Research by the Hazard Assessment and Risk Modeling Team focuses on the occurrence of toxic chemicals in the aquatic environment, the amount bioaccumulated, and the resultant adverse biological responses elicited in fish and invertebrates. Our research examines the environmental factors that control the bioavailability of contaminants and their role in determining the amount that is bioaccumulated in addition to quantifying these factors and using them to predict tissue concentrations in animals collected from the field. Studies also include the role of toxicokinetics in predicting bioaccumulation and the differences that species exhibit in their response to toxicants. These studies have evolved to include analysis of the toxicant response based on critical body residues (CBR). For many toxicants, a particular biological response, such as growth impairment or mortality, often occurs at approximately the same tissue concentration in a variety of species. By estimating the CBR for a given chemical and biological response, we can assess the condition of species that are exposed to excessive levels of harmful chemicals. Our main goal is to help generate threshold concentrations of contaminants in water, sediment, and tissue that can be used to protect sensitive and endangered species against population level impacts.

 

Keywords:

Toxicology; Invertebrates; Salmon; Endangered species; Growth; Critical concentration; Bioaccumulation; Toxicokinetic; Bioavailable; Sediment quality;

Citizenship:  Open to U.S. citizens, permanent residents and non-U.S. citizens

Level:  Open to Postdoctoral and Senior applicants