Sacoby M. Wilson wins 2005 Impact Award
| May 02, 2005 | |
| The Graduate Education Advancement Board and the UNC Graduate School presented a 2005 Impact Award to Sacoby M. Wilson (PhD, Ball advisor) at an April 7 recognition ceremony where he presented his research project (see below) and received a cash award. This award recognizes graduate students whose research makes a difference to the state. Sacoby was one of seven doctoral students in SPH to win this award.Environmental Monitoring and Spatiotemporal Assessment of Atmospheric Ammonia Levels near Hog CAFOs in Eastern North Carolina Confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) raise large numbers of animals in small spaces and disposeof liquid waste in lagoons and spray fields. Since 1990, hog production in North Carolina has increased from less than three million hogs to over 10 million hogs with over 2,000 CAFOs operating in the state. There is concern for health hazards dues to the release of gases from the CAFOs, such as ammonia. Carolina graduate student Sacoby Wilson wanted to better understand the human exposure to ammonia by measuring ammonia levels in areas near hog CAFOs in eastern North Carolina. By monitoring ammonia levels over a year-long period, Sacoby found that atmospheric ammonia levels were above normal at many sites and reached even higher levels in high-emission counties such as Duplin and Sampson during the summer. Using this information, Sacoby was able to create a map of North Carolina showing the distribution of ammonia and the exposure to residents who live nearhog CAFOs. This map will be valuable to show the potential exposure risks of communities, in particular, disparately burdened poor communities and susceptible populations, including young children and the elderly. For further information please contact Rebecca Riggsbee Lloyd by email at Rebecca_Lloyd@unc.edu |
