Florida Atlantic University’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Science has secured a significant $700,000 grant from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Gulf of America Division to launch an innovative research initiative aimed at revolutionizing water quality monitoring in one of Florida’s most vital freshwater resources. This project undertakes a crucial mission to unravel the complex transformations of emerging contaminants in Lake Okeechobee, exploring how sunlight-driven chemical reactions alter these substances after their release into the environment.
Helmed by Natalia Malina, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, this multi-year research effort titled “Developing an Approach for Monitoring of Emerging Contaminant Phototransformation in Freshwater Lakes” seeks to dissect the intricate chemical pathways through which common pollutants such as pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products degrade and morph under solar irradiation in natural waters. Such transformations often yield secondary chemical species that may exhibit increased persistence or heightened toxicity relative to their parent compounds, posing under-recognized threats to aquatic ecosystems and human health.
Lake Okeechobee, covering over 730 square miles, functions not only as Florida’s largest freshwater reservoir but also as an indispensable source of potable water for roughly eight million people. The lake sustains diverse ecosystems, agricultural needs, and municipal water supplies, making the guardianship of its water quality a matter of pressing environmental and public health importance. The transformative chemistry occurring within this lake has therefore emerged as a critical blind spot in current water monitoring regimes, which traditionally focus on detecting primary contaminants and overlook the cascade of photochemically generated byproducts.
Dr. Malina emphasizes the urgency of filling this gap, stating that most existing environmental assessments fail to capture the dynamism of contaminant evolution in natural waters. “Understanding which chemicals are present is only part of the story,” she explains. “It is equally vital to comprehend how these substances transform over time under sunlight exposure, resulting in byproducts that may be more damaging. Our work aims to develop methodologies that can monitor these transformations in situ, providing real-time insights into the fate and impact of emerging contaminants.”
A distinctive feature of this research is the deployment of a network of passive sampling devices spread across eight strategically chosen stations throughout Lake Okeechobee. These devices will operate continuously over multiple seasonal cycles to capture temporal fluctuations in contaminant profiles and transformation products. By sampling across diverse environmental conditions — including varying light intensities, temperatures, and water chemistries — the project will compile comprehensive datasets essential for deciphering the environmental parameters governing photochemical processes.
Complementing field observations, the research team will employ advanced chemical analytical techniques to probe the underlying mechanisms of contaminant degradation. Notably, the application of carbon isotope ratio measurements promises to afford a nuanced view of degradation pathways, enabling researchers to distinguish between different phototransformation routes and quantify reaction rates. This isotopic approach is particularly innovative because it can identify subtle shifts in chemical structures without relying solely on traditional compound-specific screening, which often misses unknown or novel transformation products.
The significance of this work extends well beyond Lake Okeechobee. Across the United States and globally, freshwater resources are increasingly contaminated by a diverse suite of emerging chemicals originating from agricultural runoff, industrial output, household waste, and treated or untreated wastewater discharges. While regulatory frameworks often target a limited list of well-characterized pollutants, the broader class of contaminants and their transformation products frequently evade detection, leading to incomplete risk assessments and potential environmental degradation.
Dr. Malina elaborates on the ramifications of this knowledge gap: “Without tracking the transformation processes, environmental monitoring programs might underestimate the ecological and health risks posed by these contaminants. Transformations can produce products that persist longer, bioaccumulate more effectively, or exert higher toxicity. Our approach is designed not only to identify these byproducts but also to link their emergence to specific photochemical mechanisms. This linkage is crucial for predictive modeling and ultimately for informing regulatory policies.”
The research has profound implications for public health and ecosystem management. Lake Okeechobee’s status as a Class I Potable Water Supply underlines the necessity of safeguarding its water quality against chemical pollutants. The data generated from this project will elucidate seasonal patterns and environmental factors influencing contaminant transformations, offering regulatory agencies and policymakers a scientifically rigorous foundation for developing adaptive management strategies that consider both parent compounds and their photo-induced metabolites.
Dean Valery E. Forbes of the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science highlights the transformative potential of the grant-funded research. “This initiative addresses a critical, yet often invisible, threat to freshwater systems. By improving how we detect and monitor chemical pollutants and their evolving products, Dr. Malina’s team is advancing environmental protection and public health safeguards. The methodologies developed here could be scaled and adapted nationwide, providing a blueprint for improved water quality assessment and regulation.”
Beyond its scientific ambitions, the project will serve as an exceptional training ground for graduate and undergraduate students by integrating hands-on fieldwork with cutting-edge laboratory analysis. The involvement of students is intended to foster the next generation of environmental scientists equipped with multidisciplinary expertise in chemistry, ecology, and public health.
With fieldwork commencing imminently and projecting through 2028, this endeavor sets a precedent for long-term, high-resolution monitoring of freshwater contaminants. The anticipated outcomes include new analytical tools and predictive models that can be deployed by environmental agencies, enhancing the capacity to detect and mitigate contaminant impacts in freshwater ecosystems amid escalating anthropogenic pressures and climate change.
In essence, Florida Atlantic University’s pioneering project exemplifies the integration of innovative science and practical environmental stewardship. By illuminating the hidden pathways of contaminant phototransformation, it promises to transform water quality monitoring from a static measurement of pollutants to a dynamic, mechanistic understanding of chemical fate in natural waters, fostering healthier watersheds and communities.
- FAU –
Subject of Research:
Emerging contaminant phototransformation and water quality monitoring in freshwater lake ecosystems.
Article Title:
Innovative Research Unveils Photochemical Transformation of Emerging Contaminants in Lake Okeechobee
News Publication Date:
Not specified in the source.
Web References:
https://chemistry.fau.edu/directory/natalia-malina.php
https://www.fau.edu/science/
https://www.fau.edu/
Image Credits:
Credit: Florida Atlantic University
Keywords:
Environmental chemistry, chemical physics, water chemistry, water, pollution, chemical pollution, light pollution, pollutants, pharmaceuticals, public health, lakes, ecological degradation, ecosystems, aquatic ecosystems
