Michigan State University water microbiologist Joan Rose was honored for her lifetime of water research with the International Water Association Global Water Award. She was recognized Aug. 10 at the IWA World Water Conference in Toronto, Canada. It’s the latest accolade in a storied career for Rose, who is the Homer Nowlin Chair in Water Research and director …
PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) have become a major environmental concern. These chemicals, used in various industrial and consumer products for their heat, oil, stain, grease, and water-resistant properties, have infiltrated our food and water supplies. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control estimates that 97% of Americans have PFAS in their bodies. While the full …
Unpredictable precipitation is one of the most challenging elements of being a farmer. Not enough moisture, and plant growth is hindered. Too much can saturate the soil while setting the stage for diseases to thrive. Recently, Michigan growers have experienced both extremes. Some of the driest and wettest months on record have occurred in the …
Municipal water systems must remove “forever chemicals” from their tap water under a new rule issued by the Environmental Protection Agency meant to prevent deaths and serious illnesses linked to the substances. This limit is the first of its kind for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances known as PFAS, a toxic chemical used in everyday items …
The next time you walk through the woods in the dead of winter, take a moment to see if you can spot one of nature’s most persistent and heartiest survivors. No, not the patch of brown grasses peeking through a snowbank, or the acres of trees with their bare boughs and branches, waiting for spring. …
In this post we look at a community request: PFAS compounds. Science evolves as research and evidence grow to help us determine the safety of an ingredient, contaminant, or technology. However, headlines around ingredient safety are often faster than the research concluding an ingredient’s harm or safety profile. We may not immediately know if a …
Younsuk Dong, an assistant professor and Extension specialist at Michigan State University’s Department of Biosystem and Agricultural Engineering, has been recognized by MSU Extension with the 2023 Innovative Technology Award for his LOCOMOS technology. LOCOMOS (Low-Cost Monitoring System) uses affordable sensors and monitoring tools to provide real-time data on soil moisture levels, allowing farmers to …
Michigan State University researcher Bruno Basso suggests that advanced plant sensors can provide farmers with real-time data on soil, crops, and weather. However, their uptake remains slow due to high costs and complexity. Furthermore, extreme weather events driven by climate change are decreasing yields. While sensors could and would help farmers adapt to the new …
Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $8,492,000 in grant funding to four institutions for research on the occurrence and concentration of pathogens and disinfection by-products and the environmental conditions favorable to their growth in drinking water distribution systems. “New strategies for monitoring and controlling contaminants in drinking water will help ensure that science …
Hui Li, a professor in the Michigan State University Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, is being honored with the 2023 Environmental Quality Research Award from the American Society of Agronomy (ASA). Li, a world-renowned expert in environmental soil chemistry, and the fate and transport of contaminants in plant-soil-water systems, will be formally recognized …
