study, but they completed at least one round of samples (N=48) and/or surveys (N=74).
  • Tripropyl citrate was selected as a specific and unique tracer for dust ingestion, confirmed by authentic standards.
  •  4-Dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid was selected as tracer for soil ingestion with limitations (presence in dust and food), and further confirmed by authentic standards.
  • Presentations: PI Natalia Quinete gave a talk on “Evaluating Non-Targeted Analysis methods for comprehensive screening and identification of specific organic chemical tracers in soil and dust to estimate children's exposure” at the International Society of Exposure Science (ISES) in August 2023. The postdoc Luciana Cappelini presented the poster “Assessment of Emerging Organic Contaminants in Soil Samples from Miami-FL” in the 19th Annual Workshop on Emerging HRMS and LC-MS/MS Applications in Environmental Analysis & Food Safety, Buffalo, in September 2023, and “Screening for emerging contaminants in soil, dust, and food in Miami area using Non-Targeted: Implications to Children’s Health and Risk Assessment” at SETAC meeting, Louisville, in November 2023. Luciana gave a talk on the “Distribution of Contaminants in Food in Miami-Dade  County- FL” at the North American Chemical Residue Workshop (NACRW), Fort Lauderdale, in July 2024. 

Future Activities:

  • Ongoing data processing for semi-quantification approaches to estimate concentrations of identified chemical tracers in soil and dust samples.
  • Calculation of soil and dust ingestion rate by children based on identified chemical tracers’ concentrations in dust and soil.
  •  Scoring of children’s behavior and activity pattern is ongoing.
  • Statistical analysis to evaluate correlations between estimated soil and dust ingestion rate and socioeconomic status, activity pattern, child age, region, and children behavior.
  • Final database of chemicals in each matrix.
  • Presentation of two posters at SETAC North America in Fort Worth, Texas, October 2024 on “Monitoring Emerging Contaminants in Soil and Household Dust Samples in the Miami-Dade, Florida Region” and “Longitudinal Assessment of Organic Chemicals and Prioritization of Chemical Tracers in Drinking water from Miami, South Florida by NonTargeted Analysis”
  • We are currently writing two manuscripts based on the results from soil, dust and water. 


Journal Articles on this Report : 1 Displayed | Download in RIS Format

Publications Views
Other project views: All 1 publications 1 publications in selected types All 1 journal articles
Publications
Type Citation Project Document Sources
Journal Article Ogunbiyi O, Cappelini L, Mejhias E, George F, Gardinali P, Bagner D. Innovative non-targeted screening approach using High-resolution mass spectrometry for the screening of organic chemicals and identification of specific tracers of soil and dust exposure in children. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024;469(134025) R840199 (2022)
R840199 (2023)
  • Full-text from PubMed
  • Full-text: ScienceDirect - Full Text HTM
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  • Supplemental Keywords:

    NTA, drinking water, food, urine, soil, dust, Florida, underrepresented population, SHEDS-HT, environmental exposure. 

    Relevant Websites:

    Florida International University Exit

    Progress and Final Reports:

    Original Abstract
  • 2021 Progress Report
  • 2022 Progress Report
  • Final
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    The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.

    Project Research Results

    • Final
    • 2022 Progress Report
    • 2021 Progress Report
    • Original Abstract
    1 publications for this project
    1 journal articles for this project

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