Tracking emerging contaminants in the Great Lakes

Advanced manufacturing will help revitalize Western New York’s economy. But just like 20th century manufacturing, it poses pollution risks, especially to freshwater.

Researchers will gather data on how emerging contaminants (such as pharmaceuticals, heavy metals used in engineered nanomaterials and carbon nanotubes) travel through wastewater systems and into surface waters.

In the lab, the team will evaluate:

How effective common wastewater treatment technologies are at removing or transforming these emerging contaminants.
Whether the transformation products are of ecological concern by testing how these materials affect the metabolism of plants and other biological organisms that may be exposed to them.
The design and efficiency of engineered nanomaterials for solar energy harvesting, and energy conversion and storage.

The project’s principal investigator is Diana Aga, professor in the Department of Chemistry. Co-principal investigators are David Watson, associate professor in the Department of Chemistry, and Ning Dai, assistant professor in the Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering. Jill Jedlicka, Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper executive director, is a collaborator.

RENEW Focus Areas

Climate Change and Socioeconomic Impacts

6/17/16

Climate change is the single most pressing global issue facing society today; one estimate suggests that a climate-induced global sea level rise of just one meter will cost 28 trillion US dollars to world economies.
Environmental Exposures, Genomes, and Health

6/21/16

The Environmental Exposures, Genomes, and Health focus area will stimulate integrated, multidisciplinary research and education at UB to conduct innovative, cutting edge environmental research.
Next-Generation Materials & Technologies for Energy, Environment, & Water Sustainability

6/17/16

Materials design and discovery hold a critical place in the 21 century economy, with broad impact that spans the transportation, health, microelectronic, and renewable energy industries.
Sustainable Urban Environments

6/17/16

The RENEW focus in Sustainable Urban Environments addresses the critical role of cities on the establishment of sustainable relationships between human society and the planet.
Freshwater Coastal Ecosystems

6/21/16

In addition to the most basic need for safe drinking water, the availablity of good quality freshwater affects nearly every aspect of modern life, including energy resources, food production, transportation, manufacturing, and recreation, as well as supporting ecological well-being and the ecosystem services on which life depends.

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