By measuring post-holiday spice levels in waterways, scientists hope to raise awareness of the public’s role in protecting water quality
As the aroma of spices fills the air this holiday season, scientists from the University of Washington (UW; Seattle) want citizens to remember that what they consume has a direct impact on their local waterways.
In 2006 Richard Keil, associate professor of the UW School of Oceanography, started monitoring benign spices in the local waterways. His goal was to find an interesting way of showing citizens how their everyday activities affect the natural world.
Keil works with Research Scientist/Laboratory Manager Jaqui Neibauer, SoundCitizen Program Coordinator Brittany Kimball, and his students to gather samples and perform the research. Water samples are processed in UW’s Aquatic Organic Geochemistry Lab, where the team measures levels of cinnamon, thyme, and vanilla.
“The nice thing about the spices is that they’re not threatening,” said Neibauer. She explained that university scientists hope people make the connection between consuming spices and consuming other compounds such as medicine to start understanding how their routines have a significant impact on the surrounding environment.
January 18, 2012 - The Sewage Sludge Action Network - a project of the Center for Community Alternatives - is currently recruiting interns to assist the organization move forward with a number of initiatives related to protecting human and biological health from sewage sludge hazards. Students at Duke and Carolina are encouraged to apply. Please