Heather Stapleton

Bio and Research:

Dr. Stapleton's research focuses on understanding the fate and transformation of organic contaminants in aquatic systems. Her main focus has been on the bioaccumulation and biotransformation of polybrominated diphenyl ethers,(PBDEs), particularly in fish. Studies conducted on rainbow trout and carp have found that fish possess enzymes systems capable of metabolizing PBDEs to end-products which are potentially more toxic. The goal of Dr. Stapleton's research is to determine the pathways of PBDE biotransformation in fish and to determine if these pathways exists in people. Further research will also examine the fate of PBDEs in the environment which may lead to oxidative and/or reductive products (i.e. photolytic, chlorination and ozonation processes, etc.)