Environmental Sciences and Engineering Research
Lack of fresh food on the Galápagos’ San Cristóbal Island contributes to obesity
May 6, 2019 A new study provides insight into the food landscape and nutrition-related behaviors on San Cristóbal Island.
Three Gillings School researchers recognized for ‘best papers’ by ES&T
May 2, 2019 The researchers have been acknowledged by the journal for outstanding work in environmental chemistry and environmental pollution.
Communities without access to municipal water are at greater risk of having lead in their drinking water
February 25, 2019
In the study’s test area, 28 percent of households had lead in their kitchen tap water at concentrations above the U.S. EPA's health-based limit of 15 parts per billion, which is similar to the risk in Flint, Mich., during the 2015 water crisis.
Low doses of formaldehyde not likely to increase risk of cancer in humans
February 6, 2019
Dr. Kun Lu led a recent study that examined the cancer-causing potential of inhaled formaldehyde and found that the risk of developing cancer is significantly lower than expected previously.
Improved training, learning opportunities would help to meet UN’s ambitious water, sanitation, hygiene goals
January 14, 2019
New research from doctoral student Karen Setty and Dr. Jamie Bartram could benefit the WaSH community by engaging multiple parties to develop a set of common global research priorities. Photo by Shawn/Creative Commons.
Outreach on private well and septic-system maintenance crucial to water quality in ‘underbounded’ communities
December 21, 2018
Many private well owners in areas that have been excluded from municipal water and sewer services are not informed appropriately about the guidelines or importance of routine water testing, according to recent research from faculty members and students at the Gillings School.
When it comes to respiratory effects of wood smoke, sex matters
November 14, 2018
Exposure to wood smoke can have different effects on the respiratory immune systems of men and women — effects that may be obscured when data from men and women are lumped together. "The upshot," said senior author Dr. Ilona Jaspers, "is that we really need to consider sex-specific effects when studying wood smoke and other environmental pollutants that threaten public health."
Emissions from cannabis growth in commercial warehouses could have impact on air quality
November 13, 2018
A new study led by Dr. Will Vizuete examines the gases released by four species of cannabis to determine the impact of a thriving marijuana industry on air pollution and human health.
US air pollution deaths nearly halved between 1990 and 2010
October 19, 2018
Air pollution in the U.S. has decreased since about 1990, and a new UNC-Chapel Hill study now shows that this air quality improvement has brought substantial public health benefits.
New course at UNC, taught by Glenn Walters, combines design thinking and experiential making
June 13, 2018 Dr. Glenn Walters, director of the Environmental Sciences and Engineering Design Center at the Gillings School, is teaching 'Introduction to Design and Making,' a course that introduces students to state-of-the-art technology while proving that hard work and perseverance through failure can be rewarding.
