Environmental Science

The academic activities in the environmental science (ES) subdivision under EEGS are devoted to both Teaching and Research. Various research activities conducted by the ES team are heavily associated with micro- and nano- technologies with practically unlimited application potential. Some of the current research activities (and other projects under development) include inter-institutional collaborative work that will increase student exposure to multi-disciplinary fields. The ES research team currently has five research foci:

1. Environmental Monitoring and Exposure Research (Figures 1, 2, & 3)
With multiple pieces of state-of-the-art chromatography equipment present on-site, practically all types of environmental samples such as soil, water, and air can be analyzed in the department’s environmental laboratory for in-depth academic research activities. Quality standards for analysis have been set through the ERICC project. Current projects and other projects being developed in this category include studies in the following areas: particulate matter (PM) spatial distribution in the downtown Durham area; effects of human traffic on indoor PM distribution; air pollutant dispersion modeling; metal distribution in the air; river and lake water quality studies; drinking water contamination; and soil contamination. Students in this project gain hands-on experience with equipment for analyzing air and water samples.

2. Environmental Health Studies (Figures 4, 5, & 6).
Understanding how our bodies respond to various types of pollutants is an essential piece of information for developing preventive measures. For this reason, cardiopulmonary physiological responses to air and water contaminants will be monitored by using portable electrocardiograms (ECG) units and spirometers acquired by the department. These data are usually matched with the data from monitoring and exposure studies. Spatial distribution mapping using GIS techniques is a major component of the study. Long-term follow up study for locally/regionally relevant diseases such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is part of this project. Students involved in this research will be trained for handling ECG and spirometers and basic interpretation skills, as well as GIS training.

3. Toxicology Studies on Carbon Nanotubes (CNT).
Carbon Nanotubes have become more popular for their broad applications. Yet their potential danger to human health has not been fully explored mainly due to the short history of public exposure to CNTs. Pilot studies showing the development of granuloma in rodent lung tissues after their exposure to CNT justifies further investigation (Figures 7 & 8). The various types of CNT will be used to produce novel materials for commercial applications. Students in this project will have an opportunity to conduct cellular toxicity studies that they can use for biomedical applications in the future.

4. Novel Nano-Material Synthesis.
Mesoporous, transition-metal containing thin film can be used to decontaminate liquid (both water and air) polluted with toxic organic substances. Preliminary data has shown that novel material (Figures 9, 10, 11, & 12) being developed demonstrates detoxifying performance compared to that of the benchmark material like TiO2. The mesoporous material (having Ti, Nb, and O) also has shown potential for both scientific and commercial applications in the field of thermal control and alternative energy. Students in this research area will learn about fundamental material science theories in physical chemistry. Students will also learn fundamental theories behind alternative energy, fuel cell industries, and energy storage forms.

5. Stereolithography (SL)/Rapid Prototyping application.
The SL technique (including rapid prototyping) has been used in numerous commercial sectors for broad commercial applications. Scaffold generation down to several micrometers is now possible. Synthetic scaffolds using polyethylene glycol (PEG) of various molecular weights has been used for tissue engineering applications. Emphasis is placed on scaffold generation that can be used for hydrogen ion storage orcharge storage. Students on the ES team will learn how to operate the Solidworks program to design scaffolds and will have an opportunity to work on Rapid prototype/SLA equipment at other institutions.