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Purdue Research

Our research efforts are directed at developing proper seafood consumption advice for sensitive populations (i.e., pregnant or nursing women, women that will become pregnant, and young children) in order to protect the health of the baby. Since seafood contains harmful pollutants and important nutrients, it is important that women make informed decisions in order to protect their offspring. The breath of studies that have been conducted in our lab are wide ranging and our efforts have only been possible through the hard work of dedicated students and staff. Our research has investigated: methods to predict polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in fish from rivers; the concentrations of pollutants in farm-raised, wild fish and dietary supplements; the concentrations of healthy fats in canned fish and in fish sandwiches; the effects of cooking on pollutants; rapid methods for measuring mercury and PCBs in fish; the influence of food components on the bioavailability of mercury; the transfer of dietary PCBs into maternal milk; and the effects of diet on the elimination of mercury and the status of fatty acids in childbearing-aged women. These studies have built upon the hard work of past researchers. Here are a few of our studies:

Consuming Fish to Reduce Mercury Intake While Optimizing Omega-3 Fatty Acid Status (2009)
Measuring PCBs in Fish Tissue Using Solid Phase Microextraction (2006)
Predicting the Impact of Foods on Mercury Bioavailability (2006)
Measuring Transfer of C14-PCB from Maternal Diet to Milk in Goat Model (2005)
Mercury and Long-Chain Fatty Acids in Canned Fish (2004)
Mercury and Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Fish Sandwiches from Retail Restaurants (2004)
Lipids and PCBs in Fish and Algal Oil Supplements (2003)
Mercury Analysis for Fish Consumption Advisories (2003)
A Rapid Method to Improve the Indiana Fish Consumption Advisory (2002)
Semipermeable Membrane Devices to Predict Total PCB in Fish Tissue (2002)

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