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CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF METALS IN THE ENVIRONMENT
Impact/Purpose:
The Center for the Study of Metals in the Environment is a multi-institutional consortium of scientists and engineers working to further the understanding of processes affecting the fate and effects of metals in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Significant gaps in the ability to predict the fate and effects of metals in both aquatic and terrestrial systems continue to hamper appropriate risk assessments and cost-effective risk management. In these situations, decisions include many assumptions and the application of safety factors. The objective of this research project is to develop appropriate information so that regulatory decisions will be based on sound scientific principles. Much of the existing methodology for hazard identification and for risk assessment is based on experience with persistent organic pollutants such as dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The large differences in environmental behavior and potential for toxicity between organic compounds and metals are not incorporated into these methods. Assessment methodology currently is focused on the extent to which chemicals exhibit persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) characteristics. All three characteristics are important aspects of the assessment of risk, but their applicability to metals and the evaluation of metals data for these criteria differ from organic compounds.
Description:
The research program will be expanded in Year 2. The SAC reviewed a series of proposals for research projects. Nine projects were approved for funding. Planning has been carried out with the SAC to allow the development of the UWM to be completed in a 3-year program. The following are the projects that were approved for Year 2:
| Investigator | Institution | Project Title |
|---|---|---|
| Adams, C.D | University of Missouri, Rolla | Metals Speciation and Transport in the Black River of Missouri’s New Lead Belt |
| Allen, H.E. | University of Delaware | Release of Metals from Particulate Matter |
| Capitani, J.F | Manhattan College | Quantitative Structure Activity Relationships for Toxicity and Fate Parameters of Metal and Metal Compounds |
| Church, T.M | University of Delaware | Metal Speciation in Watersheds |
| Di Toro, D.M | University of Delaware | Developing a Unit World Model for Metals in Aquatic Environments |
| Imhoff, P.T | University of Delaware | Evaluation of Automobile Sources for Metals in Urban Areas |
| Meyer, J.S | University of Wyoming | A Test of the Biotic Ligand Model: Fish Exposed to Time-Variable Concentrations of Cu and Zn |
| Ross, P. | Colorado School of Mines | Ecotoxicology of Mining-Related Metal Oxides in a High-Gradient Mountain Stream |
| Sparks, D.L. | University of Delaware | The Impact of Surface Precipitation on Sequestration and Bioavailability of Metals in Soils |