Feature Channels: Food and Water Safety

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Released: 29-Mar-2017 11:05 AM EDT
‘Weather Whiplash’ Triggered by Changing Climate Will Degrade Midwest’s Drinking Water, Researchers Say
University of Kansas

Researchers at the University of Kansas have published findings showing weather whiplash in the American Midwest’s agricultural regions will drive the deterioration of water quality, forcing municipalities to seek costly remedies to provide safe drinking water to residents.

Released: 29-Mar-2017 10:05 AM EDT
Journal: Researchers Can Track Hazardous Chemicals From Fast-Food Wrappers in the Body
University of Alabama at Birmingham

Just one month after major research findings showed dangerous PFAS present in more than one-third of fast food packaging tested, UAB and Notre Dame created a new technique to track PFASs in the body.

   
Released: 29-Mar-2017 7:05 AM EDT
Americans Are Water Conscious, UF/IFAS Survey Shows
University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

Researchers based their assessment on responses to a survey of 1,052 respondents. The poll shows 46 percent are “water considerate;” 44 percent of the participants are what researchers classified as “water savvy conservationists” and 9 percent are not concerned about water conservation.

Released: 23-Mar-2017 9:05 PM EDT
Five Ways to Protect Your Child From Household Poisons
Children's Hospital Los Angeles

More than 2 million poisonings are reported each year to poison centers across the United States, and half those calls involve children under 6. As part of National Poison Prevention Week CHLA pediatric medical toxicologist Cyrus Rangan, M.D. shares tips for preventing poisoning in the home.

Released: 20-Mar-2017 1:05 PM EDT
NAU Study Finds Drought-Quenching Bacteria Protects Plants From Climate Stress
Northern Arizona University

The study, led by doctoral student Rachel Rubin, determined bacteria could play a significant role in increasing crop yields in the future, even in times of drought

Released: 16-Mar-2017 1:05 PM EDT
The Future of Water: MSU Researcher Studies Hydrology, Ecology with Practical Applications for Conservation
Mississippi State University

Researchers with expertise in a wide range of water-related issues will converge this month for the SEC Academic Conference to discuss the often complex issues related to the earth’s most life-giving resource.

Released: 15-Mar-2017 5:05 PM EDT
SNAPP Issues RFP for “Science-to-Solutions” Projects
Science for Nature and People Partnership (SNAPP)

The Science for Nature and People Partnership (SNAPP) has issued an open call for funding proposals to convene interdisciplinary teams tackling questions at the heart of sustainable economic development, human well-being, and natural resource conservation.

Released: 15-Mar-2017 11:05 AM EDT
Preventing Lead Spread
Washington University in St. Louis

While lead pipes were banned decades ago, they still supply millions of American households with water each day. A team of engineers at Washington University in St. Louis has developed a new way to track where dangerous lead particles might be transported in the drinking-water supply during a common abatement procedure.

Released: 14-Mar-2017 3:05 PM EDT
Study Quantifies Role of 'Legacy Phosphorus' in Reduced Water Quality
University of Wisconsin–Madison

For decades, phosphorous has accumulated in Wisconsin soils. Though farmers have taken steps to reduce the quantity of the agricultural nutrient applied to and running off their fields, a new study from the University of Wisconsin-Madison reveals that a "legacy" of abundant soil phosphorus in the Yahara watershed of Southern Wisconsin has a large, direct and long-lasting impact on water quality.

Released: 13-Mar-2017 3:05 PM EDT
Hydrogen on Demand
American Technion Society

Using solar energy, Technion researchers have developed a new method for safely and efficiently producing hydrogen in a centralized manner, miles away from the solar farm. It could greatly reduce the cost of producing hydrogen and shipping it to customers.

Released: 8-Mar-2017 10:05 AM EST
All-Pro Water Boy: NFL's Chris Long Spreads Passion For Clean Water At Darden
University of Virginia Darden School of Business

Features Chris Long and his work with providing clean accessible drinking water to rural communities in East Africa

   
1-Mar-2017 10:05 AM EST
Evidence Lacking to Support ‘Lead Diet’
University at Buffalo

Writing in the Journal of Pediatrics, UB researcher says public health experts need to be more up front with parents in explaining that CDC dietary recommendations may not help children who have been exposed to lead.

6-Mar-2017 12:30 PM EST
New Materials Could Turn Water Into the Fuel of the Future
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Scientists at Berkeley Lab and Caltech have—in just two years—nearly doubled the number of materials known to have potential for use in solar fuels. They did so by developing a process that promises to speed the discovery of commercially viable generation of solar fuels that could replace coal, oil, and other fossil fuels.

Released: 6-Mar-2017 12:05 PM EST
Turning Food Waste Into Tires
Ohio State University

Researchers at The Ohio State University have discovered that food waste can partially replace the petroleum-based filler that has been used in manufacturing tires for more than a century. In tests, rubber made with the new fillers exceeds industrial standards for performance, which may ultimately open up new applications for rubber.

6-Mar-2017 12:05 AM EST
Isoflavones in Food Associated with Reduced Mortality for Women with Some Breast Cancers
Tufts University

Higher intake of foods containing isoflavones, estrogen-like compounds primarily found in soy, is associated with reduced all-cause mortality in women with hormone-receptor-negative breast cancer and women not treated with hormone therapy as part of cancer treatment.

Released: 23-Feb-2017 2:05 PM EST
Using Twitter May Increase Food-Poisoning Reporting
Washington University in St. Louis

Nearly 1 in 4 U.S. citizens gets food poisoning every year, but very few report it. Twitter communications between the public and the proper government authorities could improve foodborne illness reporting as well as the steps that follow, according to a new study from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis.

Released: 23-Feb-2017 1:15 PM EST
FDA Study Offers Food Establishments Better Methods for Preventing Norovirus Outbreaks
Society for Risk Analysis (SRA)

If you’re sick, stay home. Wash your hands before preparing food. When preparing food, always wear gloves or do not touch the ready-to-eat food with bare hands. For food service workers, following this simple advice, which is part of the FDA Food Code, could drastically reduce the spread of norovirus, the most common type of foodborne illness. These results come from a new U.S. Food and Drug Administration study published in the latest issue of Risk Analysis, the scholarly journal of the Society for Risk Analysis.

Released: 23-Feb-2017 12:00 AM EST
Oil and Gas Wastewater Spills, Including Fracking Wastewater, Alter Microbes in West Virginia Waters
Rutgers University

Wastewater from oil and gas operations – including fracking for shale gas – at a West Virginia site altered microbes downstream, according to a Rutgers-led study. The study, published recently in Science of the Total Environment, showed that wastewater releases, including briny water that contained petroleum and other pollutants, altered the diversity, numbers and functions of microbes. The shifts in the microbial community indicated changes in their respiration and nutrient cycling, along with signs of stress.

Released: 22-Feb-2017 4:05 PM EST
NMSU Expert Gives Tips on Safe Water Storage, Treatment in Case of Crisis
New Mexico State University (NMSU)

In the case of emergencies affecting potable water supplies, New Mexico State University water expert Rossana Sallenave released a guide on how to properly treat and store water for long periods of time.

Released: 22-Feb-2017 2:05 PM EST
Masdar Institute Pioneering Innovative Wastewater Treatment System
Masdar Institute of Science and Technology

Assistant Professor Shadi Wajih Hasan is Working to Develop Wastewater Treatment Systems for the Sustainable Production of High-Quality Water.

Released: 21-Feb-2017 11:05 AM EST
New Studies Quantify the Impacts of Water Use on Diversity of Fish and Aquatic Insects in NC Streams
RTI International

The health of fish and aquatic insects could be significantly affected by withdrawals of fresh water from the rivers and streams across North Carolina according to a new scientific assessment.

Released: 21-Feb-2017 10:05 AM EST
Listeria May Be Serious Miscarriage Threat Early in Pregnancy
University of Wisconsin–Madison

Listeria, a common food-borne bacterium, may pose a greater risk of miscarriage in the early stages of pregnancy than appreciated, according to researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Veterinary Medicine studying how pathogens affect fetal development and change the outcome of pregnancy.

Released: 20-Feb-2017 10:05 AM EST
Breakthrough Wireless Sensing System Attracts Industry and Government Agency Interest
Argonne National Laboratory

Top experts in environmental sensing explored existing and potential applications for Waggle and other sensing technologies during a two-day workshop held at Argonne last year. From researching deforestation in the Amazon to improving air quality for manned space missions, attendees revealed unique ways to apply sensing technology to improve our understanding of Earth and human health – and a number of these applications employed Waggle.

Released: 15-Feb-2017 12:05 PM EST
UW-Milwaukee Water Program Links Students to Careers
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

A school-to-work partnership involving the UW-Milwaukee School of Freshwater Sciences, the Water Council and local technical colleges provides a pipeline to jobs in the growing water industry..

10-Feb-2017 2:05 PM EST
The Glow of Food Dye Can Be Used to Monitor Food Quality
Biophysical Society

Allura Red, a synthetic food and pharmaceutical color widely used within the U.S., boasts special properties that may make it and other food dyes appropriate as sensors or edible probes to monitor foods and pharmaceuticals. A team of researchers -- from Rutgers University, the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Massachusetts -- recently made this discovery during an extension of their work identifying and characterizing molecules in foods or food ingredients that might provide signals of food quality, stability or safety.

Released: 13-Feb-2017 10:05 AM EST
How Untreated Water Is Making Our Kids Sick: FSU Researcher Explores Possible Climate Change Link
Florida State University

A Florida State University researcher has drawn a link between the impact of climate change and untreated drinking water on the rate of gastrointestinal illness in children.

   
Released: 13-Feb-2017 9:05 AM EST
Simulated Ransomware Attack Shows Vulnerability of Industrial Controls
Georgia Institute of Technology

Cybersecurity researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a new form of ransomware that can take over control of a simulated water treatment plant. After gaining access, they were able to command programmable logic controllers (PLCs) to shut valves, increase the amount of chlorine added to water, and display false readings.

Released: 9-Feb-2017 5:05 PM EST
Expert on American Indian Law, Federal Lands and Water Rights
University of Washington

Robert T. Anderson, a law professor at the University of Washington, is an expert on property rights, American Indian law and water rights.

Released: 9-Feb-2017 2:05 PM EST
UGA Scientists Use Robots and Drones to Accelerate Plant Genetic Research, Improve Crop Yield
University of Georgia

A team of researchers is developing a robotic system of all-terrain rovers and aerial drones that can quickly and accurately gather and analyze data on the characteristics of crops.

7-Feb-2017 2:05 PM EST
Campus Stormwater Project Nurtures Neighboring River
California State University, Sacramento

Sacramento State's innovative LID project is complete, and the American River is cleaner and safer because of it.

Released: 6-Feb-2017 5:05 AM EST
Experts Reveal Hidden Dangers Behind Supplements
Queen's University Belfast

Many herbal supplements contain hidden pharmaceutical ingredients that could be causing serious health risks, according to a team of experts from Queen’s University Belfast, Kingston University London and LGC.

Released: 1-Feb-2017 12:05 PM EST
Increased Food Assistance Benefits Could Result in Fewer ER Visits
University of Missouri Health

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, SNAP benefits reduced the incidence of extreme poverty by 13.2 percent and child poverty by 15.5 percent between 2000 and 2009. Now, researchers from the University of Missouri have found that SNAP benefits also may be beneficial in reducing visits to the emergency room, saving money for families, health care facilities and taxpayers.

Released: 1-Feb-2017 8:05 AM EST
New Study Finds Extensive Use of Fluorinated Chemicals in Fast Food Wrappers
University of Notre Dame

Previous studies have linked the chemicals to kidney and testicular cancers, thyroid disease, low birth weight and immunotoxicity in children, among other health issues.

25-Jan-2017 8:00 AM EST
Fast Food Packaging Contains Potentially Harmful Chemicals That Can Leach Into Food
Silent Spring Institute

First comprehensive analysis finds more than two dozen toxic highly fluorinated chemicals, including a phased-out substance.

   
Released: 30-Jan-2017 10:05 AM EST
Move Over Bear Grylls! Academics Build Ultimate Solar-Powered Water Purifier
University at Buffalo

You’ve seen Bear Grylls turn foul water into drinking water with little more than sunlight and plastic. Academics added a third element — carbon-dipped paper — to create a highly efficient and inexpensive way to turn saltwater and contaminated water into potable water for personal use. The system could help address global drinking water shortages, especially in developing areas and regions affected by natural disasters.

Released: 26-Jan-2017 1:10 PM EST
Study: How Climate Change Threatens Mountaintops (and Clean Water)
University of Vermont

A first-of-its kind study, in the journal Nature, shows how mountain ecosystems around the globe may be threatened by climate change over the next decades. The scientists discovered that key nutrient cycles in mountain soils and plants may be disrupted—which, in turn, may threaten global drinking water supplies.

23-Jan-2017 3:05 PM EST
When Do Teens with Food Allergies Take Fewer Risks?
Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

More support from friends, family and school was linked to less risk-taking among adolescents and young adults with food allergies, according to a study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice.

24-Jan-2017 1:05 PM EST
Floating Towards Water Treatment
American Society of Agronomy (ASA), Crop Science Society of America (CSSA), Soil Science Society of America (SSSA)

Researchers found engineered floating wetlands show promise, similar to natural floating wetlands, for water treatment.

Released: 24-Jan-2017 10:05 AM EST
New Review Article Suggests Sheep Milk May Be the Next Functional Dairy Food
Institute of Food Technologists (IFT)

A paper published in Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety explored the physicochemical and nutritional characteristics of sheep milk and development of sheep milk dairy products containing prebiotics and/or probiotics.

Released: 24-Jan-2017 10:05 AM EST
Food Scientist Shares Insights on How to End Food Waste
Institute of Food Technologists (IFT)

Edward Hirschberg, President of Innovative Foods and recipient of the Institute of Food Technologists’ 2016 Babcock-Hart Award for his many contributions to food processing, shared some potential solutions to many of the world’s food waste problems in the January issue of Food Technology magazine.

20-Jan-2017 3:30 PM EST
Danforth Center Expands Major Research Program to Benefit Farmers in the Developing World
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center

It is of interest, not only because it is a staple crop in Sub-Saharan Africa, but because grain sorghum yields have been flat or declining due to the lack of sufficient investment in the development of new improved varieties. Sorghum is very resilient to drought and heat stress. Natural genetic diversity in sorghum makes it a promising system for identifying stress-resistance mechanisms in grasses that may have been lost during the domestication of related cereal crops. It is among the most efficient crops in conversion of solar energy and use of water, making it an ideal crop to target for improvement to meet the predicted doubling of global food demand by 2050.

Released: 11-Jan-2017 6:05 PM EST
Affordable Water in the US: A Burgeoning Crisis
Michigan State University

If water rates continue rising at projected amounts, the number of U.S. households unable to afford water could triple in five years, to nearly 36 percent, finds new research by a Michigan State University scholar.

Released: 10-Jan-2017 7:05 PM EST
Surrounded by Water
Department of Energy, Office of Science

Whether producing new types of power or cleaning old waste sites, the reaction between water and positively charged particles from acids is crucial. To gain insight, scientists isolated certain structures of a proton being surrounded by an increasing number of water molecules.

Released: 10-Jan-2017 3:05 AM EST
Changing Rainfall Patterns Linked to Water Security in India
International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)

Changes in precipitation, which are linked to the warming of the Indian Ocean, are the main reason for recent changes in groundwater storage in India.



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