Navigation Links
Case Western Reserve researchers looking at light-induced toxins in air and water
Date:2/17/2009

Is the air we breathe on a daily basis slowly killing us?

It may not be that severe, but the air we breathe and water we drink may be more harmful than we realize.

Toxic nitro-aromatic pollutants (or nitro-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), both manmade and naturally occurring, continue to be emitted into the air and are present in food, water systems, soils and sediments, says Carlos Crespo, the Case Western Reserve University chemistry assistant professor whose research team is studying how ultraviolet-visible light interacts with and transforms these compounds under controlled laboratory settings.

The goal of his group is to assess the physical and chemical consequences of sunlight absorption by these pollutants in the environment. In particular, the Crespo research group wants to know the relaxation pathways used by these pollutants to redistribute the excess electronic energy gained when they absorb light and how this energy is used to transform these compounds into other harmful compounds or products. Their work is being funded by a $100,000 grant from the American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund.

"Degradation by sunlight is thought to be the main route of natural removal of nitro-aromatic compounds from the environment. Consequently, understanding how the absorption of light transforms these compounds holds the key for predicting their environmental fate and for designing effective pollution control strategies," says Crespo.

He added, "These relatively small compounds are formed primarily through incomplete combustion processes, like municipal incinerators, motor vehicles and power plants."

While these compounds do occur naturally in the environment, through actions like volcanic eruptions or forest fires, the use of fossil fuels increases the amount emitted into the atmosphere, increasing exposure to their harmful effects.

"Epidemiological studies show that exposure to diese
'/>"/>

Contact: Jason A. Tirotta
jason.tirotta@case.edu
216-368-6890
Case Western Reserve University
Source:Eurekalert

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2 3

Related biology news :

1. UT Southwestern researchers disrupt biochemical system involved in cancer, degenerative disease
2. Natural brain substance blocks weight gain in mice, UT Southwestern researchers discover
3. Climate changes impact on invasive plants in Western US may create restoration opportunities
4. Tree deaths have doubled across the western US
5. Study finds MRSA in Midwestern swine, workers
6. UT Southwestern scientist honored among best in Texas research
7. Case Western Reserve finds mechanism underlying alt. splicing of premessenger RNA into messenger RNA
8. UT Southwestern researchers identify gene linked to inherited form of fatal lung disease
9. Deranged calcium signaling contributes to neurological disorder, UT Southwestern researchers find
10. Case Western Reserve University uncovers genetic basis for some birth defects
11. NSF grant to launch undergrads from Case Western Reserve into math and science teaching
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:5/16/2013)... Northwestern University scientists have shown a gene involved in ... proper function of the circadian clock. , In ... found the gene, called Ataxin-2, keeps the clock responsible ... the gene, the rhythm of the fruit fly,s sleep-wake ... schedule difficult for the fly. , The discovery ...
(Date:5/16/2013)... choose to wear the color red when they compete? ... Science , a journal of the Association for Psychological ... their testosterone levels. , The new study, conducted by ... and colleagues, demonstrated that males who chose red as ... levels than other males who chose blue. , "The ...
(Date:5/16/2013)... trigger hematopoiesis at sites outside the bone marrow ... Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) in Munich now show that a specific ... of blood cells. , Balanced hematopoiesis is essential for ... hematopoiesis takes place mainly in the liver and the ... marrow, and this tissue normally serves as the sole ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Gene involved in neurodegeneration keeps clock running 2High-testosterone competitors more likely to choose red 2Herpes infections: Natural killer cells activate hematopoiesis 2
... Time and Increases EfficiencyWALL, N.J., May 19 ... BKYI), a leader in finger-based biometric identification ... that Minnesota counties are deploying BIO-key,s WEB-key(R) ... new paperless criminal charging, or eCharging system.(Logo: ...
... plant scientists have identified two new genes and two new ... that the plants were making monoterpenes, compounds that help give ... in the face of accepted thought. Such research could ... Based on years of research, scientists thought that plants ...
... Ike roared ashore in Texas, more than two million ... preserve food and others looking for ways to entertain ... instances, poisonous. Researchers at The University of Texas Health ... children treated for carbon monoxide poisoning caused by gasoline-powered ...
Cached Biology News:Minnesota Counties Secure New Criminal Charging System With BIO-key(R) Fingerprint Biometrics 2Minnesota Counties Secure New Criminal Charging System With BIO-key(R) Fingerprint Biometrics 3MSU discoveries upend traditional thinking about how plants make certain compounds 2Pediatric carbon monoxide poisoning linked to video games after Hurricane Ike 2
(Date:5/16/2013)... PORTLAND, Ore. , May 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ ... to many of the nation,s largest regional health ... the America,s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) Institute 2013 ... and highlight survey results showing how health insurance ... planning for the consumer and marketplace demands for ...
(Date:5/16/2013)... HAYWARD, Calif. , May 16, 2013 ... University, Beijing , and the ... www.magceutics.com ) have demonstrated a novel therapy for reversing ... brain magnesium levels, they find significant cognitive improvement in ... to demonstrate a mechanism for reversing cognitive decline for ...
(Date:5/16/2013)... May 16, 2013 On average, developing ... over one billion dollars. Despite this investment, less than ... this high, is your clinical trial design optimally structured ... best outcomes? , Dr. Frederic Sax, Global Head of ... the use of data, information and technology in upfront ...
(Date:5/16/2013)... NEW YORK , May 16, ... a new market research report is ... MediPoint: Diagnostic Cardiac Biomarkers for ... and Market Forecasts ... Cardiac Biomarkers for Acute Coronary Syndromes ...
Breaking Biology Technology:HealthSparq to Reveal New Healthcare Transparency Benchmark Study at AHIP Institute 2013 2HealthSparq to Reveal New Healthcare Transparency Benchmark Study at AHIP Institute 2013 3Elevation of Brain Magnesium Reverses Memory Deficits in Alzheimer Mice 2Elevation of Brain Magnesium Reverses Memory Deficits in Alzheimer Mice 3Optimizing Clinical Trials Outcomes through Computer Assisted Design, New Life Science Webinar Hosted by Xtalks 2MediPoint: Diagnostic Cardiac Biomarkers for Acute Coronary Syndromes - APAC Analysis and Market Forecasts 2MediPoint: Diagnostic Cardiac Biomarkers for Acute Coronary Syndromes - APAC Analysis and Market Forecasts 3MediPoint: Diagnostic Cardiac Biomarkers for Acute Coronary Syndromes - APAC Analysis and Market Forecasts 4MediPoint: Diagnostic Cardiac Biomarkers for Acute Coronary Syndromes - APAC Analysis and Market Forecasts 5MediPoint: Diagnostic Cardiac Biomarkers for Acute Coronary Syndromes - APAC Analysis and Market Forecasts 6MediPoint: Diagnostic Cardiac Biomarkers for Acute Coronary Syndromes - APAC Analysis and Market Forecasts 7MediPoint: Diagnostic Cardiac Biomarkers for Acute Coronary Syndromes - APAC Analysis and Market Forecasts 8
... have begun clinical trials on a flu detection product developed ... , ,The product, known as ProFlu+, is being billed as ... and differentiate several flu viruses, including Influenza A and ... ,Prodesse has been working with the Food and Drug ...
... Madison, Wis. - TomoTherapy, Inc. has filed a ... an initial public offering of common stock. , ,The Madison-based medical ... shares on the NASDAQ Global Market . , ,The number ... offering have yet to be determined. According to the statement filed ...
... the largest technology expenditures of a business. The promise ... developed in-house with a standardized, integrated system, built on ... ,All this is combined with promises of a fast ... of the package is released. The popularity of package ...
Cached Biology Technology:TomoTherapy files registration statement for IPO 2Five steps to buying the right package software 2Five steps to buying the right package software 3Five steps to buying the right package software 4Five steps to buying the right package software 5Five steps to buying the right package software 6Five steps to buying the right package software 7
... clone E978 GenBank ... Immunogen : NY-ESO-1 ... mouse ascites with 0.05% ... routinely evaluated by immunoblot ...
R26.4C...
Form: Ready to use Applications: ELISA...
... The 200RT rotary tables offer precision ... is mount compatible with Parkers linear positioners ... height in multi-axis configurations., , Preloaded, ... rotation , Dual race preloaded angular contact ...
Biology Products: