Biochemical and Exposure Science Group

Projects and Programs

Plastic Pollution Measurement Science

While plastics have yielded immense benefits to society, discarded plastics or plastic pollution has become a pervasive highly visible problem especially in the

Measurement Science of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards & Technology are creating reference materials and data resources to address the per- and polyfluoroalkyl

NIST Intercomparison Exercise Program for Organic Contaminants in the Marine Environment

Since the beginning of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Status and Trends (NS&T) Program in 1987, NIST has coordinated

Development of Reference Methods and Reference Materials for the Determination of Hormones in Human Serum

Hormones are chemical messengers that regulate many life functions, and deviations from normal levels can indicate serious health problems. Measurement of

Publications

Utilization of NIST SRM: A case study for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in NIST SRM 1957 Organic Contaminants in Non-Fortified Human Serum

March 2, 2021

Author(s)

Alix E. Robel, Jessica L. Reiner

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) generates and maintains thousands of Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) to serve commerce worldwide

Cloudy with a chance of peptides: accessibility, scalability and reproducibility with cloud-hosted environments

January 29, 2021

Author(s)

Benjamin A. Neely

Cloud hosted environments offer known benefits when computational needs outstrip affordable local workstations, enabling high-performance compute without a

Identifying risk factors for levels of perfluoroalkyl substances in the placenta in a high-risk pregnancy cohort in North Carolina

December 31, 2020

Author(s)

Jacqueline T. Bangma, Lauren A. Eaves, Kirsi Oldenburg, Jessica L. Reiner, Tracy Manuck, Rebecca C. Fry

Prenatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a ubiquitous class of chemicals, is associated with adverse outcomes such as preeclampsia, low infant

TRACE ELEMENT CONCENTRATIONS IN BLOOD AND SCUTE TISSUES FROM WILD AND CAPTIVE HAWAIIAN GREEN SEA TURTLES (CHELONIA MYDAS)

October 16, 2020

Author(s)

Katherine R. Shaw, Jennifer Lynch, George H. Balazs, T. T. Jones, Jeff Pawloski, Marc Rice, Amanda French, Jing Liu, David Klein

Hawaiian green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) are exposed to trace elements through water, sediment, and food. High concentrations of elements have been shown to

News and Updates

A woman (Alix Rodowa) wearing a mask and a lab coat works with scientific equipment.

Spotlight: Alix Rodowa and PFAS in Groundwater

January 15, 2021

Water has fascinated postdoctoral researcher Alix Rodowa since her days in a high school environmental science club. Now, she takes a sample of life at NIST in

A woman wearing safety goggles and a mask poses in front of a cabinet holding vials.

Spotlight: Kathy Peter’s Cross-County Journey Toward NIST Research Into ‘Forever Chemicals’

December 11, 2020

Search, seek and define — NIST postdoctoral researcher Kathy Peter is on a mission to uncover chemical compounds that fall into the category of PFAS (per- and

A woman with safety goggles and gloves stands at a lab bench.

A Better Alternative to Phthalates?

September 25, 2020

Detergents, shampoos, soaps and other everyday items sometimes contain a group of chemicals called phthalates, which are often used to enhance products and add

woman holding a North American Atlantic salmon

Spotlight: The Trek North for Precious Mucus Hormones in Salmon

September 23, 2020

Something smells fishy, and NIST postdoctoral researcher Erin Legacki is on the job to figure out what’s happening. The North American Atlantic salmon has seen

Awards

Katherine Peter Honored with Morgan Early Career Award

Dr. Peter is a National Research Council Postdoctoral Research Fellow and Research Chemist with the National Institute of Standards and

2018 - Colleagues' Choice Award---Jessica Reiner

For technology transfer related to per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), resulting in world-class recognition as an expert in PFAS metrology.

2018 - Colleagues' Choice Award---Tracey Schock

For tireless dedication to NIST quality in the bioanalytical field of study called omics, becoming a world-class leader in the field while mentoring students and colleagues.

Press Coverage

A large polar bear is jumping from one block of ice to another.

Toxic chemicals banned 20 years ago finally disappearing from Arctic wildlife

Smithsonian

September 6, 2018

NIST measurements helped to demonstrate that concentrations of chemicals phased out according to the Stockholm Convention have decreased in Arctic wildlife.

Larval fish are eating microplastics in the Pacific Ocean

Oceanographic

"A study has found that plastic pieces outnumber larval fish numbers by seven to one in nursery waters off Hawaii."