Professor Sera Young’s research aims to democratize water testing to save millions from drinking unsafe water and prevent future illnesses
May 20, 2021
Professor Sera Young, of Northwestern’s Department of Anthropology, details how important uncontaminated water is for mental and physical wellness. Young warns that if the water is contaminated, it can lead to severe illness, infertility, and brain damage.
According to Young, both tap and bottled water do not guarantee the water is free from contaminants or safe to drink. Young and her colleagues hope to change this globally by implementing affordable water quality tests worldwide.
“As professors at Northwestern University who research how to ensure water security for all, we are working on democratizing water testing by developing a new kind of test for drinking water that is rapid, cheap, and accurate; and on quantifying water insecurity globally.”
Professor Sera Young
These tests will be similar in concept to rapid pregnancy tests; easy-to-use and fast. They will be used to quickly detect elements such as lead, copper, arsenic, and fluoride. The rapid tests will be able to save millions from drinking unsafe water and prevent future illnesses.
To learn more, see the Scientific American article What’s Really in Your Water?
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