•
BIDDEFORD, Maine

Biochemistry researcher Deena Small awarded NIH grant to study effects of flame retardant on bone development

University of New England Associate Professor Deena J. Small, Ph.D., was recently awarded an National Institutes of Health AREA grant to study the effects of exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants on bone cell development and bone health.  

Dr. Small, UNE Department of Chemistry and Physics, is the principal investigator of the two-year $196,701 award, which will be conducted in collaboration with toxicologist Vincent Markowsky, Ph.D., of SUNY, Geneseo.

In addition to supplies and related costs of the research, the grant will also fund 2-3 undergraduate research projects at UNE and SUNY Geneseo over the next two academic years.

This unique project has also caught the interest of U.S. Senator Susan Collins' office due to its potential to provide information important for the long-term health of Maine citizens.

Research Background

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers are chemical flame retardants seeded into many household goods and appliances including carpeting, upholstery and electronics. PBDEs are considered "indoor pollutants" because they collect in household dust after being released into the air from the products in which they are seeded. 

PBDEs find their way into the body either through inhalation of the contaminated dust or ingestion of food sources. Since PBDEs are lipophilic (fat soluble), they accumulate in fatty tissues such as adipose and mammary gland, with measurable levels also detected in plasma, marrow, liver and breast milk.

Body burdens for PBDEs are consistently higher in the United States than they are in Europe or Asia, primarily due to delays in banning their production and use in this country.  With remediation only beginning to be discussed, it is likely that humans, especially those from western societies, will continue to accumulate these contaminants throughout their lifespan.

Although the effects of PBDEs on the body are not well understood, there is evidence to suggest that these endocrine-disrupting chemicals may interfere with the production and/or function of thyroid hormone. In addition to its role in metabolism, thyroid hormone is also an important regulator of bone cell development and bone growth. 

Dr. Small's and Markowsky's research will be the first to determine if PBDE exposure causes abnormal bone cell development that may predispose individuals to bone abnormalities or osteoporosis. 

In addition, the study will also examine the molecular mechanisms by which these chemicals modulate thyroid hormone function in bone and other tissues. 

These studies are expected to provide novel information regarding the significance of the biological effect underlying the continued risk that exposure to these prevalent environmental contaminants has on bone growth and maintenance in children and adult populations.

NIH AREA Grants

National Institutes of Health AREA (Academic Research Enhancement Award) grants have three goals: to support meritorious research; to strengthen the research environment of the institution; and to expose students to research.

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.