Discovering Dr. Susan Glassmeyer, a scientific expert at the Environmental Protection Agency
In a time when the conversation around water quality is more important than ever, a prominent researcher at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sheds light on the challenges and opportunities ahead. The interviewee, who initially considered chemical oceanography but reconsidered due to the lack of oceans in the Midwest, has since dedicated their career to addressing the issue of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in water sources.
CECs, such as pharmaceuticals, PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), and microorganisms, pose significant health risks to both humans and aquatic life. For humans, exposure to PFAS is linked to various adverse health effects, including increased cholesterol levels, decreased birth weights, weakened immune response to vaccines, kidney and testicular cancers, pregnancy-related hypertension, preeclampsia, and changes in liver enzymes [4]. Pharmaceuticals and antibiotic residues in water contribute to antimicrobial resistance, a growing global public health threat that reduces the effectiveness of treatments for infectious diseases [2]. Microbial contaminants (bacteria, viruses, protozoa) can cause infectious diseases such as cholera [2]. Pharmaceuticals, hormones, and industrial chemicals entering water supplies also raise concerns due to their biological activity and persistence [1].
For aquatic life, CECs like PFAS and pharmaceuticals accumulate in water bodies, affecting organisms through toxicity, bioaccumulation, and endocrine disruption, ultimately harming ecosystems. The ecological risks include impacts on reproduction, growth, and survival of aquatic organisms, though specific details on these impacts were not emphasized in the sources [3]. Microbial contamination influences aquatic ecosystems by altering microbial communities and increasing disease prevalence [3].
Traditional water treatment systems are generally not designed to effectively remove these emerging contaminants, making them prevalent in drinking water sources, including groundwater and surface water [1][3]. Innovative treatment technologies and integrated policies are being researched and implemented to address these contaminants [2].
The interviewee's career path was driven by serendipity, leading them to enroll in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University and join the research group of Dr. Ron Hites, a preeminent scientist in environmental mass spectrometry. The interviewee believes that one of the biggest scientific challenges in the next 20/50/100 years will be improving the understanding between the scientific community and the public. They advise making the most out of the opportunities that end up in one's path.
Outside of their work at the EPA, the interviewee enjoys spending time on their farm and landscaping in their free time. If they weren't working for the EPA, they would likely be doing something where they can work with dirt and help things grow. Spending time pulling weeds and laying mulch serves as their cardio and stress management therapy.
These insights highlight the need for continued monitoring, improving water treatment, and addressing CECs to protect public health and aquatic environments. As the interviewee notes, understanding and addressing these challenges will require collaboration between scientists, policymakers, and the public.
- The interviewee, working at the Environmental Protection Agency, has highlighted the importance of addressing contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in water sources, such as chemicals like pharmaceuticals, PFAS, and microorganisms, which pose significant health risks to both humans and aquatic life.
- Exposure to PFAS in humans is linked to various adverse health effects, including increased cholesterol levels, decreased birth weights, weakened immune response to vaccines, kidney and testicular cancers, pregnancy-related hypertension, preeclampsia, and changes in liver enzymes.
- Pharmaceuticals and antibiotic residues in water contribute to antimicrobial resistance, a growing global public health threat that reduces the effectiveness of treatments for infectious diseases.
- For aquatic life, CECs like PFAS and pharmaceuticals accumulate in water bodies, affecting organisms through toxicity, bioaccumulation, and endocrine disruption, ultimately harming ecosystems.
- Traditional water treatment systems are not designed to effectively remove these emerging contaminants, making them prevalent in drinking water sources, including groundwater and surface water.
- To address these contaminants, innovative treatment technologies and integrated policies are being researched and implemented, requiring collaboration between scientists, policymakers, and the public.
- Outside of their work, the interviewee enjoys spending time on their farm, landscaping, and gardens, emphasizing the connection between health-and-wellness, environmental-science, and personal-finance, as they value time spent cultivating and growing things.
