2012
Events
Karen E. Wetterhahn Science Symposium
Today the 21st Annual Karen E. Wetterhahn Science Symposium celebrates undergraduate science research. Dr. Mary Lou Guerinot gives the keynote address, "Metals, Mutants and Mayhem" at 4 pm in Oopick Auditorium, Room 100, Life Sciences Center. Dr. Guerinot is The Ronald and Deborah Harris Professor in Biology at Dartmouth College. Afterwards, please join us at the poster session with Dartmouth's accomplished undergraduate researchers from 5 to 7 pm in the LSC.
Superfund Researcher, Brian Jackson, will be on a Panel of Scientists at a Science Cafe in Concord NH
Jackson will be one of three arsenic experts on hand to answer questions about arsenic in food and water at The Barley House in Concord on Wednesday, June 20th from 7pm-9pm.
Dartmouth Superfund Program teaming up with MDIBL to offer a class in Bioinformatics at MDIBL this Fall
The goal of the Applied Bioinformatics Course is to provide hands-on training on major bioinformatics resources through the analysis of an RNA-Seq data set to find differentially expressed genes and investigate previously described functions of those genes and the pathways they are involved in.
Recent News
May
Dartmouth Superfund Researcher, Joshua Hamilton, was a Speaker at the Largest Drinking Water Protection Workshop in New England
On May 2nd Joshua Hamilton was the keynote speaker at the DES 2012 Drinking Water Source Protection Workshop in Concord, NH. This year marks a milestone (25 years) since DES was created to protect environmental resources in New Hampshire. The event featured policymakers, scientists, water supply managers and local officials, who presented their work and views on a range of topics. These topics included emerging contaminants, shoreland protection law changes, permitting of private wells, examples of low-impact development (LID) and implementing Best Management Practices (BMPS), and results of studies on chloride contamination, leak detection surveys, and low dose arsenic exposure.
5th Integrative Biology Symposium "Human Microbiome in Health and Disease" was held on May 1st and 2nd
This year's Integrative Biology Symposium took place at Alumni Hall starting in the evening of May 1st. This was a very exciting symposium on a topic with huge implications for human health. A variety of invited speakers presented in addition to an outstanding group of Dartmouth Investigators. Over 200 people attended the event.
April
Dartmouth Superfund Researcher Margaret Karagas, Ph.D., and Research Translation Coordinator, Laurie Rardin, presented a webinar entitled "Examining and Communicating the Health Implications of Arsenic in our Food System" on April 3, 2012
Several recent studies have revealed unexpected sources of exposure to arsenic through consumption of food. This webinar will feature two presentations that highlight the science of the recent findings and discuss the challenges and approaches to communicating an important public health message.
Dartmouth Toxic Metals Superfund Research Program and Boston University Superfund Research Program co-hosted a Conference on Complex Mixtures and Exposures
On April 23-24 2012 the Dartmouth College and Boston University Superfund Programs co-hosted a conference on "Complex Mixtures and Exposures: Analyzing, Modeling and Predicting Fate and Effects at Multiple Levels of Environmental and Biological Systems". The conference was held at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, MA. Approximately 50 people attended and heard talks given by Superfund and non-Superfund scientists.
March
National Ground Water Awareness Week
In support of National Ground Water Awareness Week (March 11 through 17) the Dartmouth Toxic Metals Superfund Research Program issued a joint press release with the NH Department of Environmental Services encouraging private well owners to TEST THEIR WELLS for potential contaminants including arsenic.
February
FAQ Responses Regarding Arsenic in Food Containing Organic Brown Rice Syrup
We have received hundreds of inquiries from concerned parents and consumers about the EHP paper reporting that arsenic has been found in two toddler formulas and some cereal/energy bars and energy shots. Our response to frequently asked questions is below.
Dartmouth Researchers Publish Paper on Arsenic in Organic Brown Rice Syrup
Dartmouth Superfund researcher, Brian Jackson, is the lead author on a study published in Environmental Health Perspectives on the presence of arsenic in organic brown rice syrup. Organic brown rice syrup is used in many products including infant formula, cereal/energy bars, and high-energy foods used by endurance athletes. Jackson and his colleagues conclude that in the face of the increasing prevalence of hidden arsenic in food, and the absence of U. S. regulations in this area, “there is an urgent need for regulatory limits on arsenic in food.”
December
EPA Issues First National Standards for Mercury Pollution from Power Plants
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, the first national standards to protect American families from power plant emissions of mercury and toxic air pollution like arsenic, acid gas, nickel, selenium, and cyanide. The standards will slash emissions of these dangerous pollutants by relying on widely available, proven pollution controls that are already in use at more than half of the nation's coal-fired power plants.
EPA To Unveil Stricter Rules For Power Plants
More than 20 years ago, Congress ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate toxic air pollution. It's done that for most industries, but not the biggest polluters — coal and oil-burning power plants.
The EPA now plans to change that later this week, by setting new rules to limit mercury and other harmful pollution from power plants.
Dartmouth Researchers Evaluate Rice as a Source of Fetal Arsenic Exposure
Several Dartmouth Superfund Research Program scientists contributed to a recently published study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) which advances our understanding of the sources of human exposure to arsenic and focuses attention on the potential for consuming harmful levels of arsenic via rice.
Superfund Researcher, Jason Moore, among Dartmouth Scientists named as fellows by the American Association for the Advancement of Science
Five Dartmouth faculty members have been selected as 2011 fellows by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the world's largest general scientific society and the publisher of the journal Science. Professors Duane Compton, Russell Hughes, Lee Lynd, Jason Moore, and George O'Toole are among 539 new fellows recognized by AAAS this year for their distinguished efforts to advance science.
