EPA Research Updates
Happy New Year! Below are the most popular stories from 2019. Thank you for reading. We can't wait to share more innovative EPA research with you in 2020!
EPA is celebrating our 50th anniversary this year. Learn more about the history of the agency and the progress we've made toward a stronger environmental future.
Just as wildfires impact air quality, they can also affect the quantity and quality of water. EPA researchers are examining pre- and post-wildfire data on streams in the western United States to understand how wildfires change the daily flow of sediment and water in streams. This research will help protect water supplies from wildfires.
EPA researchers are using new methods to generate PFAS toxicity data. In collaboration with the National Toxicology Program, researchers used a chemical category prioritization approach to select 75 PFAS chemicals to begin testing using the new methods. The data gathered will help inform human health assessments.
Using new technologies, it is easier than ever to collect, analyze, and report environmental data. To help citizen scientists improve data quality, EPA has created a new Quality Assurance handbook to be used with accompanying templates and examples for citizen science. These documents provide best practices for citizen science organizations on how to document quality assurance for citizen science projects.
The most effective way of protecting public health from harmful algal blooms is avoiding water containing cyanobacteria. That’s why EPA developed the Cyanobacteria Assessment Network mobile app, an early warning indicator system for algal blooms in U.S. freshwater systems, which will allow local water quality managers to proactively plan for cyanobacteria harmful algal blooms in their communities.
Food waste is the single largest component of our daily trash, adding up to 133 billion pounds of food at the retail and consumer levels in the United States that go uneaten. EPA is addressing this issue through the interactive Excess Food Opportunities Map, which identifies and displays information about potential generators and recipients of excess food. The map inspired Brett Reinford, a second-generation farmer in Pennsylvania, to build a digester for his family farm that turns waste into energy.
Common 3D printer ink, or filament, can emit gases during the printing phase that may pose a health risk to users and bystanders. EPA researchers studied VOC emissions from carbon nanotubes filaments under a variety of conditions to simulate the different heating, melting, and forming of plastics that can occur during 3D printing. This research can lead to printer designs that limit these emissions and recommended printing locations that limit exposure to users.
Nearly a century ago, the City of Durham, North Carolina went on a tree planting spree—but now the trees are approaching the end of their lifespans. As part of a new tree planting initiative, the City asked EPA researchers to develop a plan that would prioritize where to place trees to maximize the benefits the trees would provide to the community.
Fifty-one billion gallons of water flow into Chesapeake Bay on a daily basis, sometimes picking up harmful contaminants along the way. Natural habitats can act as a filter for the watershed, which is why several communities around the Chesapeake Bay are restoring local streams to a more natural-like state. EPA stream restoration research is providing the science needed to continue to protect and restore the nation’s largest estuary.
EPA’s Computational Toxicology Chemicals Dashboard is a one-stop-shop for chemistry, toxicity, exposure, and bioactivity data on thousands of chemicals. EPA scientists continue to update the online Dashboard with new data and functionality
There are still many uncertainties about the operating and performance capabilities of low-cost air sensors. Last summer, EPA began the Long-Term Performance Project to tackle questions about long-term use of air sensors, and their performance and capabilities. Researchers will evaluate six models of commercial air sensors, placing them in seven locations with diverse climates and air quality conditions across the country.
Events
Science Matters is produced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development. All content is copyright free and can be reprinted without permission.
Questions or comments? Send us an email.
EPA Research | EPA Science Matters
|
