Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) awarded a $743,900 Project Grant to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) effective May 1, 2026, through February 28, 2031, under the Environmental Health program (CFDA 93.113). This research project investigates airborne impacts on workers handling plastic recycled construction bricks by conducting a comprehensive assessment across the product lifecycle—from manufacturing through weathering and construction use. UCLA will deliver three integrated research approaches: (1) characterization of gas-phase and particulate emissions released during brick production and the effects of weathering on emission profiles; (2) investigation of inhalable microplastics and nanoplastics generated through grinding and cutting operations, along with the release of encapsulated toxins and additives; and (3) assessment of intrapulmonary exposure effects using a ventilated artificial lung exposure system with primary human airway epithelium cultured under air-liquid-interface conditions.

The research outputs will include physiochemical analysis data on environmental emissions and leaching from recycled-plastic construction materials, experimental data on microplastic and nanoplastic generation during construction activities, and toxicological findings regarding acute toxicity, inflammatory responses, and growth factor impacts on human respiratory epithelium. These deliverables will provide evidence-based understanding of occupational health hazards associated with emerging recycled-plastic building materials, supporting informed decision-making regarding worker safety and the viability of plastic waste integration into construction applications.