Principal Investigator Philip Gschwend
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs) are widespread environmental contaminants. In order to evaluate their effects, as well as to design effective remedial approaches, we must understand the "availability" of these substances to be released from the solids on which they primarily occur.
The Gschwend Lab's research is showing that combustion-derived "soots" and "chars" are ubiquitous components of sediments and soils. Moreover, these quantitatively minor contributors to the total organic carbon in natural solids are proving to be the dominant sorbents of PAHs. Including such so-called "black carbons" in their analyses is allowing them to improve greatly their predictions of (1) the environmental transport of these important pollutants and (2) the interactions with organisms, such as bioaccumulation in soft-shelled clams.