Environmental Toxicology:

• Analytical Methods
• Sediment Baselines
• Sources and Fates
• Runoff Management
• Evaluation
• Consumer Information

 

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Runoff Management

Runoff management has become the focus of Washington State’s efforts to save marine ecosystems in Puget Sound.  Local jurisdictions are required to monitor rain runoff from cities and towns for toxic chemicals, but the cost of testing can overwhelm the tax base of small communities and stimulate taxpayer pushback.  Kwiaht is developing more affordable methods for screening runoff with a view to ensuring consistent monitoring in the islands, including a special application of the fluorescent Vibrio method for bulk toxicity, and ultraviolet screening of water samples for high ratios of cyclic to aliphatic dissolved hydrocarbons.  Use of such methods could reduce monitoring costs by more than half, and bring the methodology within the easy reach of trained students and volunteers.