About
In the McDonough laboratory, we are investigating how organic contaminants impact aquatic ecosystems and human health by combining innovative environmental chemistry and bioanalytical techniques, state-of-the-art mass spectrometry, and field monitoring campaigns. Our work protects the public from exposure to harmful pollutants and draws attention to the global ubiquity of organic contaminants.
Research topics
- Computer Science
- Chemistry
- Artificial Intelligence
- Environmental science
- Biology
- Environmental chemistry
- Data Mining
- Environmental health
- Medicine
- Engineering
- Biochemistry
- Management science
- Toxicology
- Mathematics
- Geography
- Remote sensing
- Statistics
- Chromatography
- Organic chemistry
- Water resource management
- Ecology
Selected publications
Preprints.org · 2026-05-12
preprintOpen accessRainfall and groundwater fluctuations may influence the migration or dilution of contaminants from US Superfund sites. This pilot study was designed to provide empirical data on relationships between rainfall and contaminant concentrations in water near Superfund sites. Four Superfund sites on Long Island, New York were selected to represent a range of contaminant profiles and hydrogeologic conditions. Baseline samples were collected in December 2022, with subsequent samples obtained following major storms and seasonally through September 2023. Samples were collected on 11–24 different days across the sites and measured for metals and 1,4-dioxane. Overall, we observed few consistent associations between rainfall and contaminant concentrations across sites. Two trends, however, were noted: (1) At Gowanus Canal, a surface water site, there was a negative association between rainfall and contaminant concentrations using same-day or prior-day rainfall; and (2) in a treatment well near Lawrence Aviation, negative associations were observed between prior month’s rainfall and contaminant concentrations. Rainfall appeared to dilute contaminant concentrations at two of the four Superfund sites. Given the increased frequency and intensity of extreme rainfall events, it is important to continue probing links between rainfall and contaminants near Superfund sites.
UR Research (University of Rochester) · 2026-03-19
otherOpen accessThis collection contains raw data files [flow cytometry standard (FCS) and excel (xlsx)] that were used to generate figures containing flow cytometry and ELISA data in the publication "Developmental exposure to a PFAS mixture impairs the anamnestic response to influenza A virus infection in mice" by Post, CM et. al. In addition to the raw data files, files containing sample number identifiers (sex, treatment, day post-infection) are also included. FCS files can be opened and analyzed with programs such as FlowJo or FCS express.
UR Research (University of Rochester) · 2026-03-19
otherOpen accessThis collection contains raw data files [flow cytometry standard (FCS) and excel (xlsx)] that were used to generate figures containing flow cytometry and ELISA data in the publication "Developmental exposure to a PFAS mixture impairs the anamnestic response to influenza A virus infection in mice" by Post, CM et. al. In addition to the raw data files, files containing sample number identifiers (sex, treatment, day post-infection) are also included. FCS files can be opened and analyzed with programs such as FlowJo or FCS express.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · 2025-09-21
preprintOpen accessAbstract Per– and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals found in the plasma of 98% of Americans. Epidemiological studies associate PFAS exposure with hypertension and kidney dysfunction, but causality and mechanisms remain unclear. We examined the effects of a mixture of 4 PFAS commonly detected in humans, including PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, and PFNA, on blood pressure, salt sensitivity, and renal injury in 129S6 mice. Exposure to a lower dose for 3 weeks produced plasma PFAS levels in mice resembling occupational and regional environmental exposures; while a upper dose achieved levels similar to PFAS production workers. PFAS induced dose-dependent pressor effects in male but not female mice on a 0.4% low salt diet. During 4% high salt feeding, PFAS induced greater salt-sensitive hypertension in male mice, accompanied by glomerulopathy, interstitial fibrosis, and a trend towards increased albuminuria. Pressor effects were independent of plasma norepinephrine. Single-cell RNA sequencing of kidneys revealed most transcriptional changes in proximal tubule, thick ascending limb, and collecting duct, with enrichment of pathways in cholesterol synthesis, mitochondria respiration, ATP production, and transmembrane transporter activity. PFAS markedly increased the mRNA and protein of the pore-forming α subunit of epithelial sodium channel (αENaC), with no change in βENaC and a slight reduction in γENaC protein. Elevated αENaC coincided with a 30% decrease in Nedd4-2 phosphorylation (Ser448), suggesting reduced ENaC ubiquitination and degradation. However, protein expression of α1 Na + -K + -ATPase and serum– and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1 (SGK1) as well as SGK1 phosphorylation (Ser78) were unaltered. Amiloride abolished salt-induced hypertension in lower-dose mice but only partially corrected hypertension in the upper dose group. Taken together, our results provide causal evidence that PFAS exposure promotes hypertension, salt sensitivity, and kidney injury via renal epithelial mechanisms, supporting and extending human epidemiologic observations. Translational Statement Our findings establish four PFAS as causal drivers of salt-sensitive hypertension and kidney injury through convergent effects on ENaC and other tubular sodium transporters. These results not only provide a mechanistic explanation for epidemiologic associations but also identify PFAS as environmental amplifiers of dietary sodium risk. Given the ubiquity of human exposure, reducing PFAS burden alongside salt reduction may represent a complementary strategy to curb the global epidemic of hypertension and kidney disease.
2025-12-18
article1st authorCorrespondingFluoroMatch IM: An Interactive Software for PFAS Analysis by Ion Mobility Spectrometry
Environmental Science & Technology · 2025-03-25 · 6 citations
articleOpen accessSenior authorCorrespondingPer- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are often present in complex mixtures at trace levels in environmental samples, posing difficulties for analytical chemists. Ion mobility offers highly replicable identifiers, enabling the use of community-based libraries for PFAS annotation in nontargeted analysis. Currently, limited software exists to leverage the capabilities of liquid chromatography ion mobility high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-IM-HRMS) for nontargeted analysis. FluoroMatch IM is a free vendor-neutral open-source tool for rapid annotation of PFASs in LC-IM-HRMS datasets. Annotation algorithms include collision cross-section (CCS) matching, formula prediction, homologous series detection, mass defect filtering, and accurate mass matching with a database of 194 PFAS ions that can be continuously expanded by the community. Results from FluoroMatch IM were compared to a targeted approach with a laboratory-prepared mixture of 63 PFASs and real wastewater samples. A nontarget workflow incorporating FluoroMatch IM revealed additional likely PFASs (n = 16) while confirming most targeted annotations (11/12) in wastewater samples. Validation of the standard mix showed a low false negative rate of 5% and a 5% false positive rate for features included in the CCS library, with a 0% false positive rate for features assigned confident scores. This study demonstrates the promise of FluoroMatch IM for streamlining PFAS analysis workflows.
2025-05-29
peer-reviewSenior authorEnvironmental Pollution · 2025-12-03 · 1 citations
articleHypertension · 2025-09-01
articlePer- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large class of environmental chemicals found in the plasma of 98% of Americans. PFAS exposure is associated with hypertension (HTN) and kidney dysfunction in epidemiological studies, but the causal effect has not been established. We investigated the effects of a mixture of 4 PFAS species most abundant in human blood, at exposure levels observed in humans, on blood pressure (BP), salt sensitivity, and renal injury in 129S6 mice. Exposure to a PFAS lower dose (18.8 μg/kg/day) and an upper dose (1.88 mg/kg/day) in drinking water for 3 weeks elevated plasma PFAS levels (perfluorooctanoic acid in μg/mL: no PFAS control 0.006 ± 0.004, lower dose 1.47 ± 0.36, upper dose 39.65 ± 6.21, p<0.01), comparable to those seen in the general population and occupationally exposed groups, respectively. PFAS induced dose-dependent pressor effects in male but not female mice on a 0.4% low salt diet. In response to 4% high salt diet for 7 days, PFAS augmented salt sensitive (SS)HTN in male mice (SBP increases in mmHg, Male: Ctrl 6.0±1.3, lower dose 9.2±1.6, upper dose 10.7±1.5; Female: Ctrl 1.6±2.0, lower dose 1.8±1.8, upper dose 7.0±1.5, 2-way ANOVA p exposure <0.05; p sex <0.01). PFAS-induced SSHTN in male mice was accompanied by striking interstitial fibrosis and albuminuria, indicative of hypertensive kidney damage. Single-cell RNAseq identified the most differentially expressed genes in the proximal tubule, thick ascending limb and collecting duct of PFAS exposed male mice, with top enriched pathways in transmembrane transporter activity and mitochondria respiration/metabolism. PFAS markedly downregulated Slc9a3 (Na + -H + exchanger 3) but upregulated Scnn1a encoding the pore-forming α subunit of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC). There was no change in Slc12a1, Slc12a3, Scnn1b or Scnn1g in scRNAseq or rtPCR analyses. In cultured mCCDcl1 cells, 24-hour incubation with PFAS at 90 ng/mL induced amiloride-sensitive transepithelial currents. Amiloride at 10 mg/kg/day completely abolished salt-induced BP elevation in control and the lower dose groups (SBP reductions in mmHg, -7.3±1.4 vs -12.2±1.9, p<0.01), but only partially reduced BP in the upper dose group (-4.4±1.5), supporting a role of ENaC in PFAS-induced SSHTN but additional mechanisms may be involved. To our knowledge, this is the first mechanistic evidence supporting a causal role of PFAS exposure in the pathogenesis of HTN, salt sensitivity of BP, and kidney damage.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · 2025-11-12
preprintOpen accessDevelopmental exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has been linked to reduced antibody responses to childhood vaccines, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Antibody production relies on interactions between various immune cell types, and it is unknown which are affected by PFAS exposure during development. To investigate this in a human-health relevant system, an in vivo model was established to delineate effects of developmental exposure to a mixture of four PFAS commonly found in human serum: PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, and PFNA. Pregnant mice consumed water containing these PFAS throughout gestation and lactation. PFAS were measured in both mothers and offspring, and an exposure that avoided overt health issues was selected. The immune response to influenza A virus (IAV) infection was assessed in male and female offspring. Results showed that developmental PFAS exposure reduced IAV-specific antibody levels in both sexes. However, it diminished T follicular helper cells and germinal center B cells-critical for antibody production-in only female offspring. These findings highlight possible sex-specific immune effects and identify potential cellular mechanisms behind reduced antibody levels. Since these immune cells are essential for antibody production in humans, this study provides valuable insights into how PFAS exposure may impact human health.
Frequent coauthors
- 24 shared
Christopher P. Higgins
Colorado School of Mines
- 12 shared
John L. Adgate
Colorado School of Public Health
- 12 shared
Kelsey E. Barton
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
- 12 shared
Anne P. Starling
Cohort (United Kingdom)
- 10 shared
Rainer Lohmann
University of Rhode Island
- 9 shared
L. Zell-Baran
University of Colorado Denver
- 8 shared
Sarah Choyke
Eurofins (United States)
- 8 shared
Derek C. G. Muir
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Labs
Environmental Analytical Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Carnegie Mellon University
Education
- 2017
Ph.D. Candidate, Oceanography
University of Rhode Island Narragansett Bay Campus
- 2008
B.S., Chemistry
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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