 n
the interview below, we talk with Dr. Tom Harner about his
paper, "Passive sampling survey of polybrominated diphenyl
ether flame retardants in indoor and outdoor air in Ottawa,
Canada: implications for sources and exposure," (Environ.
Sci. Technol. 38[20]: 5312-8, 15 October 2004). This
paper is a core paper in the Brominated Flame Retardants in
the Environment
Research Front of our Special
Topic on PBDEs. According to
Essential
Science IndicatorsSM,
it currently has 36 citations. Dr. Harner’s record includes
63 papers cited a total of 1,625 times to date in the field
of Environment & Ecology. Dr. Harner hails from Environment
Canada, in Toronto, Ontario, where he is a Research
Scientist in Air Quality Processes Research in the Science &
Technology Branch. |
 Would
you please describe the significance of your paper and why it is highly
cited?
This was the first comprehensive study to assess PBDE levels in
indoor air and dust. The study addressed pressing questions
regarding the role of indoor air as a source of PBDEs to the outside
environment and perhaps more importantly, the extent of human
exposure to PBDEs by inhalation and ingestion of contaminated indoor
air and dust, respectively.
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“There are still many questions regarding
sources and human exposure to these chemicals.” |
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The results showed that indoor air concentrations of PBDEs were
typically about 50 times higher than outdoor levels.
The data were extremely useful
to the researchers and modelers looking at human exposure/risk
assessment for PBDEs.
How
did you become involved in this research?
We collaborated with colleagues in Health Canada who were
interested in indoor levels of PBDEs due to concerns regarding human
exposure. As a scientist in the Air Quality Research Branch of
Environment Canada, I was interested in the source strength of PBDEs
emanating from indoor environments (where PBDEs are mainly used). We
combined our resources.
My research deals more with questions regarding how chemicals
such as PBDEs are transported in the environment; what is the role
of the atmosphere in their delivery to the arctic region, for
example, where they accumulate in the food chain? An assessment of
sources is a key part of our research.
Where
do you see your research and the broader field leading in the future?
We are continuing to research PBDEs and related compounds in
indoor environments. There are still many questions regarding
sources and human exposure to these chemicals. In addition to PBDEs,
there are other "indoor POPs" (persistent organic pollutants) that
we are investigating—for instance, the perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs).
We refer to these chemicals (PBDEs and PFCs) as "indoor POPs"
because of their widespread use on products used indoors. The PFCs
are used as treatments on carpets, upholstery, and even paper
products such as food wrappings.
We are also doing more measurements of these chemicals in remote
regions to better understand how they are transported and to assess
ocean-air exchange and the role of atmospheric versus oceanic
transport. We are conducting an air-monitoring program at a global
level to observe trends in environmental levels of these chemicals
and other POPs as they are removed from the market.
Does
your work have any social or political implications?
Yes, the PBDEs and some of the PFCs are potential candidates on
international conventions dealing with POPs (e.g. the Stockholm
Convention on POPs). Our measurements (in sources and in remote
regions) provide valuable information for assessing these chemicals
against various benchmarks. The data are also used at the national
level for assessment purposes.
Tom Harner, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Research Scientist
Air Quality Processes Research
Science & Technology Branch
Environment Canada
Toronto, ON, Canada
<• Return to
Research Front Map
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Dr. Tom Harner's
most-cited paper with 165 cites to date: |
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MacDonald RW, et al., "Contaminants in the
Canadian Arctic: 5 years of progress in
understanding sources, occurrence and pathways,"
Sci. Total Env. 254(2-3): 93-234, 1 June 2000. |
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Dr. Tom Harner's
paper
represented in the Research
Front map with 36 cites to date: |
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Wilford, BH, et al., "Passive sampling survey
of polybrominated diphenyl ether flame retardants in
indoor and outdoor air in Ottawa, Canada:
implications for sources and exposure," Environ.
Sci. Technol. 38(20): 5312-8, 15 October 2004. |
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Source:
Essential Science Indicators. |
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ESI Special
Topics: August 2007
Citing URL: http://esi-topics.com/pbde/interviews/RF-TomHarner.html
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