Reducing airborne PCB pollution in schools and communities
Iowa Superfund Research Program: Airborne PCBs: Sources, Exposures, Toxicities, Remediation
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF IOWA · NIH-11326737
This program is learning how breathing PCB-contaminated air affects adolescents and finding ways to lower exposures in schools and nearby neighborhoods.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF IOWA (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (IOWA CITY, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11326737 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you or your child spend time in schools near contaminated sites, the team measures PCB levels in indoor and outdoor air and tracks likely sources such as soils and water. Researchers work directly with affected communities in Vermont and the Portland Harbor area to collect air samples and link exposure data to health measures in adolescents focused on brain development and metabolism. They study different PCB types, including lower-chlorinated forms that stay in air, and use lab tests to clarify how these chemicals cause harm. The program also develops and tests practical remediation and exposure-reduction approaches that communities can adopt.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are adolescents (about 12–20 years old) who attend or live near schools or communities with known PCB contamination and who can take part in local sampling and health testing.
Not a fit: People without any PCB exposure or who cannot attend local sampling or clinic visits are unlikely to receive direct benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could cut airborne PCB exposure in schools and communities and help protect adolescents' neurodevelopment and metabolic health.
How similar studies have performed: Previous ISRP work demonstrated airborne PCBs are an important exposure source, but linking those exposures to adolescent neurodevelopment and testing community remediation is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
IOWA CITY, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF IOWA — IOWA CITY, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: HORNBUCKLE, KERI C — UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
- Study coordinator: HORNBUCKLE, KERI C
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.