Tracking harmful, forever chemicals in Florida’s waters

Degree
Ph.D. candidate, chemistry and biochemistry

College
College of Arts, Sciences & Education

Undergraduate Experience
University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

Fun Fact
Graphic design, digital illustration and painting are his top ways to de-stress

Tracking “Forever Chemicals”

PFAS have infiltrated the environment. This group of thousands of different toxic manmade “forever chemicals” get into the water, soil, air, and stick around for long time, posing health risks to both humans and wildlife. The EPA warned even low levels of exposure can be dangerous, later setting strict near-zero limits for PFAS in drinking water.

There’s been few studies on the distribution and occurrence of PFAS in South Florida. Olutobi “Daniel” Ogunbiyi is changing that. Working alongside FIU chemist Natalia Quinete, Ogunbiyi’s multifold research project uses the power of high-resolution mass spectrometry to expose the pervasiveness of PFAS pollution. He’s detected these contaminants in drinking water and Miami’s Biscayne Bay, where Ogunbiyi also traced back how canals carry PFAS, including unregulated ones with unknown toxicity, into the bay.

They’re even lurking in recreational fisheries — important to the state’s economy, since more than 4 million anglers spent $8 billion while fishing in Florida in 2023 contributing nearly $14 billion to the state’s economic output, according to the American Sportfishing Association. Ogunbiyi found black fin tuna and lobsters had low but still detectable PFAS levels, an indication the contaminants are accumulating through the food chain with unknown consequences.

This data will help policy makers and regulatory agencies like the EPA develop guidelines for controlling and reducing PFAS.