Heather M. Stapleton

Associate Professor of Environmental Health

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.

 

Appointments and Affiliations

  • Ronie-Richele Garcia-Johnson Distinguished Professor
  • Professor in the Division of Environmental Natural Sciences
  • Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Member of the Duke Cancer Institute

Contact Information

  • Office Location: 9 Circuit Drive, Box 90328, LSRC Room A207, Durham, NC 27710
  • Email Address: heather.stapleton@duke.edu
  • Websites:

Education

  • B.S. Long Island University, Southhampton College, 1997
  • M.S. University of Maryland, College Park, 2000
  • Ph.D. University of Maryland, College Park, 2003

Research Interests

  • Human exposure in indoor environments
  • Use of silicone wristbands to measure human exposure
  • Chemical exposures and cancer risk
  • Targeted & Nontargeted mass spectrometry methods applied to environmental samples
  • Effects of halogenated organic contaminants (e.g. BFRs, PFAS) on thyroid hormone regulation

Awards, Honors, and Distinctions

  • Highly Cited Researcher in the field of Environment. Clarivate. 2021
  • Thomas Langford Lectureship Award. Duke University. 2020
  • Highly Cited Researcher. Clarivate. 2019
  • Best Paper of the Year Award. Environmental Science & Technology. 2011

Courses Taught

  • ENVIRON 899: Master's Project
  • ENVIRON 898: Program Area Seminar
  • ENVIRON 540: Chemical Fate of Organic Compounds
  • CEE 563: Chemical Fate of Organic Compounds

In the News

Representative Publications

  • Franges, Jared, Lauren Malinowski, Chathuri De Alwis, Taylor Doolittle, Yixing Li, Hannahlee Dixon, Yang Tang, et al. “Developmental PBDE exposure persistently impairs mast cell function in vivo and drives sex-specific morphological and transcriptional changes in bone marrow-derived mast cells.” Environmental Research 288, no. Pt 1 (January 2026): 123250. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2025.123250.
  • Herkert, Nicholas J., Sharon Zhang, Nur-Us-Shafa Mazumder, R Bryan Ormond, Derek Urwin, and Heather M. Stapleton. “Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and Brominated Flame Retardants (BFRs) in Firefighter Turnout Gear: Two Chemical Classes of Concern to Consider.” Environmental Science & Technology Letters, December 16, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.estlett.5c01153.
  • Hoxie, Taylor, Sharon Zhang, Ellen M. Cooper, Daniel Ehrlich, Nicholas Herkert, Kate Hoffman, and Heather M. Stapleton. “Assessing Nondietary Exposure to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) in Firefighters Using Silicone Wristbands.” Environment & Health, December 3, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1021/envhealth.5c00316.
  • Kesler, R. M., N. Sauer, A. Barowy, C. Probert, D. L. Neumann, A. C. Mayer, M. Niemeier-Walsh, K. W. Fent, H. M. Stapleton, and G. P. Horn. “Evaluation of combustion products in air from electric and internal combustion engine vehicles during full-scale fire experiments.” Fire Safety Journal 158 (December 1, 2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.firesaf.2025.104558.
  • Rager, Julia E., Sarah L. Miller, Kate Hoffman, Yong Ho Kim, Brian Gullett, Toddi Steelman, Daniel Jaffe, et al. “Current Issues Related to Combustion Byproducts & Human Health: A Summary of the 18th International PIC Congress.” Environment & Health, November 24, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1021/envhealth.5c00246.