ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES RESEARCH CENTER

A National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Center of Excellence

EHSRC Investigator Detail

Dr. Thorne is engaged in studies of environmental risk factors for asthma, inflammatory lung diseases, endotoxin- and glucan-induced immunomodulation, and novel methodology for exposure assessment and modelling. He is internationally recognized for his discoveries in the exacerbation of asthma associated with domestic and occupational exposures to bioaerosols, especially endotoxin. He teaches graduate level courses on environmental health, human toxicology, and research methods in biological agents. He serves on a variety of editorial and review boards for scientific journals, government agencies, and academic institutions.

In addition to directing the EHSRC and the Pulmonary Toxicology Facility, Dr. Thorne is co-investigator on an EPA-funded study of “Impacts of Manufactured Nanomaterials on Human Health and the Environment”. He is an investigator on a large number of grants and subcontracts with colleagues at the University of Iowa as well as USC, Columbia, National Jewish, UNC and Johns-Hopkins. He is also a co-investigator on the Iowa Superfund Basic Research Program under the direction of Dr. Larry Robertson. Dr. Thorne is the PI of a large epidemiology project on children’s environmental health (Research Project 6), Leader of the Toxicology Core, and Leader of the Research Translation Core within the proposed Iowa superfund basic research program.

Recent Publications

1. Rao CY, Riggs MA, Chew GL, Muilenberg ML, Thorne PS, Van Sickle D, Dunn KH, Brown C. Characterization of airborne molds, endotoxins, and glucans in homes in New Orleans after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2007 Mar;73(5):1630-4. Epub 2007 Jan 5.
2. Grassian VH, O'shaughnessy PT, Adamcakova-Dodd A, Pettibone JM, Thorne PS. Inhalation exposure study of titanium dioxide nanoparticles with a primary particle size of 2 to 5 nm. Environ Health Perspect. 2007 Mar;115(3):397-402. Epub 2006 Dec 4.
3. Donham KJ, Wing S, Osterberg D, Flora JL, Hodne C, Thu KM, Thorne PS. Community health and socioeconomic issues surrounding concentrated animal feeding operations. Environ Health Perspect. 2007 Feb;115(2):317-20. Epub 2006 Nov 14.
4. Gilchrist MJ, Greko C, Wallinga DB, Beran GW, Riley DG, Thorne PS. The potential role of concentrated animal feeding operations in infectious disease epidemics and antibiotic resistance. Environ Health Perspect. 2007 Feb;115(2):313-6. Epub 2006 Nov 14.
5. Burkholder J, Libra B, Weyer P, Heathcote S, Kolpin D, Thorne PS, Wichman M. Impacts of waste from concentrated animal feeding operations on water quality. Environ Health Perspect. 2007 Feb;115(2):308-12. Epub 2006 Nov 14.
6. Bunton B, O'shaughnessy P, Fitzsimmons S, Gering J, Hoff S, Lyngbye M, Thorne PS, Wasson J, Werner M. Monitoring and modeling of emissions from concentrated animal feeding operations: overview of methods. Environ Health Perspect. 2007 Feb;115(2):303-7. Epub 2006 Nov 14. Review.
7. Heederik D, Sigsgaard T, Thorne PS, Kline JN, Avery R, Bonlokke JH, Chrischilles EA, Dosman JA, Duchaine C, Kirkhorn SR, Kulhankova K, Merchant JA. Health effects of airborne exposures from concentrated animal feeding operations. Environ Health Perspect. 2007 Feb;115(2):298-302. Epub 2006 Nov 14.
8. Thorne PS. Environmental health impacts of concentrated animal feeding operations: anticipating hazards--searching for solutions. Environ Health Perspect. 2007 Feb;115(2):296-7. Epub 2006 Nov 14.
9. McConnell R, Berhane K, Molitor J, Gilliland F, Kunzli N, Thorne PS, Thomas D, Gauderman WJ, Avol E, Lurmann F, Rappaport E, Jerrett M, Peters JM. Dog ownership enhances symptomatic responses to air pollution in children with asthma. Environ Health Perspect. 2006 Dec;114(12):1910-5.
10. Chew GL, Wilson J, Rabito FA, Grimsley F, Iqbal S, Reponen T, Muilenberg ML, Thorne PS, Dearborn DG, Morley RL. Mold and endotoxin levels in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina: a pilot project of homes in New Orleans undergoing renovation. Environ Health Perspect. 2006 Dec;114(12):1883-9.
11. George CL, White ML, Kulhankova K, Mahajan A, Thorne PS, Snyder JM, Kline JN. Early exposure to a nonhygienic environment alters pulmonary immunity and allergic responses. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2006 Sep;291(3):L512-22. Epub 2006 Mar 23.
12. Pacheco KA, McCammon C, Thorne PS, O'Neill ME, Liu AH, Martyny JW, Vandyke M, Newman LS, Rose CS. Characterization of endotoxin and mouse allergen exposures in mouse facilities and research laboratories. Ann Occup Hyg. 2006 Aug;50(6):563-72. Epub 2006 May 5.
13. Mueller-Anneling LJ, O'Neill ME, Thorne PS. Biomonitoring for assessment of organic dust-induced lung inflammation. Eur Respir J. 2006 Jun;27(6):1096-102. Epub 2006 Mar 1.
14. Perzanowski MS, Miller RL, Thorne PS, Barr RG, Divjan A, Sheares BJ, Garfinkel RS, Perera FP, Goldstein IF, Chew GL. Endotoxin in inner-city homes: associations with wheeze and eczema in early childhood. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2006 May;117(5):1082-9. Epub 2006 Feb 14.
15. Chun DT, Bartlett K, Gordon T, Jacobs RR, Larsson BM, Larsson L, Lewis DM, Liesivuori J, Michel O, Milton DK, Rylander R, Thorne PS, White EM, Brown ME, Gunn VS, Wurtz H. History and results of the two inter-laboratory round robin endotoxin assay studies on cotton dust. Am J Ind Med. 2006 Apr;49(4):301-6.
16. Thorne PS, Adamcakova-Dodd A, Kelly KM, O'neill ME, Duchaine C. Metalworking fluid with mycobacteria and endotoxin induces hypersensitivity pneumonitis in mice. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2006 Apr 1;173(7):759-68. Epub 2005 Dec 30.
17. Lee JA, Johnson JC, Reynolds SJ, Thorne PS, O'Shaughnessy PT. Indoor and outdoor air quality assessment of four wastewater treatment plants. J Occup Environ Hyg. 2006 Jan;3(1):36-43.

  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