These projects directly support the mission of the UCR Agricultural Experiment Station (AES) to discover and disseminate research-based knowledge to ensure healthy people and communities, as well as the environmental and ecological sustainability for the future of California, the nation, and the world. These projects also support the UC ANR’s vision to address the challenges to the state to ensure healthy environments for future generations.
UCR-AES Hatch Project (accession no. 1023777, project no. CA-R-ENS-5214-H)
Health effects of particulate matter derived from atmospheric oxidation of organoselenium compounds
Selenium is a naturally occurring element cycling in the environment through biogeochemical processes. Selenium is an essential micronutrient for humans and animals, which is considered beneficial at low levels but is toxic at higher levels, with a fine boundary between safe and unsafe concentration ranges. From a physicochemical perspective, selenium can exist in various oxidation states that affect the selenium solubility and movement in the environment. Formation of organoselenium compounds in the environment occurs primarily by microbial transformation or plant metabolism that incorporates inorganic selenium into plants. Some alkylated derivatives of selenium are volatile and can be mobilized to the atmosphere. However, very little is known about their potential leading to fine particulate or secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation through atmospheric oxidation. The exposure-induced respiratory health effects are also largely unknown. This project aims to provide an improved understanding on the fate and transport of organoselenium compounds in the atmosphere, parameters related to the chemical reactivity and toxicity of identified reaction products, and the biological perturbations and potential health effects associated with pollutant exposure. The results can be used to provide the scientific basis for plans of risk prevention and health promotion for the agricultural people and communities.
UCR-AES Hatch Project (accession no. 7008753, project no. CA-R-ENS-5214-H)
Characterization and remediation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in contaminated environmental matrices
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) represent a class of persistent man-made chemicals that are utilized in numerous consumer products. This group of chemicals has been referred to as “forever chemicals” and has become an emerging issue for agriculture and natural ecosystems, found at low levels in food produced on contaminated farms. However, the current understanding regarding their fate, transport, and environmental impacts remains incomplete. Effective and safe treatment techniques are also urgently needed to address potential environmental concerns. This project aims to provide an improved understanding of of the chemical processes controlling fate and transport of legacy and emerging PFAS in the environments, the effects of environmental matrices on remediation of PFAS-contaminated media, with a specific focus on the thermal treatment processes, and the potential toxicity of PFAS and their transformation products. The results can be used to provide the scientific basis for plans of improved PFAS remediation strategies and promotion for sustainable natural ecosystems.