Arsenicals in infant foods

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PROJECT SUMMARY The purpose of this supplement (PA-21-071) is to “enhance the diversity of the research workforce by recruiting and supporting students….including those from groups that have been shown to be underrepresented in health- related research”. Aarthi Annamalai will be a trainee on the on-going NIEHS project (R03ES034194:”Evaluation of the timing and duration of low level dimethylarsinic acid exposure to its fate, metabolism, and development of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative biomarkers). Ms. Annamalai is a female, first generation Malaysian-American student, currently enrolled in the Microbiology program at Texas Tech University. Ms. Annamalai will graduate in Spring 2024 and aims to start her medical degree program after graduating with her BS. In the proposed research plan, which is a reasonable extension of the parent project, Ms. Annamalai will evaluate total arsenic and arsenic species prevalent in infant foods under the supervision of Drs. Amrika Deonarine and Jeremy Bailoo (PIs of the parent grant). The project will extend the scope of the parent grant from an in vivo animal model to a comprehensive evaluation of arsenic speciation of commonly consumed infant foods identified in the FDA’s Total Diet Study. Ms. Annamalai will utilize her knowledge of developmental biology and environmental chemistry to solve real problems in environmental toxicology in relation to pathological outcomes in childhood. Ms. Annamalai will have the opportunity to present her work at a national conference and will learn how to write and publish a research article. Through this project, Ms. Annamali will learn critical thinking, develop experimental skills, and conduct independent research. The entire training program will provide a platform for her to address contemporary medical issues as a consequence of exposure to environmental toxins, such as arsenic.