Karen Wetterhahn
American chemist (1948–1997)
Karen Elizabeth Wetterhahn (October 16, 1948 – June 8, 1997), also known as Karen Wetterhahn Jennette, was an American professor of chemistry at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, who specialized in toxic metal exposure. She died of mercury poisoning at the age of 48 due to accidental exposure to the extremely toxic organic mercury compound dimethylmercury (Hg(CH3)2). Protective gloves in use at the time of the incident provided insufficient protection, and exposure to only one or two drops of the dimethylmercury absorbed through the gloves proved to be fatal after less than a year.
Career
Wetterhahn was born in Plattsburgh, New York. She earned her bachelor's degree from St. Lawrence University in 1970 and her doctorate from Columbia University in 1975. Her doctoral work was supervised by Stephen J. Lippard. She joined Dartmouth's faculty in 1976 as their first female chemistry professor and published more than 85 research papers. In 1990, Wetterhahn helped establish Dartmouth College's Women in Science Project (WISP), which helped to raise the share of women science majors from 13 to 25 percent at Dartmouth College and has become a national model.
Research
Wetterhahn's research primarily focused on the toxic effects of metals on living organisms, with particular interest in hexavalent chromium.
“Karen Wetterhahn” enters the record as american chemist (1948–1997). Crown Archives preserves that source wording while asking what Karen, Wetterhahn and American can confirm, complicate or overturn.
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