C2H2 EAGER: Gadolinium Contamination in the Middle Rio Grande Valley: Understanding Environmental Fate and Human Exposure

C2H2 EAGER：里约格兰德河谷中部的钆污染：了解环境命运和人类暴露

• 批准号: 2422236
• 负责人: Rachel Coyte
• 金额: $ 20万
• 依托单位: New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2024
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2024-05-01 至 2026-04-30
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2422236&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: C2H2; EAGER; Gadolinium; Contamination; Middle

The escalating impacts of climate change pose unprecedented challenges to freshwater supplies globally, particularly in areas already experiencing water stress, such as New Mexico. This proposal addresses a pressing concern related to the contamination of water resources by medical waste, specifically gadolinium (Gd), a toxic element that is an important component of contrast agents used in magnetic resonance imaging. This research focuses on the analysis of river, stream, and groundwater of the Middle Rio Grande Valley in New Mexico to investigate the fate of anthropogenic Gadolinium in surface and subsurface water resources of understudied arid to semiarid areas and its impact on ecologocal and human health. The research involves field observations and sampling of river and groundwaters and laboratory experimental work. A focus will be to examine and trace the sources of Gd in natural waters and determine its distribution in the environment. The impact of Gadolinium, released to water treatment facilities and ultimately to the environment via the urine of those who have under gone MRI, will be studied and its impact on human health will be determined through exposure and toxicological studies of human digestive/gastric fluids. Broader impacts of the reserach include improved understanding the consequences of medical waste on water quality and public health. The work will provide much needed data for mitigation plans and serve the national interest in promoting environmental sustainability and public welfare. It will also engage local high school students, many from Native American tribes in the area, in water projects to foster interest and to increase understanding of water issues in a region already experiencing significant water stress.The proposed research will address critical research questions regarding the fate, distribution, and toxicity of Gd contamination stemming from medical waste from contrast enhancing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) fluids containing the element Gadolinium (Gd), a toxic element to humans. In MRI fluids, Gd is chelated into a compound that renders it harmless to humans. However, this fluid is excreted from the body in urine, post imaging, and enters surface and groundwater systems through sewars and sweage treatment plants. Gd aqueous species are then released into the natural environment where they experience interactions with natural materials and processes that can change the speciation allowing it to become bioavailable. This resaerch provides a study of the Gd distribution and speciation in New Mexico Rio Grande Valley surface and ground waters and addresses analytical challenges of speciating natural samples with low-concentrations of Gd. It includes investigation into the effects of gastrointestinal fluids on speciation of Gadolinium and its toxicity. Key outcomes include (1) characterizing the concentrations and species of Gd in natural waters (surface water and groundwater) and sediments along the Rio Grande between Albuquerque and Elephant Butte, (2) an assessment of human exposure pathways and potential health risks associated with Gd ingestion through drinking water sources, and (3) improved understanding of the toxicological implications of Gd exposure focusing on the gastrointestinal tract and its effects on human health. The work will contribute significantly to our understanding of the risks posed by Gd medical waste in the environment.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

气候变化的影响不断升级，对全球淡水供应构成了前所未有的挑战，特别是在新墨西哥州等已经面临缺水压力的地区。该提案解决了与医疗废物污染水资源有关的紧迫问题，特别是钆（Gd），这是一种有毒元素，是磁共振成像中使用的造影剂的重要成分。本研究重点分析新墨西哥州中里奥格兰德河谷的河流、溪流和地下水，以调查干旱至半干旱地区地表和地下水源中人为钆的归宿及其对生态和人类健康的影响。该研究涉及河流和地下水的实地观察和采样以及实验室实验工作。重点是检查和追踪天然水中钆的来源并确定其在环境中的分布。钆被释放到水处理设施中，并最终通过接受核磁共振检查的人的尿液释放到环境中，钆的影响将被研究，并通过对人体消化液/胃液的暴露和毒理学研究来确定其对人类健康的影响。该研究的更广泛影响包括更好地了解医疗废物对水质和公共卫生的影响。这项工作将为缓解计划提供急需的数据，并服务于促进环境可持续性和公共福利的国家利益。它还将让当地的高中生（其中许多来自该地区的美洲原住民部落）参与水项目，以培养兴趣并加深对已经经历严重缺水地区的水问题的了解。拟议的研究将解决有关钆污染的命运、分布和毒性的关键研究问题，这些钆污染来自医疗废物，这些废物来自含有钆（Gd）元素的对比增强磁共振成像（MRI）液体，钆（Gd）是一种对人类有毒的元素。在 MRI 液体中，Gd 被螯合成一种化合物，使其对人类无害。然而，这种液体在成像后通过尿液从体内排出，并通过下水道和污水处理厂进入地表水和地下水系统。然后，Gd 水性物质被释放到自然环境中，在那里它们与天然材料和过程相互作用，从而改变其形态，使其变得可生物利用。这项研究提供了新墨西哥州里奥格兰德河谷地表和地下水中 Gd 分布和形态的研究，并解决了低浓度 Gd 天然样品的形态分析挑战。它包括研究胃肠液对钆形态及其毒性的影响。主要成果包括 (1) 描述自然水体（地表水和地下水）以及阿尔伯克基和象山之间格兰德河沿岸沉积物中钆的浓度和种类，(2) 评估人类暴露途径和与通过饮用水源摄入钆相关的潜在健康风险，以及 (3) 更好地了解钆暴露对胃肠道的毒理学影响及其对人类的影响 健康。这项工作将极大地有助于我们了解钆医疗废物对环境造成的风险。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。