INBRE Speaker Dr. Wen-Yee Lee, UTEP

Wen-Yee Lee^1,2, Roberto De La Torre-Roche¹
¹Environmental Science and Engineering Ph.D. Program, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX
²Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX

Endocrine disruptor compounds (EDCs) are considered as the emerging environmental contaminants of concern. They exist in 80% of our waterways and could have adverse effects on the ecosystem and human health even at low concentrations. The wastewater treatment processes are not designed to completely eliminate EDCs in wastewater; therefore EDCs can escape the process and be released to the rivers. This research was to provide an overview of the occurrence and concentrations of EDCs in wastewater in the US/Mexico border area. An environmentally friendly method, called Stir Bar Sorptive Extraction coupled with thermal desorption and GC/MS (Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry), was implemented to analyze targeted EDCs in wastewater at low parts per billion to parts per trillion levels. In addition, the total estrogenic activity in wastewater was determined using a chemiluminescent yeast estrogen screening (CYES). The compounds being analyzed are nonylphenols (NPs), nonylphenol monoethoxylates (NPE1), nonylphenol diethoxylates (NPE2), bisphenol A (BPA), natural estrogens (estrone, E1, and estradiol, E2), and synthetic estrogens (17a-ethinylestradiol, EE2). Wastewater samples (both influent and effluent) were collected from four wastewater treatment plants in El Paso, TX and two in Juarez, Chihuahua, MX. Levels of EDCs in wastewater samples, the removal of EDCs in by the treatment processes, and the total estrogenicity in wastewater will be presented.

Curriculum Vitae
Wen-Yee Lee, Ph.D.
wylee@utep.edu
Phone: (915) 747-8413 Fax: (915) 747-5748
Education
2001 - 2002 Postdoctoral Scientist, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT, Funded by US Environmental Protection Agency.
2000 Ph.D.Environmental Science and Engineering
University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), El Paso, Texas
Dissertation: Environmental Applications of Chiral HPLC and Development of Chiral Stationary Phases
1995 M.S.Chemistry, UTEP, El Paso, Texas
Thesis: Synthesis and Applications of Trans-2-(1-methyl-1-phenylethyl)cyclohexyl Derivatives
1985 B.S.Chemistry, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
Thesis: The Catalytic Effect of Crown Ether in the Reduction of Nitrobezene
Experience
2009 - Present Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, UTEP, El Paso, TX
Taught General Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry and Laboratory
2003 - 2009 Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, UTEP, El Paso, TX
Taught General Biochemistry and Organic Chemistry for non-majors, General Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry and Laboratory
1998 - 2000 Assistant Instructor, Department of Chemistry, UTEP
Taught Organic Chemistry, Instrumental Analysis & Organic Lab, and General Chemistry
1998 - 2000 Laboratory coordinator, UTEP
Directed lab waste disposal and safety training
1994 - 1998 Research Assistant, Department of Chemistry, UTEP
1985-1993 Chemistry Teacher, Municipal Chien-Chen Senior High School, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Publications
· Lauer, F.T., Mitchell, L.A., Bedrick, E., McDonald, J.D., Lee, W.-Y., Li, W.W., Olivera, H., Amaya, M.A., Berwick, M., Gonzales, M., Currey, R., Pingitore, N.E., and Burchiel, S.W. "Temporal-Spatial Analysis of U.S.- Mexico Border Environmental Fine and Coarse PM Air Sample Extract Activity in Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells", Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 2009, accepted for publication.
· De La Torre-Roche, R.J. (Graduate Student); Lee, W.-Y.; Campos-Díaz, S.I. (Undergraduate Student) "Soil-borne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in El Paso, Texas: Analysis of a potential problem in the United States/Mexico border region, Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2009, 163(2-3), 946 - 958.
· Hampton, E., Lee, W.-Y., Funk, S., Keele, K., Wallace, M. "Plastics in our Environment: A Jigsaw Learning Activity", Science Scope, NSTA Press, 2009, 32, 56-61.
· Carlo-Rojas, Z. (Graduate Student); Lee, W.-Y., "Cu and Zn Uptake Inhibition by PAHs as Primary Toxicity in Plants", Proceedings of the 2007 National Conference on Environmental Science & Technology, 2009, Springer Science + Business Media, 41-46.
· Shi, Y. (Graduate Student); Murr, L.E.; Soto, K.F. (Graduate Student); Lee, W.-Y.; Guerrero, P.A. (Undergraduate Student); Ramirez, D.A (Undergraduate Student), " Characterization and Comparison of Speciated Atmospheric Carbonaceous Particulates and Their Polycyclic Aromatic hydrocarbon Contents in the Context of the Paso del Norte Airshed Along the U.S.-Mexico Border", Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds, 2007, 27: 361-400.
· Lee, W.-Y., Hampton, E. "Innovation Integration: Chemistry + Education + Feminist Studies + Service Learning", The International SUN Conference 2006 Conference Proceedings, 2006. Accessed online at <http://sunconference.utep.edu/SunHome/2006/docs/proceedings/Innovation%20Integration.doc>
· Mattina, M.J.; Eitzer, B.D.; Iannucci -Berger, W.; Lee, W.-Y.; White, J.C., "Plant Uptake and Translocation of Highly Weathered, Soil-Bound Technical Chlordane Residues: Data from Field and Rhizotron Studies", Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 2004, 23 (11), 2756-2762.
· Lee, W.-Y.; Iannucci -Berger, W.; Eitzer, B.D.; White, J.C.; Incorvia Mattina, M.J. "Plant Uptake and Translocation of Air-Borne Chlordane and Comparison with the Soil-to-Plant Route." Chemosphere, 2003, 53, 111-121.
· Lee, W.-Y.; Iannucci-Berger, W.; Eitzer, B.D.; White, J.C.; Incorvia Mattina, M.J. "Persistent Organic Pollutants in the Environment: Chlordane Residues in Compost", Journal of Environmental Quality, 2003, 32, 224-231.
· White, J.C.; Incorvia Mattina, M.J.; Lee, W.-Y.; Eitzer, B.D.; Iannucci -Berger, W. "Role of Organic Acids in Enhancing the Desorption and Uptake of Weathered p,p'-DDE by Cucurbita pepo" Environmental Pollution, 2003, 124, 71-80.
RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS (2009)
· De La Torre, R. (Graduate Student); Balsiger, H. A. (Graduate Student), Cox, M. B., Lee, W.-Y. "Identification of Endocrine Disruptor compounds in Wastewater Treatment Plants from El Paso Texas-Ciudad Juarez Mexico Border", 2009 SETAC North America 30th Annual Meeting New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, 19 - 23 November 2009.
· Guerrero Jr., R. (Graduate Student), Lee, W.-Y., Almeida, I.C. Romero, R. (Undergraduate Student), Nakayasu, E.S. "Method Development for the Analysis of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCP'S) in Sediment and Water Samples Using HPLC MS/MS", 65^th Southwest ACS Regional Meeting, November 4-7, El Paso, TX.
· Parra, A. (Undergraduate Student), Rocha, B. (Graduate Student), Lee, W.-Y. "Method Development for the Analysis of DDT, DDE, DDD in Cow Milk", 65^th Southwest ACS Regional Meeting, November 4-7, El Paso, TX.
· De La Torre, R. (Graduate Student); Balsiger, H. A. (Graduate Student), Cox, M. B., Lee, W.-Y. "Chemical and Biological Analysis of Endocrine Disruptor Compounds in Wastewater Samples", 65^th Southwest ACS Regional Meeting, November 4-7, El Paso, TX.
· McCreary Jr., R. (Undergraduate Student), De La Torre, R. (Graduate Student); Balsiger, H. A. (Graduate Student), Cox, M. B., Lee, W.-Y. "Determination of Estrogenic Activity in Wastewater Using Chemiluminescent Yeast Estrogen Screening and GC-MS", 65^th Southwest ACS Regional Meeting, November 4-7, El Paso, TX.
· Tilley, C., (Undergraduate Student), Yamaguchi, C. (Graduate Student); Lee, W.-Y. "Correlation of Total Organic Matter and PAHs in the Soil", ABRCMS, November 4-7, 2009, Phoenix, AZ
· Guerrero Jr., R. (Graduate Student), Lee, W.-Y., Almeida, I.C. Romero, R. (Undergraduate Student), Nakayasu, E.S. "Method Development for the Analysis of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCP'S) in Sediment and Water Samples Using HPLC MS/MS", 2009 SACNAS National Conference. October 15-18, 2009, Dallas, Texas.
· McCreary Jr., R. (Undergraduate Student), De La Torre, R. (Graduate Student); Balsiger, H. A. (Graduate Student), Cox, M. B., Lee, W.-Y. "Determination of Estrogenic Activity in Wastewater Using Chemiluminescent Yeast Estrogen Screening and GC-MS", 2009 SACNAS National Conference. October 15-18, 2009, Dallas, Texas.
· Ashley, L. (Undergraduate Student), Tilley, C. (Undergraduate Student), Yamaguchi, C. (Graduate Student), Lee, W.-Y. "Analysis of Benzo[a]pyrene in Air and Soil of the El Paso Region", 2009 SACNAS National Conference, October 15-18, 2009, Dallas, Texas.
· Parra, A. (Undergraduate Student), Rocha, B. (Graduate Student), Lee, W.-Y. "Method Development for the Analysis of DDT, DDE, DDD in Cow Milk", 2009 SACNAS National Conference, October 15-18, 2009, Dallas, Texas.
· Garcia, A. (Undergraduate Student, SRA mentee), De La Torre, R. (Graduate Student), Rocha, B. (Graduate Student), Lee, W.-Y. "Analysis of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) and Endocrine Disrupting Compounds (EDCs) in the Wastewaters of Paso Del Norte" LSAMP Symposia, July 31, 2009, El Paso, TX
· Parra, A. (Undergraduate Student), Rocha, B. (Graduate Student), Lee, W.-Y. "Method Development for the Analysis of DDT, DDE, DDD in Cow Milk", UTEP Research Expo, April 16, 2009.
· Tilley, C., (Undergraduate Student), Lopez, A. (Undergraduate Student), Yamaguchi, C. (Graduate Student); Lee, W.-Y. "Sampling Air and Soil for the Study of PAHs in the El Paso Region", UTEP Research Expo, April 16, 2009.
· Deemer, E.M. (Undergraduate Student), Lee, W.-Y. "Rapid analysis of bound glycerides in biodiesel using fluorescence", 237 th ACS National Meeting, March 22-26, 2009, Salt Lake City, UT.
· Lee, W.-Y. "Organic Pollutants in the Paso del Norte Region", invited seminar, Environmental Science and Engineering Ph.D. program, UTEP, March 11, 2009, El Paso, TX.
· Lee, W.-Y. "Organic Pollutants in the Paso del Norte Region", invited seminar, Environmental Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, January 13, 2009, Taiwan.