Date of Award:

8-2026

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Committee Chair(s)

Kimberly J. Hageman

Committee

Kimberly J. Hageman

Committee

Seth Lyman

Committee

Nicholas E. Dickenson

Abstract

Certain contaminants can persist in the environment for long periods of time, build up within living tissues, travel far from their origin, and harm both ecosystems and organisms. This thesis focuses on two types of contaminants: insecticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Insecticides are manufactured to control pests while PAHs are found in oil and gas products and can be produced by industry, vehicle engines, and wildfires. Understanding how harmful these contaminants are and where they end up in the environment is critical for protecting environmental health.

First, I evaluated a widely used test developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that measures how insects respond to insecticides. While this method is commonly used around the world, results can vary more than expected. This work shows that variability can arise due to differences between how much insecticide researchers intend to use and the amount actually present during testing.

Second, I investigated how PAHs are deposited in Glacier National Park using lake sediments, which can serve as a historical record of contaminant deposition over time. I examined how distance from a smelter, vegetation, climate, human activity, and wildfires influence PAH deposition. Overall, the results highlight the strong influence of industrial sources of environmental pollution, even in protected environments.

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