ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES RESEARCH CENTER

A National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Center of Excellence


 

 

EMEAF Services

EMEAF Projects Served

EMEAF Facilities & Equipment

Environmental Modeling and Exposure Assessment Facility - Services Provided


Services

Consultation

Investigators wishing to utilize the services of the EMEAF are encouraged to contact Dr. O’Shaughnessy at an early stage of research development. During this consultation, the relevance of the proposed study to the Center goals and relevant Facility services is discussed. Consultation on appropriate instrumentation, feasibility and cost are provided. Questions and concerns regarding study design, statistical and analytical methods will be provided by the Facility member with the associated expertise. Once a plan is established, any use of Facility equipment or space is managed by the Facility Coordinator.

Access to Equipment

Instrumentation and sampling equipment available to Center investigators through the EMEAF are listed at EMEAF Facilities & Equipment. If an investigator has a need for instruments not available through this or other Center facilities, the EMEAF staff will offer assistance in obtaining use of instruments or services associated with University of Iowa Central Facilities, such as the Central Microscopy Facility, High Field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility, the High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS) Facility, and those in the nearby University Hygienic Laboratory (UHL).

Analytical Instruments

Several analytical instruments are available to analyze samples for various chemical compounds.  These include a Shimadzu HPLC system equipped with a DGU-14A Degasser, a SIL-10A VP auto injector, a SPD-10A VP UV-VIS detector and a RF-10A XL fluorescence detector and a 6850 Network GC System from Agilent Technologies.  Center members also have access to an Accelerated Solvent Extraction system (ASE 200) located in room #223 IREH and a Waters Micromass Quattro micro GC (GC/MS/MS) system located in the Environmental Engineering and Sciences-W. M. Keck Phytotechnologies Laboratories.

Training

Instrument-use training is also provided by EMEAF staff when needed. Investigators are given a complete introduction on the instrument, its uses and capabilities, followed by hands-on instruction to ensure that data obtained from the instrument is accurate and reliable.

Computer Modeling

The EMEAF has acquired a variety of sophisticated computer models for use by Center investigators to expand our abilities to fully characterize hazardous environments. A desktop computer located in one of the facility rooms has been loaded with the modeling software packages listed in the preceding table and is available for use on an as-needed basis. 

Population-based Study Design

Drs. Field and Sanderson can provide assistance and expertise in epidemiology and exposure assessment to other investigators at the University who have an interest in performing environmentally-related epidemiologic studies.

Analysis of Environmental Contaminants and Biomarkers of Exposure

One goal of this facility is to help Center Members with the measurement of analytes ranging for environmental contaminants such as pesticides to biomarkers of exposure.  

Ties to other Facilities and Registries

EMEAF personnel are can access numerous resources currently existing at the University of Iowa to enhance the power of epidemiologic and exposure assessment studies in a cost effective manner. A few of the unique resources available to investigators include the following.

  1. The University of Iowa Hygienic Laboratory (UHL)
  2. The Central Microscopy Research Facility (CMRF)
  3. The High Field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility
  4. High Resolution Mass Spectrometry Facility.
  5. The Iowa Cancer Registry (ICR)
  6. The Center for International Rural and Environmental Health (CIREH)
  7. The Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health (GPCAH)
  8. The Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases
  9. The Agricultural Health Study
  10. The Health Effectiveness Research Center (HERC)
  11. The University of Iowa Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination (CHEEC)

  Environmental Health Sciences Research Center, The University of Iowa, 100 Oakdale Campus, #178 IREH, Iowa City, IA 52242
Tel: (319) 335-4756 / Fax: (319) 335-4225 / E-mail: nancy-newkirk@uiowa.edu