Heather M. Stapleton

Heather M. Stapleton is the Ronie-Richele Garcia-Johnson Distinguished Professor at Duke University with joint appointments in the Nicholas School of Environment (Department of Environmental Natural Science) and the Pratt School of Engineering (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering). She is a member of the Duke Cancer Institute. Her research integrates environmental chemistry and exposure science, focusing on human exposure to halogenated and organophosphate contaminants (e.g., flame retardants, PFAS) in indoor environments using advanced mass spectrometry techniques. Her work prioritizes vulnerable populations like pregnant women, children, and firefighters.

Research interests center on:

• Human exposure assessment via silicone wristbands and biomonitoring
• Thyroid hormone disruption mechanisms by flame retardants
• PFAS fate, transport, and health effects in contaminated communities
• Developmental toxicity of chemical mixtures
• Non-targeted analysis for contaminant identification

Publications consistently address PFAS/OPFR exposure routes, health impacts across species (human, rodent, canine), validation of passive samplers, and chemical disruption of metabolic/endocrine systems. Recent work emphasizes firefighter exposures, placental transfer mechanisms, and environmental justice implications.

Awards & Honors:

• Ronie-Richele Garcia-Johnson Distinguished Professorship (2020-present)

She directs the Duke Environmental Analysis Laboratory (HHEAR) and leads major grants including:

• NIEHS Training Program in Environmental Health (2019-2029)
• Duke Superfund Research Center: Developmental Co-Exposures (2000-2027)
• Wildland Firefighter Exposure Studies (2024-2028)
• PFAS exposure assessments in NC communities

Her laboratory houses advanced GC/MS/MS (Orbitrap) instrumentation for targeted/non-targeted analysis.