Team:Gaston Day School/Description
Project Inspiration and Description
Inspiration
Multiple coal ash spills have occurred in North Carolina, resulting in contaminated water. On February 2, 2014, the nation’s third-largest ash spill occurred in Eden (Johnson, 2015). An estimated 39,000 tons of coal ash entered the Dan River from Duke Energy’s Dan River Steam Station (“History and Response Timeline,” 2017). Coal ash is an industrial waste that contains toxic heavy metals, including arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury (“Coal Ash Basics,” 2019). If ingested, coal ash can lead to cancer, heart damage, lung disease, kidney disease, and other health conditions. Even when recycled or disposed of, the toxic components can dissolve from the ash into a nearby waterway, making the water harmful to drink (“Coal Ash: Hazardous to Human Health,” 2010). Even though North Carolina has ordered Duke Energy to clean up unlined coal ash deposits at six of their plants, coal ash continues to contaminate local drinking water (Page, 2019).
Each species of fish has its own thermal window, or temperature range, that allows the fish to optimize their breathing. Many species of fish will suffocate in temperatures higher than 25°C. As water temperatures increase, fish need more oxygen to make up for their heightened metabolism. However, their hearts are not capable of pumping fast enough to produce extra oxygen, causing them to die. Even migration becomes difficult as fish choose to go to their natural habitat and suffocate rather than find cooler waters. Not only does warm water cause faster rates of metabolism, but warm water has a lower amount of dissolved oxygen for the fish to breathe (Sanderson, 2007).
Pollution, from rising temperatures to toxic coal ash to hog waste, has affected North Carolina waterways in countless ways over the years. The severity of this issue was further brought to our attention when many members of the Gaston Day School community agreed that they struggled with home water quality due to coal ash and other pollutants. Thermal pollution, caused by power plants and manufacturers, leads to decreased water quality and increased mortality and migration rates of aquatic life (O’Donnel, 2018). Because of its local importance, we knew that we wanted to work on water quality. After brainstorming, a trip to the Gaston County Water Treatment Plant, and discussion with families at Gaston Day’s annual science night, our team decided to focus on the detection of pollutants in local waterways.
Our team plans to create a floating device that will send a signal when it detects a water pollutant. We will focus on thermal pollution as proof-of-concept by using green fluorescent protein (GFP) and a temperature indicator to cause the float to change color when the water reaches a threshold temperature. Similar pairings of metal promoters with pigments will allow us to detect cadmium, arsenic, and lead, toxic heavy metals found in coal ash. By changing color and sending a signal to an app, the detector will alert riverkeepers and local residents so that they are aware of and able to address the form of pollution. By redesigning existing parts though the combination of pigments and promoters, one found in an article and the rest found in the parts registry, we will be using synthetic biology to increase detection of water pollutants. Our goal is to improve the quality of North Carolina waterways through awareness of pollution, protecting humans and aquatic life from coal ash and rising temperatures.
Why this project?
Water pollutant has become a local issue.
Coal ash from Duke in Dan River
Tour at Gaston County Water Treatment Plant
Project Inspiration and Description
Inspiration
Multiple coal ash spills have occurred in North Carolina, resulting in contaminated water. On February 2, 2014, the nation’s third-largest ash spill occurred in Eden (Johnson, 2015). An estimated 39,000 tons of coal ash entered the Dan River from Duke Energy’s Dan River Steam Station (“History and Response Timeline,” 2017). Coal ash is an industrial waste that contains toxic heavy metals, including arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury (“Coal Ash Basics,” 2019). If ingested, coal ash can lead to cancer, heart damage, lung disease, kidney disease, and other health conditions. Even when recycled or disposed of, the toxic components can dissolve from the ash into a nearby waterway, making the water harmful to drink (“Coal Ash: Hazardous to Human Health,” 2010). Even though North Carolina has ordered Duke Energy to clean up unlined coal ash deposits at six of their plants, coal ash continues to contaminate local drinking water (Page, 2019).
Each species of fish has its own thermal window, or temperature range, that allows the fish to optimize their breathing. Many species of fish will suffocate in temperatures higher than 25°C. As water temperatures increase, fish need more oxygen to make up for their heightened metabolism. However, their hearts are not capable of pumping fast enough to produce extra oxygen, causing them to die. Even migration becomes difficult as fish choose to go to their natural habitat and suffocate rather than find cooler waters. Not only does warm water cause faster rates of metabolism, but warm water has a lower amount of dissolved oxygen for the fish to breathe (Sanderson, 2007).
Pollution, from rising temperatures to toxic coal ash to hog waste, has affected North Carolina waterways in countless ways over the years. The severity of this issue was further brought to our attention when many members of the Gaston Day School community agreed that they struggled with home water quality due to coal ash and other pollutants. Thermal pollution, caused by power plants and manufacturers, leads to decreased water quality and increased mortality and migration rates of aquatic life (O’Donnel, 2018). Because of its local importance, we knew that we wanted to work on water quality. After brainstorming, a trip to the Gaston County Water Treatment Plant, and discussion with families at Gaston Day’s annual science night, our team decided to focus on the detection of pollutants in local waterways.
Our team plans to create a floating device that will send a signal when it detects a water pollutant. We will focus on thermal pollution as proof-of-concept by using green fluorescent protein (GFP) and a temperature indicator to cause the float to change color when the water reaches a threshold temperature. Similar pairings of metal promoters with pigments will allow us to detect cadmium, arsenic, and lead, toxic heavy metals found in coal ash. By changing color and sending a signal to an app, the detector will alert riverkeepers and local residents so that they are aware of and able to address the form of pollution. By redesigning existing parts though the combination of pigments and promoters, one found in an article and the rest found in the parts registry, we will be using synthetic biology to increase detection of water pollutants. Our goal is to improve the quality of North Carolina waterways through awareness of pollution, protecting humans and aquatic life from coal ash and rising temperatures.
Why this project?
Water pollutant has become a local issue.
Coal ash from Duke in Dan River
Tour at Gaston County Water Treatment Plant