The Institute of Environmental and Human Health Strives to Protect, Enhance Lives
Researchers and students at The Institute of Environmental and Human Health (TIEHH) and the Department of Environmental Toxicology study how toxic chemicals impact the environment and people and use science-based risk assessment to support sound environmental policy and law. The facility is approaching $50 million in research grants and contracts since its establishment.
Awards and Recognition
The institute received the 2009 Texas Environmental Excellence Award in the area of education from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). TIEHH was one of 10 winners – organizations and an individual person – selected for this award through the TCEQ organization and a State of Texas Blue Ribbon Panel established by the Governor’s office.
TIEHH made international headlines in the past year for creating a nonwoven fabric that absorbs and neutralizes toxic chemicals. The decontamination wipes have been recommended to the Department of Defense by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. TIEHH researchers also made news with research into contamination levels following the flooding and destruction left in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in New Orleans and through their perchlorate ecotoxicology studies and cleanup efforts at a former U.S. Army base in East Texas.
Collaborative Research
More than 200 core and adjunct faculty, students, staff and research collaborators from Texas Tech University, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and other institutions across the nation are involved in TIEHH’s academic initiatives and research programs. The institute stimulates and develops environmental and health sciences research and education at the university and the Health Sciences Center.
With more than 50 master’s and doctoral students, the interdisciplinary program teaches within an atmosphere of superior scholarship so as to position Texas Tech as a premier source of environmental research.
Anti-terrorism and Biological Threats
The institute was established May 9, 1997 and currently comprises six buildings and more than 150,000 square feet at Reese Technology Center, west of Lubbock. The center’s Department of Environmental Toxicology was established in 2000. As well as studying chemical, biological and environmental issues, TIEHH also researches issues related to anti-terrorism and biological threats.
Through TIEHH, the Adm. Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr. National Program for Countermeasures to Biological and Chemical Threats addresses chemical and biological warfare concerns. Researchers have come together to address the development of new technologies to enhance military operational capabilities for military protection and improved readiness.
