Project Description
Human activities release large quantities of wastewater to rivers and oceans. This wastewater often contains toxic chemicals, which can adversely affect living organisms. Our current methods to assess the toxicity of wastewater effluent are relatively insensitive and expensive, which means that monitoring is only infrequently conducted and is not protective of the receiving environment. This project aims to demonstrate the suitability of novel 21st century toxicity testing tools, such as cell-based bioassays, to comprehensively assess the toxicity of wastewater and protect the receiving environment.
Project Personnel and Beneficiaries
Water utilities, academics, environmental regulators (state and national).
Outcomes to Date
An alternative battery of bioassay tests has been developed that is ethical (it does not require animals), high throughput, and more extensive than currently used animal-based bioassays. The results demonstrate that the new battery is more sensitive and significantly cheaper than current testing, which would allow more frequent application and a better understanding of risk posed by wastewater discharges.
Project Significance
Our agri-industrial societies release large amounts of wastewater into the aquatic environment, and this wastewater often contains toxic chemicals. This project will demonstrate the suitability of a new approach to monitor wastewater and ensure it does not contain toxic chemicals that could adversely affect the receiving environment. As such, this project will ensure that human activities are sustainable and do not adversely affect our environment.