Environmental Toxicology

COEH faculty have research foci in the areas of reproductive and developmental toxicology, neurotoxicology, inhalation toxicology, cardiovascular toxicology, and immunotoxicology.

Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology: Current research focuses on roles of oxidative stress in mediating ovarian toxicity of occupational and environmental exposures, on the developmental origins of premature ovarian failure and ovarian cancer, and of antioxidants in protecting against ovarian toxicity. Exposures being investigated include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, particulate matter air pollution, and space radiation. Research also combines toxicological and epidemiological approaches to understanding reproductive and developmental toxicants in human populations.

COEH faculty members conducting research in reproductive and developmental toxicology:

Ulrike Luderer, MD, PhD, MPH

Neurotoxicology: Research focuses on the impact of environmental factors, such as copper in drinking water and particulate matter air pollution upon the expression of chronic degenerative neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, is increasingly relevant as the population ages. These factors are under study using animal models of neurodegenerative disease.

COEH faculty members conducting research in neurotoxicology:

Masashi Kitazawa, PhD

Stephen C. Bondy, PhD

Inhalation, cardiovascular, and immune- toxicology: Research focuses on the roles of inflammation and oxidative stress as initiators of cardiopulmonary injury after exposure to ambient and laboratory-generated particle and gas mixtures. Studies involve inhalation exposures of human volunteers and laboratory animals to laboratory-generated fine and ultra-fine particles and to size differentiated ambient particles to examine the mechanisms by which inhaled environmental contaminants alter homeostatic processes that influence cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary physiology and thereby cause or exacerbate lung and heart diseases.

COEH faculty members conducting research in inhalation, cardiovascular, and immune- toxicology:

Michael T. Kleinman, PhD

Robert F. Phalen, PhD