Dr. Andrew Peters
 Associate Research Scientist

Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences
17 Biological Lane
St. George's GE 01
Bermuda
Tel: 441-297-1880 ext. 240
Fax: 441-297-8143
E-mail: Andrew.peters@bios.edu



Specialization:
Environmental Geochemistry, Air Quality, Persistent Organic Pollutants

Profile:
Dr. Peters is the Principal Investigator for the BIOS Environmental Quality Program. This program is focused on environmental issues from the perspective of a highly developed and densely populated small island nation. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Southampton in 1992 for research on atmospheric deposition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. His career has included postdoctoral positions held at the National Water Research Institute in Canada and at the universities of Reading and Lancaster in the UK. Prior to joining BIOS, Dr. Peters was a research scientist at the NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, also in the UK.

Current Research:

  • Ambient air quality in Bermuda;
  • Risk assessment of heavy metals in local soil and drinking water;
  • Assessment of dioxins in local soil arising from municipal solid waste incineration;
  • Monitoring and evaluation of mercury in air and precipitation;
  • Compilation of emissions inventories for mercury and dioxins in Bermuda;
  • Long-range atmospheric transport of contaminants;
  • Investigation of hydrocarbon and pesticide contamination of groundwater.

Other research interests include: environmental and human health issues; environmental analytical chemistry; and ecotoxicology.

Educational Background:

  • B.Sc. Oceanography and Marine Biology (Jt. Hons.), University College of North Wales, 1988
  • College Certificate Environmental Analytical Chemistry, University College of North Wales, 1989
  • Ph.D. Environmental Geochemistry, University of Southampton, 1992

Professional Activities:

  • Member, American Geophysical Union (AGU)
  • Member, Air and Waste Management Association (AWMA)
  • Member, Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC)
  • Environmental Chemist, Bermuda Marine Pollution Contingency Plan Command Team (2004-present)
  • Scientific Advisor, Bermuda Biodiesel Ltd. (2006-present)
  • Adjunct Associate Professor, Duke University, USA (2005-2007)
  • Adjunct Lecturer, Bournemouth University, School of Conservation Sciences (2001-2002)
  • Participant in EU trials to validate ISO method for the analysis of alkylphenols in water (2002)
  • Member, EMEP Expert Panel on Measurement of POPs in Air and Precipitation (1997-99)
  • Participant in Canadian Government's IADN Inter-laboratory Study of PAH Analysis (1993-94)

Selected Publications:

  • Peters, A.J., K. Weidner and C. Howley. In press. The chemical quality of roof-harvested water in Bermuda. Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology-AQUA.
  • Bates, N.R. and A.J. Peters. 2007. The contribution of atmospheric acid deposition to ocean acidification in the subtropical North Atlantic ocean. Marine Chemistry, 107:547-558.
  • Harner, T., K. Pozo-Gallardo, T. Gouin, A.-M. Macdonald, H. Hung, J. Cainey and A. Peters. 2006. Global pilot study for persistent organic pollutants (POPs) using PUF disk passive air samplers. Environmental Pollution, 144:445-452.
  • Schönrogge, K., J.C. Wardlaw, A.J. Peters, S. Everett, J.A. Thomas and G.W. Elmes. 2004. Changes in chemical signature and host specificity from larval retrieval to full social integration in the myrmecophilous butterfly Maculinea rebeli (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). Journal of Chemical Ecology, 30:91-107.
  • Peters, A.J., K.C. Jones, R.J. Flower, P.G. Appleby, M. Ramdani, M.M. Kraiem and A.A. Fathi. 2001. Recent environmental change in North African wetland lakes: A baseline study of organochlorine contaminant residues in sediments from nine sites in the CASSARINA project. Aquatic Ecology, 35:449-459.