Mercury, arsenic, and pathogens: three pollutants affecting large populations in developing and developed countries

Dr. Jenny Jay, Assistant Professor, Civil Engineering, UCLA

Monday, April 13, 2009
4:00 PM - 5:15 PM
La Kretz 110

Cases of environmental contamination resulting from mercury, arsenic, and pathogens pose large-scale public health problems worldwide. With field and laboratory studies, we are: 1) investigating the conversion of mercury to its most toxic form by attached bacteria in the environment; 2) installing a network of sensors to detect geochemical changes leading to arsenic mobilization in an experimental Bangladeshi rice paddy; and 3) developing a rapid detection method for fecal indicator bacteria, and applying molecular methods for identifying human sources of pollution. This presentation will discuss contexts and findings concerning these public health threatening pollutants.