The University of Miami Superfund Program (UM-SRP) is a multidisciplinary program that involves research, training, community engagement, and translation. A rapidly growing environmental problem in Florida and globally is plastic pollution and the accumulation of harmful toxicants associated with plastic in the environment. One group of such compounds is phthalates, which are added to plastics as plasticizers to alter their physical properties.
Phthalates are not chemically bound to the polymer backbone of plastic; therefore, they readily leach into the environment during plastic degradation. Phthalates are present in numerous EPA Superfund sites in Miami-Dade County and the Nation, including the Homestead Air Force Base (HAFB) Superfund site, which is located only 25 miles south of Miami. Several activities of the UM-SRP, including community engagement and remediation, are centered around this Superfund site. Importantly, this Superfund site is viewed as a threat by local communities.
The mission of the UM-SRP is to reduce the hazardous impact of phthalates on the health of exposed communities and the environment.
Our Central Theme
The central theme of the UM-SRP is the implementation of interdisciplinary, community health-oriented, and technology development-driven research to effectively reduce community exposure to phthalates and provide effective prevention and intervention solutions to improve human and environmental health.
Aims of the University of Miami Superfund Program
By focusing on addressing the Superfund Mandates, the UM-SRP has established the following Specific Aims:
Develop integrated, comprehensive, and innovative strategies to assess the health risks associated with phthalate exposure
We will perform clinical studies on the impact of phthalates on women’s reproductive health (Project 1). These studies stem from the fact that phthalates are endocrine disruptors. Project 1 will focus on the hypothesis that phthalate exposure causes the onset of an inflammatory cycle that impacts the immune system and the reproductive tract microbiome and results in women’s infertility. This hypothesis will be further explored in experimental mouse studies in which we will explore the cumulative effect of exposure to phthalates and circadian rhythm disruption on placenta-mediated pregnancy complications (Project 2). Mechanistically, Project 2 will focus on the impact of phthalates and circadian rhythm disruption on fetoplacental vascularity, placental mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammatory responses. Project 2 will also test the impact of phthalate remediation products generated by Project 4 on pregnancy outcomes in mice. We will also develop enabling technologies, specifically biosensing systems, for the on-site detection and monitoring of phthalates in the environment (Project 3). Highly integrated Community Engagement Core (CEC), Data Management and Analysis Core (DMAC), Research Experience and Training Coordination Core (RETCC), and Research Support Core (RSC) will be actively engaged in this research and are essential for its success. All efforts will be coordinated by the Administrative and Research Translation Core (ART Core) and translated to Stakeholders by the Research Translation Team.
Develop novel, sustainable, and highly efficient remediation strategies to reduce the environmental burden of contaminants mobilized and/or redistributed as the result of natural disasters
We will develop an effective method to reduce the environmental burden of phthalates by designing efficient UV-triggered catalytic systems for the breakdown of these materials (Project 4). These products will be tested in experimental systems by Project 2. Importantly, we will actively engage the communities, via the CEC and the Research Translation Team, to develop strategies to reduce their exposure through prevention/intervention strategies and participatory research.
Train the future generation of scientists to conduct integrated environmental health research with a primary focus on trainees from underserved populations
Working with Projects 1-4 and all Cores of the UM-SRP, the RETCC will implement novel and highly diverse strategies to train a new generation of environmental scientists and engage trainees in research, translational, and community efforts.
In partnership with the community partners, develop and implement novel citizen science and publicly available technologies for community engagement and translational strategies
The CEC will work with communities and schools located in close proximity to the HBAF Superfund site. In addition, Projects 1-4 and the Cores will be engaged in working communities. the ART Core and its Research Translation Team will establish a close collaboration with the CEC for an effective research translation to the identified UM-SRP Stakeholders.
The long-term goal of the UM-SRP is to provide solutions through innovative research and technology that increase public health resilience by advancing knowledge and combating the impact of harmful toxicants associated with plastics on human health, and sustainability of the environment.
Because of wide-spread contamination by phthalates and their ubiquitous presence in Superfund sites, data generated by the UM-SRP can be generalized and will be applicable to other Superfund sites, other regions of the US, and globally.
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