2023 Science Matters Stories
Lettuce Not Waste: New EPA Research Highlights Food Waste Contributions to Climate Change
December 19, 2023- Over one-third of the food produced in the United States is never eaten, wasting the resources used to produce, transport, process, and distribute it. Much of this wasted food is sent to landfills where it breaks down and generates methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. EPA researchers recently released two new reports to provide more details about the story of food waste in the United States. Read Lettuce Not Waste: New EPA Research Highlights Food Waste Contributions to Climate Change.
Mapping with Molybdenum: Using Sediment Characteristics to Understand Hypoxia in Estuaries
December 19, 2023- In many estuaries and coastal environments, low levels of dissolved oxygen – also known as hypoxia in water—pose a threat to habitats and local ecosystems. Hypoxia events are typically linked to excess nitrogen but the connection between the two has been difficult to determine due to the complexity of coastal environments. To better understand the link between hypoxia and nutrient inputs, EPA scientists are using a surprising method – measuring molybdenum in surface sediment as an indicator for hypoxia throughout the water above it. Read Mapping with Molybdenum: Using Sediment Characteristics to Understand Hypoxia in Estuaries.
Cooperative Research and Development Agreements
December 19, 2023- One way EPA collaborates with partners is through Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs). These collaborations can lead to improved research outcomes, and often, the creation of new intellectual property.
- EPA researchers recently signed a CRADA with Dow Chemical Company to measure stack emissions using unmanned aircraft systems. Read EPA works with Dow Chemical Company to Collect Emissions from Natural Gas Boilers.
- EPA also signed a CRADA with Draper, a not-for-profit research and development organization, to evaluate existing microplastic capture and assessment technologies with a goal of identifying those most suitable for use in field conditions. Read Assessing Methods of Measuring Microplastics in Water.
American Possibilities: A White House Demo Day
November 28, 2023- Innovations in science and technology help improve our lives and shape our future. To showcase what federal research and development can accomplish, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy hosted American Possibilities: A White House Demo Day. EPA scientists were invited to share some of their work to protect people from the health effects of wildfire smoke and harmful algal blooms. Read American Possibilities: A White House Demo Day.
Using Challenges and Prizes to Create Opportunities for Change in Communities
November 28, 2023- Communities face their own unique environmental challenges and the people who are directly affected by these issues are often well positioned to help identify solutions. To harness this creative potential, EPA has used its Challenges and Prizes program to crowdsource creative, community-led solutions that help address critical environmental issues. Read Using Challenges and Prizes to Create Opportunities for Change in Communities.
Predicting How Effective Water Filters are at Removing a Variety of PFAS
November 14, 2023 - PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are widely used, long lasting chemicals, and have been found in water, air, fish, and soil at locations across the nation and the globe. There are thousands of different types of PFAS chemicals and each of them may respond differently to the same type of water treatment technology. EPA researchers are evaluating how effective different water treatment technologies are at removing PFAS from drinking water. Read Predicting How Effective Water Filters are at Removing a Variety of PFAS.
Renovated Housing Linked to Decrease in Childhood Asthma Rate in Cincinnati Neighborhood
October 31, 2023- Certain conditions in a home can impact the health of the people living there. To help protect children’s health, EPA scientists are looking at how housing conditions affect childhood asthma. Read about how renovated housing was linked to a decrease in childhood asthma rates in a Cincinnati neighborhood. Read Renovated Housing Linked to Decrease in Childhood Asthma Rate in Cincinnati Neighborhood.
Virtual Beach: A Modeling Tool to Help Make Beach Closure Decisions
October 4, 2023 - Is your job beach? Beach managers need fast ways to determine when pollution makes beaches unsafe for swimming and need to be closed. To help, EPA scientists developed the Virtual Beach modeling tool to predict concentrations of E. coli, Enterococcus, and other bacterial microorganisms at both fresh and saltwater beaches. Read Virtual Beach: A Modeling Tool to Help Make Beach Closure Decisions.
EPA Hosts 13th Annual Summer Science Institute for North Carolina High School Students
September 21, 2023 - This summer, EPA hosted its 13th annual Summer Science Institute at the EPA Research Triangle Park campus in Durham, North Carolina. Twenty-eight students from 19 N.C. high schools attended to learn about the wide variety of career paths at EPA and how EPA staff work to protect human health and the environment. Read EPA Hosts 13th Annual Summer Science Institute for North Carolina High School Students.
EPA Releases SeqAPASS Version 7.0
September 21, 2023 - EPA has released the 7th version of Sequence Alignment to Predict Across Species Susceptibility (SeqAPASS), a fast online screening tool that allows researchers to extrapolate toxicity information across species. The tool extrapolates from data rich model organisms (like humans, mice, rats, and zebrafish) to thousands of other non-target species to evaluate their specific potential chemical susceptibility. Read EPA Releases SeqAPASS Version 7.0.
GLIMPSE – Modeling Tool for State Environmental and Energy Planning
September 21, 2023 - Many different systems—including the economy, public health, energy supply and demand, climate, and the environment —are interacting with one another in complex ways. EPA created the GLIMPSE modeling tool to help decision-makers navigate changes in these systems, understand tradeoffs across management objectives, and ultimately design more effective policies. Read GLIMPSE – Modeling Tool for State Environmental and Energy Planning.
Celebrating P3’s 20th Year and the Return of the In-person National Student Design Expo
September 6, 2023 - EPA’s People, Prosperity, and the Planet (P3) Program is a national competition that gives students the chance to turn their creative design and engineering ideas into a reality. P3 provides teams of college and university students the opportunity to apply their classroom STEM-based learning to create real-world innovative projects with the aim of improving quality of life, promoting economic prosperity, and protecting the planet. Learn more about the competition. Read Celebrating P3’s 20th Year and the Return of the In-person National Student Design Expo.
Do-It-Yourself Air Cleaners: Making Cleaner Air More Accessible
September 6, 2023 - During wildfires, the cost and availability of clean air technologies can create challenges for people trying to protect their health from wildfire smoke. EPA and other health, environmental, and nonprofit organizations have provided instructions for creating do-it-yourself (DIY) air cleaners. DIY air cleaners are a more affordable and accessible alternative to commercial versions and can be constructed using a box fan and a high-efficiency home air filter. Read Do-It-Yourself Air Cleaners: Making Cleaner Air More Accessible.
EPA Releases Cutting-Edge Human Respiratory System Model
September 6, 2023 - EPA scientists recently developed a new online tool that offers researchers, medical practitioners and others, a comprehensive model of the human respiratory system. EPA’s Human Respiratory System Model is a 3-D model of the human respiratory system from the tip of the nose to the lower lung regions. The model is an important advancement for investigating aerosolized contaminant transport, deposition, and clearance in the human respiratory system. Read EPA Releases Cutting-Edge Human Respiratory System Model.
Determining the Value of Clean Water: How EPA Researchers are using Social Science to Study the Human Dimensions of Water Quality in New England
August 22, 2023 - Coasts and estuaries provide important resources for communities. To help protect these areas, EPA researchers are using social science to study the value that people place on water quality in coastal environments. This work allows environmental managers, decision makers, and individual community members to better understand the value of investing resources into water quality improvements and protection of natural environments. Read Determining the Value of Clean Water: How EPA Researchers are using Social Science to Study the Human Dimensions of Water Quality in New England.
ChemExpo Knowledgebase: A New Way to Explore Chemical Use Information
August 22, 2023 - EPA recently released a beta version of ChemExpo, a free search and visualization tool for exploring chemical use data relevant to exposure assessment. This interactive web application focuses on data collected by EPA about how chemicals are used in commerce and how they occur in consumer and industrial products. Read ChemExpo Knowledgebase: A New Way to Explore Chemical Use Information.
Flowing with Feedback: Empowering Communities with the EPA Flooded Homes Cleanup Guidance Tool
August 2, 2023 - Flooding is one of the most common types of natural disasters impacting people in the United States. A flooded home can result in various health hazards and it can weeks for people to be able to re-enter their homes. EPA scientists developed a website that provides tips and informational videos for people impacted by flooding to prepare for re-entering their home and beginning cleanup. Read Flowing with Feedback: Empowering Communities with the EPA Flooded Homes Cleanup Guidance Tool.
From Exposure to Impact: Developing Adverse Outcome Pathways to Support Chemical Risk Assessment
August 2, 2023 - EPA researchers are working to increase our understanding of chemical effects on biological systems. One specific area of research, called Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs), investigates how a chemical exposure can trigger a series of events that lead to an adverse environmental or human health outcome. EPA helped create the AOPWiki to support the crowdsourcing of adverse outcome pathway information and share data with the many researchers worldwide studying responses of organisms to stressors. Read From Exposure to Impact: Developing Adverse Outcome Pathways to Support Chemical Risk Assessment.
EPA-Funded Technology Successfully Traces Renewable Fuel Supply Chain in New York City,
July 18, 2023 - Renewable fuels, such as those made from corn or other biomass, offer a promising alternative to petroleum-based fuel. However, it is important to track fuel and the component feedstocks throughout the renewable fuel supply chain. EPA’s Small Business Innovation Research program recently supported Veriflux, a company that created an end-to-end technology platform that provides data and tracking to improve renewable fuel feedstock traceability. Read EPA-Funded Technology Successfully Traces Renewable Fuel Supply Chain in New York City.
CMAQ: Celebrating 25 Years of Air Quality Modeling Excellence
June 21, 2023- EPA develops software models and tools to address a range of environmental issues. The Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) modeling system is EPA’s premier tool for studying air pollution from global to local scales. EPA is proudly celebrating the 25th anniversary of CMAQ’s initial release with a three-part story on the history and significance of this powerful computational tool.
- Read about what has made the CMAQ model so successful over the years and why it is still relevant today in CMAQ: Celebrating 25 Years of Air Quality Modeling Excellence.
- Read about how CMAQ has been working toward a “one environment–one health” approach throughout its lifetime in CMAQ: Demonstrating Skill Across Media and Around the World
- Read about how CMAQ has continued to innovate, modernize, and address emerging environmental issues in CMAQ: Tackling Emerging Concerns and Building for the Future.
Working to Taper Vapors, the Invisible Intruder
June 7, 2023- Vapor intrusion occurs when chemical fumes, or vapors, enter buildings through cracks, ducts, vents, drains, permeable building materials, or other structural features. To better understand how vapor intrusion occurs and how it can be prevented, EPA researchers are evaluating different points of entry in sets of buildings near Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area where vapor intrusion issues have been previously confirmed. Read Working to Taper Vapors, the Invisible Intruder.
EPA Researchers Partner with the Minnesota Department of Health to Screen for Chemicals of Health Concern in Water
June 7, 2023- There are many different chemicals that are released into our environment, and the ability to characterize human exposure and risk of every one of those chemicals is limited. EPA partnered with the Minnesota Department of Health to develop an automated screening process to determine chemicals of greatest exposure concern for further investigation. Read EPA Researchers Partner with the Minnesota Department of Health to Screen for Chemicals of Health Concern in Water.
Happy Wetlands Month
May 17, 2023- May is American Wetlands Month—a time to celebrate one of nature’s most productive ecosystems! Wetlands are important because they protect and improve water quality, provide fish and wildlife habitats, store floodwaters and maintain surface water flow during dry periods. Read Happy Wetlands Month.
Water, Water Everywhere: The Ongoing Degradation of Aquatic Communities in American Stream Networks
May 17, 2023- Research has documented noticeable, small-scale declines in the number and variety of species in aquatic ecosystems, but there are gaps in our understanding of these changes. In a recently published paper, EPA researchers are closing those gaps with a more comprehensive data analysis. Read Water, Water Everywhere: The Ongoing Degradation of Aquatic Communities in American Stream Networks.
Environmental RNA: A Powerful Tool for Studying Biodiversity
May 4, 2023- To better understand biodiversity in estuaries and other marine habitats, EPA scientists are using “metabarcoding” to identify organisms without having to resort to microscopes. Using metabarcoding, scientists can identify organisms based on the genetic sequences they find in any given environmental sample. This technique allows researchers to learn more about microscopic communities that play major roles in marine food webs but have been difficult to study in the past. Read Environmental RNA: A Powerful Tool for Studying Biodiversity.
Fighting the Haze: Effects of Wildfire Smoke and Particulate Matter on Brain Function
May 4, 2023- With wildfires growing in size and frequency, it is increasingly important to gain a better understanding of the effects of particulate matter on public health. While air pollution has mostly been associated with negative effects on lung and heart health, there are gaps in knowledge on how it affects brain health. EPA researchers are now using game apps to broaden our knowledge of brain function in the presence of wildfire smoke. Read Fighting the Haze: Effects of Wildfire Smoke and Particulate Matter on Brain Function.
EPA Extends Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with New Zealand Company to Advance Air Sensor Technologies
April 11, 2023- Air sensors are increasingly being used by researchers, state and local agencies, participatory scientists, and others to monitor and measure air quality. However, there is still a need to better understand the performance of air sensors. To continue to advance these technologies, EPA has extended a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with Aeroqual, a New Zealand-based company specializing in the development of air quality monitoring equipment. Read EPA Extends Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with New Zealand Company to Advance Air Sensor Technologies.
Cross-EPA Panel Convenes for Discussion on Cumulative Impacts Research and Regulatory Activities
April 11, 2023- Cumulative impacts and environmental injustices disproportionately impact underserved and overburdened communities. Five panelists from across EPA recently gathered for a public discussion to talk about the Agency’s research and regulatory activities on cumulative impacts. This was the inaugural webinar for EPA’s new Healthy and Resilient Communities Research Webinar Series. Read Cross-EPA Panel Convenes for Discussion on Cumulative Impacts Research and Regulatory Activities.
EPA Researchers Showcase Research Capabilities to Local and National Media
April 11, 2023- Some of the world’s leading water researchers work at EPA’s water research labs in Cincinnati, Ohio. EPA recently hosted members of local and national media on a tour of the unique research complex, where they discussed several topics including PFAS in drinking water, lead service lines, and legionella in premise plumbing. Read EPA Researchers Showcase Research Capabilities to Local and National Media.
The Future of Emissions Testing is Looking Up: How EPA is Using Drones to Test Air Quality
March 28, 2023- Toxic plumes created by large-scale burns such as industrial catastrophes or wildland fires can be devastating for communities and the environment. With the help of drones, EPA researchers can test emissions concentrations using aerial devices, increasing the accuracy of their models and the reach of their sensors. Understanding how emission concentrations change in burn scenarios helps EPA and others protect communities and the environment in emergency combustion situations. Read The Future of Emissions Testing is Looking Up: How EPA is Using Drones to Test Air Quality.
“Marshing Forward” Despite Uncertainty: How EPA Researchers are Reframing Approaches to Coastal Climate Adaptation Efforts
March 1, 2023 - Coastal areas and salt marshes are becoming increasingly vulnerable from land- and climate-based stressors such as accelerated sea level rise, droughts, flooding, and increased land development. To help protect these areas, EPA scientists evaluated both the scientific methodology and management practices behind coastal restoration projects. Using this research, they developed a framework to assist communities with collaboratively managing these fragile ecosystems. Read “Marshing Forward” Despite Uncertainty: How EPA Researchers are Reframing Approaches to Coastal Climate Adaptation Efforts.
Air Sensor Loan Programs: Promoting Air Quality Education by Bringing Sensors to You!
February 14, 2023 - As interest in local air quality increases, so does the demand for air sensors—the smaller, lower cost, non-regulatory technologies that measure air quality. However, air sensors are not always accessible to everyone. EPA worked with the Los Angeles Public Library to start a pilot air sensor loan program to provide the local community with access to air sensors and guidance on using them. Read Air Sensor Loan Programs: Promoting Air Quality Education by Bringing Sensors to You!
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Wells: Improving our Groundwater “Vision” with Electrical Resistivity Imaging
February 14, 2023 - Traditional methods of studying the subsurface and groundwater include drilling exploratory wells–an expensive, intrusive, and often limiting approach. At the Arbuckle-Simpson Aquifer in Oklahoma, EPA researchers are using electrical resistivity imaging, which uses electrical currents to create a two-dimensional picture of the subsurface. This method will ultimately save time and money in site characterization and help protect our groundwater supply. Read A Picture is Worth a Thousand Wells: Improving our Groundwater “Vision” with Electrical Resistivity Imaging.
EPA Researchers Update Tool to Support Contaminated Groundwater Cleanup at a Superfund Site in Kansas City
February 2, 2023 - Groundwater, the water found below the Earth’s surface within the cracks and crevices of soil, sand, and rock, can be particularly challenging to treat. EPA researcher Dr. Mohamed Hantush recently helped update a computer modeling tool that hydrogeologists can use to simulate the flow of groundwater accurately and efficiently through aquifers. The tool helps site cleanup professionals better understand how groundwater moves through and around a cleanup site and improves groundwater treatment plans. Read EPA Researchers Update Tool to Support Contaminated Groundwater Cleanup at a Superfund Site in Kansas City.
EPA Researchers Update the Air Sensor Guidebook
February 2, 2023 - Are you interested in starting a community air monitoring project using air sensors? EPA researchers have released a helpful resource for you: the Enhanced Air Sensor Guidebook. The Guidebook identifies best practices for using air sensors and provides recommendations for planning and implementing a study to save time, effort, and money and ultimately help users collect useful data. Read EPA Researchers Update the Air Sensor Guidebook.
EPA Research Contributes to Using Alternatives to Screen Chemicals for Endocrine Disruption
February 2, 2023 - EPA announced the release of a draft White Paper Availability of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) in the Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP) for public comment via the Federal Register. The paper describes validated NAMs that could be used as alternatives for certain EDSP tests. EPA researchers helped develop some of the NAMs discussed in the White Paper, including the estrogen receptor pathway model and the androgen receptor pathway model. Read EPA Research Contributes to Using Alternatives to Screen Chemicals for Endocrine Disruption.
EPA Scientist Serves as Air Resource Advisor on the McKinney Fire Modeling Smoke and Air Quality
January 17, 2023 - Last summer, a lightning-induced wildfire in Klamath National Forest in Northern California quickly grew to more than 50,000 acres. Soon after, EPA scientist Dr. John Iiames traveled to Yreka, California, to lend his expertise in air quality and smoke modeling and serve as an Air Resource Advisor to the response team. Read EPA Scientist Serves as Air Resource Advisor on the McKinney Fire Modeling Smoke and Air Quality.