Urging universal use of wastewater surveillance
Environmental Health Engineering

Urging universal use of wastewater surveillance
Wastewater epidemiology isn’t a profession a script writer would likely give to a lead character in an action-adventure film. In real life, however, experts in the emerging field may someday

Wastewater provides a planet-wide laboratory for the study of human health
Of the many contemporary conveniences often taken for granted in developed countries, modern sanitation may be among the most important. A new study suggests that wastewater infrastructure may provide societal

New meta-analysis explores potential environmental causes of ALS disease
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neuromuscular disease, believed to affect as many as 30,000 Americans. A hundred and fifty years after its discovery, the disease remains mysterious and

SARS-CoV-2: A theme and variations
The celebrations were well underway. America seemed to be emerging from the depths of the COVID-19 crisis, following some of the darkest days in the nation’s history. A vast reduction in infections, hospitalizations, and fatalities, driven by improved therapies and above all, a suite of highly effective vaccines, had brought a collective sigh of relief. The July 4th festivities were euphorically anticipated, marking not only the nation’s independence from colonial rule but its...

SARS-CoV-2: A theme and variations
The celebrations were well underway. America seemed to be emerging from the depths of the COVID-19 crisis, following some of the darkest days in the nation’s history. A vast reduction

Are laundry and dish pods biodegradable? Not exactly, ASU study shows
Laundry and dishwasher pods: The simplicity of grabbing a pod and tossing it into a washing machine or dishwasher has made them a popular choice for many consumers for nearly

Rapid testing to the rescue
When the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, researchers at the Biodesign Institute leapt into action Editor's note: This story originally appeared in the fall 2020 issue of ASU Thrive magazine. On the morning of

Research shows water quality could diminish in closed buildings during COVID-19 pandemic
While bars, gyms, dine-in restaurants and other buildings have been closed to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, water left sitting in pipes could change in quality. It’s possible that

Novel coronavirus detected, monitored in wastewater
Within weeks of arriving on the world stage, SARS-CoV-2 has managed to encircle the globe, leaving illness, mortality and economic devastation in its vast wake. One of the central challenges

Indices of health under our feet
A treasure trove of information relevant to human and environmental health is hiding in an unexpected place. Samples of wastewater from homes, institutions, towns and cities around the world can