Professor Hites received his B.A. degree in 1964 from Oakland University. Subsequently, he began graduate studies in organic analytical chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, ultimately receiving his Ph. D. in 1968. Prior to beginning his career at Indiana, Dr. Hites was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Dr. Hites is also a Distinguished Professor at the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs.
Dr. Hites' research group applies organic analytical chemistry to the understanding of environmental problems. Most of their work uses mass spectrometry for the analysis of trace levels of potentially toxic environmental pollutants. Specific research areas include the global scale transport of halogenated compounds, the reactions of pollutants with the hydroxyl radical and ozone, and anthropogenic organic pollutants in the Great Lakes.
Our research group applies organic analytical chemistry to the understanding of environmental problems. Most of our work uses mass spectrometry for the analysis of trace levels of potentially toxic environmental pollutants. Specific research areas include:
Global scale transport of halogenated compounds. Halogenated organic compounds move through the atmosphere to remote regions of the globe. Our work has focused on semi-volatile organics such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides, and dibenzo-p-dioxins. We are making a long-term set of measurements of the concentrations of these compounds on the shores of the Great Lakes. From these data, we will be able to deduce long-term rates of change in the absolute concentrations and atmospheric residence times of these compounds.
Reactions of pollutants with the hydroxyl radical and ozone. In order to determine the fates of selected polychlorinated compounds and biogenic hydrocarbons, we are determining gas-phase, second order rate constants for their reactions with the hydroxyl radical (OH). In this way, we can estimate residence times due to these atmospheric removal pathways.
Anthropogenic organic pollutants in the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes have received a considerable input of toxic organic compounds from various hazardous waste disposal sites. Other inputs are more diffuse; for example, deposition from the atmosphere. Our current goal is to understand the atmospheric transport of PCBs, toxaphene (polychlorinated bornanes), and other pesticides to the Great Lakes. Other compound classes of considerable interest include chlorinated paraffins, brominated diphenyl ethers, and polychlorinated naphthalenes.
Brominated flame retardants in tree bark from North America, Environmental Science and Technology, 40, 3711-3716 (2006); with L. Y. Zhu.
Consumption advisories for salmon based on risk of cancer and non-cancer health effects, Environmental Research, 101, 263-274 (2006); with X. Huang, J. A. Foran, M. C. Hamilton, B. A. Knuth, S. J. Schwager, D. O. Carpenter.
Temporal and spatial trends of organochlorine pesticides in Great Lakes precipitation, Environmental Science and Technology, 40, 2135-2141 (2006); with P. Sun, S. Backhus, and P. Blanchard.
Dechlorane Plus, a chlorinated flame retardant, in the Great Lakes, Environmental Science and Technology, 40, 1184-1189 (2006); with E. Hoh and L. Y. Zhu.
Temporal trends of polychlorinated biphenyls in precipitation and air at Chicago, Environmental Science and Technology, 40, 1178-1183 (2006); with P. Sun and I. Basu.
Annual variations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations in precipitation collected near the Great Lakes, Environmental Science and Technology, 40, 696-701 (2006); with P. Sun, S. Backhus, and P. Blanchard.
"Persistent Organic Pollutants in the Great Lakes," Handbook in Environmental Chemistry, Vol. 5, Part N, Springer-Verlag: Berlin & Heidelberg, Germany, 430 pp. (2006); R. A. Hites, editor.
Brominated flame retardants in the Great Lakes, in "Persistent Organic Pollutants in the Great Lakes," Handbook in Environmental Chemistry, Vol. 5, Part N, pp. 328-366, Springer-Verlag: Berlin & Heidelberg, Germany (2006), R. A. Hites, editor.
Identification of brominated carbazoles in sediment cores from Lake Michigan, Environmental Science and Technology, 39, 9446-9451 (2005); with L. Y. Zhu.
Lipid composition and contaminants in farmed and wild salmon, Environmental Science and Technology, 39, 8622-8629 (2005); with, M. C. Hamilton, S. J. Schwager, J. A. Foran, B. A. Knuth, and D. O. Carpenter.
Effects of wind and air trajectory directions on atmospheric concentrations of persistent organic pollutants near the Great Lakes, Environmental Science and Technology, 39, 7817-7825 (2005); with W. D. Hafner.
Brominated flame retardants in the atmosphere of the east-central United States, Environmental Science and Technology, 39, 7794-7802 (2005); with E. Hoh.
Influence of local human population on atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations, Environmental Science and Technology, 39, 7374-7379 (2005); with W. Hafner and D. Carlson.
Polychlorinated biphenyls in salmon and salmon feed: Global differences and bioaccumulation, Environmental Science and Technology, 39, 7389-7395 (2005); with D. L. Carlson.
Relative rate and product studies of the OH-acetone reaction, Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 109, 4728-4735 (2005); with J. D. Raff and P. S. Stevens.
Brominated flame retardants in sediment cores from Lakes Michigan and Erie, Environmental Science and Technology, 39, 3488-3494 (2005); with L. Y. Zhu; erratum 39, 5904 (2005).
Novel flame retardants, 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)ethane and 2,3,4,5,6-pentabromoethylbenzene, in environmental samples, Environmental Science and Technology, 39, 2472-2477 (2005); with E. Hoh and L. Y. Zhu.
Monitoring OH initiated oxidation kinetics of isoprene and its products using on-line mass spectrometry, Environmental Science and Technology, 39, 1030-1036 (2005); with W. Lee, M. Baasandorj, and P. S. Stevens.
Temperature dependence of atmospheric PCB concentrations, Environmental Science and Technology, 39, 740-747 (2005); with D. L. Carlson.
Annual variations of pesticide concentrations in Great Lakes precipitation, Environmental Science and Technology, 38, 5290-5296 (2004); with D. L. Carlson, and I. Basu.
Global assessment of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in farmed and wild salmon, Environmental Science and Technology, 38, 4945-4949 (2004); with J. A. Foran, S. J. Schwager, B. A. Knuth, M. C. Hamilton, and D. O. Carpenter.
Sources of toxaphene and other organochlorine pesticides in North America as determined by air measurements and PSCF analyses, Environmental Science and Technology, 38, 4187-4194 (2004); with E. Hoh.
A survey of metals in tissues of farmed Atlantic and wild Pacific salmon, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 23, 2108-2110 (2004); with J. A. Foran, D. O. Carpenter, M. C. Hamilton, A. Mathews Amos, and S. J. Schwager.
Transport of suspended sediment bound toxaphene in the Mississippi River, Environmental Science and Technology, 38, 2785-2791 (2004); with J. D. Raff.
Temporal trends and spatial distributions of brominated flame retardants in archived fishes from the Great Lakes, Environmental Science and Technology, 38, 2779-2784 (2004); with L. Y. Zhu.
Differences between atmospheric persistent organic pollutant concentrations at two locations in Chicago, Journal of Great Lakes Research, 30, 310-315 (2004); with I. Basu, W. D. Hafner, and W. Mills.
Global assessment of organic contaminants in farmed salmon, Science, 303, 226-229 (2004); with J. A. Foran, D. O. Carpenter, M. C. Hamilton, B. A. Knuth, S. J. Schwager.
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in the environment and in people: A meta-analysis of concentrations, Environmental Science and Technology, 38, 945-956 (2004).
Causes of variability in pesticide and PCB concentrations in air near the Great Lakes, Environmental Science and Technology, 38, 414-422 (2004); with S. S. Buehler and I Basu.
Indiana University, EPA to study airborne PCBs
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today (Sept. 27) it would continue its collaboration with Indiana University Bloomington environmental scientists Ronald Hites and Ilora Basu to study the persistent toxin's circulation between the air and the Great Lakes. The information will help the EPA determine whether new PCB clean-up policies are needed. >> Full Story
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