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...

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

Josh LaBaer in one of the testing labs.

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

city street linked with buildings

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

Two men testing water sample at wastewater facilitiy

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

Devin Bowes and Ralph Halden

To toss or not? Knowing when ‘expired’ really means expired

According to the Natural Resource Defense Council, Americans toss out approximately 25% of the food we buy. Carelessness, confusion over label dates and food spoilage are the three main reasons