Environmental Health and Toxicology
Microplastics in the Environment
Environmental Health and Toxicology
This group studies how environmental pollutants travel through the environment and how humans and ecosystems are exposed to toxic materials in their environment.  People may be exposed to environmental contamination in the air we breathe, the water we use, and the soil in which we work and grow our food. Exposure to contamination is associated with a wide range of adverse health effects. Our interdisciplinary group integrates environmental chemistry, ecology, and public health to understand our exposure to toxic materials at all levels of interaction, including the social factors that lead to disparities in our environments and the pathways in the environment that lead to our exposure.
Our Programs and Faculty
Related Degrees and Certifications
Faculty and Staff
- Laura Brentner (group coordinator)
- Marlene Brito-Millán
- Gordon Getzinger
- Stephen Mitten
- Gregory Palmer
Facilities
At SES, students will have access to a multitude of facilities and resources. Facilities specific to this sustainability and toxicology include:
- Analytical Chemistry Lab
- Culture Lab
- GIS Lab
- Greenhouse
- Research Labs
- STEP Labs
Learn more about the SES Facilities.
Community Impact

Research
ºÚÁÏÃÅgraduate student Jenna Molaro, focuses on microplastics and why microplastics are such a big issue and how her time at SES has benefitted her research.

Student Research
Studying Smoke and Air Pollution in the Chicago Area
ºÚÁÏÃÅgraduate student Nora Hartnett is investigating how fires across North America impact air pollution levels in the Chicago area. Her findings could inform new strategies for improving air quality and human health.
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Alumni Story
Opening the floodgates
More than a million Americans don’t have access to clean running water. George McGraw (BA ’09) has a plan to change that.
Learn More