The Lohmann Lab at the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography studies legacy and emerging persistent organic pollutants in the oceans, lakes, and atmosphere. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are anthropogenic organic compounds that don’t degrade in the environment. They can be transported far from sources and are known to accumulate in wildlife and humans. Research topics in the Lohmann Lab include:
- novel detection tools to measure poly- and perfluorinated substances in the environment, via the NIEHS Superfund Research Program: Sources, Transport, Exposure, and Effects of PFASs
- the use of polyethylene passive samplers to measure organic pollutants in the environment
- the use of POPs and PFAS to trace and understand food webs and biogeochemical cycles
- determining the sources and mass fluxes of black carbon in sediment
Learning more about air and water pollution improves our understanding of how continued development impacts air and water quality, and provides information that can be used by lawmakers to effectively regulate the release of harmful chemicals. Learn more about the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) here.
Interested prospective postdoctoral scholars, visiting scholars, graduate students, and undergraduates are encouraged to first check out our current research and contact Rainer Lohmann (rlohmann@uri.edu) to get an idea of the wide range of opportunities for research that are possible in the Lohmann Lab.