Local drinking water contaminants and heart and metabolic health in Jackson, MS
Water Contaminants and Cardiovascular Risk: the Jackson Heart Study
This project looks at whether long-term exposure to contaminants in Jackson's public water is linked to adults' heart and metabolic health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Mississippi Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Jackson, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11176232 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be part of work using the Jackson Heart Study, a group of over 5,000 adults, where researchers match people’s home locations and health records to long-term water quality monitoring from nearby systems. They will use thousands of compliance records from 2000–2023 to track contaminants like lead, trihalomethanes, haloacetic acids, and chromium and compare those exposures with blood pressure, diabetes markers, and heart events. The team may also test stored blood samples and use address history to estimate individual long-term exposure. No new treatments are given; this is an analysis of existing health data and water records to find links that could inform public health actions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults aged 21 and older who live or have lived in Madison, Hinds, or Rankin counties (the Jackson, MS area) with traceable address histories are the most relevant group for this work.
Not a fit: People who live outside the Jackson area or who need immediate medical treatment are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify specific water contaminants that raise risk for heart disease and metabolic problems and help prioritize cleanup or policy changes to protect residents.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked lead and some disinfection byproducts to cardiovascular risks, but few have combined long-term, area-specific water monitoring with detailed cohort health data like the Jackson Heart Study, making this approach relatively novel for the region.
Where this research is happening
Jackson, United States
- University of Mississippi Med Ctr — Jackson, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Carson, April P — University of Mississippi Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Carson, April P
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.