Development and application of a dielectrophoresis (DEP) technique for toxicity detection and circulating tumor cells isolation

Development and application of a dielectrophoresis (DEP) technique for toxicity detection and circulating tumor cells isolation

A dielectrophoresis (DEP) technique has been developed and implemented for toxicity detection and circulating tumor cell isolation. DEP is a technique that merges physics and biology by subjecting cells to an electric field. More »

Impacts of exposure to genotoxic air pollutants in susceptible populations

Impacts of exposure to genotoxic air pollutants in susceptible populations

Arsenic is an environmental pollutant that is classified as a human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). It is found naturally in the environment and is also used as a therapeutic agent in pigs and chickens, as well as a pesticide. More »

Health impacts of arsenic: studies on gene expression

Health impacts of arsenic: studies on gene expression

Arsenic is an environmental pollutant that has been classified as a human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). It is naturally found in the environment, and is used as a therapeutic agent in pigs and chickens, as well as a pesticide. More »

Study of the environmental and genetic risk factors associated with liver cancer and cholangiocarcinoma.

Study of the environmental and genetic risk factors associated with liver cancer and cholangiocarcinoma.

This research project aims to study risk factors for the development of liver cancer and cholangiocarcinoma, cancers prevalent in Thailand, focusing on environmental risk factors from exposure to carcinogenic compounds from the environment, food and lifestyles, as well as genetic risk factors in populations living in areas with high incidence of these diseases. More »

 


LABORATORY OF ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY

    Chemical pollution in the environment is a problem that impacts human health and development of disease in many countries around the world, including Thailand. The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that 24% of the global disease burden and an estimated 23% of all deaths are attributable to environmental factors, and that as many as 13 million deaths could be prevented every year by making our environment healthier. In terms of a specific disease of increasing concern around the world, WHO has estimated that roughly 19 percent of all cancers is attributable to the environment.

    Research in environmental toxicology is important for sustainable development, as it allows us to identify key problem areas that need to be addressed to minimize impacts from the use of chemicals. This is an area of growing interest and concern, both to the scientific community and to the public since chemicals and pollutants together with other environmental factors are recognized as major determinants of human health status. An increasing number of publications indicate a clear impact of environmental pollutants on human health through modulation of physiological and pathological status.

    The Environmental Toxicology Laboratory at the Chulabhorn Research Institute therefore focuses on research into major environmental health problems from exposure to chemicals in the environment. Research is conducted that spans the exposure-disease paradigm, from measurement of ambient exposures to assessment of internal exposures and early biological effects that can be linked to disease development. Chemical pollutants of specific interest include carcinogenic compounds found in the environment and in food, as well as volatile organic compounds, pesticides, toxic metals, and other toxicants. Special focus is placed on particularly susceptible populations, and this includes the developing fetus that might be exposed in utero, resulting in early biological changes that may manifest as disease later in life. Research that leads to identification of sources of exposure and assessment of mechanisms underlying development of early effects can lead to measures for prevention of disease for the ultimate benefit for human health.

 


intro