Dr Ed Stephens

Biography

Dr Ed Stephens works at Earth and Enviornmental Sciences in University of St. Andrews, United Kingdom.

Research Interest

Smoke efficiently delivers to the lungs of smokers and bystanders significant quantities of environmental metals that have accumulated in the tobacco plant or adhered to its leaves. My research focuses on the transfer mechanisms and the speciation of metals in the pathway “from seedbed to sickbed”. In this research I am applying the toolbox of geochemistry including ICPMS, XRF, XRD, EPMA, IRMS (all available in house) and XANES (Diamond synchrotron). This research involves characterising the valence and molecular species of metals in tobacco that may change slowly (e.g. curing process) or rapidly (combustion). Species determines the human bioavailability and detoxification pathways of the metal and is thus a key factor in toxicity and health risk