Noëlle Boucquey

The proliferation of man-made and natural chemicals threatens coastal biota and human health, which is compounded by the potential for synergistic effects among chemicals, as well as the impacts of climate change and other significant environmental stressors. This project is studying a large urbanized estuary on the west coast of Florida, USA (Tampa Bay) to investigate all major classes of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs, e.g., PFAS, pharmaceuticals, UV filters), and a number of contaminants of known concern (CKCs, e.g., banned pesticides, PCBs, PAHs) This study aims to characterize their distribution, concentration, seasonality and the potential threats they pose to wildlife and humans. Target media for analyses include benthic invertebrates (oysters and barnacles), important recreationally caught finfishes (Spotted Sea Trout, Red Drum, Snook and Sheepshead), as well as Bay sediments and wastewaters. The project will pinpoint the sources, origins and fates of such chemicals, describe the decadal-scale depositional histories of contaminants into Bay sediments, and conduct surveys of human sub-populations that may be at particular risk from these chemical pollutants (e.g., subsistence-level fishers). The project also test novel technologies for remediating contaminants in wastewater effluent. These data will be used to inform human risk assessments for consumption of seafood harvested within the Bay. More broadly, results will be used by environmental managers to inform policy and regulatory decision-making with respect to point- and non-point source pollution abatement and the appropriateness of additional public health advisories.