Research Areas
Disinfection Byproducts
Human exposure to disinfection byproducts (DBPs) in tap water has been associated with elevated incidence of cancer and adverse reproductive outcomes. Reducing this exposure is a major challenge to the drinking water industry. Current and recently completed projects on DBPs include:
- Fate of Non-Regulated DBPs in Distribution systems, (with Chul Park) Water Resarch Foundation, 5/1/2010-10/31/2012
- Risk Based Prioritization of Disinfection Byproducts (with Richard Bull & Vince Rotello) Water Research Foundation
- Characterization of TOX Produced During Disinfection Processes,Water Research Foundation
- Control of Manganese, Natural Organic Matter and Disinfection By-Products for Mystic, CT (John Tobiason, PI) Aquarion Water Company, 4/06-05/08.
- Chloramination Feasibility Study for NYC, (with John E. Tobiason) Hazen & Sawyer Engineering, City of New York, 8/22/2006-8/21/2009
Pharmaceuticals & Personal Care Products
Over the past 10 years, we have begun to recognize the extent to which PPCPs and endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) are found in the aquatic environment.
- EDC/PPCP Benchmarking and Monitoring for Drinking Water Utilities, (with Mi-Hyun Park & Michael Lavine) Water Research Foundation, 9/1/2010-12/1/2013
- Establishing Guidelines for the use of Ozone-GAC for Control of Endocrine Disruptors and Related Compounds in Water (with Kathleen Arcaro) Water Research Foundation, 7/15/2008-12/30/2011
Advanced and Innovative Oxidants
Oxidation processes are critical for destruction of organic and reduced inorganic pollutants. A current project in this area is:
- Use of Ferrate in Small Drinking Water Treatment Systems, (with John Tobiason) US EPA, 12/1/2011-11/30/2014
Natural Organic Matter
All surface and groundwaters have dissolved natural organic matter (NOM) derived from aquatic and terrestrial plants.
- Water Quality in Massachusetts Reservoirs , (David A. Reckhow, David P. Ahlfeld, Paula L. Rees & John E. Tobiason) Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
- Watershed Sources and Long-term Variability of BDOC and NOM as Precursors Water Research Foundation
- Evaluation of NOM and DBP Precursors in SWSC West Parish Raw Water Sources, (with John Tobiason) Springfield Water and Sewer Commission
Other
- Evaluation of Compost for Erosion Control, ( Carlton Ho, David A. Reckhow), Massachusetts Highway Department
- Impact of Environmental Estrogens on Epigenetics: Bisphenol A in Breast Milk and Promoter Methylation of Exfoliated Breast Epithelial Cells (Kathleen Arcaro, PI), Avon Foundation, 7/1/2010-6/30/2012
- Plan for the Blackstone River EFF and the next Generation Cyberinfrastructure, (with Paula Rees, Sharon Long, James Kurose, Allen Hansen, Edward Riseman, Howard Schultz, Charles Schwiek, Leon Osterweil), National Science Foundation
- STEM Digital Images in Geoscience Investigations: Teaching Analysis with Light (STEM DIGITAL), (with Morton Sternheim, Stephen Schneider and others), National Science Foundation, 9/15/2010-8/31/2013
Personnel
Graduate Students
Boning Liu (PhD student)
Varun Srinvasan (MS Student)
Chen Wu (MS student)
Yun Yu (MS student)
Research Staff
Larry Kramer (Research Associate)
Sherrie Webb-Yagodzinski (EWRE Lab Manager)
Kathy Whynott (EWRE Grants Manager)
Others
Ejeong Baik (HS student)
William Duane (Undergraduate)