{"690718":{"#nid":"690718","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia\u2019s First Superfund Research Center to Study Hazardous Industrial Pollution, Remediation","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA coalition of scientists from six universities and community partners has been awarded a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.niehs.nih.gov\/\u0022\u003ENational Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)\u003C\/a\u003E grant to establish Georgia\u2019s first Superfund Research Center to study the effects and potential remediation of harmful contaminants in a coastal county with \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sph.emory.edu\/magazine\/2024\/spring\/burden-brunswick\u0022\u003Ea long history of industrial pollution\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESuperfund sites are highly polluted areas designated by the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/superfund\/what-superfund\u0022\u003EU.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)\u003C\/a\u003E as needing cleanup of hazardous waste that threatens human health or the environment. Superfund Research Centers are not physical buildings, but rather a coordinated set of research studies designed to solve complex environmental health problems, decrease exposure to contaminants, and improve human health. There are \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/tools.niehs.nih.gov\/srp\/programs\/index267.cfm\u0022\u003Efewer than 24\u003C\/a\u003E Superfund Research Centers in the United States.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe new center will be Georgia\u2019s first and will focus on industrial pollution\u2014from contaminants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and toxaphene\u2014in Glynn County. Situated on \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sph.emory.edu\/magazine\/2026\/spring\/how-community-advocates-across-georgia-inspire-facilitate-rollins-research\u0022\u003Ethe state\u2019s southeastern coast\u003C\/a\u003E, the county is home to 17 identified hazardous waste sites and four Superfund sites that are on or proposed for the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/superfund\/superfund-national-priorities-list-npl\u0022\u003EEPA\u2019s National Priorities List\u003C\/a\u003E of most polluted sites.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe center\u2019s multiple research initiatives\u2014which will be led by \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sph.emory.edu\/\u0022\u003EEmory University\u003C\/a\u003E in collaboration with faculty from the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.uga.edu\/\u0022\u003EUniversity of Georgia\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Institute of Technology\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.msm.edu\/\u0022\u003EMorehouse School of Medicine\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.spelman.edu\/\u0022\u003ESpelman College\u003C\/a\u003E, and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ttu.edu\/\u0022\u003ETexas Tech University\u003C\/a\u003E\u2014will include:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022ed001ff98b16dcab119a895ea70570c14\u0022\u003EA human health study to evaluate potential links between chemical exposures and health impacts, with an emphasis on metabolic disease\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022ec9be21da0ab56b5b8069795ae96c8be0\u0022\u003EA laboratory-based toxicity study to assess how, and to what extent, the toxicants are harmful to health\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022ebe5b0bd330ca4a9898b0eb3fc92a6d6c\u0022\u003EEnvironmental sampling to explore potential human exposure pathways\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022ed0f0de2c5828a0d815948e731fd9b629\u0022\u003EAn investigation into how extreme weather events affect the location and mobility of hazardous chemicals\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022ea3a3a91b4ce32fb637afe78793825da8\u0022\u003EExploration of remediation options that are less disruptive to the sensitive coastal ecosystem\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cBy combining cutting-edge exposure science and health research with direct community partnerships, the center will translate complex environmental data into practical information that can support healthier decisions for families, clinicians, and policymakers. It can provide a model for addressing environmental contamination and protecting public health in vulnerable communities nationwide,\u201d says \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sph.emory.edu\/profile\/faculty\/dana-barr\u0022\u003EDana Barr, PhD,\u003C\/a\u003E professor of environmental health at Emory University\u2019s Rollins School of Public Health and director of the Superfund Research Center.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn addition to the primary research studies, the center\u2014which will be funded by NIEHS at approximately $15 million over five years\u2014will include other projects concentrating on a variety of community-focused and community-driven initiatives. These projects will include:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022ed9d71becbde20f643d387086bbc525ee\u0022\u003ECommunity engagement programs\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e113287ed2cc64027a951f641e0a316fa\u0022\u003EEducational outreach for local youth\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e84e39c9a597dedf8e1e251e4b50ca041\u0022\u003EEnhancing the accessibility of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sph.emory.edu\/news\/your-seafood-safe-new-resources-provide-answers-coastal-georgia\u0022\u003EHealthy Coastal Neighborhoods\u2019 Seafood Smart\u003C\/a\u003E website\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e5668c37ce93a8f532feaba2e6019af27\u0022\u003EA community advisory group\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022ee33894d43d029373d7f51b244e75f213\u0022\u003EEducation opportunities for area health care professionals on how to manage patients who may have high exposures\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe issue of industrial contamination is inherently complex, and this Superfund Center represents a unique opportunity to address it from multiple angles. Our research will span everything from the toxicity and health impacts of these chemicals to their presence in the environment and innovative approaches for remediation,\u201d says \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sph.emory.edu\/profile\/faculty\/noah-scovronick\u0022\u003ENoah Scovronick, PhD\u003C\/a\u003E, associate professor of environmental health at Rollins and deputy director of the Superfund Research Center. \u201cJust as important, the Center is designed to support community-led efforts to raise awareness and reduce exposures. By bringing these elements together, we aim to generate actionable knowledge and help answer questions that residents have been asking for decades.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile the Superfund Research Center will be focused on the industrial pollution issues in one coastal county, the scientists say the data produced by the studies will provide meaningful benefits that extend far beyond Georgia.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cEven when production stops, these chemicals can continue to get into people\u2019s bodies through lingering exposure pathways,\u201d says \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/emoryhercules.com\/bio\/melanie-pearson-phd\/\u0022\u003EMelanie Pearson, PhD\u003C\/a\u003E, associate professor at Rollins. \u201cUnderstanding how that happens is essential to reducing risk. Communities across the country are dealing with similar environmental contamination. Working in partnership with affected communities not only strengthens the science, but helps ensure it leads to meaningful, real-world benefits.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022We are excited to be partners in this project,\u0022 said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/people.research.gatech.edu\/jill-gambill\u0022\u003EJill Gambill\u003C\/a\u003E, executive director of the CEAR Hub and senior research associate for the Institute for People and Technology at Georgia Tech in Savannah. \u0022The residents of Glynn County have been asking hard questions about their health and environment for a long time. This center is our opportunity to put Georgia Tech\u0027s resources and expertise to work directly for the community.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cem\u003EArticle by Rob Spahr, Emory University\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia\u0027s first Superfund Research Center will address the human and environmental effects of heavily polluted sites located in coastal areas.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia\u0027s first Superfund Research Center will address the human and environmental effects of heavily polluted sites located in coastal areas."}],"uid":"27513","created_gmt":"2026-06-10 19:19:48","changed_gmt":"2026-06-10 19:36:28","author":"Walter Rich","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-06-10T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-06-10T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680445":{"id":"680445","type":"image","title":"Georgia\u2019s First Superfund Research Center to Study Hazardous Industrial Pollution, Remediation","body":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia\u0027s first Superfund Research Center will address the human and environmental effects of heavily polluted sites located in coastal areas, including this one, in Glynn County, Georgia. (Emory photo by Rob Spahr)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1781119105","gmt_created":"2026-06-10 19:18:25","changed":"1781119132","gmt_changed":"2026-06-10 19:18:52","alt":"Georgia\u0027s first Superfund Research Center will address the human and environmental effects of heavily polluted sites located in coastal areas, including this one, in Glynn County, Georgia. (Emory photo by Rob Spahr)","file":{"fid":"264704","name":"2026_Brunswick-superfund-site_2-copy_0.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/10\/2026_Brunswick-superfund-site_2-copy_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/06\/10\/2026_Brunswick-superfund-site_2-copy_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":697249,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/06\/10\/2026_Brunswick-superfund-site_2-copy_0.jpg?itok=cqd6Ys6y"}}},"media_ids":["680445"],"groups":[{"id":"69599","name":"IPaT"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"188084","name":"go-ipat"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:walter.rich@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EWalter Rich\u003C\/a\u003E, Research Communications, Georgia Tech\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["walter.rich@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}