Dr. Mueller's research in the field of environmental and occupational toxicology is directed at the investigation of the metabolic fate and disposition of toxic chemicals. Comparative studies in various animal models including primate species aim at improved extrapolation of experimental data from test animals to humans. Classes of chemicals studied in the past include chlorinated pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, polynuclear aromatics, solvents, e.g. trichloroethylene and 2-nitropropane, and industrial intermediates.
Bioremediation of soils contaminated with explosives like trinitrotoluene (TNT) has been the aim of more recent studies, using higher plants as the remediation medium.
Another area of interest is the development and improvement of analytical methods for the detection and quantitation of toxic chemicals in the environment and workplace as well as for pharmaceuticals and drugs of abuse.
Professor Mueller is the Coordinator of the Toxicology Program at NMSU and cooperates closely with researchers in the Colleges of Agriculture and Engineering in joint projects requiring expertise in environmental toxicology.