Organic Trace Substances
We are interested in the behavior of organic trace substances of anthropogenic and natural origin in the marine environment with focus on the Baltic Sea. Via sampling at sea and detailed analysis in the laboratory, we aim to answer complex questions such as the fate of pollutants or the compositional variability or dissolved and particulate organic matter in nearshore systems or the open ocean. Often, this research is linked to developing and adapting analytical techniques. What's new? Check here.
In the frame of the Environmental Monitoring of the IOW a range of organic contaminants in the Baltic Sea are analysed annually which allow to pursue long term data series and to observe long term trends in the field of organic pollutants.
The work of the research group is assigned to the research areas "Coastal Seas in Transition" (RA 2) and "Emerging Technologies Enabling Advanced Marine Science" (RA 3) of the IOW research program.
In the focus of our research are specific environmentally relevant compounds, such as
- Persistent contaminants, e.g. polychlorinated biphenyls and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
- Pesticides, e.g. glyphosate
- Compounds from the group of pharmaceuticals and personal care products
- Natural organic P comounds, e.g. methyl phosphonic acid
- Endocrine active compounds, e.g. estrogens
The complex mixture that is natural organic matter, particulate or dissolved, forms the base of all food webs in aquatic systems and its turnover is intricately linked to the global carbon cycle, and constantly affected by anthropogenic impact. Via bulk quantification and analysis of composition via optical and ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometric approaches, we aim to shed light on the
- Fate of terrestrial organic matter in the ocean
- Short-term variability in high-energy nearshore systems
- Global oceanic distribution pattern and underlying processes
- Anthropogenic impacts on natural biogeochemical cycles
- links in pollutant and natural organic matter cycles