Glutathione transferases (GSTs, EC.2.5.1.18) are multifunctional enzymes that are universally distributed in all cellular life forms. They play important roles in metabolism and detoxication of endogenously produced toxic compounds and xenobiotics. GSTs have gained considerable interest over the years for biomedical and biotechnological applications due to their involvement in the conjugation of glutathione (GSH) to a vast array of chemical species. Additionally, the emergence of non-detoxifying functions of GSTs has further increased their biological significance. The present work encompasses four scientific studies aimed at investigating human as well as fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster GSTs. Paper I presents the immobilization of GSTs on nanoporous alumina membranes. Kinetic analyses with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene followed by specificity screening with alternative substrates showed a good correlation between the data obtained from immobilized enzymes and the enzymes in solution. Furthermore, immobilization showed no adverse effects on the stability of the enzymes. Paper II presents inhibition studies of human hematopoietic prostaglandin D2 synthase (HPGDS), a promising therapeutic target for anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory drugs. Our screening results with an FDA-approved drug library revealed a number of effective inhibitors of HPGDS with IC50 values in the low micromolar range. Paper III concerns the toxicity of organic isothiocyanates (ITCs) that showed high catalytic activities with GSTE7 in vitro. The in vivo results showed that phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) and allyl isothiocyanate in millimolar dietary concentrations conferred toxicity to the adult fruit flies leading to death or shortened life-span. The transgenic female flies overexpressing GSTE7 showed increased tolerance against PEITC toxicity compared to the wild-type. However, the effect was opposite in male flies overexpressing GSTE7 after one week exposure. Notably, the transgene enhanced the oviposition activity of flies with and without ITCs exposure. Paper IV highlights Drosophila GSTs as efficient catalysts of the environmental pollutant and explosive 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene and the related 2,4-dinitrotoluene degradation. This result suggests the potential of GST transgenes in plants for biotransformation and phytoremediation of these persistent environmental pollutants.

O estudo avaliou a efetividade de um sistema para tratamento de soluções aquosas contendo poluentes orgânicos emergentes (POE), denominados interferentes endócrinos (IE). Baseado nos processos oxidativos avançados (POA), empregando ozônio, radiação UV, peróxido de hidrogênio e variação de pH, o estudo possibilitou determinar a relação ideal oxidante/poluentes e o custo/benefício dos tratamentos com melhores desempenhos, de degradação do padrão contendo hormônios 17?-estradiol (E2) e 17?-etinilestradiol (EE2), e outra contendo atrazina (ATZ). Para os estudos, foi utilizado um planejamento fatorial 23, para identificar as melhores opções de degradação. Os tratamentos iniciaram com soluções em concentrações de 600 ?g L-1 de ATZ, em quadruplicatas, por períodos de até 10 minutos. Posteriormente a avaliação dos melhores tratamentos, foi estudada a cinética de mineralização de soluções a 5 mg L-1 de ATZ, em até 90 min. A concentração de estudo adotada para os hormônios foi de 1 mg L-1. A determinação da ATZ e dos hormônios (E2 e EE2) foi realizada por cromatografia em fase líquida (CLAE), utilizando a extração em fase sólida (EFS) quando necessário. Para o estudo foram construídos dois sistemas de tratamento paralelamente acoplados (S1 - escala laboratorial e S2 - escala piloto), com os respectivos volumes de 0,43 L e 20 L. O S2 possibilitou a avaliação da degradação e/ ou mineralização do fenol em solução a 50 mg L-1, porém em escala 60 vezes superior ao S1. As eficiências das mineralizações da ATZ e do fenol, foram avaliadas pela análise de Carbono Orgânico Total (COT). As condições experimentais pré-estabelecidas foram: (i) UV-C 254 nm, variando entre 0, 16 e 32 W; (ii) H2O2 entre 0, 50 e 100% do total teórico necessário para mineralização dos poluentes; (iii) O3 (4,6 g h-1) e (iv) pH 7; 9 e 11, previamente aplicadas às soluções estoque de ATZ. Após avaliação da melhor combinação para degradação, optou-se por trabalhar, nos demais estudos, apenas com soluções em pH 11,0. Na última etapa deste estudo, foram desenvolvidos dois métodos (direto e indireto) para avaliar a geração do gás ozônio em tempo real, possibilitando também realizar a medição do consumo de O3 durante os estudos. Para avaliar a eficiência dos métodos, os resultados analíticos foram convertidos em % de degradação ou mineralização e os custos dos tratamentos foram estimados. Comprovando a viabilidade desta proposta, resultados envolvendo o tratamento de solução padrão de atrazina (600 ?g L-1) apresentaram, nas melhores condições (pH 11, 30 mg L-1 de H2O2 e 4,6 g L-1 de O3), eficiência igual ou superior a 95% (<LQ) na degradação do herbicida, em apenas 2,5 minutos de tratamento e posteriormente soluções a 5 mg L-1, apresentando até 100% de mineralização em 90 minutos. Quanto aos hormônios foram obtidos poucos resultados acima do LD do equipamento, porém todos ficaram abaixo do LQ (50 ?g L-1). Quanto ao fenol (50 mg L-1), estudado no sistema piloto (S2), atingiu-se até 80% de mineralização em 24 horas e 100% de degradação. Os resultados obtidos demonstram que os sistemas apresentaram excelente eficácia conforme esperado / The study evaluated the effectiveness of a system for treatment of aqueous solutions containing emerging organic pollutants (EOP), called endocrine disruptors (ED). Based on advanced oxidation processes (AOP) using ozone, UV radiation, hydrogen peroxide and pH variation. This study allowed the determination of the ideal oxidant/pollutants ratio and the cost/benefit of treatments with better performance, regarding the degradation of the pattern containing hormones 17?-estradiol (E2) and 17?-ethinylestradiol (EE2), and another containing atrazine (ATZ). A 23 factorial design was used in the study to identify the best options for degradation. The treatments were started with solutions at concentrations of 600 ?g L-1 ATZ, in quadruplicate, for periods up to 10 min. Subsequently to the best treatment evaluation; the degradation of 5 mg L-1 ATZ solutions was evaluated, within 90 min. The adopted study concentration of the hormones was 0,05 mg L- 1 and 1,0 mg L- 1. The determination of the ATZ and hormones (E2 and EE2) was performed by liquid chromatography (HPLC) using solid phase extraction (SPE) when necessary. For this study, two parallel coupled processing systems were constructed (S1 - Laboratory scale and S2 - pilot scale) with the respective volumes of 0.43 L and 20 L. S2 system was developed to enable evaluation of the degradation of an already known substance, 50 mg L-1 phenol solution, but on a scale 60 times greater than S1. The efficiency of ATZ and phenol mineralization was evaluated by Total Organic Carbon (TOC). The pre-established experimental conditions were: (i) 254 nm UV-C, varying among 0, 16 and 32 W, (ii) H2O2 among 0, 50 and 100% of the theoretical value needed to complete mineralization of the pollutant, (iii) O3 (4,6 g h-1) and (iv) pH 7; 9 and 11 previously applied to all stock solutions. After assessing the best combination for degradation, it was chosen to work in the other experiments only solutions with pH 11.0. In the last stage of the study, two methods (an electric and a spectrophotometric) were developed to assess the ozone gas generation in real time and also allowing the measurement of O3 consumption during the studies. To evaluate the efficiency of the methods, analytical results were converted to % degradation or mineralization and treatment costs were estimated. Proving the feasibility of this proposal, preliminary results involving the treatment of atrazine standard solution (600 ?g L-1) had, in the best conditions (pH 11, 30 mg L-1 of H2O2 and 4,6 g L-1 of O3), efficiency equal or superior to 95% (<LQ) in degradation of the herbicide in just 2.5 minutes of treatment and then 5 mg L-1 solutions had 100% mineralization in 90 minutes. To hormones, few results above the DL of the equipment were obtained, but all were below the QL of the equipment (50 mg L-1). When phenol (50 mg L-1) was studied in the pilot system it reached up to 80% of mineralization within 24 hours. The obtained results shown that the systems developed reached high efficiency for treating the pollutants

O estudo avaliou a efetividade de um sistema para tratamento de soluções aquosas contendo poluentes orgânicos emergentes (POE), denominados interferentes endócrinos (IE). Baseado nos processos oxidativos avançados (POA), empregando ozônio, radiação UV, peróxido de hidrogênio e variação de pH, o estudo possibilitou determinar a relação ideal oxidante/poluentes e o custo/benefício dos tratamentos com melhores desempenhos, de degradação do padrão contendo hormônios 17?-estradiol (E2) e 17?-etinilestradiol (EE2), e outra contendo atrazina (ATZ). Para os estudos, foi utilizado um planejamento fatorial 23, para identificar as melhores opções de degradação. Os tratamentos iniciaram com soluções em concentrações de 600 ?g L-1 de ATZ, em quadruplicatas, por períodos de até 10 minutos. Posteriormente a avaliação dos melhores tratamentos, foi estudada a cinética de mineralização de soluções a 5 mg L-1 de ATZ, em até 90 min. A concentração de estudo adotada para os hormônios foi de 1 mg L-1. A determinação da ATZ e dos hormônios (E2 e EE2) foi realizada por cromatografia em fase líquida (CLAE), utilizando a extração em fase sólida (EFS) quando necessário. Para o estudo foram construídos dois sistemas de tratamento paralelamente acoplados (S1 - escala laboratorial e S2 - escala piloto), com os respectivos volumes de 0,43 L e 20 L. O S2 possibilitou a avaliação da degradação e/ ou mineralização do fenol em solução a 50 mg L-1, porém em escala 60 vezes superior ao S1. As eficiências das mineralizações da ATZ e do fenol, foram avaliadas pela análise de Carbono Orgânico Total (COT). As condições experimentais pré-estabelecidas foram: (i) UV-C 254 nm, variando entre 0, 16 e 32 W; (ii) H2O2 entre 0, 50 e 100% do total teórico necessário para mineralização dos poluentes; (iii) O3 (4,6 g h-1) e (iv) pH 7; 9 e 11, previamente aplicadas às soluções estoque de ATZ. Após avaliação da melhor combinação para degradação, optou-se por trabalhar, nos demais estudos, apenas com soluções em pH 11,0. Na última etapa deste estudo, foram desenvolvidos dois métodos (direto e indireto) para avaliar a geração do gás ozônio em tempo real, possibilitando também realizar a medição do consumo de O3 durante os estudos. Para avaliar a eficiência dos métodos, os resultados analíticos foram convertidos em % de degradação ou mineralização e os custos dos tratamentos foram estimados. Comprovando a viabilidade desta proposta, resultados envolvendo o tratamento de solução padrão de atrazina (600 ?g L-1) apresentaram, nas melhores condições (pH 11, 30 mg L-1 de H2O2 e 4,6 g L-1 de O3), eficiência igual ou superior a 95% (<LQ) na degradação do herbicida, em apenas 2,5 minutos de tratamento e posteriormente soluções a 5 mg L-1, apresentando até 100% de mineralização em 90 minutos. Quanto aos hormônios foram obtidos poucos resultados acima do LD do equipamento, porém todos ficaram abaixo do LQ (50 ?g L-1). Quanto ao fenol (50 mg L-1), estudado no sistema piloto (S2), atingiu-se até 80% de mineralização em 24 horas e 100% de degradação. Os resultados obtidos demonstram que os sistemas apresentaram excelente eficácia conforme esperado / The study evaluated the effectiveness of a system for treatment of aqueous solutions containing emerging organic pollutants (EOP), called endocrine disruptors (ED). Based on advanced oxidation processes (AOP) using ozone, UV radiation, hydrogen peroxide and pH variation. This study allowed the determination of the ideal oxidant/pollutants ratio and the cost/benefit of treatments with better performance, regarding the degradation of the pattern containing hormones 17?-estradiol (E2) and 17?-ethinylestradiol (EE2), and another containing atrazine (ATZ). A 23 factorial design was used in the study to identify the best options for degradation. The treatments were started with solutions at concentrations of 600 ?g L-1 ATZ, in quadruplicate, for periods up to 10 min. Subsequently to the best treatment evaluation; the degradation of 5 mg L-1 ATZ solutions was evaluated, within 90 min. The adopted study concentration of the hormones was 0,05 mg L- 1 and 1,0 mg L- 1. The determination of the ATZ and hormones (E2 and EE2) was performed by liquid chromatography (HPLC) using solid phase extraction (SPE) when necessary. For this study, two parallel coupled processing systems were constructed (S1 - Laboratory scale and S2 - pilot scale) with the respective volumes of 0.43 L and 20 L. S2 system was developed to enable evaluation of the degradation of an already known substance, 50 mg L-1 phenol solution, but on a scale 60 times greater than S1. The efficiency of ATZ and phenol mineralization was evaluated by Total Organic Carbon (TOC). The pre-established experimental conditions were: (i) 254 nm UV-C, varying among 0, 16 and 32 W, (ii) H2O2 among 0, 50 and 100% of the theoretical value needed to complete mineralization of the pollutant, (iii) O3 (4,6 g h-1) and (iv) pH 7; 9 and 11 previously applied to all stock solutions. After assessing the best combination for degradation, it was chosen to work in the other experiments only solutions with pH 11.0. In the last stage of the study, two methods (an electric and a spectrophotometric) were developed to assess the ozone gas generation in real time and also allowing the measurement of O3 consumption during the studies. To evaluate the efficiency of the methods, analytical results were converted to % degradation or mineralization and treatment costs were estimated. Proving the feasibility of this proposal, preliminary results involving the treatment of atrazine standard solution (600 ?g L-1) had, in the best conditions (pH 11, 30 mg L-1 of H2O2 and 4,6 g L-1 of O3), efficiency equal or superior to 95% (<LQ) in degradation of the herbicide in just 2.5 minutes of treatment and then 5 mg L-1 solutions had 100% mineralization in 90 minutes. To hormones, few results above the DL of the equipment were obtained, but all were below the QL of the equipment (50 mg L-1). When phenol (50 mg L-1) was studied in the pilot system it reached up to 80% of mineralization within 24 hours. The obtained results shown that the systems developed reached high efficiency for treating the pollutants

Nutrition interventions are an effective way to improve the dietary habits and lifestyle choices and reduce the risk of chronic disease. The Researchers in the UK-SRP Community Engagement Core develop nutrition programs for communities affected by environmental pollutants. Risk communication is a discipline that can be used to develop targeted nutrition interventions that will yield positive behavior change. The purpose of this study was to examine knowledge, risk perception, and actions concerning environmental pollutants and nutrition behavior. Data was collected using a modified survey instrument based on the validated Environmental Health Engagement Profile (EHEP). Survey participants from diverse regions of the state included 1) health educators; 2) residents from a nonmetropolitan-non-Appalachian area; 3) a nonmetropolitan-Appalachian area; and 4) a metropolitan area. Results indicated a significant, positive correlation in all four groups between perception of environmental pollutants in a person’s surroundings and the extent of concern that pollutants cause adverse health effects (p < 0.01). Recognizing that participants see a link between environmental pollutants and their health allows nutrition researchers to develop targeted, effective nutrition interventions. This information will be useful in the development of future nutrition programs to improve the health of Superfund communities.

Thesis (D.P.H.)--University of Michigan.

Thesis (D.P.H.)--University of Michigan.

Thesis (M.S.P.H.)--University of South Florida, 2009. / Title from PDF of title page. Document formatted into pages; contains 68 pages. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Florida, 2004. / Typescript. Title from title page of source document. Document formatted into pages; contains 233 pages. Includes Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

The increasing use of plastics has elevated the risk of exposure to environmental pollutants such as plasticisers in the general population, making it necessary to understand the possible long term health consequences of the same. In this study we aim to understand how DEHP affects the gene expression in mice models and if it causes disruptions to its cellular pathways. Two datasets, GSE18564 and GSE14920 comprising of 15 and 60 samples respectively were downloaded from GEO database for analysis. Quality control checks were done using Principal Component Analysis and quantile normalisation. Differentially expressed genes were found using LIMMA model, following which only top 20 genes were selected for pathway analysis using KEGG and Gene Ontology. DEHP was found to be associated with chemical carcinogenesis, including negative regulation of extrinsic apoptotic signaling pathway and fatty acid metabolism. Furthermore, it seems likely that PPAR-alpha might play a key role in DEHP related metabolic disruption. Further studies are required to better elucidate the effect of DEHP on individual metabolic pathway implicated in this thesis.

The health of the northern hardwood forest in the southern Appalachian Mountains of Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia has gained attention from the media and environmental stakeholders due to a purported decline in forest health at higher elevations. This project examined lead (Pb) and calcium (Ca) concentrations in growth rings of an important northern hardwood species, American beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) at Mount Rogers and Whitetop Mountain, Virginia and attempted to examine concentration relationships with stem growth patterns. Dominant and codominant trees were sampled from 16 research plots at two elevations. Tree cores were crossdated, divided into sections of 10-yr periods, and analyzed using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Lead concentrations correlated negatively with ring width. Elevation and aspect were significantly associated with the Pb concentration, while Ca concentrations were only associated with aspect. Tree core samples taken from higher elevation plots contained higher Pb concentrations than samples collected from lower elevation plots, while the northwest and southwest aspects contained significantly higher amounts of Pb and Ca. Both Pb and Ca concentrations increased during the 1860s and again during the mid-1900s.