# Materials Core (MC)

> **NIH NIH P42** · LOUISIANA STATE UNIV A&M COL BATON ROUGE · 2020 · $220,635

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract: Materials Core
Environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs), while increasingly appreciated for their importance in
particulate matter (PM), remain understudied. They are an important contaminant at many Superfund sites,
and are a unique component of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences’ portfolio. Nearly 30%
of Superfund sites employ some type of thermal treatment (TT) and thus produce EPFRs. We have repeatedly
shown that EPFRs form and persist on PM generated by combustion and TT of chlorinated hydrocarbons and
other hazardous substances and are present in contaminated Superfund soils and airborne PM near
industrialized Superfund sites. TT remediation processes result in the production of EPFRs that adversely
affect respiratory and cardiovascular health of those living near Superfund and hazardous waste TT sites. The
Materials Core (MC) is a research service Core tasked with providing material and analytical support for the
biomedical research (BMR) and environmental science and engineering (ESE) Projects. Within our program
we have developed such model systems that allow for the studies of EPFRs using a bottom-up approach (i.e.,
starting with simple, EPFR-only samples, proceeding through more complex, multicomponent EPFRs up to
actual field-collected EPFRs with variable composition). EPFR generation and characterization, according to
requested specification and compositional design, is unique to the MC. Laboratory-made samples, with
composition control, are a logical choice for systematic research studies. We will continue to generate EPFR-
particle systems containing other transition metals (Fe, Cu, Ni, and Zn, as MexOy) and chlorinated benzenes,
phenols, and chlorinated biphenyls because they are present in soils at wood-treating Superfund sites and
catalyze pollutant formation (i.e., dioxins). A new particle generation system expands our studies to complex
EPFRs stabilized on iron, the most common transition metal in PM present in many combustion by-products
from TT. This new, two-stage combustion reactor developed in the MC, allows for synthesis of complex
EPFRs—with combustion-driven composition and controlled EPFR content—which will be supplied to Projects
1, 2, 4 and 5. Additionally, the MC will assist Project 3 by providing specialized analytical capabilities and/or
new techniques and methodologies in relation to particle collection, characterization, and human exposure
assessment. This work is also being done in collaboration with the Community Engagement Core (CEC) and
the Research Translation component of the Administrative Core to discuss potential chemical hazards and
exposures with the communities. Through Project 3 and the CEC, the MC will work with communities and
stakeholders to identify, quantify, and address environmental health hazards related to the vicinity of
Superfund sites and Superfund materials remediation/TT.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9838935
- **Project number:** 2P42ES013648-08A1
- **Recipient organization:** LOUISIANA STATE UNIV A&M COL BATON ROUGE
- **Principal Investigator:** Lavrent Khachatryan
- **Activity code:** P42 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $220,635
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** — → —

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9838935

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9838935, Materials Core (MC) (2P42ES013648-08A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9838935. Licensed CC0.

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