Using Tampons to Test for Grey Water Pollution

Maryann Cairns, Ph.D.Postdoctoral Research Associate

Northeastern University Social Science Environmental Health Research Institute

Department of Sociology and Anthropology

Problem

• Sewer Misconnections– Wastewater Enters Rivers

and Streams

• Discharges are Intermittent

• Expensive Detection Methods

Optic Brighteners (OBs)

• Chemicals that Fluoresce Under Ultra Violet Light

• Commonly Found in Laundry Detergent, Toilet Paper, and Cleaning Products

• These Components Exist in the Majority of Misconnections

Tampons• No Optical Brighteners Used

• Placed In Water

• If Effluent not Immediately Detected, Placed for up to 3 Days

• About 31 Cents per Sample Kit in Early Study– (UV light, tampon, ziploc bag, and a bamboo stick)

Today We Will• Build Spectrometer to look for OBs

• Test Samples for OBs absorbed by Tampons with UV Light

• Look for OBs with Spectrometer

• Find a Way to Connect with Thermal Fishing Bob?

• Focus on Design/Ways to Sample

• And go from there…