Grantee Research Project Results
2022 Progress Report: UNC Center for Early Life Exposures And Neurotoxicity (UNC CLEAN)
EPA Grant Number: R840219Title: UNC Center for Early Life Exposures And Neurotoxicity (UNC CLEAN)
Investigators: Engel, Stephanie M. , Fry, Rebecca , Gray, Kathleen , Keil, Alex , Li, Gang , Li, Tengfei , Lin, Weili , Lu, Kun , Rager, Julia , Graves, Neasha
Current Investigators: Engel, Stephanie M. , Fry, Rebecca , Gray, Kathleen , Li, Gang , Li, Tengfei , Lin, Weili , Lu, Kun , Rager, Julia , Graves, Neasha , Starling, Anne
Institution: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2025
Project Period Covered by this Report: July 1, 2021 through June 30,2022
Project Amount: $1,894,823
RFA: Center for Early Lifestage Vulnerabilities to Environmental Stressors (2020) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Children's Health
Objective:
The vision of the UNC Center for Early Life Exposures And Neurotoxicity (UNC CLEAN) is to provide new knowledge on the role of early life phthalate exposures on neurobehavioral development, discover the underlying neural substrates that link phthalate exposures to developmental outcomes, and translate interdisciplinary science to community stakeholders.
Progress Summary:
In year one we optimized assays for 17 phthalates relative to isotope-labeled phthalate standards, achieving excellent accuracy. A pull list of urine samples was generated, and a quality control set of pooled urine samples for laboratory-blinded QCs was developed. Samples were randomized to analytic batch, with repeat samples from the same individual kept within batch. By the end of year 1, 250 samples were analyzed including 25 pooled QCs. We examined the coefficients of variation among the pooled QCs and found excellent analytic accuracy, with CVs generally ~5%. Among the phthalates measured, some were infrequently detected, including MCOP and MONP, however detection of most phthalates was greater than 98%. Data cleaning of developmental inventories is ongoing.
We received IRB approval for new enrollment into the Early Life Factors (ELF) study. We established a recruitment stream for prenatal populations. We developed and pilot tested questionnaires for the pregnancy period, finalized a RedCAP database for enrollment tracking and subject-level data collection. We hired study personnel, trained them on study procedures, and opened enrollment. In year 1, we enrolled 18 women prenatally into this longitudinal neuroimaging study. Three were later found to be ineligible and 1 withdrew. By the end of year 1, 8 fetal scans were completed (one was later determined to be unusable due to significant motion artifacts). Prenatal urines were collected in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. Image processing of fetal scans is ongoing to reconstruct fetal brain images. Enrollment of new subjects and follow-up of existing subjects is ongoing. We have established an MRI data work-group, meeting biweekly, to develop a cleaned and annotated MRI database for already completed scans.
The Translation Core co-convened 4 meetings of the NC Lead and Health Homes Outreach Task Force, including approximately 40 participants from local and state health, housing, and nonprofit organizations. Relevant presentations included challenges to healthy home assessments during the pandemic, and legislation on statewide testing of water in childcare centers. In addition, the translation core hosted two North Carolina Central University students majoring in Public Health Education in Spring, 2022 for an 8-week internship (40 hours/week). The focus of the internship was developing and revising educational materials on lead poisoning prevention and phthalate exposure.
The Administrative Core held quarterly meetings of administrative and center personnel on October 14th, December 9th, March 17th and August 8th. The August 8th meeting coincided with an annual meeting of the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), in which center investigators presented on their year 1 progress and year 2 objectives to SAB members and the EPA program officer. At each quarterly meeting, administrative staff addressed operations, billing and expenditures as needed. The AC established data storage location and organizational system with access granted to center scientists and study personnel. A read-out of SAB discussion from the annual meeting was provided to Dr. Engel following the annual meeting.
Future Activities:
In the upcoming year, we anticipate finalizing phthalate biomarker analyses and beginning analysis of the urinary exposome. Quality assurance of phthalate biomarker data will be completed. We will then create an annotated analytic dataset with appropriate documentation, and distribute data to relevant investigator teams in Projects 1 and 2. We anticipate completing enrollment of 20 prenatal women and continuing follow-up visits for prenatal and postnatal scans. Following receipt of the phthalate biomarker data, we will commence statistical analysis of exposure data in relation to existing sMRI and rsfMRI data. Quality assurance of fetal scan data will continue. In the upcoming year, the TC will continue to convene quarterly meetings of the NC Lead and Healthy Homes Outreach Task Force, the CHAT, and will support one PHE intern in spring 2023.
Relevant Websites:
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe 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.