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Goal
#1: Identify fate and transport mechanisms in soil for
the various estrogen chemicals (e.g., 17b-estradiol,
estrone, and estriol). Use a variety of soils that represent a range
of soil particle
size distributions and organic matter content.
Objective
- Identify sorption affinity and sorption site availability using equilibrium batch experiments.
- Use kinetic sorption experiments to investigate the time dependent sorption mechanisms.
- Identify the dynamic process involved in the fate and transport of 17b-estradiol using miscible-displacement soil column experiments.
Goal
#2: Identify
mechanisms of transformation/degradation of 17b-estradiol in various soil environments.
Objectives
- Identify transformations of parent 17b-estradiol and metabolites (e.g., estrone and estriol) in all experiments.
- Investigate biotic and abiotic mechanisms of 17b-estradiol transformation/ degradation using incubation experiments on sterile and nonsterile soils.
Goal
#3: Identify
influence of soil structure on the mobility of 17b-estradiol in soil.
Objectives
- Use miscible-displacement column experiments to identify the transport mechanism in undisturbed soil profiles.
Goal
#4: Develop,
apply, and evaluate a model that can be used to identify and
predict fate and transport of various estrogen.
Objectives
- Develop a hypothesis of the fate and transport of 17b-estradiol and its metabolites based upon experimental results. Incorporate this hypothesis into a computer model.
- Apply the model using inverse modeling methods.
- Evaluate the model for its ability to predict experimental data, and reevaluate the model according to this prediction.
Goal #5: Integrating research and education.
Goal #6: Dissemination of information.
Objectives
- Share results at scientific meetings.
- Present results using a variety of media ranging from peer reviewed journals to a web page.