Full metadata
Title
Methods and devices for evaluating environmental remediation progress and population health
Description
This dissertation critically evaluated methodologies and devices for assessing and protecting the health of human populations, with particular emphasis on groundwater remediation and the use of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) to inform population health. A meta-analysis and assessment of laboratory-scale treatability studies for removing chlorinated solvents from groundwater found that sediment microcosms operated as continuous-flow columns are preferable to batch bottles when seeking to emulate with high fidelity the complex conditions prevailing in the subsurface in contaminated aquifers (Chapter 2). Compared to monitoring at the field-scale, use of column microcosms also showed (i) improved chemical speciation, and (ii) qualitative predictability of field parameters (Chapter 3). Monitoring of glucocorticoid hormones in wastewater of a university campus showed (i) elevated stress levels particularly at the start of the semester, (ii) on weekdays relative to weekend days (p = 0.05) (161 ± 42 μg d-1 per person, 122 ± 54 μg d-1 per person; p ≤ 0.05), and (iii) a positive association between levels of stress hormones and nicotine (rs: 0.49) and caffeine (0.63) consumption in this student population (Chapter 4). Also, (i) alcohol consumption determined by WBE was in line with literature estimates for this young sub-population (11.3 ± 7.5 g d-1 per person vs. 10.1 ± 0.8 g d-1 per person), whereas caffeine and nicotine uses were below (114 ± 49 g d-1 per person, 178 ± 19 g d-1 per person; 627 ± 219 g d-1 per person, 927 ± 243 g d-1 per person). The introduction of a novel continuous in situ sampler to WBE brought noted benefits relative to traditional time-integrated sampling, including (i) a higher sample coverage (93% vs. 3%), (ii) an ability to captured short-term analyte pulses (e.g., heroin, fentanyl, norbuprenorphine, and methadone), and (iii) an overall higher mass capture for drugs of abuse like morphine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, amphetamine, and the opioid antagonist metabolite norbuprenorphine (p ≤ 0.01). Methods and devices developed in this work are poised to find applications in the remediation sector and in human health assessments.
Date Created
2018
Contributors
- Driver, Erin Michelle (Author)
- Halden, Rolf (Thesis advisor)
- Conroy-Ben, Otakuye (Committee member)
- Kavazanjian, Edward (Committee member)
- Krajmalnik-Brown, Rosa (Committee member)
- Arizona State University (Publisher)
Topical Subject
- Environmental engineering
- Environmental health
- Environmental sciences
- Chlorinated solvent remediation
- In situ active sampler
- Licit and illicit drug consumption
- Stress hormones
- Treatability studies
- Wastewater-Based Epidemiology
- public health
- Epidemiology
- Groundwater--Purification--Measurement.
- Groundwater
- Sewage--Analysis.
Resource Type
Extent
xvi, 190 pages : illustrations (some color)
Language
eng
Copyright Statement
In Copyright
Primary Member of
Peer-reviewed
No
Open Access
No
Handle
https://hdl.handle.net/2286/R.I.51769
Statement of Responsibility
by Erin Michelle Driver
Description Source
Viewed on June 13, 2019
Level of coding
full
Note
thesis
Partial requirement for: Ph.D., Arizona State University, 2018
bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 132-154)
Field of study: Civil, environmental and sustainable
System Created
- 2019-02-01 07:05:39
System Modified
- 2021-08-26 09:47:01
- 3 years 2 months ago
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