Faculty Bibliography

This study evaluated whether remediation at the Ringwood Mines/Landfill Superfund site in New Jersey reduced soil heavy metal exposure and associated health risks for the Ramapough Lunaape Turtle Clan, a Native American community whose traditional ties to the local land may increase exposure to legacy pollution. Soil heavy metal concentrations were measured in frequently visited areas in and around the Ringwood Superfund site, and evaluated against background levels using the geo-accumulation index (I_geo) and ecological risk index (E_r). I_geo results signaled anthropogenic enrichment of antimony, arsenic, cadmium, and lead, with cadmium showing E_r values denoting very high ecological risks. Receptor models (Positive Matrix Factorization [PMF] and UNMIX) identified source profiles consistent with iron mine tailings (arsenic, cobalt, iron, and vanadium) and automotive waste (cadmium, chromium, lead, and nickel), linking observed contamination to the sources responsible for the site's Superfund designation. Monte Carlo simulations of the hazard index (HI) and total cancer risk (TCR) indicated potential non-cancer and cancer risks for children and adults, primarily through soil ingestion, dermal contact, and game meat consumption-an oft-overlooked pathway in conventional risk assessments. Despite claims that the site is under control for human exposure, soil contamination from legacy sources persisted at levels associated with excess health risks. Findings from this study highlighted potential deficiencies in current remediation strategies in protecting the health of Native American communities with cultural and subsistence ties to their land, and contributed evidence that can inform future studies in similar settings.

Occupational exposure to commercial cooking emissions has not been comprehensively studied, particularly in a Western context. This investigation measured the concentration and composition of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), particulate matter (PM), carbon monoxide (CO), and black carbon (BC) in 18 New York City restaurants. Eight-hour gravimetric PM_1,2.5,10 mass concentrations were measured in kitchen and dining areas, and PM₁ was speciated using X-ray fluorescence. Evacuated canisters and XAD-2 sorbent tubes collected VOCs and PAHs, respectively, and were speciated using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Lastly, spatial concentration gradients for PM_2.5 and day-of-the-week effects were considered in eight additional restaurants. A median PM_2.5 concentration of 79.6 μg/m³ was found in kitchens, with real-time values spiking into the thousands of micrograms per cubic meter in some restaurants─values below the Occupational Safety and Health Administration 8 h permissible exposure limit of 5 mg/m³ for particles not otherwise regulated (respirable fraction), but well above the 24 h World Health Organization recommended ambient exposure limit of 15 μg/m³ for 2021. Benzene, a known carcinogen, was frequently detected in the kitchen areas, while PAHs were often undetected. These data warrant further investigation into the cardiopulmonary health of restaurant workers.

Gastroparesis is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder characterized by delayed gastric emptying, often presenting with symptoms including nausea, vomiting, early satiety, and abdominal pain. Moreover, studies demonstrate higher rates of psychological distress among individuals with gastroparesis, compared with the general population; increasing evidence suggests that anxiety and depression contribute to symptom severity, reduced quality of life, and poorer treatment outcomes. Potential mechanisms underlying this seeming association include dysregulation of the gut-brain axis and the psychosocial burden of living with a chronic illness. Thus, this contemporary, mini review aims to integrate some current literature on the prevalence, pathophysiology, and clinical implications of anxiety and depression in patients with gastroparesis.

OBJECTIVE/UNASSIGNED:The aim of this laboratory study was to characterize the effects of sub-chronic electronic cigarette (E-cig) aerosol exposures on genome-wide DNA methylation in mice to begin to elucidate the pathophysiology of E-cig-related pulmonary diseases and cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS/UNASSIGNED:Male C57BL/6 and FVBN mice were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups (n = 6 per group) and exposed daily to either filtered air or a 50:50 mixture of propylene glycol and vegetable glycerol containing 24 mg/mL nicotine (+Nic). Whole-body inhalation exposures were conducted for 3 h/d, 5 d/week, for a total of 1-month. Sequences for ∼285 000 CpG probes were aligned to the mouse genome, and mixed linear models were used to model DNA methylation levels (β values). These evaluations were followed by ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and Gene Ontology (GO) analysis. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION/UNASSIGNED:E-cig inhalation exposure induced significant DNA methylation changes in adult male mice, with a notable impact on cancer-related pathways. A total of 2300 genes in C57BL/6 mice and 6732 genes in FVBN mice were hypomethylated, while 1673 and 5529 genes were hypermethylated, respectively. KEGG and GO analyses highlighted key pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin signaling and proteoglycans in cancer, suggesting that E-cig aerosol exposure could disrupt critical genomic regulation and potentially promote carcinogenesis. These in vivo findings underscore the potential cancer-promoting effects of E-cig aerosols through epigenetic modifications. CONCLUSIONS/UNASSIGNED:Findings from this study provide compelling evidence that sub-chronic E-cig exposure induces genomic DNA methylation changes linked to cancer pathways in two strains of adult male mice, highlighting the serious adverse consequences of E-cig use and strain-specific response differences.

Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) arrived on the U.S. market in 2007 and rapidly grew in popularity as a harm reduction tool for traditional cigarette users. While initially marketed as a healthier alternative to combustible cigarettes, the unique mixture of chemical constituents in ENDS products and their emissions have led to rising concern about their safety and the long-term health implications. Given the lack of long-term, epidemiological research on the health effects of these products, recent research has sought to understand the impacts on cellular components and gain understanding of acute effects to inform potential chronic health implications. Studies have demonstrated the deleterious effects the use of ENDS has on the oral cavity, respiratory, and cardiovascular systems. ENDS use has been linked to gingival inflammation and alterations in the oral microbiome contributing to periodontal disease. Further, the presence of heavy metals and other constituents in ENDS emissions contribute to aberrant oxidative stress and inflammation within the lung, contributing to alterations in functional lung capacity and respiratory symptoms in ENDS users. In addition, harmful components of ENDS emissions make their way to the circulatory system, leading to detrimental impacts in cardiovascular functioning such as a rise in blood pressure, impaired vascular functioning, and increased heart rate, all of which are known to underscore long-term cardiovascular ailments. This review will provide an in-depth discussion of the current literature available on the consequences of ENDS use on the oral cavity, respiratory, and cardiovascular systems as well as provide insight into long-term implications that may result.

Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), commonly known as e-cigarettes, are battery-operated devices that produce aerosols by vaporizing e-liquids, which typically contain propylene glycol and/or vegetable glycerin, nicotine, and flavorings. Since their launch in the U.S. in 2007, ENDS have evolved significantly to meet consumer demands, prompting federal regulation in 2016 under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. The first ENDS resembled conventional tobacco cigarettes and were initially marketed as smoking cessation tools. While their smoking cessation efficacy under advantageous conditions has been supported by randomized clinical trials, observational cohort studies have raised doubt about their utility for smoking cessation under more typical real-world use conditions. In 2018, the U.S. Surgeon General declared youth vaping a national epidemic as prevalence of current ENDS use rose to 27.5% among high school. The youth vaping trend alongside injury reports and deaths related to e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI) raised public health alarms in 2019. Although youth vaping has since declined, over 1.6 million high school students and 410, 000 middle school students reported ENDS usage in 2024. Thus, the ongoing challenges surrounding vaping including adolescent usage and smoking cessation efficacy continue to attract public health concern and debate. Within this section of the Special Issue "Science Education and Research on Vaping and Interventions for Community Engagement", an overview of the history of the vaping epidemic, current formats and ENDS generations, usage statistics across various demographics along with market trends and regulatory guidelines will be discussed.