Thomas Burbacher
Encyclopedia
Thomas Burbacher, PhD, is professor of environmental and occupational health sciences and the director of the Infant Primate Research Laboratory at the University of Washington
in Seattle.
from the University of Cincinnati
in 1973, and his doctorate from the University of Washington in 1983, also in psychology.
of pre- and postnatal exposure to environmental contaminants, including pesticide
s and heavy metals
. His studies using primate models have revealed significant long-term effects of prenatal exposure to methylmercury
, a common neurotoxin, and to methanol
, a potential motor fuel alternative. In-utero exposure to methylmercury has been linked to mental retardation, sensory disturbances such as blindness and deafness, and significant delays in motor development.
Burbacher studied a group of macaque
monkeys, from birth to sixteen years of age, to evaluate near- and long-term effects of in-utero methylmercury exposure on physical development, cognition
, and sensory function. The similarity of macaque monkey DNA
to that of humans, 92% identical, makes them useful as models of the human body and brain. Burbacher's research on macaques has been used in the development of safety policies aimed at setting maximum human exposure levels for environmental contaminants associated with adverse health effects and developmental disabilities.
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
in Seattle.
Education
Burbacher earned his bachelor's degree in psychologyPsychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
from the University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
in 1973, and his doctorate from the University of Washington in 1983, also in psychology.
Research
Burbachers research interests include behavioral toxicology and the neurodevelopmental effectsNeural development
Neural development comprises the processes that generate, shape, and reshape the nervous system, from the earliest stages of embryogenesis to the final years of life. The study of neural development aims to describe the cellular basis of brain development and to address the underlying mechanisms...
of pre- and postnatal exposure to environmental contaminants, including pesticide
Pesticide
Pesticides are substances or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest.A pesticide may be a chemical unicycle, biological agent , antimicrobial, disinfectant or device used against any pest...
s and heavy metals
Heavy metals
A heavy metal is a member of a loosely-defined subset of elements that exhibit metallic properties. It mainly includes the transition metals, some metalloids, lanthanides, and actinides. Many different definitions have been proposed—some based on density, some on atomic number or atomic weight,...
. His studies using primate models have revealed significant long-term effects of prenatal exposure to methylmercury
Methylmercury
Methylmercury is an organometallic cation with the formula . It is a bioaccumulative environmental toxicant.-Structure:...
, a common neurotoxin, and to methanol
Methanol
Methanol, also known as methyl alcohol, wood alcohol, wood naphtha or wood spirits, is a chemical with the formula CH3OH . It is the simplest alcohol, and is a light, volatile, colorless, flammable liquid with a distinctive odor very similar to, but slightly sweeter than, ethanol...
, a potential motor fuel alternative. In-utero exposure to methylmercury has been linked to mental retardation, sensory disturbances such as blindness and deafness, and significant delays in motor development.
Infant Primate Research Laboratory
Over one hundred monkeys reside at the University of Washington's Infant Primate Research Laboratory (IPRL), where Burbacher and other researchers conduct some of the world's most expensive and exclusive medical research. "It's one of the only facilities in the country where we can observe animals as they mature from infancy," said Thomas BurbacherBurbacher studied a group of macaque
Macaque
The macaques constitute a genus of Old World monkeys of the subfamily Cercopithecinae. - Description :Aside from humans , the macaques are the most widespread primate genus, ranging from Japan to Afghanistan and, in the case of the barbary macaque, to North Africa...
monkeys, from birth to sixteen years of age, to evaluate near- and long-term effects of in-utero methylmercury exposure on physical development, cognition
Cognition
In science, cognition refers to mental processes. These processes include attention, remembering, producing and understanding language, solving problems, and making decisions. Cognition is studied in various disciplines such as psychology, philosophy, linguistics, and computer science...
, and sensory function. The similarity of macaque monkey DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
to that of humans, 92% identical, makes them useful as models of the human body and brain. Burbacher's research on macaques has been used in the development of safety policies aimed at setting maximum human exposure levels for environmental contaminants associated with adverse health effects and developmental disabilities.
Publications
- Thomas M. Burbacher, Danny D. Shen, Noelle Liberato, Kimberly S. Grant, Elsa Cernichiari, and Thomas Clarkson, "Comparison of Blood and Brain Mercury Levels in Infant Monkeys Exposed to Methylmercury or Vaccines Containing Thimerosal", Environmental Health Perspectives, vol 113, no 8, August, 2005
External links
- Washington.edu - 'Thomas Burbacher, Ph.D.' (bio), Center on Human Development and Disability
- Washington.edu - 'Almost Human', Andrew Sengul (May 30, 2006)