Department of Environmental & Aquatic Animal Health - Research Programs & Projects

Environmental Chemistry

Introduction

Sources, distribution, transport, fate and bioavailability of organic and elemental pollutants are studied. Recent research has focused on the importance of sediment partitioning, association with dissolved organics and photolysis of anthropogenic chemicals. Interactions of toxic chemicals with marine life are also explored. New techniques, such as supercritical fluid extraction, are being developed to determine the identities and concentrations of anthropogenic compounds and their breakdown products. Compounds examined include antifoulants, such as tributyltin, as well as complex mixtures of petroleum-related hydrocarbons, PCBs and brominated fire retardants. In addition, computer programs aimed at improved data collection, manipulation and retrieval are developed. 

Research areas

• Dr. Robert Hale's research: emphasis on brominated diphenyl ethers, polychlorinated biphenyls, polychlorinated terphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, pesticides and organochlorines. 

• Dr. Drew Luellen's research: emphasis on brominated fire retardants, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, LC/MS/MS method development, thermal disorption and headspace sampling of volatile and semi-volatile compounds.

• Dr. Michael Unger's research: emphasis on tributyltin, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, kepone, and pesticides. 

Principle investigators

Related websites 

• Elizabeth River Project

• Environmental Protection Agency

• Virginia Department of Environmental Quality 

• National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences' frog deformations 

• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency: Background Information about Deformed Frogs in Minnesota