International Training Program in Environmental Toxicology and Public Health

描述（由申请人提供） 在人类和环境健康评估方面存在数据缺口，主要是由于缺乏快速和具有成本效益地分析大量样本的能力。 免疫测定法可用于测量环境中的有毒物质，并用于人类监测，因为它们快速，具有成本效益，灵敏，特异性和适用于实验室或现场情况。 这些检测可用于测量土壤和水等环境样品以及食品中这些化合物的潜在暴露。 在中心成立的头五年，在乌拉圭和南美洲其他地方进行了一些研究，这些研究以前费用高昂，因此提供了一个改进的数据库，以便就人类和环境健康作出知情的决定。 该项目为残留物分析提供了简单可靠的方法，并由训练有素的大学工作人员教育技术人员如何在实地使用这些方法。 共和国大学（乌拉圭）化学系已成功地掌握了这一方法，并积极促进其进一步发展。 位于戴维斯的加州大学在这一领域拥有特殊的专业知识，并为赞助这样一个项目提供了理想的培训和技术转让环境。 该项目将继续建设区域能力，以便根据本区域的需要，利用免疫测定法监测环境污染并检测食品和饮用水中的化学残留物。 位于蒙得维的亚的共和国大学将作为这一专门领域培训和技术转让的区域英才中心。 在中心的更新过程中，我们将增加该地区其他国家的参与，特别是阿根廷、智利和巴西，并在秘鲁开展更多的合作项目。 我们将专注于现代分子技术的实验室培训，包括ELISA和RT-PCR，以分析饮用水质量，并改进毒理学，环境毒理学和公共卫生专业人员的研究生培训课程。 参与者将包括环境工程师、毒理学家、公共卫生专业人员和流行病学家，他们都将从区域范围的合作和改善的培训机会中受益。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant) Data gaps exist in the assessment of human and environmental health largely due to the lack of ability to analyze large sample loads rapidly and cost effectively. Immunoassays can be used to measure toxic materials in the environment and for human monitoring because they are rapid, cost-effective, sensitive, specific and adaptable to laboratory or field situations. These assays can be used to measure potential exposure to these compounds in environmental samples such as soil and water, and in food. In the first 5 years of the Center, studies were conducted in Uruguay and elsewhere in South America that were previously cost prohibitive, thus providing an improved database from which to make informed decisions on human and environmental health. This project provides simple and reliable methods for residue analysis and a trained University staff to educate technicians in how to use these methods in the field. The Faculty of Chemistry, University of the Republic (Uruguay), has successfully acquired this methodology and is actively contributing to its further development. The University of California at Davis has special expertise in this area and represents an ideal training and technology transfer milieu to sponsor such a project. The project will continue to build regional capability for using immunoassays to monitor environmental contamination and to detect chemical residues in food products and drinking water according to the needs of the region. The University of the Republic in Montevideo will serve as the Regional Center of Excellence for training and technology transfer in this specialized area. In the Center renewal, we will increase participation by other countries in the region, especially Argentina, Chile, and Brazil, with additional collaborative projects in Peru. We will focus on laboratory training in modern molecular techniques, including ELISA and RT-PCR, to analyze drinking water quality, and on improved curricula for graduate training of professionals in toxicology, environmental toxicology, and public health. Participants will include environmental engineers, toxicologists, public health professionals, and epidemiologists, all of whom will benefit from regional-scale cooperation and improved training opportunities.