ABSTRACT

Global water resources are stressed by rising global temperatures, reduced precipitation in arid regions, and growing demand for water. Reclaimed wastewater is being increasingly used to augment freshwater supplies for both potable and non-potable uses, the latter including the irrigation of edible crops and ecological enhancement. Depending on the treatment processes employed, reclaimed wastewater may contain a variety of contaminants of potential toxicological relevance, and their presence in reclaimed wastewater may lead to unintended exposure of humans or ecological receptors. Wastewater-derived organic contaminants have emerged as widespread environmental pollutants. My group has provided insight into mechanisms governing multifunctional organic contaminant association with environmental sorbents and transformation in natural and engineered systems. We are currently investigating processes influencing the accumulation of wastewater-derived organic contaminants in crop plants intended for human consumption. After providing an overview of my research program, I will discuss our recent work on in planta transformations and plant manipulation of rhizosphere pH as it relates to accumulation of wastewater-derived organic contaminants in plants. This will be followed by a discussion of my vision for mentoring students at UCLA.

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Joel Pedersen is a Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor at University of Wisconsin – Madison holding appointments in the Departments of Soil Science, Civil & Environmental Engineering, and Chemistry. He is a core faculty member of two interdepartmental graduate programs: Environmental Chemistry & Technology and Molecular & Environmental Toxicology. Prof. Pedersen earned his B.S. degree at UC Irvine, his M.S. degree at California Institute of Technology, and his doctorate at UCLA. His research program focuses primarily on the environmental chemistry of emerging contaminants, emphasizing interfacial processes governing the sorption, transformation, and bioavailability of organic contaminants, biomacromolecules, and nanomaterials in natural and engineered systems.