My research program is multifaceted and involves the development of integrated hydrological, geochemical, and biological knowledge on the source-to-receptor approach to assessing impacts of emerging contaminants (hormones, personal care products, pharmaceuticals, commercial cleaning products). This applied research is targeted on issues important to water-resource managers and policy makers, and the results communicated to a spectrum of stakeholders. The current focus of my research is the impact of biologically-active contaminants on aquatic organisms, and the relationship to receiving water (surface water and groundwater) attenuation capacity. Several major classes of contaminants are being investigated – endocrine disrupting chemicals, [...]
Summary
My research program is multifaceted and involves the development of integrated hydrological, geochemical, and biological knowledge on the source-to-receptor approach to assessing impacts of emerging contaminants (hormones, personal care products, pharmaceuticals, commercial cleaning products). This applied research is targeted on issues important to water-resource managers and policy makers, and the results communicated to a spectrum of stakeholders.
The current focus of my research is the impact of biologically-active contaminants on aquatic organisms, and the relationship to receiving water (surface water and groundwater) attenuation capacity. Several major classes of contaminants are being investigated – endocrine disrupting chemicals, antibiotics, antidepressants, pharmaceuticals. Using a landscape-based approach, watershed-scale (from second-order streams to continental rivers) evaluation of chemical loading and fate, combined with field and laboratory exposure experiments, are used to develop a holistic understanding of contaminant behavior and impacts on ecosystem and human health. A key to this research is establishing interdisciplinary research teams to provide comprehensive evaluation of hydrology, chemistry, and biology. An applied aspect of my research is to better understand the role of engineered systems, including traditional wastewater treatment plants as well as treatment wetlands, to provide solutions for water-quality improvement and ecosystem enhancement.
