Investigators and Program Directors
Kenneth W. Jackson
Research Scientist, Wadsworth Center, Environmental Laboratory Approval Program
Professor, School of Public Health, Environmental Health Sciences
Ph.D., Analytical Chemistry, Imperial College, London (1972)
E-mail: jackson@wadsworth.org
Research Interests
Interests include fundamental and applied research in analytical atomic spectrometry. Atomization and interference mechanisms in electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry are investigated in order to permit the accurate determination of ultratrace metal concentrations in environmental samples. Of particular interest are toxic metals, such as cadmium, lead, thallium etc., that have been introduced to the environment as chemical pollutants. The direct analysis of soil and sediment samples as slurries is under investigation, since this greatly simplifies the methods by avoiding time-consuming sample digestion. Also being studied are mechanisms of interference by anionic species (chloride, sulfate etc.) that are present in the environment in high concentrations. An improved understanding of these interference mechanisms is permitting the development of analytical methods that overcome the interferences
Contact Information
Phone: (518) 474-4197
Fax:(518) 474-8590
E-mail: jackson@wadsworth.org