Amanda M. McCarthy
Instructor
in Science
Wellesley
College
DEPT: Chemistry
OFFICE: 371 Science Center
PHONE: (781)-283-3336
E-MAIL: amccarthy1@wellesley.edu
EDUCATION:
M.S. 1994 SUNY
College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse University
B.S., 1991 SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse University
INTERESTS: Environmental Chemistry, Organic Chemistry
Teaching Interests and Activities:
The teaching I have done here at Wellesley has centered around organic chemistry laboratory. I have taught both semesters of our organic sequence (211 and 313) laboratory several times. This semester I have also taught Introductory Chemistry. This spring I am teaching Chemistry 211 laboratory and Chemistry 111 Laboratory.
Research Interests and Activities:
My research was in the area of environmental chemistry. I concentrated on the search for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the sediment of Lake Champlain. PCBs were used extensively in industry due to their non-flammability and heat-resistant properties. They were used as protective dye coatings, heat transfer agents, hydraulics, lubricants, transformers, capacitors and petroleum additives as well as many other uses. Their use was banned in the early 1970s after they were found to pose a significant health threat to humans and other consumers of fish which bioaccumulate PCBs into their flesh. However, due to lack of regulation and poor handling techniques, PCBs are now found throughout the environment in fish, water, sediment, and soil. So it is of great interest that these environmental contaminants are located. To do this one needs to combine their knowledge of how organic molecules behave in aqueous environments, as well as aquatic chemistry and analytical techniques.
In addition, I spent a great deal of time looking for pesticides, hydrocarbons, chlorobenzenes, and other organic environmental contaminants in Onondaga Lake in Syracuse, NY. I also dabbled in the investigation of acid rain effects by analyzing sulfur content in soil through tracing experiments using radiolabeled sulfate.
Publications:
Hill, Amanda M. 1993 PCBs in Lake Champlain Sediment, Great Lakes Research Consortium research presentation abstract (January 1993).
Hill, Amanda M. 1994 Polychlorinated Biphenyl Content in Lake Champlain Sediment, M.S. Dissertation, Syracuse University, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
Hassett, J.P., Hill, A.M., Baldwin, B.A. 1994 Effects of Artificial Oxygenation on Organic Compounds in Onondaga Lake (Part I: Chlorobenzenes, Part II: Polychlorinated Biphenyls). Report to the Onondaga Lake Management Conference.
Howard, P.H. et al., Handbook of Environmental Fate and Exposure Data for Organic Chemicals Volume 5 - Solvents 3. CRC Press, 1997.
Additional Interests and Activities:
In my free time I enjoy a variety of activities. My husband and I rent a house in Vermont through the winter. We go up there most weekends to ski at our favorite mountain, Mad River Glen, or at Sugarbush. I only started skiing last season, so I am still a beginner, but since we go up very often, I am getting better pretty quickly!! In the Spring and Summer months, I enjoy hiking and camping. My husband and I tend to head up to the Green Mountains or over to the Berkshires to enjoy the outdoors. I also can be found after lab in the afternoon in the Sports Center either using the Stairmaster or the treadmill or running around the track (this is of course to keep in shape for skiing and hiking!!)
I also love music - any kind!! Jazz, bluegrass, classical, rock, etc. I love going out to live shows in Boston. I also play the flute and piccolo (not professionally however).