Using Tampons to Test for Grey Water Pollution
Maryann Cairns, Ph.D.Postdoctoral Research Associate
Northeastern University Social Science Environmental Health Research Institute
Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Problem
• Sewer Misconnections– Wastewater Enters Rivers
and Streams
• Discharges are Intermittent
• Expensive Detection Methods
Optic Brighteners (OBs)
• Chemicals that Fluoresce Under Ultra Violet Light
• Commonly Found in Laundry Detergent, Toilet Paper, and Cleaning Products
• These Components Exist in the Majority of Misconnections
Tampons• No Optical Brighteners Used
• Placed In Water
• If Effluent not Immediately Detected, Placed for up to 3 Days
• About 31 Cents per Sample Kit in Early Study– (UV light, tampon, ziploc bag, and a bamboo stick)
Today We Will• Build Spectrometer to look for OBs
• Test Samples for OBs absorbed by Tampons with UV Light
• Look for OBs with Spectrometer
• Find a Way to Connect with Thermal Fishing Bob?
• Focus on Design/Ways to Sample
• And go from there…
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