# Linking PAH Exposure to Health Outcomes Using Human Primary In Vitro Respiratory Model

> **NIH NIH P42** · OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $303,631

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY – TILTON PROJECT
One of the most difficult challenges for environmental health is to evaluate hazards from exposure to chemical
mixtures. The environmental health science community recognizes a growing need to evaluate toxicity for
structurally diverse PAHs and their transformation and breakdown products in complex mixtures, using
human-relevant and metabolically competent research models. This Biomedical Science Research Project will
assess the toxicity of PAHs in complex mixtures associated with Superfund sites in a 3D human lung model
composed of primary human bronchial epithelial cells (HBEC) differentiated at the air-liquid interface. We will
quantify the toxicity of PAHs and PAH mixtures targeting lungs via endpoints relevant for multiple exposure
routes (inhalation, diet, dermal). We will rely on benchmark dose modeling to identify a threshold response for
comparison. We will apply integrated RNAseq and functional proteomics to identify mechanisms by which
PAHs exert adverse health outcomes in exposed populations and to identify susceptible individuals in those
populations. The overall goal of this project is to understand how individual PAHs contribute to toxicity in
mixtures and to establish a relationship between chemical exposure and toxicity. We will apply the outcomes of
these studies to assess and communicate human health risk and to evaluate susceptibility for relevant
populations. We propose to achieve these aims: 1) quantify the toxicity of PAHs and PAH mixtures in the 3D
lung model, 2) assess the role of metabolism on the toxicity of individual PAHs in the 3D human lung model
and 3) elucidate the mechanisms of PAH toxicity in the 3D human lung model.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9841200
- **Project number:** 2P42ES016465-11
- **Recipient organization:** OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Susan C Tilton
- **Activity code:** P42 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $303,631
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** — → 2025-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9841200

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9841200, Linking PAH Exposure to Health Outcomes Using Human Primary In Vitro Respiratory Model (2P42ES016465-11). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9841200. Licensed CC0.

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