Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) from the Commonwealth of Kentucky (SIP)
EPA Grant Number: R829419E01Title: Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) from the Commonwealth of Kentucky (SIP)
Investigators: White, David
Institution: Murray State University
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: October 1, 2002 through September 30, 2004 (Extended to September 30, 2005)
Project Amount: $457,137
RFA: EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) (2000) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: EPSCoR (The Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research)
Objective:
The objective of the Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP) was to enhance competitive research in environmental problems in the Commonwealth of Kentucky under the management of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) EPSCoR Subcommittee of the Kentucky Statewide EPSCoR Committee through information exchange activities, fellowships, and review processes to assist the investigators of the Science and Engineering Environmental Research (SEER) projects as they addressed research on environmental and human health biomarkers and use of biomarkers for pollution prevention in Kentucky.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
Because of timing issues, SEER research was not fully underway until January 2002. A special conference on biomarkers was to be held in May 2002, but with the late start, the EPSCoR Committee agreed to move the first conference to 2003, followed by a second conference in May 2004. The 2003 Special Conference was held in conjunction with the Kentucky Statewide EPSCoR Conference in Lexington, Kentucky on May 11-12. Three internationally known biomarker researchers agreed to be invited speakers. Each of the four SEER co-principal investigators presented results to date, which was followed by an open forum discussion. Special conference speakers were Patrick G. Hatcher, Professor and Director of the Ohio State Environmental Molecular Science Institute; Timothy R. Fennell, Center for Bioorganic Chemistry, RTI International; Margaret Whalen, Department of Chemistry, Tennessee State University; Howard Whiteman, Department of Biological Sciences, Murray State University; Bommanna Loganathan, Department of Chemistry, Murray State University; Harrell E. Hurst, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville School of Medicine; and Steven Myers, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville School of Medicine.
The second Special Conference focused on biomarkers and was held on May 13, 2004, in Lexington in conjunction with the Kentucky Statewide EPSCoR Conference. Presentations were made by Darrell Winner, EPA, National Center for Environmental Research; Prasada Rao Kodavanti, EPA, Office of Research and Development; Harrell E. Hurst and Steven Myers, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville School of Medicine; Howard Whiteman and Bommanna Loganathan, Departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, Murray State University; and Russell A. Barnett, Kentucky Institute for Environmental and Sustainable Development, University of Louisville.
On March 5, 2004, we presented the results of the two SEER research projects to the Kentucky Environmental Quality Commission (KEQC). Results of the meeting were made available statewide on the KEQC Web Site. The following findings and recommendations were provided to the KEQC:
“Environmental biomarkers should reflect the types (and potentially suites) of contaminants and/or problems likely to be encountered in Kentucky or that have been identified as regional or aerial concerns. In general biomarkers do not duplicate but complement monitoring efforts. It should be kept in mind that biomarkers can identify that there is a problem but, but depending on the type, may not immediately pinpoint the exact cause. In the example of the salamander developmental stability, asymmetry is an exposure biomarker, indicating that a stressor is present, but not the stressor. Many molecular biomarkers, however, are specific to the alteration of a biochemical pathway and demonstrate direct relationships between exposure and effect. While biomarkers for human health concerns have progressed dramatically over the past 5 years, biomarkers for ecological health are in their infancy. We would suggest the following as a starting point. Potential biomarkers (aquatic or terrestrial systems) (invertebrates, fish, mammals) include nitrogen contamination from agricultural/urban runoff, herbicide/pesticide contamination (particularly atrazine), endocrine disruptors; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), heavy metals (particularly mercury, cadmium, and tin), and petroleum byproducts (other than PAHs).”
All investigators were together again at the 11th Annual EPSCoR Conference, May 13, 2005, in Louisville, Kentucky. Four presentations were made at the conference followed by a group discussion.
Members of the Kentucky EPA EPSCoR Committee continue to track publication of the results and new proposals being developed. Products from the SIP and SEER grants have included 30 scientific presentations and regional and national meetings, 6 publications in preparation or submitted, and 3 Masters theses.
Other components of the SIP have included a revamping of the Web site, which now is connected to the Kentucky EPSCoR site and is searchable through the AERC Web Site. All reports will be maintained on the Web site, including the final reports for the SIP and both SEER grants. Two members of the Kentucky EPSCoR Committee (White and Farrell) were re-elected in 2005 to 3-year terms on the statewide committee, which has provided a broader outlet for the importance of long-term funding for environmental research in the Commonwealth.
State matching funds through the Kentucky Statewide Committee for the 2001-2003 budget year were held up in the Kentucky legislature (no state budget passed) through April 2003, slowing some aspects of the research. All funds were released to us in April; we did not, however, expend as much of the supplemental undergraduate/graduate student funding and travel funding as we had planned for both years. Thus, we requested and have received two, 1-year no-cost extensions to the entire project. Both SEER grants have been supported by students during the final years.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 2 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
biomarkers, pollution, biochemical pathway, monitoring efforts, environmental exposure and risk, Kentucky,, RFA, Health, Scientific Discipline, PHYSICAL ASPECTS, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Sustainable Industry/Business, cleaner production/pollution prevention, Environmental Chemistry, Health Risk Assessment, amphibians, Risk Assessments, Biochemistry, Physical Processes, bioindicator, diagnostic tool, pollution prevention research, biomarkers, environmental risks, exposure, population decline, amphibian decline, clean technology, hazardous emissions, alternative materials, human exposure, butadiene, amphibian bioindicator, causal mechanisms, air emissions, pollution prevention, biomarkerRelevant Websites:
http://www.murraystate.edu/qacd/cos/hbs/epaepscor-program.htm Exit
http://www.kyepscor.org/ky_epscor_programs.htm Exit
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.