Environmental Sciences and Engineering Research
Climate warming could deepen environmental injustice in urban areas
July 6, 2022 Extreme heat events could become more intense and frequent, increasing the risk of harm to health and global economies and deepening climate injustices, according to new research from Dr. Yuqiang Zhang at the Gillings School.
Sanitation innovation holds promise but must consider risks to users
May 27, 2022 In an invited perspective written earlier this year, UNC Gillings faculty member Dr. Joe Brown weighs innovative strategies for more productive use of human and animal waste with potential negative side effects.
Cooperation rewards water utilities
May 25, 2022 Mark Twain is attributed with the quote, “Whisky is for drinking, and water is for fighting over!” But what if, when it comes to urban water utilities, cooperation yields more benefits than going it alone?
How would electric school bus charging benefit the power grid and environment?
May 25, 2022 In a recent study, faculty member Dr. Noah Kittner contributed to an innovative model that demonstrates how electric school bus charging schedules could aid in energy storage.
Floor waxing could be an important source of PFAS contamination, with increased occupational health risks for workers
May 25, 2022 There’s a special satisfaction that comes from walking on perfectly shined floors — but is it worth the potential risk to floor waxing workers? A study published earlier this year measured per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in dust and airborne particulate matter during professional floor stripping and waxing. Researchers concluded that significantly higher levels of PFAS were present during floor waxing.
Can sustainable plastics clean our plastic-polluted water?
April 21, 2022 UNC researchers across disciplines are harnessing the power of a new plastic to remove pollutants from drinking water. Their work just got a significant boost from the state legislature.
Water supply portfolios must be viable for all partners
April 5, 2022 The need to invest in large and expensive new water infrastructure represents a significant challenge for water providers, especially given ongoing water affordability issues and the uncertainties associated with future demands and climate change.
Evidence suggests COVID-19 is not transmitted through wastewater
Feburary 16, 2022 There is no proof that people can contract COVID-19 from wastewater, according to a report by Dr. Mark Sobsey published in the Journal of Water & Health.
Energy inequity is an urgent public health issue, as Bronx fire illustrates
January 19, 2022 A new national analysis of United States household energy spending found that 16% of the country lives in energy poverty — defined as spending more than 6% of household income on energy bills. More than 5.2 million households living above the Federal Poverty Line still face energy poverty, and this struggle disproportionately burdens Black, Hispanic and Native American communities.
Survival probability is deciding factor in American perceptions of COVID-19 triage
January 4, 2021 Americans believe that scarce beds in hospital intensive care units should be given to COVID-19 patients who have the highest chances of survival, according to new research led by UNC-Chapel Hill.
