MRI: Acquisition of a High-Resolution Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer for Environmental Monitoring and Metabolomics Research and Training

最近人类接触环境污染物的例子包括密歇根州弗林特市自来水中的铅，以及为北卡罗来纳州威尔明顿市提供饮用水的开普菲尔河流域的全氟烷基和多氟烷基物质（PFAS）。这些案例促进了公众对一系列环境污染物的觉醒和认识。该项目支持购买高分辨率质谱仪，称为QExactive Orbitrap。QExactive Orbitrap质谱仪的独特功能允许分离单个样品中包含的数千种化学物质，并在痕量浓度下识别这些化学物质。这一仪器将能够对环境样品（例如土壤和水）和生物样品（例如血液和尿液）中的有机污染物的测量进行研究和培训。质谱仪还将帮助研究人员评估暴露在污染物下人体代谢的变化。该项目汇集了一个多样化和活跃的研究小组，以确定环境中污染物的普遍程度，并促进我们对化学品接触对人类健康的影响的理解。获得QExactive Orbitrap质谱仪支持的具体研究活动包括：(a)确定与暴露于环境污染物相关的代谢变化，(b)检测土壤、水和空气样本中的污染物，(c)测量人体中的污染物水平，以及(d)确定与不利健康结果相关的生物标志物。这些活动将支持本科生和研究生进行的研究，他们将接受与仪器操作、数据提取和分析相关的个性化培训。质谱仪将提供给内部和外部研究人员，并将用于支持与当地学校、研究中心和社区组织有关的环境监测工作。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Recent instances of human exposure to environmental contaminants include the situation with lead in Flint, Michigan tap water and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the Cape Fear River Basin, which serves as a drinking water supply for Wilmington, North Carolina. These cases have contributed to a public awakening and recognition about a range of environmental contaminants. This project supports the purchase of a high-resolution mass spectrometer, called the QExactive Orbitrap. The unique capabilities of the QExactive Orbitrap mass spectrometer allow for the separation of thousands of chemicals contained in a single sample and the identification of these chemicals at trace concentrations. This instrument will enable research and training on the measurement of organic contaminants in environmental samples (for example, in soil and water) and biological samples (for example, in blood and urine). The mass spectrometer also will help researchers assess changes in human metabolism in response to contaminant exposure.This project brings together a diverse and active research team to determine the prevalence of contaminants in the environment and to advance our understanding of the effects of chemical exposures on human health. The specific research activities supported by the acquisition of a QExactive Orbitrap mass spectrometer include: (a) identifying metabolic alterations associated with exposure to environmental contaminants, (b) detecting contaminants in soil, water and air samples, (c) measuring the contaminant levels in humans, and (d) identifying biomarkers associated with adverse health outcomes. These activities will support research conducted by undergraduate and graduate students, who will receive personalized training related to instrument operation, data extraction, and analysis. The mass spectrometer will be available to both internal and external researchers and will be used to support environmental monitoring efforts affiliated with local schools, research centers and community organizations.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.