Science Interrupted

Last year we conducted an experiment in the Snoqualmie Forest watershed in King County, WA, seeking to detect various toxics disposed in the forests in sewage sludge. The sought-after toxics had been detected previously in the same sewage sludge samples, soils and waters, using conventional 'Grab Sample' and analytical chemistry methods. In order to enhance the sensitivity and the scope of toxics released into the forest environment, we next used a Passive Sampling Device (PSD) technology and chemistry that had been deployed previously with success. This time, the results could not be evaluated properly, for reasons that remain unclear. The chemists are continuing their investigation.

Before the results from the Snoqualmie Forest watershed were obtained, we initiated a similar experiment in the Yakima River basin in Yakima County, WA, seeking to detect the same repertoire of toxics. The experiment was designed and the PSDs were deployed and collected, but the results of the first experiment in the Snoqualmie River watershed were found to be equivocal before we initiated the costly analytical chemistry work for the Yakima River Project, i.e., the subject of the current Experiment.com Project (Are Disadvantaged populations exposed to toxic chemicals?).

The non-evaluable results from the first experiment tell us clearly that we must modify the PSD system before we continue the current Project, which is to say, we have elected to cancel the current Project and the associated funding effort.

Thank you for your support of our work and of this proposed Project. We will continue, once the challenges have been resolved.