Hudson College Faculty and Student Lead Meta-Analysis on Toxic Pollutant's Biological Impact

A recent publication in Chemosphere (Impact Factor 8.1) showcases the collaborative efforts of Hudson College of Public Health faculty and students, adding new insights to the understanding of environmental health. Mingze Zhu, a doctoral student in the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, served as the lead author of the article, with Dr. Chao Xu, an assistant professor in the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, and Dr. Jooyeon Hwang, adjunct faculty at OU and professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, as key collaborators in the research.

Their study conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis revealing the upregulation of key genes, including CYP1B1 and ASB2, in response to exposure to benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), a harmful environmental pollutant found in tobacco smoke, vehicle emissions, charred or grilled foods, and industrial processes like coal gasification and petroleum refining. It is also present in wood and coal smoke and can accumulate in contaminated soil and water near industrial sites. . By analyzing 26 significantly regulated pathways, the research team identified Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Signaling and Xenobiotic Metabolism Signaling as the top pathways impacted by B[a]P exposure. These findings lay the groundwork for future exploration and provide deeper insight into the complex biological effects of environmental pollutants, advancing the field of occupational and environmental health.

This research underscores the college’s commitment to addressing critical public health issues and enhancing scientific understanding of toxic exposures and their effects on human health.

You can read the full article at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.143121