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11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, Florida 33199

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Title: Advancing PFAS Science using innovative and comprehensive analytical approaches.

 

By: Natalia Soares Quinete, PhD

Assistant Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry

 

Abstract

In this talk, we will address one of the most urgent environmental issues globally: the emerging contaminants known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often referred to as "forever chemicals”. PFAS are a group of fluorinated synthetic compounds introduced through human activities with widespread use in numerous household and industrial products, such as non-stick cookware, personal care products, food packaging, firefighting foams, among many others. Since traditional water treatment processes are not designed to efficiently remove them, PFAS have been found everywhere, including natural waters, wastewater, air, food, and biosolids. These chemicals have been also shown to bioaccumulate, having significant adverse health effects in animals and humans. Nowadays PFAS are often present as complex mixtures, and there are over 10,000 PFAS structures known to exist with many having no available analytical standards or scientific knowledge on their fate and transformation in the environment. While targeted analysis can elucidate occurrence, concentrations, and composition of a few hundreds of PFAS in environmental and biological samples, providing insights into baseline contamination, human and environmental exposure and risks, a more holistic approach is needed to comprehensively characterize and prioritize PFAS for establishment of regulations and to support remediation and risk assessment efforts.  The Emerging Contaminants of Concern (ECC) research laboratory led by Dr. Quinete has been developing new analytical methods based on targeted and non-targeted analysis (NTA) using high-resolution mass spectrometry for a more comprehensive chemical characterization of environmental samples from South Florida, helping in the identification of pollution hotspots and exposure pathways. This seminar will then provide an overview of the PFAS research program developed at the ECC lab to improve our understanding on legacies and emerging PFAS occurrence, distribution, transport, potential sources and impacts on human health and the ecosystem, and ongoing innovative projects for their remediation.

 

Bio:Dr. Natalia Soares Quinete has a BSc in Chemical Engineering and a PhD in Environmental Analytical Chemistry from Brazil. She is an Assistant Professor at Florida International University (FIU) in the Department of Chemistry and affiliated with the Institute of Environment at FIU. Her research focuses on understanding the sources, distribution, and fate of emerging contaminants, such as PFAS and phthalates, in different environmental and biological compartments and their potential impacts to humans and animals. She has been working on the development of targeted and non-targeted analysis methods using mass spectrometry for the identification and prioritization of contaminants of concern in the environment.

 

 

Light refreshments will be provided. 

 

 

 

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