| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 74.29 |
| Liaison | Brandon Trelstad |
| Submission Date | Dec. 23, 2020 |
Oregon State University
IN-47: Innovation A
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.50 / 0.50 |
Brandon
Trelstad Sustainability Coordinator Sustainability Office |
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Name or title of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
Using honey from beekeepers to trace heavy metal contamination
A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome that outlines how credit criteria are met and any positive measurable outcomes associated with the innovation:
Scientists from Canada and the United States are using honey from neighborhood beekeepers to test for the presence of heavy metal pollution – a new application of a technique that uses isotope analysis to search for low levels of lead, zinc, copper and other elements.
The study is thought to be the first of its kind in North America using honey as a biomonitor.
“Urban geochemistry is an emerging field, but because it focuses on concentrated population centers, it can be very complicated,” said Alyssa Shiel, an Oregon State geochemist and co-author on the study. “You have to factor in the local infrastructure – including roads, industrial areas and residential areas – as well as historical land use.
“But the positive thing is the study shows that we not only can identify low levels of heavy metals; we also can use the ‘isotopic fingerprints’ to give us a strong idea as to where they came from.”
The study is thought to be the first of its kind in North America using honey as a biomonitor.
“Urban geochemistry is an emerging field, but because it focuses on concentrated population centers, it can be very complicated,” said Alyssa Shiel, an Oregon State geochemist and co-author on the study. “You have to factor in the local infrastructure – including roads, industrial areas and residential areas – as well as historical land use.
“But the positive thing is the study shows that we not only can identify low levels of heavy metals; we also can use the ‘isotopic fingerprints’ to give us a strong idea as to where they came from.”
Optional Fields
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The website URL where information about the innovation is available :
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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