Illinois Sustainable Technology Center - University of Illinois
INRS State Scientific Surveys
Currently Funded Projects
New projects funded FY2009
- Are there detectable levels of triclosan in waters and sediments of IL rivers and streams?
- Are the levels of triclosan in IL rivers and streams impacting the resident bacterial communities?
- How does triclosan impact the composition and function of sediment bacterial communities?
HWR09214 - Seed Project: Examining potential emerging contaminants in the Great Lakes area: analytical methods development and measurement of concentrations in Great Lakes fish
Dr. Jeff Levengood - INHS and Gary Bordson - ISTC at UIUC
January 1, 2009 - December 31, 2009
Persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) substances are of continued concern due to their effects on environmental and human health. The objectives of this project are 1) to develop analytical methodology for 10 compounds selected from the priority lists of Muir and Howard (2007) who have recently compiled a list of emerging and PBT substances that need research and monitoring attention in the Great Lakes region and 2) to apply the methods derived to measure the concentrations of these analytes in lake trout from Lake Michigan.
HWR09216 - Ecotoxicology of Antimicrobial Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products in Illinois Rivers and Streams
Dr. John Kelly and Dr. Emma Rosi-Marshall - Loyola University-Chicago, and Teresa Chow - ISTC
June 1, 2009 - August 31, 2011
The researchers will examine the potential ecological impacts of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) by focusing on triclosan, an antibacterial compound whose use has dramatically increased in recent years. The project will address three main questions:
These questions will be studied using a combination of field surveys and experimental work in laboratory-scale model streams. This work will provide valuable insight into an area of growing concern in the scientific community, and will inform policy makers and regulators about ecological issues associated with triclosan and other PPCPs.
HWR09217 - In-vitro Selection of DNA Aptamers for the Detection of Endotoxins
Dr Yi Lu - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC)
January 1, 2009 - December 31, 2009
Endotoxins are potentially toxic natural compounds that are found in the outer cell membrane of various gram-negative bacteria. Humans can be exposed to endotoxins either through ingestion or inhalation of gram-negative bacteria either in medical or in industrial settings. Many ailments including skin rashes, malaise, fevers, and respiratory distress have been attributed to endotoxin exposure. The current standard method for detection of endotoxins suffers from interferences due to a large number of contaminants present in metal working fluids, common in industrial environments. The proposed research plan aims to use aptamers (DNA or RNA molecules that can bind to a variety of analytes with high affinity and specificity) to detect endotoxins. A combinatorial biology technique known as SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential enrichment) will be tried that has been highly useful and effective for obtaining highly specific and selective aptamers. The researchers will isolate aptamers for toxins and their characterization.
HWR09213 - Seed Project: Optimized Antioxidants for Biodiesel
Dr. Rick Larson - NRES at UIUC (Dr. Wei Zheng of ISTC will be collaborating on parts of this research with Dr. Larson).
January 1, 2009 - October 30, 2009
To obtain predictive information that will permit the development and marketing of improved, stabilized biodiesels, the researchers involved in this project will perform quantitative kinetic experiments using several types of surface-active antioxidants and peroxide destroyers with selected diesel types.
HWR09215 - Seed Project: Total and Methyl Mercury Export from Denitrifying Bioreactors in Tile-Drained Fields of Central Illinois: A Preliminary Survey
Dr. Bob Hudson - NRES and Dr. Richard Cooke - Agric. & Biol. Engineering at UIUC
September 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010
This project is investigating how subsurface denitrifying bioreactors - a new and promising strategy for mitigating excess nitrate in the tile drainage from IL farms - impact mercury levels in the recreational fisheries that receive their discharge. The effectiveness of these reactors is currently being investigated by researchers in the UIUC Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering. Since some of the bioreactors currently under study become sufficiently anaerobic that the bacteria within them respire sulfate, it is virtually certain that they also produce methylmercury, the form of mercury that most readily accumulates in fish. This study will measure total mercury and methylmercury concentrations in inputs and discharges from existing bioreactor installations, plus the ditches they drain into. This will help to address questions on the amount of methylmercury they export, what period of the year they produce and export methylmercury, how the export compares to the normal tile system, and what fraction of bioreactors export methylmercury. These answers will allow proper design and better operation of bioreactors to avoid strongly anaerobic conditions.
HWR09218 - Monitoring and Documenting Performance of Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMP)
The Center for Neighborhood Technology (PIs - Bill Eyring and Steve Wise)
January 1, 2009 - December 31, 2010
This project will extend the length and diversity of qualitative monitoring for four green infrastructure best management practices in the Chicago area to determine their effectiveness for sustainable storm water management. The researchers will also construct and monitor an additional green infrastructure BMP to provide comparable performance data to existing monitored sites.
Continuing projects from FY2008
Identification of the sources and temporal patterns of sediment-associated toxicity in the Illinois River
Michael Lydy, Southern Illinois University
Project Dates: 2/1/07 - 7/31/09
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Dr. Lydy and his colleagues will build upon previous work on the toxicity of pore-waters to Illinois River aquatic organisms by examining toxicity due to sediment-associated ammonia, while also examining other potential sources of benthic toxicity such as metals, organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These organic compounds and metals have been previously measured in Illinois River sediments, but their current contribution to toxicity is not known. Sites will be sampled during multiple seasons to identify potential temporal patterns in sediment toxicity. Expected results will include quantification and source identification of Illinois River sediment toxicity and estimates of the temporal variation of this toxicity. This project will generate data that will be used in combination with previous work on pore-water toxicity (conducted over 15 years ago) to better understand potential causes of benthic population declines within the Illinois River. Information gathered in this study will be used to better inform the sediment dredging and beneficial use activities in the river.
Greening Metalworking Fluids Purchasing Using Multicriteria Methodologies
Michael Plewa and Elizabeth Wagner, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Kishore Rajagopalan, Illinois Waste Management and Research Center
Project Dates: 6/1/06 - 5/31/09
The researchers are developing methodologies that will help industrial users make intelligent choices in purchasing metalworking fluids (MWFs). The information to be gathered will include evaluations of the functional behavior of the MWFs in various industrial processes and the toxicity and associated health and safety aspects of the various fluids. This project compliments the work being done by Dr. Kapoor.
Overcoming Barriers to P2 and Recycling for Construction Waste
Mohamed El-Gafy, Illinois State University
Project Dates: 9/1/06 - 3/31/09
The goal of the project is to accelerate the adoption of waste minimization and pollution prevention (P2/recycling) practices by Illinois home builders. The project will document the current extent of adoption of P2/recycling practices by Illinois home builders in two selected counties - McLean and Will County; identify major barriers inhibiting the diffusion of P2/recycling practices in the construction industry; identify the best management practices (BMPs) for the minimization and reuse of waste materials and for accelerating the adoption of P2/recycling practices; and facilitate pilot projects and demonstration events to promote the adoption of the BMPs.
Topsoil Modification during Suburbanization: Impact on Demands for Municipal Water
Robert Darmody, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Project Dates: 6/1/06 - 3/31/09
Dr. Darmody will investigate the impact on water usage of various construction practices. The study will focus on new construction in northeast Illinois and will address topsoil removal, soil compaction, and associated practices on water percolation rates, and the ultimate impact on water use for lawn and garden watering. The research will help to redefine construction practices that will minimize post-construction water usage and help with water shortages in that region of the state.