Breathtaking research

Although the air we breathe is necessary for life, certain factors may make this same air detrimental to our health. For instance, a seemingly endless list of compounds can be toxic at certain concentrations, and inhaling such compounds may lead to damage in different parts of the body. To investigate the particular effects of inhaled toxicants, the NIEHS developed the Respiratory Toxicology Group. The group, which consists of toxicologist Dan Morgan, biologist Cassandra Shines, and engineer Michael Moorman, has been conducting experiments for about a decade at the NIEHS inhalation facility. Morgan says the group typically conducts studies of chemicals that have been nominated to the National Toxicology Program for investigation into their carcinogenic potential and other end points. "We provide research support and conduct special studies on these chemicals," he says. "We also do collaborative studies with other NIEHS investigators, other [federal] agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy, universities, and industry."