How early-life arsenic exposure changes gut bacteria and breathing health
Arsenic, the Microbiome & Health Outcomes: Mechanisms to Methods of Intervention
This project looks at whether arsenic exposure in babies and toddlers shifts gut microbes and whether fixing those microbes can protect their immune system and lungs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dartmouth College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hanover, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11238039 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be asked about home water and health while researchers measure arsenic levels and collect gut microbiome samples from mothers and infants in the New Hampshire Birth Cohort. They will follow infants through the first three years to link arsenic exposure with changes in bacteria like Bacteroides and with early respiratory outcomes. The team combines human sample analysis with lab studies to understand how the microbiome can make arsenic more or less harmful and to explore ways to restore protective microbes. Findings could point to practical steps to prevent or reduce arsenic-related immune and airway problems in young children.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are pregnant women and infants enrolled in the New Hampshire Birth Cohort, especially families with measurable arsenic in drinking water.
Not a fit: Adults without early-life arsenic exposure or children whose respiratory problems have causes unrelated to arsenic-driven microbiome changes are less likely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to ways to prevent or reduce arsenic-related immune and breathing problems in young children by restoring healthy gut bacteria.
How similar studies have performed: Previous observational work, including by this team, has linked arsenic exposure to loss of Bacteroides and higher infant respiratory risk, but clinical interventions to restore protective microbes remain largely untested.
Where this research is happening
Hanover, United States
- Dartmouth College — Hanover, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: O'toole, George a. — Dartmouth College
- Study coordinator: O'toole, George a.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.