Lucio G. Costa | Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences

Skip to main content University of Washington Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences School of Public Health Search Lucio G. Costa Lucio G. CostaProfessor EmeritusEmail: [email protected]Phone: 206-543-2831Office: Suite 100, Roosevelt One BuildingExpertise: Clean Air, Sustainable Communities, Chemical hazards, Children's Health, Environmental Health, ToxicologyPharmD [Tabs]

About

The general area of research in Dr. Costa's laboratory is neurotoxicology. Neurotoxic substances may play a role in neurodevelopmental disorders, and in neurological, neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. Dr. Costa's laboratory is interested in the study of the cellular, biochemical and molecular mechanisms involved in neurotoxicity, as well as behavioral testing, imaging techniques and transgenic animal models.

Education

• PharmD, University of Milan (Italy),

Affiliations

• Research Affiliate, Center on Human Development and Disability

PharmD

Professor

The general area of research in Dr. Costa's laboratory is neurotoxicology. Neurotoxic substances may play a role in neurodevelopmental disorders, and in neurological, neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. Dr. Costa's laboratory is interested in the study of the cellular, biochemical and molecular mechanisms involved in neurotoxicity, as well as behavioral testing, imaging techniques and transgenic animal models.

Research Interests

Neurotoxicology. Molecular mechanisms of neurotoxicity. Biochemical markers of neurotoxicity. Children's health. Food additives and contaminants. Genetic susceptibility. In vitro toxicology. Pesticides and children. Neurotoxicity of diesel exhaust. Paraoxonase 1 and paraoxonase 2. Metals and oxidative stress. Gender differences in oxidative stress and neurotoxicity. Air pollution and autism-related disorders. Neurotoxicity of air pollution. Air pollution and neurodegenerative diseases.

Mentorship

Not available to mentor new students.

DEOHS Students Mentored

Characterizing the Role of Paraoxonase 2 (PON2) in the Brain: Phenotypic Analysis and Modulating FactorsJacqueline Garrick | PhD, Environmental Toxicology (Tox) | 2021 | View Diesel exhaust exposure induces microglial activation, suppresses adult neurogenesis and increases levels of neurodegenerative markersJacki Lynn Coburn | PhD, Environmental Toxicology (Tox) | 2018 | View Developmental exposure to diesel exhaust causes autism-like behavioral, molecular and cortical structural alterationsYu-Chi Chang | PhD, Environmental Toxicology (Tox) | 2018 | View Carbachol Prevents Oxidative Stress-mediated Apoptosis Induced by Domoic Acid in Cerebellar Granule Cells Li Li | MS (Thesis), Environmental Toxicology (Tox) | 2007 | View 5' and 3' Region Variability in the Dopamine Transporter Gene (SLC6A3) and Parkinson's Disease Samir Kelada | PhD, Environmental Toxicology (Tox) | 2006 | View The Effect of Ethanol on the Synthesis and Efflux of Cholesterol in AstrocytesJing Chen | MS (Thesis), Environmental Toxicology (Tox) | 2005 | View

See more student research supported by this faculty member. (Use the filters to sort by faculty member name.)

Research

Interests: Neurotoxicology. Molecular mechanisms and biochemical markers of neurotoxicity. Children's health. Food additives and contaminants. Genetic susceptibility. In vitro toxicology. Pesticides. Neurotoxicity of diesel exhaust and air pollution. Paraoxonase 1 and paraoxonase 2. Metals and oxidative stress. Air pollution and autism-related disorders. Air pollution and neurodegenerative diseases.

Projects

• Studies neurotoxicity and developmental neurotoxicity of environmental exposure to traffic-related air pollution (e.g. diesel exhaust) with focus on oxidative stress, neuroinflammation and markers of neurodegenerative diseases. Studies include in vivo exposures in mice, and biochemical, behavioral and immunohistochemical measurements.
• Studies role of paraoxonase 2 as a determinant of sex-linked differences in susceptibility to neurotoxicity using transgenic mice and in vitro and in vivo approaches.
• Studies role of paraoxonase 1 in modulating susceptibility to organophosphate toxicity.

Publications

Recent publications

• Prenatal and early-life diesel exhaust exposure causes autism-like behavioral changes in mice.
• Prenatal and early life diesel exhaust exposure disrupts cortical lamina organization: Evidence for a reelin-related pathogenic pathway induced by interleukin-6.
• Acute exposure to diesel exhaust impairs adult neurogenesis in mice: prominence in males and protective effect of pioglitazone.

See publications list

Projects

Studies on the neurotoxicity and developmental neurotoxicity of environmental exposure to traffic-related air pollution (e.g. diesel exhaust) with focus on oxidative stress, neuroinflammation and markers of neurodegenerative diseases. Studies include in vivo exposures in mice, and biochemical, behavioral and immunohistochemical measurements. Studies on the role of paraoxonase 2 as a determinant of sex-linked differences in susceptibility to neurotoxicity using transgenic mice and in vitro and in vivo approaches. Studies on the role of paraoxonase 1 in modulating susceptibility to organophosphate toxicity.

Studies on the role of paraoxonase 2 as a determinant of sex-linked differences in susceptibility to neurotoxicity using transgenic mice and in vitro and in vivo approaches.

In the news

In Memoriam: Sharon Morris, Michael Silverstein, Barbara Silverstein July 30, 2024 | DEOHS HSM Blog | Featured: Joel D. Kaufman, David L. Eaton, Nancy Simcox, Michael G. Yost, Janice E. Camp, Lucio G. Costa, Elaine M. Faustman, Catherine Karr | View Understanding pesticide toxicityJune 16, 2023 | NIEHS Translational Research | Featured: Lucio G. Costa, Clement Furlong | View From salmon scent to human healthFebruary 21, 2023 | DEOHS HSM Blog | Featured: Evan Gallagher, Michael G. Yost, Lucio G. Costa, Clement Furlong, Zhengui Xia, Terrance J. Kavanagh, Yijie Geng | View Unraveling how chemicals affect our brainsDecember 8, 2022 | DEOHS HSM Blog | Featured: Lucio G. Costa | View Tracing a lifetime of exposuresOctober 27, 2021 | DEOHS HSM Blog | Featured: Judit Marsillach, Christopher D. Simpson, Elaine M. Faustman, Joel D. Kaufman, Clement Furlong, Lucio G. Costa, Tania M Busch Isaksen, Esther Min, Emily Hovis, Julianne Meisner, Terrance J. Kavanagh, Michael G. Yost | View How air pollution messes with our mindsMay 31, 2020 | Chemical & Engineering News | Featured: Lucio G. Costa | View Air pollution and autismFebruary 14, 2019 | DEOHS HSM Blog | Featured: Lucio G. Costa | View UW Superfund Program Receives $10 Million Award to Study Effects of Pollutants on Nervous SystemOctober 12, 2017 | DEOHS newsletter | Featured: Zhengui Xia, Evan Gallagher, Lucio G. Costa, Thomas M. Burbacher | View Organophosphates: A Common But Deadly PesticideJuly 23, 2013 | National Geographic | Featured: Lucio G. Costa | View See publications on Pubmed

Education

PharmD (University of Milan (Italy))

Teaching Interests

ENVH 531 Neurotoxicology (3 credits, Winter Quarter, Even years) ENVH 516 Toxic Agents: Effects and Mechanisms (3 credits, Spring Quarter)

Contact information

Email [email protected] Tel 206-543-2831 PO Box 354695 4225 Roosevelt Suite 100 Seattle WA 98105 Select any filter and click on Apply to see results