LSU SRP Attends Central and Eastern European Conference on Health and Environment
Members of the
Louisiana State University Superfund Research Center (LSU SRP) attended the 2016 Central and Eastern European Conference on Health and the Environment (CEECHE) in Prague, Czech Republic. CEECHE is an opportunity for environmental science and environmental health researchers to meet and exchange ideas on the most important issues associated with pollution and the health of the exposed population. According to LSU SRP's Dr. Slawo Lomnicki, "There is an urgent need for the scientific community to help in solving the environmental problems affecting the health of general population and particularly children in this region of Europe...and this conference is definitely a step in the right direction.”
Dr. Lomnicki co-chaired the session “Special Topics Related to Environmental Pollution and Health” and gave a presentation entitled “Dioxins Formation in Thermal Processes – Synergy of Metals”. LSU SRP trainee Chuqi Guo presented a poster entitled “Plants as a New Natural Particulate Matter (PM) Sampler”.
Research Translation Core (RTC) Highlights
Louisiana Environmental Education Symposium
In February, RTC leader Dr. Maud Walsh and trainees, Grace Leblanc and Ashlyn Harmon gave a presentation entitled "Investigations in Toxicology" at the 2016 Louisiana Environmental Education Symposium. Dr. Walsh also discussed LSU SRP research and led an activity developed by the Environmental Health Sciences Center, Oregon State University using yeast as a model system to determine if chemicals are toxic and make does response curves.
Louisiana Envirothon & Louisiana Earth Day
LSU SRP was one of the sponsors of the 2016 Louisiana Envirothon, an environmental problem-solving competition for students in grades 6-12 held on April 16 at the LSU Botanic Gardens at the Burden Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. On April 17, the LSU SRP RTC helped the city of Baton Rouge celebrate Earth Day. At both events the LSU SRP RTC team shared information about the research going on at the center as well as information about education and careers in the environmental health sciences.
Louisiana Superfund Site Updates
Colonial Creosote
The Colonial Creosote Site in Washington Parish, LA has been added to the National Priorities List of Superfund Sites. The 32 acre former wood treatment site was referred to the EPA in 2011 by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality. There is evidence that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a suspected human carcinogen, have migrated from the facility to groundwater, adjacent wetlands and nearby surface waters. For more information about the site visit the
EPA Superfund Program: COLONIAL CREOSOTE, BOGALUSA, LA page.
Petro-Processors of Louisiana
The third five-year review for the Petro-Processors of Louisiana, Inc. (PPI) Superfund Site was released by the EPA in March. The PPI site consists of 62 acres in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana used as a depository and incineration site of various petrochemical waste products during the 1960s and 1970s. The site’s principle pollutants, chlorinated hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), heavy metals, and oils, contaminated ground water, soil and surface water. The remediation plan for the PPI site involved ground water recovery and containment and an onsite treatment system that separated organic chemicals from the ground water for onsite incineration. The third five year review concluded that the remedy at the PPI site is protective of human health and the environment. To learn more, visit the
EPA Superfund Program: PETRO-PROCESSORS OF LOUISIANA, INC., SCOTLANDVILLE, LA page or read the complete
Third Five-Year Review.
Combustion, Inc.
The second five-year review for the Combustion, Inc. Superfund Site was released by the EPA in February. The Combustion, Inc. site, located about 3 miles northeast of Denham Springs, Louisiana, is the location of a former waste oil recycling facility. Groundwater contaminants from the site include volatile organics and semivolatile organics including 1,2-dichloroethane. Remediation at the site included expedited excavation and disposal of soil, sludge, waste oil, underground storage tanks, and wastewater as well as longer term phytoremediation. The second five year review concluded that the remedy for the site is protective of human health and the environment in the short term but due to stricter toxicity values for several site contaminants of concern the groundwater remedial goals need to be reevaluated. To learn more, visit the
EPA Superfund Program: COMBUSTION, INC., DENHAM SPRINGS, LA page or read the complete
Second Five-Year Review.
Camp Minden
Test burns began at Camp Minden on April 13
th in a massive contained burn system (CBS) that will be the cleanest military munitions disposal facility in the nation. Camp Minden in Webster Parish, Louisiana, formerly known as the Louisiana Military Ammunition Plant, will be home to the largest disposal of military munitions in the history of the world as over 15 million pounds of m6 propellant and clean burning igniter will be destroyed. Clean up of the site was fast tracked after a massive explosion occurred in 2012 but will not reach full capacity until after the CBS has passed a Comprehensive Performance Test (CPT). For more information on the clean-up at Camp Minden visit the
EPA Camp Minden page or view waste disposal progress and real time air quality monitoring data at
ESI’s Camp Minden Daily Dashboard.
LSU SRP Researcher, Staff and Trainee News
