Project 5 - Formation of Hazardous PAH Breakdown Products in Complex Environmental Mixtures at Superfund Sites

Objective

Predict and measure the formation of hazardous PAH breakdown products directly in contaminated soils and sediments at Superfund sites using advanced techniques.

Activities

• Predict and measure PAH breakdown products formed from oxidation of parent PAHs.
• Measure PAH breakdown products at Superfund sites pre- and post-remediation.
• Determine which PAH remediation technologies minimize the formation of hazardous PAH breakdown products and assess the potential risk.

Major Accomplishments

• Measured PAHs in Beijing air before, during, and after the Olympics to assess the effectiveness of control measures. Contributed to changes in environmental regulations by Chinese government.
• Performed a risk analysis for lung cancer with RTC and published it in EHP and EHP-China.
• Discovered that oxy-PAHs form during remediation and that they can be highly toxic.
• Measured (in collaboration with Core E, CTUIR, and RTC) urinary levels of PAHs in Tribal members following consumption of smoked salmon.

People

Staci Simonich, Leader, Oregon State University

Shu Tao, Co-Leader, Peking University, China

Jill Schrlau - Research Assistant

Graduate students:  Carlos Manzano, Oleksii Motorykin, Leah Chibwe, and Narumol Jariyasopit