Superfund sites are highly polluted areas designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 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 fewer than 24 Superfund Research Centers in the United States.
The new center will be Georgia’s first and will focus on industrial pollution—from contaminants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and toxaphene—in Glynn County. Situated on the state’s southeastern coast, the county is home to 17 identified hazardous waste sites and four Superfund sites that are on or proposed for the EPA’s National Priorities List of most polluted sites.
The center’s multiple research initiatives—which will be led by Emory University in collaboration with faculty from the University of Georgia, Georgia Institute of Technology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Spelman College, and Texas Tech University—will include:
“By 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,” says Dana Barr, PhD, professor of environmental health at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health and director of the Superfund Research Center.
In addition to the primary research studies, the center—which will be funded by NIEHS at approximately $15 million over five years—will include other projects concentrating on a variety of community-focused and community-driven initiatives. These projects will include:
“The 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,” says Noah Scovronick, PhD, associate professor of environmental health at Rollins and deputy director of the Superfund Research Center. “Just 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.”
While 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.
“Even when production stops, these chemicals can continue to get into people’s bodies through lingering exposure pathways,” says Melanie Pearson, PhD, associate professor at Rollins. “Understanding 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.”
"We are excited to be partners in this project," said Jill Gambill, executive director of the CEAR Hub and senior research associate for the Institute for People and Technology at Georgia Tech in Savannah. "The 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's resources and expertise to work directly for the community.”
Article by Rob Spahr, Emory University