My research and teaching is in the fields of analytical chemistry and envrionmental science. I like to investigate sources of environmental pollutants and monitor their fate and transport in the environment using advanced analytical techniques including multidimensional chromatography and high resolution mass spectrometry. Much of my research has an environmental forensics aspect which involves identifying the sources of contamination and establishing the magnitude of any human or wildlife exposures.
Post Doctoral Fellow, University of Toronto/Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change/Conservation Ontario, Canada (2015-16)
I developed a QuEChERS screening method to quickly identify potential contaminants of concern in sediments. Extracted samples were analysed using atmospheric pressure gas chromatography and high resolution time of flight mass spectrometry (APGC-HRToFMS).
Post Doctoral Fellow, Ryerson University/Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, Canada (2014-15)
I developed an analytical method for the analysis of emerging organophosphorous and halogenated flame retardants using APGC-HRToFMS
Independent consultant, (2008-16)
I operated as an independent consultant in environmental forensics. I was appointed to an expert panel to identify the risks to surface waters from hydraulic fracturing, provided assistance on legal cases with data interpretation and analysis to establish the source of a PCBs. I have also run a series of workshops and given lectures on contaminated land assessment and environmental forensics.
Environmental Scientist, Mouchel, UK (2007-11)
I was a technical advisor for human health risk assessment and environmental forensics associated with contaminated land. I conducted a large variety of different projects assessing contamination and human exposure on a former gas works, a chemical factory, several former landfills, residential, industrial, allotments, public open space and highway schemes
Completed
Pennante Naa Ayikailey Bruce-Vanderpuije (Investigations on the state of POPs in Ghana, and human biomonitoring of dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dlPCBs), polychlorinated, polybrominated and mixed halogenated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs, PBDD/Fs, and PXDD/Fs) in vulnerable ghanaian populations), Based at University at Buffalo
I am curently involved with the supervision of the following PhD candidates:
Director of Studies
Jodie Barber (An assessment of zoonotic disease risk posed by animal events worldwide)
Emmelianna Kumar (Development And Application of Methods For Quantifying Pharmaceuticals in Eurasian Otters (Lutra lutra))
Co-supervisor
Lauren McNeill (Origami Chips: paper-based Lab-on-a-Chip devices for the rapid and cost-effective detection of New Psychoactive Substances (NPSs))
Guuske Tiktak (Conservation management of elasmobranch populations)
Thomas Hughes (The importance of mesocarnivores; Impacts of diet, pollutants and gut microbiomes)
My main research interests are in the field of environmental forensics. This involves the systematic and scientific evaluation of physical, chemical and historical information for the purpose of developing defensible scientific and legal conclusions regarding the source or age of a contaminant release into the environment." Or in more basic English; establishing the "who", "what", "when" and "where" from a contamination event.
My specific research areas are:
G. O'Sullivan, D. Megson (2015). Environmental Forensics Proceedings of the 2014 INEF Conference. Royal Society of Chemistry.
D. Megson, S. Hajimirzaee, A. Doyle, F. Cannon, J-C. Balouet (2019). Investigating the potential for transisomerisation of trycresyl phosphate with a palladium catalyst and its implications for aircraft cabin air quality. Chemosphere. 215, pp.532-534.
P. Bruce-Vanderpuije, D. Megson, E. Reiner, L. Bradley, S. Adu-Kumi, et al. J. Gardella Jr.. (2018). The state of POPs in Ghana- A review on persistent organic pollutants: Environmental and human exposure. Environmental Pollution. 245, pp.331-342.
N. D'Cruze, B. Singh, A. MOOKERJEE, D. Macdonald, K. Hunter, et al. C. Brassey, R. Jennifer, S. Megson, DP. Megson, G. Fox, J. Louies, RS. Sharath. (2018). What’s in a name? Wildlife traders evade authorities using code words. Oryx. 52(1), pp.13-15.
R. Lega, D. Megson, C. Hartley, P. Crozier, K. MacPherson, et al. T. Kolic, PA. Helm, A. Myers, SP. Bhavsar, EJ. Reiner. (2017). Congener specific determination of polychlorinated naphthalenes in sediment and biota by gas chromatography high resolution mass spectrometry. Journal of Chromatography A. 1479, pp.169-176.
D. Megson, M. Robson, KJ. Jobst, PA. Helm, EJ. Reiner (2016). Determination of Halogenated Flame Retardants Using Gas Chromatography with Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization (APCI) and a High-Resolution Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer (HRqTOFMS). Analytical Chemistry. 88(23), pp.11406-11411.
R. Guo, D. Megson, AL. Myers, PA. Helm, C. Marvin, et al. P. Crozier, S. Mabury, SP. Bhavsar, G. Tomy, M. Simcik, B. McCarry, EJ. Reiner. (2016). Application of a comprehensive extraction technique for the determination of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in Great Lakes Region sediments. Chemosphere. 164, pp.535-546.
DP. Megson, EJ. Reiner, KJ. Jobst, FL. Dorman, M. Robson (2016). A review of the determination of persistent organic pollutants for environmental forensics investigations. Analytica Chimica Acta. 941, pp.10-25.
D. Megson, X. Ortiz, KJ. Jobst, EJ. Reiner, MFA. Mulder, et al. J-C. Balouet. (2016). A comparison of fresh and used aircraft oil for the identification of toxic substances linked to aerotoxic syndrome. Chemosphere. 158, pp.116-123.
DP. Megson (2016). Environmental Forensics in the Workplace. LCGC North America. 34(8), pp.564-565.
D. Megson, J-F. Focant, DG. Patterson, M. Robson, MC. Lohan, et al. PJ. Worsfold, S. Comber, R. Kalin, E. Reiner, G. O'Sullivan. (2015). Can polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) signatures and enantiomer fractions be used for source identification and to age date occupational exposure?. Environ Int. 81, pp.56-63.
DP. Megson, JC. Balouet, F. Gallion, G. O'Sullivan (2015). FORENSIC INVESTIGATIONS IN COMPLEX POLLUTION CASES INVOLVING PCBS, DIOXINS AND FURANS: POTENTIAL PITFALLS AND TIPS.
D. Megson, TA. Brown, GW. Johnson, G. O'Sullivan, AWJ. Bicknell, et al. SC. Votier, MC. Lohan, S. Comber, R. Kalin, PJ. Worsfold. (2014). Identifying the provenance of Leach's storm petrels in the North Atlantic using polychlorinated biphenyl signatures derived from comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Chemosphere. 114, pp.195-202.
DP. Megson, G. O'Sullivan, PJ. Worsfold, MC. Lohan, S. Comber (2014). Techniques to Age Date Human Exposure to PCBs.
D. Megson, R. Kalin, PJ. Worsfold, C. Gauchotte-Lindsay, DG. Patterson, et al. MC. Lohan, S. Comber, TA. Brown, G. O' Sullivan. (2013). Fingerprinting polychlorinated biphenyls in environmental samples using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr A. 1318, pp.276-283.
D. Megson, TA. Brown, G. O'Sullivan, M. Robson, X. Ortiz, et al. PJ. Worsfold, S. Comber, MC. Lohan, EJ. Reiner. Changes to polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) signatures and enantiomer fractions across different tissue types in Guillemots. Marine Pollution Bulletin. 131, pp.174-179.
D. Megson, G. O'Sullivan, S. Comber, PJ. Worsfold, MC. Lohan, et al. MR. Edwards, WJ. Shields, CD. Sandau, DG. Patterson. (2013). Elucidating the structural properties that influence the persistence of PCBs in humans using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) dataset. Sci Total Environ. 461-462, pp.99-107.
DP. Megson, S. Dack (2012). Assessing changes to the congener profile of PCDD and PCDF during bioaccumulation in chicken and duck eggs.
D. Megson, S. Dack, M. Moore (2011). Limitations of the CLEA model when assessing human health risks from dioxins and furans in soil at an allotments site in Rochdale, NW England. J Environ Monit. 13(7), pp.1983-1990.
D. Wayland, DP. Megson, SM. Mudge, JD. Icely, A. Newton (2008). Identifying the Source of Nutrient Contamination in a Lagoon System. Environmental Forensics. 9(2-3), pp.231-239.
D. Megson (2019). Polychlorinated Biphenyls. In: Encyclopaedia of Analytical Science. Elsevier,
V. Jaspers, D. Megson, G. O’Sullivan (2014). POPs in the Terrestrial Environment. In: Environmental Forensics for Persistent Organic Pollutants. Elsevier, pp.291-356.
G. O’Sullivan, D. Megson (2014). Brief Overview. In: Environmental Forensics for Persistent Organic Pollutants. Elsevier, pp.1-20.
EJ. Reiner, KJ. Jobst, D. Megson, FL. Dorman, J-F. Focant (2014). Analytical Methodology of POPs. In: Environmental Forensics for Persistent Organic Pollutants. Elsevier, pp.59-139.
DP. Megson, G. O'Sullivan (2013). Chapter 7 – POPs in the Terrestrial Environment. In: Environmental Forensics for Persistent Organic Pollutants. Newnes,
DP. Megson, EJ. Reiner, KJ. Jobst, FL. Dorman, JF. Focant (2013). Chapter 3 – Analytical Methodology of POPs. In: Environmental Forensics for Persistent Organic Pollutants. Newnes,
DP. Megson, G. O'Sullivan (2013). Chapter 1 – Brief Overview: Discovery, Regulation, Properties, and Fate of POPs. In: Environmental Forensics for Persistent Organic Pollutants. Newnes,
D. Megson, R. Charles, M. Davies, C. Ennis (2018). Mitigating Issues of Future Wastes: Enhancing Resource Productivity in Emerging Technologies. Royal Society of Chemistry - Environment, Sustainability and Energy Division, Royal Society of Chemistry - Environment, Sustainability and Energy Division.
MS. Quinn, M-E. Tyler, E. Ajaero, J. Arvai, M. Carlson, et al. I. Dunmade, S. Hill, J. McCallum, D. McMartin, D. Megson, G. O’Sullivan, R. Parks, D. Poulton, B. Stelfox, J. Stewart, CS. Serralde, S. Tomblin, C. Van der Byl. (2015). Landscape Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing Development and Operations on Surface Water and Watersheds. Canadian Water Network, Canadian Water Network.
J. Wentworth, D. Megson Persistent Chemical Pollutants. POST - Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, POST - Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology.
I regularly review articles for environmental journals including:
2019: Awarded £5,000 – Manchester Met. Staff development award (Lead Investigator)
2018: Awarded £6,228 - Research Grant. Sweeping sands scoping study (Lead investigator)
2018: Awarded £21,000 - Research Grant. Wildlife forensics (Lead investigator)
2017: Awarded £60,000 – Research Grant. Wildlife forensics – assessment of zoonotic disease risks (Lead Investigator)
2017: Awarded £19,200 – Research Grant for consultancy work. Identification of per- and poly-fluorinated (PFAS) compounds within a simple model fire-fighting foam (Lead Investigator)
2017: Awarded £5,000 – Research Grant for consultancy work. Determining transisomerisation of tricresyly phosphates by palladium catalysis and the potential impact on aircraft air quality (Lead Investigator)
2017: Awarded £4,500 – Research Grant for consultancy work. Investigating illegal wildlife trade of ‘Hatha Jodi’(Lead Investigator)
2017: Awarded £1,500 – Summer studentship from RSC/BMSS. Determination of the chemical structure of antimicrobial substances from Viburnum opulus (Lead Investigator)
2017: Awarded £4,500 – Manchester Met. Staff incentivisation award (Lead Investigator)
2016: Awarded £311,836 – Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP). Developing a real time sensor to monitor water quality (Co-Investgator)
2017: Chemistry Matters - I currently work as a consultant for Chemistry Matters (http://chemistry-matters.com/) providing assistance with environmental forensics investigations
2015: Canadian Water Network - I was part of the team who produced a gap assessment investigating Landscape Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing Development and Operations on Surface Water and Watersheds
2013: SoBRA - I produced a Report in Risk Assessment of Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Groundwater, Laboratory Analysis and Environmental Forensics
I am curently colaborating with WAP (https://www.worldanimalprotection.org.uk/) to combat wildlife crime
I am curently a revier for:
The Royal Society of Chemistry Research Fund
The Royal Society of Chemistry ESED travel grants
I am have held positions as a guest editor for Emerging Contaminants and the Journal of Environmental Pollution
I am also been the editor for the International Network of Environmental Forensics Bulletin