Category Archives: Uncategorized

Research Partner: Swinomish Indian Tribal CommunityCeLNR_-UkAA_AUi

March 2016

In collaboration with the SRP Chemistry Core, SRP trainees Holly Dixon and Greta Frey (CEC) worked with Drs. Rohlman and Kile on a passive wristband project. Following a significant air quality incident last year, the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community was interested in the passive wristband samplers developed by Dr. Kim Anderson. This year, the community recruited 10 individuals to each wear a wristband for one week. The wristbands were analyzed for 62 different PAHs, and results were returned to those participants that requested them. The study will be repeated in the fall with the same participants, as the community is interested in seasonal changes in air quality.

The Community Engagement Core is collaborating with Dr. Staci Simonich (Core D) and the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community to begin an ambient air sampling project.

April 2016 Update

Dr. Simonich and three trainees, Drs. Cleo Davie-Martin, Courtney Roper (Training grant) and Amber Kramer returned to La Conner with Dr. Rohlman (CEC) to meet again with Mr. Larry Campbell for a second cultural tour. Following the tour, SRP researchers met with Swinomish staff to deploy two high-volume air quality monitors. The deployment included hands-on training. The training was recorded for incoming Swinomish technicians that will be collaborating on the project. Sampling will continue over the course of this year.

January 2016 Update

Drs. Simonich, Rohlman and Harding, along with SRP trainees Dr. Cleo Davie-Martin and Amber Kramer met with Dr. Tony Basabe (Air Quality Analyst) at the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community to evaluate two sites that would hold high-volume air samplers. These samplers would collect particulate matter (PM2.5) and the particulate matter can also be assessed for the types of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). See our video here about PAHs. The community is concerned about air quality as a result of their proximity to two oil refineries. Our collaborators at Swinomish were familiar with the study performed with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (Lafontaine et al. 2015). One sampler will be placed at the Northwest Indian College site within the reservation, and a second one will be placed on the grounds of the Swinomish Indian Casino and Lodge. During their visit, co-investigator and Historical Preservation Officer, Larry Campbell gave them a cultural tour of the Swinomish reservation including a brief history of tribe, their land, their culture and their beliefs. The air quality monitors will be placed in April 2016 and sampling will continue over the course of this year.

IMG_20160121_141805916(From left to right) Dr. Basabe shows the site where a air sampler will be placed at the Northwest Indian College to Dr. Simonich (Core D) and her post-doc, Dr. Cleo Davie-Martin and Dr. Harding (Core E).

 

 

 

Lafontaine S, Schrlau J, Butler J, Jia Y, Harper B, Harris S, et al. 2015. Relative influence of trans-pacific and regional atmospheric transport of pahs in the pacific northwest, u.S. Environmental science & technology.

Snowstorms and Pesticides

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Dr. Staci Simonich, Project 5 Leader with the OSU Superfund Research Program
Dr. Staci Simonich, Project 5 Leader with the OSU Superfund Research Program

With the snowstorm burying the East Coast, the snow itself has come under scrutiny. Children (and adults!) love to eat the white stuff, with some even using it in recipes. Snow looks beautiful and clean, but how safe is it? Dr. Staci Simonich suggests you might not want to eat the snow. Surprisingly, snow can carry pesticides, attracting the chemicals from the air and soil. On the plus side, the can help remove air pollutants. For more information, Dr. Simonich’s research has been featured in the news, most notably on NPR. Links are listed below.

Sharon KruegerIt is with heavy heart that the OSU SRP says goodbye to long-time scientist and mentor, Sharon Krueger. Sharon passed away December 27, 2015 at her home in Corvallis, OR. Sharon was a Research Assistant Professor in the Linus Pauling Institute (OSU) and the Research Coordinator for the OSU Superfund Research Program. Sharon began working at OSU in 1993 as a post-doctoral fellow in the laboratory of Dr. David Williams. Her work focused on the flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO) enzyme and how it influenced drug metabolism and toxicology. Sharon was an active researcher, working with a many OSU and SRP scientists and publishing 39 scientific articles, in addition to serving as co-investigator on nine funded research grants. Sharon was dedicated to her research, and was an essential mentor to many undergraduate and graduate students that worked with her. Outside of work, Sharon enjoyed cooking, traveling and photography.

The Corvallis Gazette-Times published a lovely memorial to Sharon: http://www.gazettetimes.com/news/local/obituaries/sharon-kay-krueger/article_84a08937-a028-5bfe-b254-237ea3eee9ed.html

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Acid Maltose Deficiency Association (http://www.amda-pompe.org).