The Successful Journey to Canada of Two Hispanic Toxicologists: Environmental and Occupational Perspectives
Thursday, January 9, 2025
11:00 AM to 12:00 Noon (US EST, UTC -5)
Hosted by: The SOT Hispanic Organization of Toxicologists Special Interest Group
Registration required for this free webinar.
· Andres Henriquez, PhD, Researcher, Health Canada
Andres Henriquez is a Chilean toxicologist who earned a PhD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA, focusing on the impacts of inhaled air pollutants using in vivo models. Currently, Dr. Henriquez works at the Inhalation Toxicology Laboratory at Health Canada, where he investigates the interaction between inhaled materials, such as air pollutants, and diverse cellular models to better represent the pulmonary impacts of exposures.
Globally, communities exposed to poor air quality experience heightened human mortality and morbidity. Latin American countries and Hispanic/Latino populations are no exception. Despite significant efforts over the past decades to reduce air pollutant emissions, current levels generally exceed those recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
While observational studies consistently demonstrate associations between air pollution and various health effects, controlled experimental studies are crucial to evaluating the following: i) the relative toxicity of different air pollutants and mixtures, ii) the biological plausibility of epidemiological findings, and iii) the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of biological responses.
One key area of research in his laboratory focuses on integrating particle toxicity assessments to optimize the limited availability of environmental samples. An integrated screening platform was developed, incorporating measures of cell viability, metabolic activity, inflammatory signaling, gene expression, and oxidative stress within a single well of a 96-well plate. Responses were examined in two cell lines to multiple reference particles across various doses. The results revealed differences in response patterns depending on cell model, particle type, and dosage. Strong correlations for technical replicates, experimental repeats, and endpoints confirmed the robustness and reproducibility of the integrated assays.
In conclusion, miniaturizing and combining assays to assess biological responses enhances high-throughput screening, preserves valuable samples, and provides quantifiable endpoints linked to toxic potential.
· Jairo Buitrago, Graduate Student, University of Montreal
Jairo Buitrago is a Colombian chemical engineer with 19 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. After gaining substantial expertise in occupational health and safety, he moved to Canada to further develop professional and technical skills. This journey led to the pursuit of a master’s degree in environmental and occupational health at the Université de Montréal. Following this achievement, Mr. Buitrago was accepted for accelerated entry into the PhD program in public health, specializing in toxicology and risk assessment.
His PhD project, titled "Biomonitoring of Exposure to Metal Components During Welding Activities in Montréal, Canada," focuses on identifying welders' exposure to metals and metalloids through longitudinal biomonitoring across various biological matrices. This research is highly relevant in the fields of occupational and environmental health, particularly in assessing exposure to chemical contaminants. The project presents an innovative approach to biological monitoring by utilizing multiple matrices, making it applicable to other occupational settings and even the general population.
Apprentices from various welding schools in the Montréal area were recruited, and metal levels in biological matrices were monitored throughout their welding programs. Results demonstrated elevated metal concentrations in urine, hair, fingernails, and toenails when comparing pre-training levels (controls) with those measured at the conclusion of welding modules. Furthermore, a significant time-dependent increase in metal levels was observed across the biological matrices.
This research is particularly relevant to the Hispanic toxicologist community and other related disciplines, offering a novel approach to consistently monitoring occupational and population exposures. It provides valuable insights for forecasting and assessing potential health effects associated with these exposures.
Registration required for this free webinar.