{"id":16675,"date":"2021-08-25T09:24:33","date_gmt":"2021-08-25T13:24:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/?p=16675"},"modified":"2024-04-18T11:41:27","modified_gmt":"2024-04-18T15:41:27","slug":"undergraduate-students-contribute-to-research-for-environmental-human-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2021\/08\/undergraduate-students-contribute-to-research-for-environmental-human-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Undergraduate Students Contribute to Research for Environmental, Human Health"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n
By Sarah Stone<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The labs at the Wilson College of Textiles remained busy over the summer as students participated in the <\/span>Textile Engineering, Chemistry and Science (TECS) Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n These undergraduates, 30 in total, gained research and professional experience as well as insight into the life of a graduate student. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr. Januka Budhathoki-Uprety<\/span><\/a> has invited undergraduate students to participate in her research projects the last two summers. She says she\u2019s proud of the growth she\u2019s seen in these students over the course of the 10 week program. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI really love watching that lightbulb moment in students when they understand the results after they have been working on projects for so many long hours,\u201d she says. \u201cAnd then at the end of the program you will be amazed by how much they learned during this time.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Undergraduate students Luis Martinez and Shelby Hall helped Dr. Budhathoki and her graduate students with two research projects this summer. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Update: The group has recently published<\/a> a review article regarding disinfectants’ potential impact on health and the environment in “ACS Chemical Health & Safety”.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to advise frequent and thorough disinfecting to help reduce the spread of COVID. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n While acknowledging the effectiveness of disinfectants, researchers continue to express concern over the potential impacts on human health. Dr. Budhathoki-Uprety\u2019s team, including undergraduate student Shelby Hall and graduate student Hannah Dewey, is on a mission to make it easier for other scientists to learn more about these potentially harmful effects. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Specifically, these scientists are looking at chemical compounds found in most common disinfectants. These compounds could enter the bloodstream through absorption through bare skin, ingestion or inhalation and could cause problems in the respiratory or cardiovascular systems. It\u2019s important to note that these concerns apply more to people who have repeated exposure to large amounts of disinfectants, such as healthcare and housekeeping employees. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n “For this emerging issue there is no established way to directly measure how much of these chemical disinfectants will end up in the body if you are exposed to these chemicals\u201d Dr. Budhathoki-Uprety explains. \u201cSay for example, these molecules may enter the bloodstream and accumulate in tissues causing a health impact. Currently, there is no easy way to look at it.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Her research group is innovating how to overcome that limitation. Hannah Dewey is developing nanosensors that can detect the presence and amount of these harmful compounds in blood samples and other biofluids. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n The timely application of this research is what Dewey says specifically appealed to her. The <\/span>fiber and polymer science<\/span><\/a> student is dedicating her doctoral research to the project. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe need to use [these chemicals] because they’re combating COVID,\u201d she says. \u201cBut what are the potential impacts after the pandemic? That was just really, really interesting to me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Shelby Hall says the project gave her the opportunity to learn more about interactions between molecules using the fluorescence properties of compounds.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI’ve understood more about what it means and what I’m looking at,\u201d the senior chemical engineering student at Penn State says. \u201cI think the learning process for that one is very interesting.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nDeveloping nanosensors for human health <\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Developing a bio-based sustainable finish to minimize environmental impacts<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n