Cell Biology and Neuroscience

Phone: (951) 827-4497
Fax: (951) 827-3087
Office Location: 2109 Biological Sciences
Office Hours:
Email: david.eastmond@ucr.edu

David A. Eastmond

Biography

Mechanisms of toxicity and carcinogenesis of agricultural and environmental chemicals in humans and other mammals.

Research in my laboratory focuses on the mechanisms involved in the toxicity and carcinogenesis of environmental and agricultural chemicals. One important goal of this research is to provide information allowing the potential adverse health effects associated with chemical exposure to be more accurately estimated. Our studies involve a variety of chemical, biochemical and molecular approaches using isolated enzymes, cells in culture and animal model systems. For a number of years we have studied the metabolism and chromosome-damaging effects of cancer-causing agents including benzene, a widely used industrial chemical and environmental pollutant, and ortho-phenylphenol, an extensively used fungicide and disinfectant.

In addition, we have an active research program which uses molecular cytogenetic techniques to detect chromosomal alterations occurring in chemically exposed human populations. These human biomonitoring approaches should allow the early detection of genotoxic effects and identify individuals at increased risk of developing cancer as well as allow early treatment or intervention strategies to be implemented. These studies generally involve applying fluorescence in situ hybridization with chromosome-specific DNA probes and related immunochemical techniques to detect chromosomal changes occurring in human cells isolated from the blood or other tissues from cigarette smokers or others with occupational exposure to benzene, pesticides, or other types of environmental exposures.

Notable Service and Recognitions

• Elected Fellow of the Collegium Ramazzini, Nov. 2011.
• Chair, Board of Scientific Counselors, National Toxicology Program, NIEHS, Feb. 2011 – Dec. 2012.
• Member, Carcinogen Identification Committee, Science Advisory Board, Office of Environmental Health and Hazard Assessment, State of California, 1999 - 2003, 2005 to present.
• Jefferson Science Fellow, US Department of State (administered by the National Academy of Sciences), Washington DC, 2004-2005.
• President, Environmental Mutagen Society, May 2003-Oct. 2004.

Publications

• Wang L, Roy SK, Eastmond DA (2007) Differential cell cycle-specificity for chromosomal damage induced by merbarone and etoposide in V79 cells.  Mutation Research – Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis 616:70-82. 
• Eastmond DA, MacGregor JT, Slesinski RS (2008) Trivalent chromium: Assessing the genotoxic risk of an essential trace element and widely-used human and animal nutritional supplement, Critical Reviews in Toxicology 38:173-190. 
• Eastmond DA (2008) Evaluating genotoxicity data to identify a mode of action and its application in estimating cancer risk at low doses: A case study involving carbon tetrachloride, Environmental Mol Mutagen 49:132-41. 
• Zhang L, Steinmaus C, Eastmond DA, Xin XK, Smith MT (2009) Formaldehyde exposure and leukemia: A new meta-analysis and potential mechanisms, Mutation Research – Reviews 681:150-168.
• Guyton KZ, Kyle AD, Aubrecht J, Cogliano VJ.  Eastmond DA, Jackson M, Keshava N, Sandy MS, Sonawane B, Zhang L, Waters MD, Smith MT (2009) Improving Prediction of Chemical Carcinogenicity by Considering Multiple Mechanisms and Applying Toxicogenomic Approaches, Mutation Research – Reviews 681:230-240.
• Eastmond DA, Hartwig, A, Anderson D, Anwar W, Cimino MC, Dobrev I, Douglas GR, Nohmi T, Phillips DH, Vickers C (2009) Mutagenicity testing for chemical risk assessment: Update of the WHO/IPCS harmonized scheme, Mutagenesis 24:341-349.
• Eastmond, D.A. and Balakrishnan, S. (2010) Genotoxicity of Pesticides, in: Hayes’ Handbook of Pesticide Toxicology, 3rd Ed. (R. Krieger, ed.), Academic Press, San Diego, pp. 357-380.
• Mondrala S. and Eastmond D.A. (2010) Topoisomerase II inhibition by the bioactivated benzene metabolite hydroquinone involves multiple mechanisms, Chemico-Biological Interactions 184:259-268.
• Fenech M., Kirsch-Volders M., Natarajan A.T., Surralles J., Crott J.W., Parry J., Norppa H., Eastmond D.A., Tucker J.D., Thomas P. (2011) Molecular mechanisms of micronucleus, nucleoplasmic bridge, and nuclear bud formation in mammalian and human cells, Mutagenesis 26:125-132.
• Roy SK, Eastmond DA (2011) Bimolane induces multiple types of chromosomal aberrations in human lymphocytes in vitro. Mutation Res. 726:181-187.
• Eastmond DA (2012) Factors influencing mutagenic mode of action determinations of regulatory and advisory agencies. Mutation Res. Reviews 751:49-63.
• Eastmond, DA (2012) Lymphohematopoietic Cancers Induced by Chemicals and Other Agents: Overview and Implications for Risk Assessment, Environmental Protection Agency, EPA/600/R-10/095F, 80 pp.