Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), such as dichlorodiphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), heptachlor, and technical chlordane, are characterized by their long half-lives in the environment.  Coupled with their persistence and lipophilicity, high levels of some POPs were found in polar bear in the Arctic where no such chemicals were ever used.  In addition, studies have linked POPs exposure to adverse health effects in human reproductive, developmental, behavioral, neurological, endocrine, and immunological systems.  My research is focus on the study of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in the environment and their impact on public health. 

Emerging organic compounds in wastewater is another on-going research project.  Commonly detected contaminants include pharmaceuticals, hormones, and other organic pollutants which represent a wide variety of uses and origins including residential, industrial, and agricultural sources.  Many of those compounds are hormonally active agents (HAAs). Studies found that some HAAs can cause adverse reproductive and developmental effects in wildlife can mimic the actions of sex hormones even at very low concentration. 

Little is known about the environmental occurrence, transport, and ultimate fate of many HAAs.  The presence of these species poses a major unknown risk factor in the reuse of water and wastewater - a necessity for Texans located along the Rio Grande.  Our research is aimed to identify their presence in our water bodies to obtain the baseline concentration and to react and provide alternative solutions to maintain the quality of our water resources for present and future generations.

The research projects in our group are:

-         Used Motor Oil: Fate and Environmental Impact

          Fate and transport of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in soil, air, and water;

-         Occurrence and concentration of POPs in breast milk;

-         Occurrence and concentration of endocrine disrupting chemicals in wastewater.