Proximity to a hazardous waste thermal treatment facility alters human physiology: a community-driven pilot study
Open burn/open detonation (OB/OD) disposes of explosive waste via uncontrolled combustion, releasing harmful pollutants like toxic gases and particulate matter. Colfax, Louisiana, houses the nation’s only commercially OB/OD thermal treatment (TT) facility, raising concerns about environmental and pu...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
|
| Series: | Experimental Biology and Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2025.10655/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849390226731958272 |
|---|---|
| author | Avinash Kumar Avinash Kumar Chuqi Guo Qudus Sarumi Christopher Courtney Shawn Campagna Shawn Campagna Jennifer Richmond-Bryant Stephania A. Cormier Stephania A. Cormier |
| author_facet | Avinash Kumar Avinash Kumar Chuqi Guo Qudus Sarumi Christopher Courtney Shawn Campagna Shawn Campagna Jennifer Richmond-Bryant Stephania A. Cormier Stephania A. Cormier |
| author_sort | Avinash Kumar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Open burn/open detonation (OB/OD) disposes of explosive waste via uncontrolled combustion, releasing harmful pollutants like toxic gases and particulate matter. Colfax, Louisiana, houses the nation’s only commercially OB/OD thermal treatment (TT) facility, raising concerns about environmental and public health impacts due to its emissions. In this exploratory pilot study, we investigated metabolic alterations indicative of potential health impacts from exposure to emissions from a TT facility through an untargeted metabolomics analysis of urine samples obtained from local residents. Urine samples were collected from 51 residents living within a 30-km radius of the facility, with proximity, race, and sex as key variables. Samples were analyzed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) to identify metabolic alterations and potential biomarkers of exposure. A total of 217 metabolites were identified, with significant differences in abundance based on proximity to the facility. Key metabolic pathways affected included energy metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and oxidative stress-related pathways. Metabolites associated with oxidative stress, such as glutathione sulfonamide (GSA), were elevated in individuals residing closer to the facility, indicating increased oxidative stress. Alterations in the glutathione/glutathione disulfide (GSH/GSSG) ratio further highlighted redox imbalances. Pathway enrichment analyses revealed perturbations in glycolysis, citric acid cycle, sulfur metabolism, and nucleotide metabolism, which are linked to critical biological functions like energy production and DNA repair. Notable differences in metabolite profiles were also observed between sexes and racial groups, pointing to the interplay of intrinsic biological and environmental factors. These findings demonstrate that exposure to emissions from the TT facility may have significant impacts on human health, including disruptions in cellular metabolism and increased oxidative stress. Further research is crucial to understand the long-term health implications of these metabolic alterations and to develop strategies to mitigate the environmental and health risks associated with this facility. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d4e788d509c3447ebf10ce0df3382b34 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1535-3699 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Experimental Biology and Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-d4e788d509c3447ebf10ce0df3382b342025-08-20T03:41:43ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Experimental Biology and Medicine1535-36992025-08-0125010.3389/ebm.2025.1065510655Proximity to a hazardous waste thermal treatment facility alters human physiology: a community-driven pilot studyAvinash Kumar0Avinash Kumar1Chuqi Guo2Qudus Sarumi3Christopher Courtney4Shawn Campagna5Shawn Campagna6Jennifer Richmond-Bryant7Stephania A. Cormier8Stephania A. Cormier9Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United StatesPennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA, United StatesDepartment of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United StatesDepartment of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United StatesDepartment of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United StatesDepartment of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United StatesBiological and Small Molecule Mass Spectrometry Core, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United StatesDepartment of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United StatesDepartment of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United StatesPennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA, United StatesOpen burn/open detonation (OB/OD) disposes of explosive waste via uncontrolled combustion, releasing harmful pollutants like toxic gases and particulate matter. Colfax, Louisiana, houses the nation’s only commercially OB/OD thermal treatment (TT) facility, raising concerns about environmental and public health impacts due to its emissions. In this exploratory pilot study, we investigated metabolic alterations indicative of potential health impacts from exposure to emissions from a TT facility through an untargeted metabolomics analysis of urine samples obtained from local residents. Urine samples were collected from 51 residents living within a 30-km radius of the facility, with proximity, race, and sex as key variables. Samples were analyzed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) to identify metabolic alterations and potential biomarkers of exposure. A total of 217 metabolites were identified, with significant differences in abundance based on proximity to the facility. Key metabolic pathways affected included energy metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and oxidative stress-related pathways. Metabolites associated with oxidative stress, such as glutathione sulfonamide (GSA), were elevated in individuals residing closer to the facility, indicating increased oxidative stress. Alterations in the glutathione/glutathione disulfide (GSH/GSSG) ratio further highlighted redox imbalances. Pathway enrichment analyses revealed perturbations in glycolysis, citric acid cycle, sulfur metabolism, and nucleotide metabolism, which are linked to critical biological functions like energy production and DNA repair. Notable differences in metabolite profiles were also observed between sexes and racial groups, pointing to the interplay of intrinsic biological and environmental factors. These findings demonstrate that exposure to emissions from the TT facility may have significant impacts on human health, including disruptions in cellular metabolism and increased oxidative stress. Further research is crucial to understand the long-term health implications of these metabolic alterations and to develop strategies to mitigate the environmental and health risks associated with this facility.https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2025.10655/fullmetabolomicsopen burnhazard waste remediationenvironmental exposureoxidative stress |
| spellingShingle | Avinash Kumar Avinash Kumar Chuqi Guo Qudus Sarumi Christopher Courtney Shawn Campagna Shawn Campagna Jennifer Richmond-Bryant Stephania A. Cormier Stephania A. Cormier Proximity to a hazardous waste thermal treatment facility alters human physiology: a community-driven pilot study Experimental Biology and Medicine metabolomics open burn hazard waste remediation environmental exposure oxidative stress |
| title | Proximity to a hazardous waste thermal treatment facility alters human physiology: a community-driven pilot study |
| title_full | Proximity to a hazardous waste thermal treatment facility alters human physiology: a community-driven pilot study |
| title_fullStr | Proximity to a hazardous waste thermal treatment facility alters human physiology: a community-driven pilot study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Proximity to a hazardous waste thermal treatment facility alters human physiology: a community-driven pilot study |
| title_short | Proximity to a hazardous waste thermal treatment facility alters human physiology: a community-driven pilot study |
| title_sort | proximity to a hazardous waste thermal treatment facility alters human physiology a community driven pilot study |
| topic | metabolomics open burn hazard waste remediation environmental exposure oxidative stress |
| url | https://www.ebm-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ebm.2025.10655/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT avinashkumar proximitytoahazardouswastethermaltreatmentfacilityaltershumanphysiologyacommunitydrivenpilotstudy AT avinashkumar proximitytoahazardouswastethermaltreatmentfacilityaltershumanphysiologyacommunitydrivenpilotstudy AT chuqiguo proximitytoahazardouswastethermaltreatmentfacilityaltershumanphysiologyacommunitydrivenpilotstudy AT qudussarumi proximitytoahazardouswastethermaltreatmentfacilityaltershumanphysiologyacommunitydrivenpilotstudy AT christophercourtney proximitytoahazardouswastethermaltreatmentfacilityaltershumanphysiologyacommunitydrivenpilotstudy AT shawncampagna proximitytoahazardouswastethermaltreatmentfacilityaltershumanphysiologyacommunitydrivenpilotstudy AT shawncampagna proximitytoahazardouswastethermaltreatmentfacilityaltershumanphysiologyacommunitydrivenpilotstudy AT jenniferrichmondbryant proximitytoahazardouswastethermaltreatmentfacilityaltershumanphysiologyacommunitydrivenpilotstudy AT stephaniaacormier proximitytoahazardouswastethermaltreatmentfacilityaltershumanphysiologyacommunitydrivenpilotstudy AT stephaniaacormier proximitytoahazardouswastethermaltreatmentfacilityaltershumanphysiologyacommunitydrivenpilotstudy |