Barbara Kramer
Associate Professor of Chemistry
Department of Chemistry
Truman State University
Kirksville, MO 63501
(660) 785-7608
(660) 785-4045 (fax)
bkramer@truman.edu
Find more information (course syllabi, exams, etc.) at Dr. Kramer's "other" homepage.
Education
- B.A., Oberlin College, Ohio
- Ph.D., Emory University, Atlanta, GA.
Courses Taught
- Chemical Principles I
- Chemical Principles II
- Quantitative Analysis
- Instrumental Analysis
- Advanced Analytical Chemistry
Research Interests
My research interests lie in following the fate of various pollutants in the environment. Currently, we are examining the fate of pesticides applied to the soil. These compounds include classes of chemicals that have been shown to be toxic to humans and animals. When soil samples are analyzed for the presence of organic contaminants, they are subjected to harsh extraction conditions in order to find all of the compound that is present in the soil system. These extractions, while giving useful information about the total contamination level, do not help identify the risks of exposure to the chemical when someone is actually exposed to these soils. When soil is consumed (accidentally or intentionally) not all of the contaminants present in the soil will be released and able to cause a physiological response. The portion that is released into systemic circulation is considered bioavailable. The amount of a given compound that is bioavailable will depend on the compound, the soil type and how long the compound has been present in the soil, among other things.
Traditional exposure assessment tests typically involve animal models or complex models of the human digestive system. One of the goals of our research is the development of a simple analytical method that can be used to model bioavailability. We are currently investigating the optimization of an aqueous microwave assisted extraction technique to model a more complex bioavailability method involving a model of the human digestive system.
In order to understand the aspects of an overall soil system that contribute to the bioavailability of a compound, we are also investigating methods of understanding the physical and chemical interactions between organic contaminants and the soil. Current methods under investigation include sequential extractions using increasingly more severe methods in order to study the ease by which different compounds are removed from the soil.
As bioavailability will depend on the type of soil that is contaminated, we are studying several different types of soil with varying amounts and types of inorganic and organic components. In order to isolate the components of the soil that contribute to the retention of specific compounds, we are investigating the development of an artificial soil whose composition can be controlled.