Qaim Mehdi, PhD
Postdoctoral AssociateDownloadHi-Res Photo
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Postdoctoral Associate
Appointments
Environmental Health Sciences
Postdoctoral AssociatePrimary
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Education & Training
- PhD
- University of Florida, Physiological Sciences (Toxicology) (2026)
- MS
- Hanyang University, Marine Sciences and Convergent Technology (2022)
- BS (Hon)
- Karakoram International University, Biological Sciences (2018)
Research
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Overview
My research focuses on understanding the dynamics of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in human and wildlife. Over the years, I have been studying PFAS contamination patterns across a diverse range of marine and terrestrial vertebrates, spanning ecosystems from the Korean coastal waters, Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, the remote Galápagos Islands, and inland to the coastal regions of the United States. I am currently investigating PFAS exposure in pediatric patients using both targeted and non-targeted analytical approaches. Using advanced high resolution mass spectrometry and innovative study designs, my work aims to deepen our understanding of PFAS exposure and their implications for both environmental and human health.
Medical Research Interests
Chemistry Techniques, Analytical; Environment and Public Health; Environmental Exposure
Public Health Interests
PFAS; Toxicology
ORCID
0009-0001-5598-8197
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Qaim Mehdi's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Qaim Mehdi's research output by year.
Alina Timshina, PhD
18Publications
108Citations
Publications
2026
Corrigendum to “Invasive Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) as sentinels for PFAS biomonitoring in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem” [Sci. Total Environ. 1029 (2026) 181762]
Blackman L, Mehdi Q, Timshina A, Bartoszek I, Miller M, Easterling I, Olejniczak K, Aufmuth J, Bowden J. Corrigendum to “Invasive Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) as sentinels for PFAS biomonitoring in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem” [Sci. Total Environ. 1029 (2026) 181762]. The Science Of The Total Environment 2026, 1031: 181832. PMID: 42070923, DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181832.Commentaries, Editorials and LettersTissue-specific accumulation and body burden of chlorinated, brominated, and fluorinated contaminants in sea turtles from Korean coastal waters
Radhakrishnan A, Mehdi Q, Mok S, Lee K, Moon H. Tissue-specific accumulation and body burden of chlorinated, brominated, and fluorinated contaminants in sea turtles from Korean coastal waters. Frontiers In Marine Science 2026, 13: 1723919. DOI: 10.3389/fmars.2026.1723919.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsPersistent organic pollutantsSea turtlesBody burdenBody burdens of persistent organic pollutantsBurdens of persistent organic pollutantsPOP accumulationFluorine contaminationGreen sea turtlesLoggerhead sea turtlesTissue-specific accumulationKorean coastal watersF-53BTrophic levelsBrominated contaminantsOrganic pollutantsChelonia mydasTurtle speciesCaretta carettaCoastal watersKorean coastTurtlesContaminationDetectable concentrationCarettaSeaRoadkill: An Opportunistic Strategy to Track PFAS in Venomous Snakes in a South African Urban Environment
Bowden J, Blackman L, Mehdi Q, Botha H, Evans N, Humphries M, Aufmuth J. Roadkill: An Opportunistic Strategy to Track PFAS in Venomous Snakes in a South African Urban Environment. Archives Of Environmental Contamination And Toxicology 2026, 90: 22. PMID: 41954651, DOI: 10.1007/s00244-026-01191-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsPolyfluoroalkyl substancesFate of polyfluoroalkyl substancesUrban environmentHuman exposure riskPFAS monitoringReplacement PFASAbundance of foodUrban centersAquatic systemsCl-PFESASampling strategyUrban pollutionExposure riskOpportunistic sampling strategySouth AfricaRoadkillChromatography-tandem mass spectrometryLiquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometryDry weightDangerous speciesOpportunistic strategySpeciesSnakeBiotaPollutionInvasive Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) as sentinels for PFAS biomonitoring in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem
Blackman L, Mehdi Q, Timshina A, Bartoszek I, Miller M, Easterling I, Olejniczak K, Aufmuth J, Bowden J. Invasive Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) as sentinels for PFAS biomonitoring in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem. The Science Of The Total Environment 2026, 1029: 181762. PMID: 41946070, DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181762.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsGreater Everglades EcosystemInvasive Burmese pythonsPolyfluoroalkyl substancesApex predatorsEverglades ecosystemBioaccumulation potentialPFAS concentrationsPython bivittatusBurmese pythonsNative apex predatorVulnerable native speciesHighest PFAS concentrationsPolyfluoroalkyl substances concentrationsPotential of pollutantsImpact of chemicalsNative speciesLinear perfluorooctanesulfonic acidInvasive snakesFlorida EvergladesMaternal transferPerfluorooctanesulfonic acidSampling locationsHigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometryEcosystemTissue burdenExploring profiles of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in a long-lived Arctic predator: The Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus)
Mehdi Q, Blackman L, Lydersen C, Kovacs K, Fisk A, Bowden J. Exploring profiles of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in a long-lived Arctic predator: The Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus). The Science Of The Total Environment 2026, 1022: 181603. PMID: 41780321, DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181603.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsPolyfluoroalkyl substancesGreenland sharksLinear perfluorooctane sulfonateMarine predatorsSomniosus microcephalusLong-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acidsExposed to PFASLong-chain PFASsLong-lived predatorsMarine food websPFAS profilesPolyfluoroalkyl substances concentrationsPerfluoroalkyl carboxylic acidsArctic predatorsMobile contaminantsFood websPredatorsSharksArctic speciesBiological parametersHigher concentrationsSomniosusBody lengthContaminationMicrocephalus
2025
Exploring the distribution of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in surface water and wildlife from the Galápagos Islands
Mehdi Q, Blackman L, Lewbart G, Muñoz-Pérez J, Alarcón-Ruales D, Páez-Rosas D, Aufmuth J, Bowden J. Exploring the distribution of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in surface water and wildlife from the Galápagos Islands. Regional Studies In Marine Science 2025, 90: 104438. DOI: 10.1016/j.rsma.2025.104438.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsPolyfluoroalkyl substancesGalapagos sea lionsSea lionsDistribution of PFASsSurface waterGalapagos ArchipelagoPresence of PFASLong-chain PFASsDistribution of per-Marine iguanasSurface water samplesRemote ecosystemsL-PFOSWater samplesGalapagos IslandsWildlifeGalapagosSalemaPFNAArchipelagoLionsRemote areasWaterIguanasPFCAsPFAS dynamics in the American black bear (Ursus americanus): Physiological stages (hyperphagia, hibernation, and post-hibernation), and temporal trends from 1989 to 2015
Mehdi Q, Blackman L, Timshina A, Boubad O, Olfenbuttel C, Kelly M, Mesa-Cruz J, Bowden J. PFAS dynamics in the American black bear (Ursus americanus): Physiological stages (hyperphagia, hibernation, and post-hibernation), and temporal trends from 1989 to 2015. The Science Of The Total Environment 2025, 1005: 180876. PMID: 41207023, DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.180876.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsAmerican black bearsPFAS levelsBlack bearsPolyfluoroalkyl substancesUrsus americanusTemporal trendsLong-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acidsFemale black bearsLong-chain PFCAsPerfluoroalkyl carboxylic acidsIndividual black bearsPFAS classesPerfluoroalkyl sulfonic acidsPFCA precursorsPFAS concentrationsLinear mixed-effects modelsPhysiological stagesPhase-outUrsusMixed-effects modelsAmericanusEnvironmental inputsLate hibernationWildlifePFCAsAn unwanted hitchhiker: assessment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in vehicle cabin air conditioner and engine filters
Arnold J, Timshina A, Mehdi Q, Bowden J. An unwanted hitchhiker: assessment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in vehicle cabin air conditioner and engine filters. Analytical Methods 2025, 17: 8317-8325. PMID: 41070861, DOI: 10.1039/d5ay01255d.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDominant PFASPolyfluoroalkyl phosphate estersPolyfluoroalkyl substancesEngine air filterLevels of PFASFluorotelomer sulfonic acidPolyfluoroalkyl substances concentrationsPFAS contaminationPerfluoroalkyl carboxylic acidsPFAS levelsAdverse health effectsEngine filtersAir filtersWidespread chemicalsSampling deviceAC filterHealth effectsPolyfluoroalkylHPLC-MS/MSFiltered airPERDustTandem mass spectrometryCabin air conditioningFluorotelomerOccurrence and Maternal Transfer of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Pregnant Sharks from Florida Coastal Waters
Mehdi Q, Sinkway T, Blackman L, Iorfida A, Pittman A, Sutterer C, Hinchliffe H, Zautcke K, Morrow M, Shah N, Chambrier-Athias I, Cohen K, Fraser G, Adams D, Bowden J. Occurrence and Maternal Transfer of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Pregnant Sharks from Florida Coastal Waters. Environmental Science And Technology 2025, 59: 14981-14992. PMID: 40676498, DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5c03114.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsPolyfluoroalkyl substancesMaternal transferFlorida coastal watersPregnant sharksCoastal watersLong-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acidsProtein-water partition coefficientsMaternal transfer ratiosPerfluoroalkyl carboxylic acidsTiger sharksEnvironmental mediaAtlantic sharpnoseSharksShark embryosPartition coefficientsRegulatory attentionPolyfluoroalkylMuscle samplesFloridaSpeciesPERPositive relationshipWaterPerfluorooctanesulfonateTigerCorrigendum to “Sand dollars (Mellita tenuis): A new bioindicator for tracking PFAS in coastal waters” [Mar. Pollut. Bull. Volume 213, April 2025, 117673]
Bowden J, Mehdi Q, Blackman L, Correia K, Sinkway T, Marcin J, Furman B, Congdon V, Aufmuth J. Corrigendum to “Sand dollars (Mellita tenuis): A new bioindicator for tracking PFAS in coastal waters” [Mar. Pollut. Bull. Volume 213, April 2025, 117673]. Marine Pollution Bulletin 2025, 220: 118367. PMID: 40610324, DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.118367.Commentaries, Editorials and LettersConcepts
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