Ecotoxicology
Ecotoxicology is the study of how contaminants affect wildlife and their habitats. Chemicals of concern include both those purposefully released into the environment (for example, pesticides) and those that are inadvertently released (for example, mining waste or combustion exhaust). Our research is helping to understand potential health hazards posed by chemicals used for pest and weed control, those used in agriculture and industry, and in processes such as mining or other energy development activities. We study the connections between air, water, soil, and living things to identify the environmental pathways that expose wildlife to contaminants.