Tag Archives: pollution

How do you like them NAPLs? Investigating the chemical properties of pollutants

Seneca Lake in New York is known for stunning views, wine tasting, and being the lake trout capital of the world. However, a threat lies unseen in its beautiful waters. Earlier this year the Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association put out a report showing positive tests for polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water drawn from several sites in Seneca Lake. The report provides evidence that the known PFAS contamination at the former Seneca Army Depot is spreading beyond its borders. Seneca Lake is not the only community facing this issue. In Tucson, Arizona there has been an ongoing effort to remove PFAS from groundwater since the late 2010s when it was found that PFAS contamination was stemming from two nearby Air Force facilities. At K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base in Michigan, the Air Force is monitoring PFAS contamination in the water and soil with the help of the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy.

PFAS are often used to make products grease-proof, waterproof, nonstick, or flame-resistant. They are also found in firefighting foams, which are commonly used to put out fires at airports and military bases. They are also known as “forever chemicals” because they do not break down easily in the environment or the human body. PFAS have also been linked to several health problems, including certain cancers.

An additional factor becomes a concern when thinking about the impact from PFAS laden firefighting foams: non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPL). Common examples of NAPL are petroleum products, coal tars, and pesticides. In certain pollution sites there are both NAPL and PFAS present, which have the potential to interact in unexpected ways, impacting how these pollutants move through the environment, and potentially creating new NAPL-PFAS compounds of concern.

This week on ID we are interviewing Mireia Roig-Paul, a second year PhD student in Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, to learn all about these pollutants and the potential threats they pose. She studies in the laboratories of both Jennifer Fields and Serhan Mermer, and her research focuses on the intersection of PFAS and NAPLs, how they move through soil, and how they interact with each other. Tune in at 7pm on October 27th at 7 pm PST on KBVR 88.7 FM to hear all about it!

If you miss the show, you can check out the interview wherever you get your podcasts, including on our KBVR page, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

Pictured is Mireia Roig-Paul (provided by Mireia Roig-Paul).

Are You Listening? For Whale’s Sake, Keep it Down!

Our guest tomorrow night, Selene Fregosi PhD student in Fisheries and Wildlife, investigates noises produced by marine mammals and in particular, whales. Selene employs an under water microphone to record the bioacoustics produced by marine mammals over large spatial and temporal scales. Attached to remote controlled marine gliders, these microphones can record bioacoustics of marine mammals, some of which produce sounds of inaudible frequencies. Marine gliders limit the time and expense of whale monitoring from the deck of a marine vessel. This cost effective alternative allows Selene to collect oceanographic measurements like temperature and salinity and her audio recordings remotely through satellite transmitted programing. Selene’s explorations through her project will provide information about the effectiveness of this technology for future research with marine mammals.

Selene getting the glider ready.

Selene getting the glider ready with the help of Alex Turpin.

In addition to the practical aspects of this research, Selene is interested in how noise pollution from ships, submarines, and other vessels affects the behavior of charismatic mega fauna. By examining the sound spectra of an audio recording, Selene can identify each species by their characteristic sound patterns. After deciphering bioacoustics obtained from the microphoned-gliders, Selene can understand whale behavior during different times of year or different locations around the world. In fact, some of Selene’s recordings are the first ever to record whale behavior and movement off the coast of Guam!

Characteristic sound pattern of a beaked whale.

Characteristic sound pattern of a beaked whale.

Selene hopes that in the future, her work will aid the conservation of whales and other marine mammals. Deciphering bioacoustics can allow for the identification of when and where specific species are breeding, and conservationists can then work to reduce noise pollution. As our oceans become noisier from human activities, Selene’s research could provide accurate and specific information to limit disruption of crucial population maintenance and growth.

Learn more about Selene’s and other interesting research from the Klinck lab at OSU by visiting their blog.

Join us Sunday, November 22 at 7 pm to hear more about Selene’s research and her unique journey to graduate school. Tune in to KBVR Corvallis 88.7 FM or stream the show live!