About the Study and Eligibility
You are eligible for the study if you have a child between 6 months and 5 years that lives in the greater Miami area, South Florida.
Participation in the study involves 4 research visits a year (including remote surveys and sample collection at home). This is a three-year long-term study, which leads to a total of 12 sessions of remote surveys/sample collections (household dust, soil, water, child’s food items, and child’s urine for analysis).
Results from this study will be made available to caregivers 6-12 months after collection alongside available health risk assessments associated with exposure. Feedback on the information collected by surveys will include advice and educational materials on relevant risks to soil and dust ingestion by children of different age groups.
Free Cost and Compensation
All evaluations and sessions will be free of cost. You have the opportunity to receive up to a total of $900 (up to $300 per year) in the form of gift cards.
Length of the study
Participation includes:
- Screening evaluation (a short demographic questionnaire).
- Surveys on children’s activities, child’s development and behavior, and your parenting style and behavior (a total of 12 sessions in 3 years).
- Collection of environmental and biological samples (water, food, soil, household dust, and urine) 4 times a year (a total of 12 times in 3 years of the study).
Preliminary Data:
Luciana Cappelini and Olutobi Daniel Ogunbiyi presented a poster titled “Assessment of Emerging Organic Contaminants in Soil Samples from Miami-FL” at the 19th Annual Workshop on Emerging HRMS and LC-MS/MS Applications in Environmental Analysis and Food Safety, in Buffalo, Sept 24-25, 2023, and at SETAC in Louisville a poster on “Screening for Emerging Contaminants in Soil, Dust, and Food in Miami Area Using Non-Targeted Analysis and Chemometrics: Implications to Children’s Health and Risk Assessment, was presented on 12- 16 November 2023.
Joseph Cox presented a talk at 73rd Southeastern Regional ACS Meeting, Puerto Rico, Oct 19- 22, 2022, on the Evaluation of a non-targeted analysis approach for identifying chemicals of environmental concern in soil and dust and children’s exposure. The data presented can be found in our first annual progress meeting. Click here to learn more.
Joseph Cox and Danni Cui presented the poster “Identifying children’s exposure to chemicals through soil and dust ingestion using non-targeted analysis approaches.” At SETAC North America, 13-17 November 2022, Pittsburgh, PA.
Check out our first publication “Evaluating non-targeted analysis methods for chemical characterization of organic contaminants in different matrices to estimate children’s exposure” at the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41370-023-00547-9
Children are susceptible to environmental contaminants exposure through a diversity of outdoor and indoor playing activities and behaviors (e.g., by playing near the ground and commonly putting their hands and objects to their mouth).
In a groundbreaking study, FIU researchers have identified crucial tracers for children's exposure to environmental contaminants, focusing on indoor dust and soil ingestion. By analyzing over 400 samples using innovative analytical methodologies, they pinpointed reliable and specific chemical indicators like Tripropyl citrate and 4-Dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid that can be used to assess more accurately the amount of dust and soil ingested by young children. This breakthrough research provides vital insights for public health efforts, contributing to a better understanding of children’s exposure to chemicals and related health risks. Check below to access our publication: “Innovative non-targeted screening approach using High-resolution mass spectrometry for the screening of organic chemicals and identification of specific tracers of soil and dust exposure in children.” published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134025
