Heather Stapleton
Heather Stapleton | |
|---|---|
| Born | New York, USA |
| Academic background | |
| Education | BS, 1997, Long Island University MA, 2000, PhD, 2003, University of Maryland, College Park |
| Thesis | Assimilation and metabolism of polybrominated diphenyl ethers by the common Carp (2003) |
| Academic work | |
| Institutions | Nicholas School of the Environment |
Heather M. Stapleton is an American environmental organic chemist and exposure scientist. She is the Ronie-Richele Garcia-Johnson Distinguished Professor at Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment. During her tenure at Duke, Stapleton focused her research on identifying and understanding the uses of flame retardant chemicals in consumer products and evaluating the health impacts of exposures to those chemicals.
Early life and education
[edit]Stapleton was born to parents Donald and Kathleen Stapleton and grew up in Candor, New York. She graduated from Candor Central High School in 1992 as class valedictorian and member of the varsity volleyball, basketball and softball team.[1] Stapleton originally aspired to be a marine biologist and enrolled in a marine science program in college.[2] She completed her Bachelor of Science degree from Long Island University in 1997 and earned her master's degree and PhD from the University of Maryland, College Park.[3]
Career
[edit]As an assistant professor of environmental sciences and policy, Stapleton focused on determining the underlying factors influencing exposure and accumulation of contaminants in aquatic organisms. She specifically examined the consequences of when chemicals used to prevent fires in common household products get into rivers, lakes and other water systems.[2] In 2008, Stapleton was awarded an Outstanding New Environmental Scientist Award from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences for her research grant proposal entitled "Children’s Exposure to Brominated Flame Retardants: Effects on Thyroid Hormone Regulation."[4] Stapleton culminated her research into her 2011 study Identification of Flame Retardants in Polyurethane Foam Collected from Baby Products which examined levels of flame retardant chemicals in infant and toddler products.[5][6] It was later selected as the top scientific paper of 2011 by the journal Environmental Science & Technology.[5] Stapleton was also selected as a Science Communication Fellow at Environmental Health Science.[7]
In 2014, Stapleton and colleague Greg Lowry qualified for the 2014 list of Highly Cited Researchers published by Thomson Reuters.[8] Within two years Stapleton was promoted to Dan and Bunny Gabel Associate Professor of Environmental Ethics and Sustainable Environmental Management and associate professor of civil and environmental engineering. She was also recognized again on Thomson Reuter's Highly Cited Researchers for 2015 list.[9]
During her later tenure at Duke, Stapleton focused her research on identifying and understanding the uses of flame retardant chemicals in consumer products and evaluating the health impacts of exposures to those chemicals.[10] In 2017, Stapleton reported that toddlers’ urine had 15 times higher flame retardant concentrations than their mothers'. Later, her research team published a study that found that urine concentrations of one type of flame retardant increased along with the number of baby products at home.[11] In 2019, Stapleton received a five-year, $5 million grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to develop a new environmental analysis laboratory.[12] She was also appointed to the North Carolina Thyroid Cancer Research Advisory Panel.[13]
Upon the laboratories establishment in 2020, Stapleton was named its co-director and appointed the Ronie-Richele Garcia-Johnson Distinguished Professor.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ "Candor Central School". Press and Sun-Bulletin. June 5, 1992. Retrieved September 17, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Mock, Geoffrey (October 21, 2005). "Heather Stapleton: Following Pollution's Trail". Duke University. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
- ^ "Heather Stapleton". Duke University. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
- ^ "Outstanding New Environmental Scientist (ONES) Alumni". National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
- ^ a b Betts, Kellyn (March 5, 2012). "Fire Retardants Abound in Baby Products: ES&T's Top Science Paper 2011". Environmental Science & Technology. 46 (7): 3605–3606. Bibcode:2012EnST...46.3605B. doi:10.1021/es300730d. PMID 22390344.
- ^ Ball, Eddy (2012). "Fire retardant study named paper of the year by ES&TFire retardant study named paper of the year by ES&T". National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
- ^ "DUKE SCIENTIST CHOSEN FOR COMMUNICATION TRAINING PROGRAM". Duke University. February 19, 2010. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
- ^ "Lowry and Stapleton, 2014 Highly Cited Researchers". Duke University. June 27, 2014. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
- ^ "Four Pratt Faculty Among "Most Highly Cited"". Duke University. January 21, 2016. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
- ^ a b "Three Nicholas School Faculty Members Awarded Distinguished Professorships". Duke University. April 15, 2020. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
- ^ Gross, Liza (November 23, 2020). "The Harmful Chemical Lurking in Your Children's Toys". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 23, 2020. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
- ^ "$5 Million Grant Will Fund New Laboratory for Environmental Analysis". Duke University. October 7, 2019. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
- ^ "Heather Stapleton added to North Carolina Thyroid Cancer Research Advisory Panel". Duke University. March 26, 2019. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
External links
[edit]- Heather Stapleton publications indexed by Google Scholar
