Christiani Lab
The Christiani Lab studies the interplay between environmental exposures, genetics, and disease in human populations, in the research area known as molecular epidemiology.
651 Huntington Avenue
FXB 109–113
Boston, MA 02115
Arsenic and Health in Bangladesh
In 2000, Dr. Christiani initiated a series of studies with colleagues in Bangladesh to investigate health hazards from exposure to inorganic arsenic in drinking water. Several decades earlier, the widespread use of a well, placed with metal or PVC pipe into layers of the earth 30-180 feet deep, entrained inorganic arsenic from natural, alluvial deposits. This exposure led to widespread illness, including cancers and other health conditions. A series of studies were initiated as part of the HSPH-Dhaka Community Hospital Trust and involved multiple collaborators from Harvard Chan, MIT, Children’s Hospital, and others. Studies of adults include skin cancer, pre-cancer lesions, and lung function. A birth cohort was also begun in 2006-2010, with follow-up studies. More recently, studies of child development, metabolism, and neural tube defects are underway.
These studies are funded by multiple NIH grants: R01 ES011622, R01 ES015533, P42 ES016454, ES027825, P30 ES000002, and P42 ES005947.