Christopher P. Higgins, PhD, Assistant Professor

Education

• Ph.D., Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 2007
• M.S., Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 2002
• A.B., Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 1998

Research Interests

Dr. Higgins' research focuses on the fate, transport, and
bioaccumulation of emerging contaminants in aquatic and terrestrial
systems.  Current research projects are examining:

• the potential for bioaccumulation of organic contaminants (including pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and perfluorochemicals) into foodcrops from reclaimed water;
• the bioaccumulation of organic contaminants from biosolids-amended soils;
• the fate of perfluorochemicals in groundwater systems, particularly in the presence of co-contaminants;
• the development of analytical methods for the detection and quantification of inorganic nanoparticles in environmental and biological media; and
• the fate of organic contaminants in wastewater treatment plants.
  

Dr. Higgins is looking forward to developing and growing his research group at CSM, and will be actively looking for new graduate students in 2011.

Publications

Higgins, C.P., Paesani, Z., Chalew, T.E.A., Halden, R.U. and L. Hundal. Persistence and Bioaccumulation of Triclocarban and Triclosan in Soils after Land Application of Biosolids. Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry. In Pres.

Higgins, C.P., McLeod, P.B., MacManus-Spencer, L.A, and R.G. Luthy. 2007. Bioaccumulation of Perfluorochemicals in Sediments by the Aquatic Oligochaete, Lumbriculus variegatus. Environmental Science & Technology. 41(13): 4600-4606.

Higgins, C.P., and R.G. Luthy. 2007 Modeling Surfactant Sorption onto Sediment Materials: An a priori Approach for Perfluorochemical Surfactants and Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonates. Environmental Science & Technology. 41(9): 3254-3261 and addendum 41(17): 6316.

Higgins, C.P., Field, J.A., Criddle, C.S., and R.G. Luthy. 2005. Quantitative Determination of Perfluorochemicals in Sediments and Domestic Sludge. Environmental Science & Technology. 39(11): 3946-3956.

Werner, D., Higgins, C.P., and R.G. Luthy. 2005. The sequestration of PCBs in Lake Hartwell sediment with activated carbon. Water Research. 39(10): 2105-2113.

Higgins, C.P. 2003. 3M and the Withdrawal of PFOS: TSCA, Product Liability, and the Precautionary Principle. Environmental Law Reporter. 33(1): 10062-10067.