Dr. Bob Swarthout

Dr. Bob Swarthout is an analytical environmental chemist at Appalachian State University. His research applies the techniques of analytical chemistry to study environmental issues of local and global concern. He teaches introductory and capstone courses in environmental chemistry and environmental science.

His research focuses on the environmental impacts of naturally produced organic compounds and organic pollutants derived from fossil fuel production on air quality, water quality and climate. He has extensive experience studying the impact of hydraulic fracturing for oil and natural gas on regional air quality. His research with the Appalachian Atmospheric Interdisciplinary Research (AppalAIR) group involves understanding how organic chemicals produced by trees, like the terpenes you smell after crumpling up a pine needle, affect the amount of climate-cooling aerosols in the atmosphere. His currently funded work focuses on investigating the environmental fate of oil spills. “Oil is a complex mixture of thousands of organic compounds and the composition of spilled oil changes over time in the environment,” he explains. The goal of this research is to understand how these changes affect the toxicity and environmental impact of the chemicals in spilled oil.

 Areas of expertise

• Air quality impacts of hydraulic fracking
• Air quality in the Appalachian region
• Biogenic aerosols
• Oil spill chemistry