Research Interests
- Conducting controlled, quantitative laboratory experiments on the sublethal effects of organic contaminants on marine animals and plants
- Interpretation of data using Quantitative Structure Activity Relationships
- Linking field and laboratory studies through bioaccumulation-effect relationships
- Contaminant studies have included crude oil, hydrocarbons, herbicides, insecticides, detergents and alcohols (studies of compounds individually or as mixtures)
- Analysis of both natural and anthropogenic contaminant organic chemicals (e.g. carotenoid pigments, hydrocarbons, pesticides and PCBs), especially in water and biological matrices, using TLC, HPLC, GC, GC-MS, spectrophotometry and spectrofluorimetry
Publications
2004
- Crowe, T., Smith, E.L., Donkin, P., Barnaby, D. and Rowland, S.J. (2004) Measurements of sublethal effects on individual organisms indicate community-level impacts of pollution. Journal of Applied Ecology 4, 114-123. [doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2664.2004.00882.x]
2003
- Donkin, P., Smith, E.L. and Rowland, S.J. (2003) Toxic effects of unresolved complex mixtures of aromatic hydrocarbons accumulated by mussels, Mytilus edulis, from contaminated field sites. Environmental Science and Technology 37, 4825-4830.
2002
- Okay, O.S., Tufekci, V. and Donkin, P. (2002) Acute and chronic toxicity of pyrene to the unicellular marine alga Phaeodactylum tricornutum. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 68, 600-605.
- Widdows, J., Donkin, P., Staff, F.J., Matthiessen, P., Law, R.J., Allen, Y.T., Thain, J.E., Allchin, C.R. and Jones, B.R. (2002) Measurement of stress effects (scope for growth) and contaminant levels in mussels (Mytilus edulis) collected from the Irish Sea. Marine Environmental Research 53, 327-356.
2001
- Rowland, S., Donkin, P., Smith, E. and Wraige, E. (2001) Aromatic hydrocarbon 'humps' in the marine environment: unrecognized toxins? Environmental Science and Technology 13, 2640-2644.
- Smith, E., Wraige, E., Donkin, P. and Rowland, S. (2001) Hydrocarbon humps in the marine environment: Synthesis, toxicity and aqueous solubility of monaromatic compounds. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 20, 2428–2432.
2000
- Fernley, P.W., Moore, M.N., Lowe, D.M., Donkin, P. and Evans, S. (2000) Impact of the Sea Empress oil spill on lysosomal stability in mussel blood cells. Marine Environmental Research 50, 451-455.
- Okay, O.S., Donkin., P., Peters, L.D., Livingstone, D.R. (2000) The role of algae (Isochrysis galbana) enrichment on the bioaccumulation of benzo[a]pyrene and its effects on the blue mussel Mytilus edulis. Environmental Pollution 110, 103-113.
1999
- Lindley, J.A., Donkin, P., Evans, S.V., George, C.L., Uil, K.P., (1999) Effects of organochlorine compounds on hatching and viability of calanoid copepod eggs. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 242, 59-74.
- Okay, O.S., Donkin, P. (1999) Application of different algal bioassay techniques for assessment of the toxicity of the herbicide DCMU and the antifouling compound IRGAROL. In: Proceedings of the 5th SECOTOX Conference, Munich, 1999, (edited by Schramm, K.W. and Kettrup, A.). GSF-Munich.
- Roast, S.D., Thompson, R.S., Donkin, P., Widdows, J., Jones, M.B. (1999) Toxicity of the organophosphate pesticides chlorpyrifos and dimethoate to Neomysis integer (Crustacea: Mysidacea). Water Research 33, 319-326.
- Scarlett, A., Donkin, P., Fileman, T.W., Evans, S.V., Donkin, M.E. (1999) Risk posed by the antifouling agent Irgarol 1051 to the seagrass, Zostera marina. Aquatic Toxicology 45, 159-170.
- Scarlett, A., Donkin, P., Fileman, T.W., Morris, R.J. (1999) Occurrence of the antifouling herbicide, Irgarol 1051, within coastal-water seagrasses from Queensland, Australia. Marine Pollution Bulletin 38, 687-691.
- Zhou, J.L., Fileman, T.W., Evans, S., Donkin, P., Readman, J.W., Mantoura, R.F.C. and Rowland, S. (1999) The partition of fluoranthene and pyrene between suspended particles and dissolved phase in the Humber Estuary: a study of the controlling factors. Science of the Total Environment 243/244, 305-321.
1998
- George, C.L., Lindley, J.A., Evans, S.V., Donkin, P. (1998) The effect of pollution of intertidal sediments on the viability of calanoid copepod eggs. Advances in Limnology 52, 175-183.
- George, C.L., Lindley, J.A., Evans, S.V., Donkin, P. (1998) The viability of calanoid copepod eggs from intertidal sediments following the oil spill from the Sea Empress at Milford Haven. In: The Sea Empress Oil Spill, (edited by Edwards, R. and Sime, H.), pp. 437-445. Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management.
- Lindley, J.A., George, C.L., Evans, S.V., Donkin, P. (1998) Viability of calanoid copepod eggs from intertidal sediments: a comparison of three estuaries. Marine Ecology Progress Series 162, 183-190.
- Zhou, J.L., Fileman, T.W., Evans, S., Donkin, P., Llewellyn, C., Readman, J.W., Mantoura, R.F.C., Rowland, S.J. (1998) Fluoranthene and pyrene in the suspended particulate matter and surface sediments of the Humber estuary, UK. Marine Pollution Bulletin 36, 587-597.
1997
- Donkin, P., Ostroumov, S.A. (1997) Ecological risk from sodium dodecylsulphate. Toksikologichesky Vestnik (Toxicological Bulletin) 3, 37.
- Donkin, P., Widdows, J., Evans, S.V., Staff, F.J., Yan, T. (1997) Effect of neurotoxic pesticides on the feeding rate of marine mussels (Mytilus edulis). Pesticide Science 49, 196-209.
- Ostroumov S.A., Donkin, P., Staff, F.J. (1997) Inhibition by the anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulphate, of the ability of mussels Mytilus edulis to filter and purify the seawater. [In Russian with English summary]. Vestnik. Moskovskii Universitet Seriia 16 Biologia 3, 30-36.
- Scarlett, A., Donkin, M.E., Fileman, T.W., Donkin, P. (1997) Occurrence of the marine antifouling agent Irgarol 1051 within the Plymouth Sound locality: implications for the green macroalga Enteromorpha intestinalis. Marine Pollution Bulletin 34, 645-651.
1996
- Donkin, P., Widdows, J., Lowe, D.M., Donkin, M.E., Price, D.N. (1996) Sub-lethal effects of waste on marine organisms: responses measured at the whole organism level. In: Toxic Impacts of Wastes on the Aquatic Environment, (edited by Tapp, J.F., Hunt, S.M. and Wharfe, J.R.), pp. 138-145. Royal Society of Chemistry.
- Zhou, J.L., Fileman, T.W., Evans, S.V., Donkin, P., Mantoura, R.F.C., Rowland, S.J. (1996) Seasonal distribution of dissolved pesticides and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in the Humber Estuary and Humber Coastal Zone. Marine Pollution Bulletin 32, 599-608.
1995
- Schild, R., Donkin, P., Donkin, M.E., Price, D.N. (1995) A QSAR for measuring sublethal responses in the marine macroalga Enteromorpha intestinalis. SAR and QSAR in Environmental Research 4, 147-154.
- Thomas, K.V., Donkin, P., Rowland, S.J. (1995) Toxicity enhancement of an aliphatic petrogenic unresolved complex mixture (UCM) by chemical oxidation. Water Research 29, 379-382.
- Widdows, J., Donkin, P., Brinsley, M.D., Evans, S.V., Salkeld, P.N., Franklin, A., Law, R.J., Waldock, M.J. (1995) Scope for growth and contaminant levels in North Sea mussels Mytilus edulis. Marine Ecology Progress Series 127, 131-148.
- Widdows, J., Donkin, P., Evans, S.V., Page, D.S., Salkeld, P. (1995) Sublethal biological effects and chemical contaminant monitoring of Sullom Voe (Shetland) using mussels (Mytilus edulis). Proceedings of the Royal Society, Edinburgh, B 103, 99-112.
- Wraige, E.W., Donkin, P., Rowland, S.J. (1995) The effect of unresolved complex mixtures of hydrocarbons on the feeding rate of the mussel, Mytilus edulis; a low molecular weight ucm component, 4-propyloctane. In: Organic Geochemistry; Developments and Applications to Energy, Climate, Environment and Human History. 17th International Meeting on Organic Geochemistry, San Sebastian, Spain, 4-8 September 1995 (edited by Grimalt, J. and Dorronsoro, C.), pp. 621-633.
Prior to 1995
- Donkin, P. (1994) Quantitative structure-activity relationships. In: Handbook of Ecotoxicology. Volume 2, (edited by Calow, P.), pp. 321-347. Blackwell Scientific Publications.
- Schild, R., Donkin, P., Cotsifis, P.A., Donkin, M.E. (1994) A quantitative structure-activity relationship for the effect of alcohols on neutral red retention by the marine macroalga Enteromorpha intestinalis. Chemosphere 27, 1777-1788.
- Widdows, J., Brinsley, M., Donkin, P., Evans, S.V., Salkeld, P.N. (1994) Use of bivalves in pollution monitoring: relating experiences in the North Sea to the Mediterranean. In: Proceedings of the Fourth National Symposium on Oceanography and Fisheries, (edited by Papathanassiou, E. and Charou, E.), pp. 322-331.
- Thomas, K.V., Donkin, P., Rowland, S.J. (1993) Unresolved complex mixtures (GC humps) of hydrocarbons are toxic to marine organisms when oxidised. In: Proceedings of the 16th International Meeting of the European Association of Organic Geochemists, Stavanger, pp. 717-719.
- Livingstone, D.R., Donkin, P., Walker, C.H. (1992) Pollutants in marine ecosystems: an overview. In: Persistant Pollutants in Marine Ecosystems, (edited by Walker, C.H. and Livingstone, D.R.), pp. 235-263. Pergamon Press, (SETAC Special Publication Series).
- Widdows, J., Donkin, P. (1992) Mussels and environmental contaminants: bioaccumulation and physiological aspects. In: The Mussel Mytilus: Ecology, Physiology, Genetics and Culture, (edited by Gosling, E.), pp. 383-424. Elsevier.
- Donkin, P., Widdows, J., Evans, S.V., Brinsley, M.D. (1991) QSARs for the sublethal responses of marine mussels (Mytilus edulis). Science of the Total Environment 109/110, 461-476.
- Widdows, J., Donkin, P. (1991) Role of physiological energetics in ecotoxicology. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, C 100, 69-75.
- Donkin, P., Widdows, J. (1990) Quantitative structure-activity relationships in aquatic invertebrate toxicology. Reviews in Aquatic Sciences 2, 375-398.
- Donkin, P., Widdows, J., Evans, S.V., Worrall, C.M., Carr, M. (1989) Quantitative structure - activity relationships for the effect of hydrophobic organic chemicals on rate of feeding by mussels (Mytilus edulis). Aquatic Toxicology 14, 277-294.
- Livingstone, D.R., Dixon, D.R., Donkin, P., Lowe, D.M., Moore, M.N., Widdows, J. (1989) Molecular, cellular and physiological responses of the common mussel Mytilus edulis to pollution: uses in environmental monitoring and management. In: Ecotoxicology. The Proceedings of a Joint Symposium of the Institute of Biology and the British Toxicology Society held on 23 September 1988, (edited by Walker, C. and Anderson, D.), pp. 26-30. Institute of Biology, London.
- Widdows, J., Donkin, P. (1989) The application of combined tissue residue chemistry and physiological measurements of mussels (Mytilus edulis) for the assessment of environmental pollution. Hydrobiologia 188/189, 455-461.
- Moore, M.N., Pipe, R.K., Farrar, S.V., Thomson, S., Donkin, P. (1987) Lysosomal and microsomal responses to oil-derived hydrocarbons in Littorina littorea. In: Oceanic Processes in Marine Pollution. Volume 1. Biological Processes and Wastes in the Ocean, (edited by Capuzzo, J.M. and Kester, D.R.), pp. 89-96. Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, Florida.
- Widdows, J., Donkin, P., Evans, S.V. (1987) Physiological responses of Mytilus edulis during chronic oil exposure and recovery. Marine Environmental Research 23, 15-32.
- Widdows, J., Donkin, P., Salkeld, P.N., Evans, S.V. (1987) Measurement of scope for growth and tissue hydrocarbon concentrations of mussels (Mytilus edulis) at sites in the vicinity of the Sullom Voe oil terminal: a case study. In: Fate and Effects of Oil in Marine Ecosystems. Proceedings of the Conference on Oil Pollution Organized Under the Auspices of the International Association on Water Pollution Research and Control (IAWPRC) by the Netherlands Organization for Applied Science Research, 23-27 February 1987, (edited by Kuiper, J. van den Brink, W.J.), pp. 269-277.
- Donkin, P., Widdows, J. (1986) Scope for growth as a measurement of environmental pollution and its interpretation using structure-activity relationships. Chemistry and Industry 21, 732-737.
- Widdows, J., Donkin, P., Evans, S.V. (1985) Recovery of Mytilus edulis L. from chronic oil exposure. Marine Environmental Research 17, 250-253.
- Nelson, A., Donkin, P. (1985) Processes of bioaccumulation: the importance of chemical speciation. Marine Pollution Bulletin 16, 164-169.
- Donkin, P., Evans, S.V. (1984) Application of steam distillation in the determination of petroleum hydrocarbons in water and mussels (Mytilus edulis) from dosing experiments with crude oil. Analytica Chimica Acta 156, 207-219.
- Moore, M.N., Widdows, J., Cleary, J.J., Pipe, R.K., Salkeld, P.N., Donkin, P., Farrar, S.V., Evans, S.V., Thomson, P.E. (1984) Responses of the mussel Mytilus edulis to copper and phenanthrene: interactive effects. Marine Environmental Research 14, 167-183.
- Widdows, J., Donkin, P., Salkeld, P.N., Cleary, J.J., Lowe, D.M., Evans, S.V., Thomson, P.E. (1984) Relative importance of environmental factors in determining physiological differences between two populations of mussels (Mytilus edulis). Marine Ecology Progress Series 17, 33-47.
- Widdows, J., Moore, S.L., Clarke, K.R., Donkin, P. (1983) Uptake, tissue distribution and elimination of (1-14C) naphthalene in the mussel Mytilus edulis. Marine Biology 76, 109-114.
- Bayne, B.L., Widdows, J., Moore, M.N., Salkeld, P., Worrall, C.M., Donkin, P. (1982) Some ecological consequences of the physiological and biochemical effects of petroleum compounds on marine molluscs. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, Section B 297, 219-239.
- Widdows, J., Bakke, T., Bayne, B.L., Donkin, P., Livingstone, D.R., Lowe, D.M., Moore, M.N., Evans, S.V., Moore, S.L. (1982) Responses of Mytilus edulis on exposure to the water-accomodated fraction of North Sea oil. Marine Biology 67, 15-31.
- Widdows, J., Bayne, B.L., Donkin, P., Livingstone, D.R., Lowe, D.M. (1981) Measurement of the responses of mussels to environmental stress and pollution in Sullom Voe: a baseline study. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, B 80, 323-338.
- Donkin, P., Mann, S.V., Hamilton, E.I. (1980) Polychlorinated biphenyl, DDT and dieldrin residues in grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) males, females and mother-foetus pairs sampled at the Farne Islands, England, during the breeding season. Science of the Total Environment 19, 121-142.
- Moore. M.N., Livingstone, D.R., Donkin, P., Bayne, B.L., Widdows, J., Lowe, D.M. (1980) Mixed function oxygenases and xenobiotic detoxication/toxication systems in bivalve molluscs. Helgoländer Meeresuntersuchungen 33, 278-291.
- Widdows, J., Bayne, B.L., Livingstone, D.R., Newell, R.I.E., Donkin, P. (1978) Physiological and biochemical responses of bivalve molluscs to exposure to air. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, A 62, 301-308.
- Donkin, P., Mann, S.V., Hamilton, E.I. (1977) Microcoulometric determination of total organochlorine pesticide and polychlorinated biphenyl residues in grey seal (halichoerus grypus) blubber. Analytica chimica Acta 88, 289-301.
- Donkin, P. (1976) Ketocarotenoid biosynthesis by Haematococcus lacustris. Phytochemistry 15, 711-715.
- McGarry, J.D., Donkin, P., King, H.K. (1968) Reaction between reduced pyridine nucleotides and mercuric ions. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics 126, 973-974.
Media Interest
- Dublin Evening Herald, May 29st 2002, page 7. Grant to research impact of oil slicks on the oceans.
International & National Conference and Meeting Presentations
- Organic Contaminants in Soil, Water and Sediment: The Cutting Edge, Reading, U.K., 2 May 2002 (poster, colleague).
- International Workshop on the Application of Normal Phase Fractionation in Effect Directed Identification Studies, The Hague, The Netherlands, 26 April 2002 (poster, colleague).
- SET for Britain: Young Scientists Meeting, The House of Commons, London, U.K., 18 March 2002 (poster, colleague).
- 13th Annual Meeting of the British Organic Geochemistry Society, Gregynog, Wales, U.K., 23-25 July 2001 (poster, colleague)