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Research Recap

By Aaron Ferster

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Labor Day is a


creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of
American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to
the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

Here are a few stories from this week featuring how EPA scientists have contributed their work to
advancing such contributions. Please enjoy them while you celebrate a well-deserved day off from
your own work!

Water Conservation and Reuse Grants


Recently, EPA awarded Science to Achieve Results grants to five institutions to support research on
human and ecological health impacts associated with water reuse, reclaimed water applications, and
conservation practices. Each institution is investigating different aspects of water reuse and their
effects on the environment and public health. Read more about the important work the grants are
supporting in the blog, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (our Water Sources): Water Conservation and Reuse
Grants.

International Collaboration to Study Air Quality in Korea


From May to June 2016, EPA scientists participated in the Korea-United States Air Quality (KORUSAQ) Mission in South Korea. This study, led by NASA and the Korean National Institute of
Environmental Research, was carried out to observe air quality across the Korean peninsula and
surrounding waters using a combination of satellites, aircraft, ships, and ground-based monitoring
sites. Read more about the study in the blog: The Korea-United States Air Quality Mission: An
International Cooperative Air Quality Field Study.

Small Business Innovation Research Hits the Road


EPA's own Paul Shapiro recently participated in a bus tour with representatives from the ten other
federal agencies that have Small Business Innovation Research programs, traveling across the MidWest to share information and success stories from the program. I felt like I was doing something
else that is part of American lore-prospecting. Yes, mining for golden nuggets of inventiveness and
diamond gems of business acumen, he notes. Read more about it in his blog, Small Business
Innovation Research Hits the Road.

Considering Ecosystems in Risk Assessments


Science provides the foundation for the decisions that EPA makes to protect public health and the
environment, and ecological risk assessments play a large part. Recently the Agency released
guidelines and a technical paper to help risk assessors and others better incorporate the many
benefits people receive from ecosystems, referred to as ecosystem services, when conducting
ecological assessments. Read more about it in the blog Considering Ecosystems in Risk Assessments.

About the Author: EPA science writer Aaron Ferster is filling in as the science recapper while
Kacey Fitzpatrick in on annual leave.

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