How PAH pollution can affect community health
Official title: Predicting the Toxicity of PAHs
Funded at Oregon State University · NIH-11360159 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses fast zebrafish tests to find which PAH pollutants at contaminated sites may cause cancer or developmental harm for people who live nearby.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Corvallis, United States) |
| Project start | September 17, 2009 |
| Project end | January 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $298,483 |
| NIH project number | 5P42ES016465-17 |
| Project ID | NIH-11360159 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People living near PAH-contaminated sites, pregnant people, parents of young children, and others concerned about environmental PAH exposure would find these results most relevant and could be candidates for future human-focused follow-up studies.
✕Less likely to help
People with no known exposure to PAHs or whose health concerns are unrelated to environmental pollution are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
What this research studies
This project uses high-throughput testing in zebrafish to see which parent and alkylated PAHs (common pollution chemicals) cause toxicity, especially during development. Researchers link chemical structure, how much the animals take up, and changes in diagnostic gene pathways to build predictions of harm. The team focuses on mixtures like those found at Superfund sites, not just single chemicals, because people are exposed to complex blends. Results are shared with risk assessors to help guide cleanup priorities and protect communities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help regulators prioritize which contaminated sites and chemicals pose the greatest health risks and speed safer cleanups for nearby residents.
How similar studies have gone: Zebrafish high-throughput toxicology approaches have successfully flagged harmful chemicals before, but applying them to the many alkylated PAHs common at Superfund sites is still relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Oregon State University
Corvallis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tanguay, Robyn L — Oregon State University
- Study coordinator: Tanguay, Robyn L
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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.