Contaminant Fate and Transport : Detection, Survival, Transport, and Reduction of Human Pathogens from Animal Manure

Although the food and water supply of the United States is among the safest in the world, an increasing number of outbreaks of human disease are occurring as a result of pathogen contamination of:

Fruits
Vegetables
Water resources

Liquid and solid animal wastes originating from concentrated animal feeding operations are believed to be a major source of pathogenic microorganisms.

Scientists and Engineers are developing their ability to

Detect pathogenic microorganisms
Quantify pathogenic microorganisms
Predict their fate and transport in the environment

Primary objectives of this research are to:

Develop methods for the detection and source identification of pathogenic microorganisms
Quantify mechanisms and processes affecting the transport and survival of pathogenic microorganisms

To this end, an interdisciplinary team of research scientists is conducting laboratory and numerical experiments to

Develop novel detection techniques
Explore the influence of microbe, water, manure, and soil characteristics on pathogen fate and transport

Insight gained from these studies should aid in the development of control strategies to prevent the transmission of pathogenic microorganisms to

Food-Producing Animals
Agricultural Crops
General Environment

Contact Scientists:

Mark Ibekwe, PhD
Scott Bradford, PhD