Overview
Professor Heather Stapleton is an environmental chemist and exposure scientist in the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University. Her research interests focus on identification of halogenated and organophosphate chemicals in building materials, furnishings and consumer products, and estimation of human exposure, particularly in vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and children. Her laboratory utilizes mass spectrometry, including targeted and nontargeted approaches, to characterize chemical burdens in both environmental samples and biological tissues to support environmental health research. Currently she serves as the Director for the Duke Superfund Research Center, and Director of the Duke Environmental Analysis Laboratory, which is part of NIH’s Human Health Environmental Analysis Resource.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
In the News
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Recent Publications
Assessing Nondietary Exposure to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) in Firefighters Using Silicone Wristbands
Journal Article Environment & Health · April 17, 2026 Full text CitePesticide Exposure Characterization Among Adult Males in a Chilean Agricultural Community Using Paired Silicone Wristbands and Urine Samples.
Journal Article Environmental science & technology · April 2026 Human exposure to current-use and legacy pesticides in Chile remains largely understudied. In this pilot study, we collected silicone wristbands and urine samples to characterize pesticide exposure, assess between-matrix correlations, and identify potentia ... Full text CiteVolatile per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other semi-volatile organic chemicals in indoor air of fire stations: the influence of gear storage conditions.
Journal Article Environmental science. Processes & impacts · April 2026 Previous studies have examined firefighters' exposure to chemicals associated with fire calls and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); however, little attention has been given to exposures in the fire station itself. This study measured volatile PFA ... Full text CiteRecent Grants
Duke University Program in Environmental Health
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences · 2019 - 2029Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Exposures, Effects, and Interventions: A Collaborative Research-to-Action Partnership with Firefighters".
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by University of Arizona · 2024 - 2028An integrated and diverse genomic medicine program for undiagnosed diseases
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke · 2014 - 2028View All Grants