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Hometown: Bronx, NY Undergrad University: Massachusetts Institute of Technology Undergraduate Major: Planetary Science Graduate Advisors: Dr. Martin Schoonen, Dr. Stella Tsirka, and Dr. Sandy Simon Graudate Program: Geosciences email: snhylton at ic.sunysb.edu

Research Interests: Reactive oxygen species and its role in diseases; chronic effects of mineral inhalation (e.g. manganese, pyrite, coal, quartz)

Currently, my research aims to bridge the gap between the human uptake of earth materials and the subsequent development of chronic diseases via oxidative stress. An important piece in building that bridge, and that is no doubt of important concern, is reactive oxygen species (ROS), i.e. highly reactive molecules that include the hydroxyl radical (OH•) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Oxidative stress, caused by either the overproduction of ROS and/or antioxidant depletion, has been directly linked to several neurodegenerative diseases, more specifically Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, as well as other adverse health effects. Previous studies have shown that an assortment of earth materials (i.e. pyrite, asbestos, coal) may generate ROS through various mechanisms, creating a possible causal link between earth materials and diseases. Traditionally, the issues of medical geology have been attacked separately, all the while drawing little knowledge from different disciplines. Using techniques from both the medical and geological community, the question of ROS production and oxidative stress is attacked. Given this bilateral approach, preliminary results show that the selected earth materials successfully generate ROS acellularly and in Vitro. This suggests that their may be a broader suite of minerals that are harmful and still remain largely unexplored.