Padilla Presents PROTECT Research at International Society of Exposure Science Conference
From October 17-20, 2017, Dr. Ingrid Padilla, PROTECT Project 4 Leader, attended the 27th Annual Conference of the International Society of Exposure Science (ISES), where she presented on the “Influence of Hydrogeological Factors on Exposure to Emerging Contaminant in Karst Environments.” The 3-day long conference was held in Raleigh, North Carolina, and featured approximately 600 abstracts in 102 sessions on a wide array of exposure topics. The main theme of the conference was “Integrating Exposure Science across Diverse Communities.”
Since its inception, PROTECT’s Project 4 has worked to understand the ways in which contaminants move through karst aquifers, an effort that has taken the form of laboratory and field experiments as well as historical record evaluations. This information is important because karst aquifers are prevalent in most regions of the world, are vulnerable to contamination, are often used as drinking water sources, and are generally misunderstood by contamination-response groups. Attaining a deeper understanding about the way in which contaminants move through these aquifers may offer insight into better training practices for HAZMAT teams, firefighters, and other contamination responders working in karst regions.
PROTECT is committed to increasing awareness of this important area of environmental health. In 2016, with support from NIEHS, PROTECT co-organized with Karst Waters Institute, a conference on “Karst, Groundwater Contamination, & Public Health: Moving Beyond Case Studies.” PROTECT also hosted a webinar led by karst-expert Geary Schindel titled “Karst Aquifers – Water Quality, Vulnerability, and Public Health in a Complex Groundwater System.”