How do compounds in rooftop runoff affect soil and biota?
Clean water is such a coveted resource around the world, and so many of our every day actions lead to further contamination of this resource. As such we need to be more aware of the consequence of our pesticide use and our vehicle emissions concerning the fate of our water. For organizations or individuals harvesting rainwater from rooftop runoff, these contaminants, as well as the roofing material used, can affect the water's purity.
As a master's student at Oklahoma State University and working in Dr. Jason Belden's lab, my research focuses on the accumulation of compounds like pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the soil around downspouts. I will be testing soil across the state of Oklahoma to see what levels of contaminants are present. I will also be performing a lab study with earthworms and zucchini to test how these compounds can bioaccumulate in organisms.
This research is important in deciding if a first flush diverter employed by rainwater-harvesting systems needs to be implemented in certain areas. The study is also important in determining if levels of potential carcinogens present in the soil can be accumulated by plants which will eventually be consumed by humans or animals.
