Environmental health

News and Updates

Four small dark glass ampules stand on a lab table, market with skull and crossbones danger icons.

NIST Researchers Develop Standards to Help Eliminate ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Firefighting Foams

September 18, 2023

These foams contain chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that have raised environmental and health concerns.

NIST Team Demonstrates Novel Way to Convert Heat to Electricity

May 19, 2023

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have fabricated a novel device that could dramatically boost the conversion of heat

A yellow buoy with a red base floats in the sea under a blue sky.

Ocean Color System Gets a ‘Refresh,’ Allowing for More Precise and Accurate Measurements

January 3, 2023

NIST, NOAA and other partners have collaborated on an upgrade to an ocean-color sensor called the Marine Optical Buoy, or MOBY.

Projects and Programs

NCNR DAC and CCUS efforts

Ongoing

Overview Capture of carbon dioxide from the air (direct air capture; DAC) combined with energy efficiency and carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS)

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

Ongoing

NIST works to improve confidence in measurements and conducts research on PFAS for better human health and the environment.

Measurement Techniques for Membranes and Membrane Proteins

Ongoing

Synthetic cell membrane constructs allow the simplification and complete control of a more complicated cellular system, as well as the incorporation of selected

Fundamental Chemical Metrology

Ongoing

The Chemical Sciences Division serves as the Nation's reference laboratory for chemical compositional measurements and standards to enhance U.S. industry's

Publications

Federal perspective on critical research issues in nanoEHS

August 31, 2023

Author(s)

Janet Carter, Sri Nadadur, Rhema Bjorkland, William Boyes, Chuck Geraci, Vincent A. Hackley, John Howard, Alan Kennedy, Igor Linkov, Joanna Matheson, Holly Mortensen, Custudio Muinga, Elijah Petersen, Nora Savage, Stacey Standridge, Trey Thomas, Benjamin Trump

This article discusses critical issues and opportunities going forward in nanotechnology environmental, health, and safety (nanoEHS) research from the

Mercury Accumulation and Biomarkers of Exposure in Two Popular Recreational Fishes in Hawaiian Waters

July 25, 2023

Author(s)

Stephanie D. Holbert, Colleen E. Bryan Sallee, Keith Korsmeyer, Brenda A. Jensen

Mercury (Hg) exposure has not been examined in many recreational nearshore fish species that are commonly consumed around the Hawaiian Islands. Specific gene

Using Plasma Vitellogenin in Loggerhead Sea Turtles to Assess Reproductive Maturation and Estrogen‐Like Contaminant Exposure

March 21, 2023

Author(s)

Raquel Corniuk, Jennifer Lynch, Michael Arendt, Joanne Braun-McNeill, David Owens, Roldan Valverde, John Kucklick, Patricia McClellan-Green

Vitellogenin (VTG), an egg yolk precursor, is abnormally produced by male and juvenile oviparous species after exposure to estrogens. Plasma VTG in loggerhead

Green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) accumulate heavy metals near a former skeet shooting range in Kailua, O'ahu, Hawai'i

March 3, 2023

Author(s)

Katherine Shaw, George Balazs, T. Todd Jones, Harry Lynch, Jing Liu, George Cobb, David Klein, Jennifer Lynch

This study determined if green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) in Kailua Bay, Oahu, in the Hawaiian Islands have elevated blood and scute Pb, As, and Sb

Software

Quick Indoor CO2 (QICO2) Tool

April 8, 2022

This tool is used for implementing the CO 2 concentration calculations. After providing the relevant inputs, or selecting from a number of predefined cases, the

ViPER - Virus Particle Exposure in Residences

November 22, 2021

The web-based tool Virus Particle Exposure in Residences (ViPER) allows users to compare an individual scenario against multiple “what-if” scenarios related to

Environmental health

News and Updates

NIST Researchers Develop Standards to Help Eliminate ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Firefighting Foams

NIST Team Demonstrates Novel Way to Convert Heat to Electricity

Ocean Color System Gets a ‘Refresh,’ Allowing for More Precise and Accurate Measurements

Projects and Programs

NCNR DAC and CCUS efforts

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

Measurement Techniques for Membranes and Membrane Proteins

Fundamental Chemical Metrology

Publications

Federal perspective on critical research issues in nanoEHS

Mercury Accumulation and Biomarkers of Exposure in Two Popular Recreational Fishes in Hawaiian Waters

Using Plasma Vitellogenin in Loggerhead Sea Turtles to Assess Reproductive Maturation and Estrogen‐Like Contaminant Exposure

Green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) accumulate heavy metals near a former skeet shooting range in Kailua, O'ahu, Hawai'i

Software

Quick Indoor CO2 (QICO2) Tool

ViPER - Virus Particle Exposure in Residences

Awards

Amanda Moors Recognized for NIST Biorepository Work

David Long Honored with PECASE

Elijah Petersen Honored with PECASE