VIMS

Environmental Health

  • Environmental Chemistry
    Environmental Chemistry   PhD student Jonathan Ricks and research scientist George Vadas tend to their PAH uptake experiment on the Elizabeth River. PI: M.A. Unger   Photo: Mike Unger
  • Aquatic Toxinology
    Aquatic Toxinology   Dr. Juliette Smith working with an Environmental Sample Processor (ESP), an automated biosensor which can be used to remotely monitor harmful algal blooms (HABs) and their toxins. PI: J.L. Smith   Photo courtesy of Juliette Smith
  • Environmental Chemistry
    Environmental Chemistry   Wastewater treatment sludge, rich in nutrients as well as synthetic organics such as flame retardants, surfactants, pesticides,and anti-bacterial agents is often applied as an agricultural soil amendment. Here is an example of a forest application in Surry, Virginia. PI: R.C. Hale   Photo courtesy of Rob Hale
  • Aquatic Toxinology
    Aquatic Toxinology   Toxic bloom of cyanobacteria (Microcystis aeruginosa) along the shoreline of Lake Neatahwanta, NY during Summer 2005. PI: J.L. Smith   Photo courtesy of Juliette Smith
  • Environmental Chemistry
    Environmental Chemistry   Creosote contamination in a sediment grab during a sampling trip to the Elizabeth River. PI: M.A. Unger   Photo: Mike Unger
  • Environmental Chemistry
    Environmental Chemistry   A flame retardant laden effluent outfall into the Yadkin River, NC from a textile mill. PI: R.C. Hale   Photo: Matt Mainor
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Research in the environmental health area addresses numerous aspects affecting aquatic systems including environmental chemistry, ecotoxicology, risk assessment, and multiple stressors  acting on an interconnected system in a changing world. Activities include the exploration of the sources, transport, fate, bioavailability, and impacts of contaminants in ecosystems and on public health as well environmental factors impacting seafood and water supplies.

Principal Investigators

Dr. Robert Hale: brominated diphenyl ethers, polychlorinated biphenyls, land-applied sewage sludge, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, pesticides and organochlorines, and marine plastics.

Dr. Michael Newman:  ecotoxicology, risk assessment, inorganic contaminants in aquatic systems, toxicity models, and water quality.

Dr. Juliette Smith: ecology, ecotoxicology, and chemistry of natural toxins produced by harmful algal blooms (HABs).

Dr. Michael Unger:  tributyltin, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, kepone, and pesticides.