Research and Development

Research focuses on how humans and ecosystems are exposed to various pollutants, the extent of that exposure, and the health and ecological effects that result from such exposure. Two of these research organizations are headquartered at RTP:

• National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL)
• National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL)
• National Center for Computational Toxicology's (NCCT)

NHEERL is the Agency's focal point for scientific research on the effects of contaminants and environmental stressors on human health and ecosystem integrity. Its research helps the Agency identify and understand the processes that cause pollution and helps evaluate risks that pollution poses to humans and ecosystems. Studies confront persistent or refractory issues, such as:

• global climate change
• the relationship between airborne particles and increased rates of respiratory illness

In addition to this facility, there are sites located in Gulf Breeze, Florida; Grosse Ile, Michigan; Duluth, Minnesota; Corvallis and Newport, Oregon; and Narragansett, Rhode Island.

NERL conducts intramural and extramural research programs through laboratory and field research in the chemical, physical, and biological sciences. Research provides scientific understanding, information, and assessment tools that will reduce and quantify the uncertainty in the Agency's exposure and risk assessments for environmental stressors such as:

• chemicals
• biologicals
• radiation
• climate
• land
• water use changes

Both fundamental and applied research is conducted to characterize air, soil, surface water, sediments, and subsurface systems to evaluate spatial and temporal patterns and exposure to environmental pollutants.

In addition to this facility, there are laboratories located in Athens, Georgia; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Cincinnati, Ohio.

There are two other Research and Development organizations located at RTP:

• Air Pollution Prevention and Control Division, of the National Risk Management Research Laboratory headquartered in Cincinnati, OH
• National Center for Environmental Assessment-RTP headquartered in Washington, DC.