Neurotoxicity of Halogenated Organic Compounds

Neurotoxicity of Halogenated Organic Compounds, Volume 10 covers three groups of Halogenated Organic Compounds (Chlorinated, Brominated, and Fluorinated Compounds) that are legacy and emerging contaminants, providing background information, characteristics, physicochemical properties, environmental contamination, and human exposure. Specific chapters covered in this release include Perspective on Halogenated Organic Compounds, The Neurotoxicity of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), Neuroendocrine Effects of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), Mechanisms of PCB Neurotoxicity: AHR and THR Dogma meet RYR reality, Microbiome and the Neurotoxicity of Brominated Flame Retardants (BFRs), and much more.

Other chapters cover Neuroendocrine Effects of Brominated Flame Retardants (BFRs), Focused on Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs), Neurochemical Effects of Halogenated Organic Compounds: Possible Mode(s) of action and Structure-Activity Relationships, The Neurotoxic Effects of Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Animal Models and Human Cohorts, Neurochemical Mechanisms of Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Neurotoxic Action, and Future Directions and Regulatory aspects of Halogenated Organic Compounds.

Dr. Costa is Professor Emeritus of Toxicology in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle. Before joining the University of Washington in 1983 he received a doctorate in Pharmacology from the University of Milano and was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Texas at Houston. Over the years he served as the Director of the University of Washington Toxicology Program, Director of the Neurotoxicology Research Core of the NIEHS Center in Ecogenetics and Environmental Health, and a Core Faculty of the Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology Training Program and the Environmental Pathology/Toxicology Training Program at the University of Washington. He has also held professorial positions at various Universities in Italy (Parma, Bari, Roma, Pavia, Milano). He is a member of several national and international professional organizations, a Fellow of the Academy of Toxicological Sciences, and a European Certified Toxicologist. He received various awards for his scientific accomplishments, including the Achievement Award from the Society of Toxicology. Dr. Costa has been a member of several panels and committees at the national and international level dealing with toxicology and risk assessment issues. He has been teaching classes in pharmacology, toxicology, and neurotoxicology for over 35 years, and has kept an active research program in neurotoxicology, with >500 publications, books and book chapters. The primary focus of his research relates to the toxicology and neurotoxicology of pesticides, environmental contaminants, alcohol, air pollution, and on various aspects of gene-environment interactions in relationship to neurotoxicity and neurodegeneration.

Dr. Aschner serves as the Harold and Muriel Block Chair in Molecular Pharmacology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He served on numerous toxicology panels (Institute of Medicine, US Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Disease Control, FDA, National Academy of Sciences, US Department of Defense), and was a member and chair of the Neurotoxicology and Alcohol study section (NIH). He served as the President of the Society of Toxicology and has previously served as the President of the Academy of Toxicological Sciences and the International Neurotoxicology Association. He has authored (co-authored) >1,100 peer reviewed manuscripts and 110 book chapters, his h-index is 124, and he is a recipient of Honorary Doctorate from the University of Cordoba in Argentina. Research in his lab focuses on: (1) Modulation of C. elegans genes (aat, skn-1, daf-16) that are homologous to mammalian regulators of methylmercury (MeHg) uptake and cellular resistance will modify dopaminergic neurodegeneration in response to MeHg exposure. (2) Under conditions of MeHg-induced oxidative stress, Nrf2 (a master regulator of antioxidant responses) coordinates the upregulation of cytoprotective genes that combat MeHg-induced oxidative injury, and that genetic and biochemical changes that negatively impact upon Nrf2 function increase MeHg’s neurotoxicity. (3) PARK2, a strong PD genetic risk factor, alters neuronal vulnerability to modifiers of cellular Mn status, particularly at the level of mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. His studies are designed to (1) shed novel mechanistic insight into metal-induced neurodegeneration; (2) identify targets for genetic or pharmacologic modulation of neurodegenerative disorders; (3) increase knowledge of the pathway involved in oxidative stress; (4) develop improved research models for human disease using knowledge of environmental sciences.

Dr. Prasada Kodavanti is a Senior Research Toxicologist at the Neurological & Endocrine toxicology branch of Public Health & Integrated Toxicology Division at CPHEA/ORD, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Research Triangle Park, NC, USA. In this role, he leads a team of scientists to develop in vitro models based on adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) and O’mics technology in New Approach Methods (NAMs) by selecting a few chemicals for initial testing. The goal is to develop efficient NAMs based on O’mics for screening and prioritization of untested chemicals and also provide scientific support for the existing NAMs such as neurite outgrowth and microelectrode array assays. He also plays a key role in the Safe and Healthy Communities project related to understanding the interaction between chemical stressors and non-chemical factors and develop genomic biomarkers in blood to identify vulnerable communities. He joined the USEPA as a Toxicologist in January of 1995. Dr. Kodavanti is a recognized scientist internationally in the area of halogenated organic compounds and adult/developmental neurotoxicity. Dr. Kodavanti is an extremely prolific researcher with over 125 peer-reviewed journal articles. In addition, he is primary author on 26 book chapters as well as 8 review articles. His publications appear in a wide variety of leading scientific journals and is well quoted by scientists in this field. In 1996, one of his papers won the prestigious Society of Toxicology’s Board of Publications Award for the Best Paper in Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. He received USEPA’s 1996, 1999, 2002, and 2012 Scientific and Technological Achievement (STAA) Award. In 2009, he received STAA level 1 award (highest scientific award by USEPA) for highlighting genomics in understanding mode of action in developmental neurotoxicity. Dr. Kodavanti gave several invited presentations at national and international meetings. Dr. Kodavanti served as session chair in several conferences and a member of Special session organizing committee of the Dioxin ’97. He is a member of the Advisory Board for several journals and current ones include “The Open Toxicology” and “Neurotoxicology”. He was an Associate Editor for the journal “Drug and Chemical Toxicology”. Dr. Kodavanti is also an Adjunct Professor of Toxicology, School of Pharmacy at University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI since April 2000. He is also a reviewer for a number of International scientific journals.