Pollution

Antimicrobial soap and biocides of many types were created to keep us safe. But are these substances more dangerous than the germs they were designed to protect us from? --by Adelheid Fischer

Greenhouse gases aren't the only factors that contribute to climate change. New research on brown carbons--nanoscale particles released by combustion engines--may help predict the effects of climate change more accurately. --by Joe Kullman

Daphnia eat algae, and fish eat daphnia. Big fish eat the little fish, and people eat the big fish. If there are pollutants in the water, they can build up with each successive meal. The process is called bioaccumulation. ASU researchers want to know if nanomaterials are subject to this buildup. --by Melissa Crytzer Fry

Could nanomaterials be toxic to humans? ASU scientists are using a filter membrane system that mimics the small intestine to find out. --by Melissa Crytzer Fry

Nanomaterials are in or on the surface of thousands of the products you use every day. They are part of toothpaste, stain-resistant clothing, sunscreens, plastic water bottles, and more. ASU researchers want to know if these microscopic materials are also making their way into the environment, drinking water and, ultimately, your body. --by Melissa Crytzer Fry

Nitrogen pollution from agricultural and urban runoff is a serious threat to ocean ecosystems. Nitrogen, in the form of nitrates, could generate algal blooms, create oceanic "dead zones" and kill coral, fish and shellfish in coastal zones. Researchers have discovered that small organisms in streams and rivers can filter out excess nitrogen before it reaches the oceans. However, overloading streams with too many nitrates reduces their filtering ability. --by Margaret Coulombe

To humans, trichloroethene (TCE) is a dangerous pollutant, one that recently forced two Phoenix-area municipalities to shut down their water supplies. But to a group of bacteria called dehalogenerators, TCE is like oxygen. These microorganisms take in TCE and remove the chlorine, leaving harmless ethene behind. Now a team of scientists has developed a specialized water treatment system that employs the bacteria to make water supplies safer. --by Joe Caspermeyer

When you visit the beach, the ocean always looks the same--but that doesn't mean it isn't changing. A new study has taken a comprehensive look at human impacts on marine ecosystems, including coral reefs, estuaries, and pelagic waters. The results show that none of Earth's oceans have escaped human influence. Now, oceanic maps from the study can help policy makers determine where human activities are most likely to cause negative effects. (Read the full story) --by Margaret Coulombe

A team of scientists has developed a new way to close the gaps in the global pollution dragnet using NASA satellite data. The technique uses satellite information to improve computer models of ozone events–filling in the blanks while expanding coverage to much larger areas. --by Nicholas Gerbis

As the volume of discarded computers and other electronic products increases daily, it's posing a growing environmental hazard. ASU researchers are learning how electronic waste can be managed to minimize environmental damage while increasing the economic and social benefits of reuse and recycling. --by Joe Kullman