Robert C. Hale
Professor
Email:
[[hale]]
Phone:
(804) 684-7228
Interests:
Environmental chemistry, biosolids, fate and availability of man-made compounds in aquatic environments.
Office:
Chesapeake Bay Hall S310
Section:
Ecosystem Health
Website:
{{https://www.vims.edu/research/departments/eaah/programs/envchem/hale_lab/index.php,Hale Lab Group}}
Research Interests
My primary research interests center on the identification of anthropogenic organic pollutants and the elucidation of their sources, fate, bioavailability and effects on ecosystems. Also the fate and consequences of microplastics and associated chemicals, e.g. polymer additives, in aquatic systems.
Education
- B.S. Biology, B.A. Chemistry, Wayne State University, 1979
- Ph.D., College of William and Mary, 1983
Specific Projects & Interests
- Organic contaminants in organisms, including fishes of Virginia waters.
- Identification of pollutants released via the water, air and to soil following sewage sludge (biosolids) applications and associated effects.
- Bioavailability of sludge-associated chemicals to terrestrial and aquatic organisms.
- Sources, analysis, fate and effects of brominated flame retardants and non-ionic detergents in the environment.
- Consequence of plastic debris in terrestrial & aquatic environments
Selected Publications
- Hale, R.C., Seeley*, M.E., King*, A.E., Yu, L. 2021. Analytical chemistry of microplastics: instrumentation, sampling and methods. Chapter 2 in: Microplastic in the Environment: Pattern and Process. pp. 17-6. Publisher: Springer Open Press. Editor: M.S. Bank. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-78627-4_2
- RC Hale, B Song. Single-Use Plastics and COVID-19: Scientific Evidence and Environmental Regulations. Environmental Science & Technology 54 (12), doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.0c02269 2020
- ME Seeley, B Song, R Passie, RC Hale. Microplastics affect sedimentary microbial communities and nitrogen cycling. Nature Communications 11 (2372), https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-16235 1 2020
- RC Hale, ME Seeley, MJ LaGuardia, L Mai, EY Zeng. A Global Perspective on Microplastics. J. Geophysical Research: Oceans 125 (1) 13 2020
- Z Percy, MJ La Guardia, Y Xu, RC Hale, KN Dietrich, BP Lanphear, ...Concentrations and loadings of organophosphate and replacement brominated flame retardants in house dust from the home study during the PBDE phase-out. Chemosphere 239, 124701
- Huiru L., La Guardia, M.J., Liu, H., Hale, R.C. (corresponding author), Mainor T.M., Harvey, E., Sheng, G. Fu, J., Peng, P. 2019. Levels and risks associated with brominated and organophosphate flame retardants in sediments upstream and downstream of the Guiyu, China e-waste recycling zone. Sci. Total Environ. 646, 58–67.
- Luellen, D., La Guardia, M., Tuckey, T., Fabrizio, M. Rice, G., Hale, R.C. 2018. Promoting a fishery on an introduced catfish: risks to consumers from contaminant exposure. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res.
- Rattner, B.A., R.S. Lazarus, T.G. Bean, P.C. McGowan, Callahan, C.R., Erickson, R.A. Hale. R.C. 2018. Examination of contaminant exposure and reproduction of ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) nesting in Delaware Bay and River in 2015. Sci. Total Environ. 639, 596-607.
- Hale R.C. 2018. Letter to the Editor: Are the risks from microplastics truly trivial? Environ. Sci. Technol. 52, 931. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b06615.
- La Guardia, M.J., Schreder, E.D., Uding, N., Hale R.C. 2017. Human indoor exposure to airborne halogenated flame retardants: Influence of airborne particle size. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 14, 507; doi:10.3390
- McDevitt, J., Criddle, C.S., Morse, M., Hale, R.C., Bott, C., Rochman, C. 2017. Addressing the issue of microplastics in the wake of the Microbead-Free Waters Act—a new standard can facilitate improved policy. Environ. Sci. Technol. 51(12):6611–6617
- Hale, R.C. 2017. Analytical challenges associated with the determination of microplastics in the environment. Analytical Methods 9: 1326 - 1327.
- Lazarus, R.S., Rattner, B.A. McGowan, P.C., Hale, R.C., Karouna-Renier, N.K., Ottinger, M.A. 2016. Chesapeake Bay Fish-osprey (Pandion halietus) food chain: Evaluation of contaminant exposure and genetic damage. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 35(6):1560-1575. SETAC Best Student Paper Award.
- Chen, D., Hale, R.C., La Guardia, M.J., Luellen, D., Kim, S., Geisz, H.N. 2015. Hexabromocyclododecane flame retardant in Antarctica: Research stations as sources. Environ. Pollut. 206:611-618.
- Chen, D., Hale, R.C., Letcher, R.J. 2015. Photochemical and microbial transformation of emerging flame retardants: Cause for concern? Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 34(4):687-699.
- Lazarus, R.S., Rattner, B.A. McGowan, P.C., Hale, R.C., Karouna-Renier, N.K., Ottinger, M.A. 2015 Decadal re-evaluation of contaminant exposure and productivity of ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) nesting in Chesapeake Bay regions of concern. Environ Pollut. 205:278-90.
- La Guardia, M.J., Hale R.C. 2015. Halogenated flame-retardant concentrations in settled dust, respirable and inhalable particulates and polyurethane foam at gymnastic training facilities and residences. Environ. Intern.79:106–114.
- *Gaylor, M., Harvey, E., Hale, R.C. 2015. Systematic investigation of factors controlling supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) of spiked and aged PCBs from edible tissues of the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus). Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 94(1):23-28.
- Gaylor, M., Mears, G., Harvey, E., La Guardia, M., Hale, R.C. 2014. Polybrominated diphenyl ether accumulation in an agricultural soil ecosystem receiving wastewater sludge amendments. Environ. Sci. Technol. 48(12):7034–7043.
- Gaylor, M., Harvey, E., Hale, R.C. 2013. Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) accumulation by earthworms (Eisenia fetida) exposed to biosolids-, polyurethane foam microparticle- and Penta-BDE-amended soils. Environ. Sci. Technol. 47(23):13831-13839.
- La Guardia, M., Hale, R., Newman, B. 2013. Brominated flame-retardants in sub-Saharan Africa: burdens in inland and coastal sediments of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality, South Africa. Environ. Sci. Technol. 47(17):9643-9650.
- Rattner BA, Lazarus RS, Heinz GH, Karouna-Renier NK, Schultz SL, Hale RC. 2013. Comparative embryotoxicity of a pentabrominated diphenyl ether mixture to common terns (Sterna hirundo) and American kestrels (Falco sparverius). Chemosphere 93(2):441-447.
- La Guardia, M. J.; R. C. Hale; E. Harvey; T. M. Mainor; S. Ciparis. Inpress 2012. In-situ accumulation of HBCD, PBDEs and several alternativeflame-retardants in the bivalve (Corbicula fluminea) and gastropod (Elimiaproxima). Environ. Sci. Technol.
- Hale, R.C., La Guardia, M.J., Harvey, E., Chen, D., Mainor, T.M., Luellen, D.R., Hundal, L.S. 2012. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in U.S. sewage sludges and biosolids: Temporal and geographical trends and uptake by corn following land application. Environ. Sci. Technol. 46(4):2055-63.
- Gaylor, M.O.; Harvey, E.; Hale, R.C. 2012. House crickets can accumulate polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) directly from polyurethane foam common in consumer products. Chemosphere 86, 500505.
- Chen, D., La Guardia, M.J., Luellen, D.R., Harvey, E., Mainor, T.M., Hale, R.C. 2011. Do Temporal and Geographical Patterns of HBCD and PBDE Flame Retardants in U.S. Fish Reflect Evolving Industrial Usage? Environ. Sci. Technol. 45, 82548261.
- La Guardia, M.J., Hale, R.C., Harvey, E., Chen, D. 2011. Comment on "Identification of Monochloro-Nonabromodiphenyl Ethers in the Air and Soil samples from South China". Environ. Sci. Technol., 45:6707.
- La Guardia, M. J., R.C. Hale, E. Harvey, D. Chen. 2010. Flame-retardants and other organohalogens detected in sewage sludge by electron capture negative ion mass spectrometry. Environ. Sci. Technol. 44:4658–4664.
- Chen, D., R.C. Hale. 2010. A global review of polybrominated diphenyl ether flame retardants in birds. Environ. Intern. 36(7):800-811.
- Chen, D., B.D. Watts, M.J. La Guardia, E. Harvey, L. Mojica, R.C. Hale. 2010. Species-specific accumulation of polybrominated diphenyl ether flame retardants in birds of prey from the Chesapeake Bay region, USA. Environ. Pollut. 158: 1883-1889.
2005-2009
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2000-2004
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1999 & Earlier
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Current Students
Ashley King, VIMS M.S.program
Meredith Evans, VIMS Ph.D program
Past Students
PhD
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Masters
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Courses Taught / Teaching
- MS 562 Environmental Pollution
- Chem 409 Chemistry Research (W&M)
- Chem 320 Introduction to Research (W&M)
- Chem 496 Honors Chemistry Research (W&M)
Recognition
Faculty/Staff/Student Awards
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Professional Memberships
- American Chemical Society: Environmental Chemistry Division
- Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
Recent Collaborative / Interdisciplinary Efforts
- S. Wing (University of North Carolina,School of Public Health). Human exposure to biosolids constituents
- B. Mai (State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences) PBDEs in the Chinese environment
- S. Kim (Moss Landing Marine Laboratories) Contaminants in fish and sediments collected near the McMurdo (Antarctica) Research Station
- B. Rattner (USGS Patuxent Research Center) Persistent organic pollutants in US ospreys
- B. Watts (W&M Conservation Biology) Persistent organic pollutants in US peregrine falcons
- With Virginia DEQ and Dr. Gary Rice (William and Mary - Chemistry Department): Assessment of pollutants in fish and sediments of Virginia tributaries