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MIAMI, Fla. (Jan. 11, 2002) - Florida
International University, in conjunction with the University of
Miami, has received a $2.2 million grant to study toxins, both
naturally occurring and man-made, in the waters in which we swim
and that house the fish we eat.
The grant, from the National Institute of Environmental Health
Sciences, is the largest in the history of the FIU chemistry department.
"Toxins in marine and fresh water organisms
are a public health threat," said Kathleen Rein, principal
investigator of the program and professor of chemistry at FIU.
"One of the things our research aims to do is to characterize
unknown toxins in these organisms and determine ways to detect
and prevent them in order to keep seafood consumers from getting
sick."
Worldwide, there are approximately 85 species of marine or freshwater
algae that produce toxins that represent a threat to public health
through seafood consumption or recreational use of the waters.
Most, if not all, of the organisms can be found in Florida's freshwater
or coastal ecosystems. Thus, while the project has worldwide implications,
it is particularly relevant to Florida.
The grant, which lasts five years, will fund research and pilot
projects as well as workshops, seminars, and a facility at FIU
to grow some of the microorganisms for research purposes.
The interdisciplinary project includes faculty from FIU's and
UM's biology and chemistry departments, as well as from FIU's
Southeast Environmental Research Center.
Current research tracks include developing new methods to detect
toxin-producing organisms, identifying unknown toxins, and understanding
the biosynthesis of these toxins. In addition to naturally occurring
toxins, one group will be studying the impact of arsenic from
chromated copper arsenate (CCA) treated wood within aquatic environments.
Recently, there has been research conducted on what becomes of
the arsenic in treated wood, but the research has not focused
on arsenic in aquatic environments. This new research is particularly
relevant to South Florida, since most wood docks are made from
CCA treated wood.
For more information on the projects, call Rein at 305-348-6682.
Media Contact:
Aileen Izquierdo
305-348-6999
izquierd@fiu.edu
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