Ph.D., Michigan State University, 1977
Postdoctoral Fellowship: University of Mississippi Medical Center

• Environmental toxicology, focusing on toxicity of environmental/occupational pollutants to mammals.
• Toxicology of drinking water pollutants, including disinfection by-products and arsenic.
• Toxicology of occupational hazards, including halogenated solvents and arsenic.
• Toxicity to the liver, kidneys and vascular system.

Description of Research - Vascular/hemodynamic

The current research in my lab is investigation of factors that make some individuals and sub-populations more sensitive to the vascular toxicity that occurs with ingestion of arsenic-contaminated drinking water. Populations consuming water with high arsenic concentrations experience three distinct diseases: cancer (bladder and skin), a hyperkeratotic skin lesion and blackfoot disease. In blackfoot disease, the extremities (typically the feet) become dark in color, develop gangrene and even self-amputate. There is also an increased prevalence of hypertension and atherosclerosis. These populations typically have relatively poor nutrition and the focus is on poor nutrition influences arsenic toxicity, increasing susceptibility to vascular disease. The goal is to develop a model of arsenic vascular toxicity that can be used to study human disease and to inform arsenic risk assessment.

Recent Publications

Davis, M.E.: Dichloroacetic acid and trichloroacetic acid increase chloroform toxicity. J. Toxicol. Environ. Health, 37: 139-148, 1992.

Yang, H.M., Houser, W.H. and Davis,M.E.: Dichloroacetic acid treatment increases hepatic P4502E1 in male and female rats. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 141: 382-388, 1996.

Yang, H.M. and Davis, M.E.: Dichloroacetic acid treatment of male and female rats increases chloroform metabolism in vitro. Toxicology, 124: 53-62, 1997.

Yang, H.M. and Davis, M.E.: Dichloroacetic acid treatment of male and female rats increases chloroform-induced hepatotoxicity. Toxicology, 124: 63-72, 1997.

Dowland, L. K. and Davis, M.E.: The role of endothelin in hexachloro-1,3-butadiene induced nephrotoxicity. Submitted.

Dowland, L. K. and Davis, M.E.:Bosentan, an ETa/ETB receptorantagonist, reverses hexachloro-1,3-butadiene effects on the rat kidney. Submitted.