Molecular Isotopic Tools for Environmental Research (MITER)

伍兹霍尔海洋研究所荣获环境分子科学合作研究活动奖，该奖项由化学处特别项目办公室支持。该奖项支持该研究所的Timothy Eglinton、John Hayes和Christopher Reddy的研究，以确定由特定污染物（如碳氢化合物和氯化有机物）携带的天然和引入的同位素标签，并追踪它们进入大分子环境有机基质（如腐殖质和腐殖质）的通道。此外，他们还研究了有机结合污染物的生物利用度，并确定了这些化合物与游离的、未结合的化合物相比的长期命运。碳-14测量与13C-、2H-和15N-标记技术相结合，用于检测受影响沉积物和土壤中的污染物及其代谢物，并跟踪碳进入生物库。在实验室孵育和污染场地的实地研究中，同位素标签通过核磁共振和质谱技术进行跟踪。除了提供分子水平过程的新见解外，这项工作旨在开发新的分子同位素工具来研究环境问题。俄亥俄州立大学的Michael Freitas也通过次级奖励获得资助。了解控制污染物结合和释放到环境中的机制对人类健康至关重要。这些研究旨在对隔离在复杂环境基质中的一系列半挥发性污染物的命运进行定量了解。

This Collaborative Research Activities in Environmental Molecular Science (CRAEMS) Award to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is supported by the Special Projects Office in the Chemistry Division. This award supports the studies Timothy Eglinton, John Hayes, and Christopher Reddy at the Institute to determine natural and introduced isotopic labels carried by specific contaminants such as hydrocarbons and chlorinated organics, and to trace their passage into macromolecular environmental organic matrices, such as humic and fulvic substances. In addition, they examine the bioavailability of organically bound contaminants and determine the long-term fate of these compounds compared with their free, unbound counterparts. Carbon-14 measurements, in tandem with 13C-, 2H-, and 15N- labeling techniques, are used to detect pollutants and their metabolites in impacted sediments and soils and to follow the carbon into biological pools. Isotopic labels are tracked by both NMR and mass spectrometric techniques in both laboratory incubation and field studies of contaminated sites. In addition to providing new insights into molecular-level processes, this work aims to develop new molecular-isotopic tools to study environmental problems. Support is also provided for Michael Freitas at Ohio State University through a subaward.Understanding the mechanisms that control binding and release of contaminants into the environment is of critical importance to human health. These studies are designed to develop a quantitative understanding of the fate of a range of semi-volatile pollutants sequestered in complex environmental matrices.