Professor Emerita of Toxicology, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Professor Emerita of Program in the Environment, School for Environment and Sustainability
rlc@umich.edu
Office Information:
6643 SPH
1415 Washington Heights
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2029
Program in the Environment
Education/Degree:
PhD, University of Cincinnati, 1982
BS, University of Cincinnati, 1976
BA, University of Cincinnati, 1976
About
Dr. Loch-Caruso is a toxicologist with an emphasis in female reproductive toxicology. As Professor Emerita, she remains active consulting on current research projects and working to improve environmental health protections in the local community. Prior to retirement, her research focused on mechanisms by which exposures to environmental contaminants and bacteria contribute to risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes such as premature birth. Her most recent work investigated the placenta and related gestational tissues as toxicant targets. She introduced and taught the first undergraduate course in toxicology at the University of Michigan for about 20 years prior to retirement.
Research Interests:
Reproductive toxicology, preterm birth, placenta as toxicant target, trichloroethylene, 1,4-dioxane, drinking water contaminants.
Research Projects:
Loch-Caruso continues collaborations with colleagues in the School of Public Health on projects investigating disrupted placental function as a mechanism of adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm birth, particularly in response to environmental chemical contaminants and bacteria.
Loch-Caruso works with citizens and regulatory entities on environmental health protections related to contaminated drinking water. A particular local project involves groundwater contamination with 1,4-dioxane.
