Mary Amdur | |
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| Born | February 18, 1921 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US |
| Died | February 16, 1998 (aged 76) |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Chemistry (BSc.) at University of Pittsburgh; Biochemistry (Ph.D.) at Cornell University |
| Known for | Toxicology research into 1948 Donora smog |
| Spouse | Benjamin Amdur |
| Children | 1-David Amdur |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Toxicology |
| Institutions | Harvard University; MIT; New York University |
| Thesis | Role of Manganese and Choline in Bone Formation in the Rat |
Mary Ochsenhirt Amdur (February 18, 1921 – February 16, 1998) was an American toxicologist and public health researcher who worked primarily on pollution. She was charged with studying the effects of the 1948 Donora smog, specifically looking into the effects of inhaling sulfuric acid by experimenting on guinea pigs. Her findings on the respiratory effects related to sulfuric acid led to her being threatened, her funding being pulled, and her losing her job at the Harvard School of Public Health in 1953. Undeterred, she carried on her research in a different role at Harvard, and subsequently at MIT and New York University. Despite the early controversy related to her work, it was used in the creation of standards in air pollution, and towards the end of her life she received numerous awards and accolades.