611 Natural Sciences Complex Department of Chemistry University at Buffalo The State University of New York Buffalo, NY 14260-3000 Phone: (716) 645-6800, ext. 2226 Fax: (716) 645-6963 E-mail: dianaaga@buffalo.edu

Fate and transport of pollutants, environmental sampling and analysis, waste water treatment of micropollutants, capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE), liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), molecularly imprinted sorbents in solid-phase extraction.

Our research involves the development and applications of conventional and innovative analytical techniques to study the environmental fate and transport of pesticides, industrial chemicals, and wastewater contaminants that are commonly found in surface and ground water. Some of the questions we intend to answer are: (1) how fast and by what means do these chemicals degrade?, (2) what are the major breakdown products of these compounds in the environment?, (3) how do environmental conditions affect the persistence and mobility of these contaminants? and (4) are these compounds of significant ecotoxicological concern?

Analytical Chemistry will play a key role in our investigations to answer several fundamental questions in environmental chemistry. We will use modern instruments such as LC/MS/MS, CZE, and GC/MS, in combination with immunochemical techniques as tools to study many important environmental processes. Development of effective sample preparation techniques such as solid-phase extraction (SPE), accelerated solvent extraction (ASE), solid-phase microextraction (SPME), and immunoaffinity chromatography will be important in obtaining reliable results.

Environmental Fate and Biodegradation of Veterinary Antibiotics in Soil and Crops

Residues of nonmetabolized antibiotics enter the environment via cropland application of manure from treated animals. Constant exposure to low levels of antibiotics can lead to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms in the environment. Due to the potential ecological and human health risks associated with antibiotic resistance we are investigating the factors affecting the mobility and persistence of antibiotics in soil. In addition, our research aim to determine the importance of plant uptake and phytotransformations of antibiotics by agricultural crops. Results from these studies will facilitate the development of best management practices and approaches that will minimize deleterious ecological effects of antibiotics.

Treatment of Pharmaceutical Contaminants in Wastewater

Residues of human pharmaceuticals enter the environment from discharges of wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). For a complete risk assessment of pharmaceuticals in the environment, it is important to include persistent transformation products in the test protocols because these compounds may have their own biological activity that can contribute to ecological and health effects of these microcontaminants. Our studies focus on the identification of pharmaceutical metabolites resulting from their biodegradation in activated sludge systems. We are also investigating the influence of the design and operations of WWTPs on the efficiency of pharmaceutical removal in biological wastewater treatment systems. In many cases, we find that the absence of the parent pharmaceutical from the WWTP effluent does not necessarily mean that the compound has been completely eliminated, but rather has only been partially transformed. Whether these metabolites still contain the antibacterial activity of the parent compound or not remains a question.

Endocrine Disruption in Fish from the Great Lakes

The presence of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) [such as polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)] in the sediments of the Great Lakes has been widely documented. In addition, there is increasing evidence of emerging contaminants, such as personal care products and pharmaceuticals being discharged into the lakes from effluents of WWTPs. These pollutants are considered as endocrine-disrupting compounds because they could mimic the actions of endogenous estrogen, posing long-term ecological risks even at low concentrations. Elevated levels of many organic pollutants in aquatic systems affect fish and other organisms through their effect as endocrine regulators. For instance, the presence of estrogens in lakes has been linked to feminization of male fish, reproductive failure, and collapse of a fish population, which can alter ecosystem functioning. To determine the quality of sediments and the degree and extent of contaminant impacts, specific research activities in our group focus on (a) water and sediment monitoring of POPs in Lake Erie and its tributaries, and (b) analysis of vitellogenin in fish populations of Lake Erie to assess endocrine-mediated effects of organic pollutants.

Selected Recent Publications