Through a combination of laboratory- and field-scale research, CHSUE research addresses contaminants and sources that are known to be prevalent in urban environments. These include gas and particulate emissions of mercury, other toxic metals, and organic compounds from contaminated sites and hazardous waste incinerators; chromium, arsenic, nickel, zinc, and cadmium in waters and soils; and chlorinated solvents in waste site gases, soils, sediments, and groundwaters.

Initial research projects were two-year projects with a start date of October 1, 2001 and end date of September 30, 2003.  During this time seven projects were funded by the Center.  The titles and Principal Investigators are listed below with a link to their project description.

The Fate and Potential Bioavailability of Airborne Urban Contaminants.

Robert Mason (UM), Joel Baker (UM), and John Ondov (UM)

Measurements and Large Eddy Simulations of Plume Dispersion in an Urban Boundary Layer.

Marc Parlange (JHU), Charles Meneveau (JHU), Joseph Helble (UConn), and John Ondov (UM)

Geochemistry, Biochemistry, and Surface/Groundwater Interactions for As, Cr, Ni, Zn, and Cd with Applications to Contaminated Waterfronts.

Barth Smets (Uconn), Allison MacKay (UConn), and Nikolaos Nikolaidis (UConn)

 Co-Contaminant Effects on Risk Assessment and Remediation Activities Involving Urban Sediments and Soils.

William Ball (JHU) and Edward Bouwer (JHU)

Speciation of chromium in environmental media using capillary electrophoresis with  multiple wavelength UV/visible detection.

Alan Stone (JHU) and Charles O’Melia (JHU)

Zero-Valent Metal Treatment of Halogenated Vapor-Phase Contaminants in SVE Offgas.

A. Lynn Roberts (JHU) and Howard Fairbrother (JHU)

 Environmental Assessment and GIS System Development of Brownfield Sites in Baltimore.

Guangming Chen (MSU), Gbekeloluwa Oguntimein (MSU), and Sedley Willilams (MSU).

In April 2003, CHSUE solicited new proposals for Years 3 and 4 funding within the Center's research program.  Nine proposals were received from investigators representing each of the five partnering institutions.  Written reviews of the nine proposals were prepared by members of CHSUE's Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC).  The SAC met on June 16, 2003 to discuss each proposal, update individual written reviews, develop consensus reviews, and make funding recommendations.  The projects titles and Principal Investigators selected for funding with a start date of October 1, 2003 are listed below with a link to their project description:

RP# 8

Large Eddy Simulation of Dispersion in Urban Areas

Marc Parlange (JHU) and Charles Meneveau (JHU)

RP # 9

Solubilization of Particulate-Bound Ni(II) and ZN(II)

 Alan T. Stone (JHU)

RP #10

Co-Contaminant Effects of Risk Assessment and Remediation Activities  Involving  Urban Sediments and Soils: Phase II

William Ball (JHU), Edward  Bouwer (JHU) and Allison MacKay (UCONN)

RP#11

Transport of Hazardous Substances Between Brownfield and Surrounding Urban Atmosphere

Joel Baker (UMCES) and Robert Mason (UMCES) and John Ondov (UM)

RP #12

Seasonal Controls of Arsenic Transport Across the Groundwater-Surface Water Interface at a Closed Landfill Site

Allison MacKay (UCONN), Barth Smets (UCONN) and Howard Fairbrother (JHU)

RP #13

Investigation into Research Needs in the EPA Regions Covered by Center for Hazardous Substances Research in Urban Environments

Gbekeloluwa B. Oguntimein, Guangming Chen, and Sedley Williams (MSU)