معرفی
Heather Stapleton is a Professor of Environmental Chemistry and Exposure Science at Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment. She serves as Director of the Duke Superfund Research Center and Director of the Duke Environmental Analysis Laboratory, part of NIH’s Human Health Environmental Analysis Resource. Her research focuses on identifying and quantifying halogenated and organophosphate chemicals in consumer products, building materials, and biological tissues, with an emphasis on vulnerable populations like children and pregnant women. She employs advanced mass spectrometry techniques for targeted and non-targeted analyses.
Education: PhD (2003), MS (2000), and BS (1997) in Chemistry from the University of Maryland and Long Island University.
Research Interests
Her work addresses chemical exposure pathways, particularly PFAS, flame retardants, and parabens. Key areas include:
- Environmental and biological monitoring using silicone wristbands
- Toxicological impacts of contaminants on human and animal health
- Development of analytical methods for emerging contaminants
- Community-based exposure studies, including firefighter and farming populations
Grants & Collaborations
Recent grants include studies on firefighter cancer risks, PFAS-related equipment, and wildfire exposure interventions. She collaborates with institutions like the University of Arizona and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
Labs & Equipment
Her lab houses advanced mass spectrometers (e.g., Thermo Scientific Q Exactive GC Orbitrap, Agilent LCMS/MS) for analyzing SVOCs, PFAS precursors, and metabolites. These tools enable high-resolution chemical identification in environmental and biological samples.
