Superfund Research Program

“Anytime a new technology is created, there may be some risk,” noted Ghosh. “But being able to take a risk on something that theoretically could work creates a situation where technologies can flourish and move from the lab to the field. Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to find enabling environments that allow new ideas to be tested.” (Photo courtesy of Upal Ghosh)

The NIEHS director, Rick Woychik, Ph.D., spoke with Superfund Research Program-funded researcher, Upal Ghosh, Ph.D., about his work to clean up polychlorinated biphenyl, or PCB, contamination and protect public health. Building on his research on PCBs in water bodies, Ghosh developed activated carbon pellets to treat contamination. The pellets absorb PCBs, preventing them from entering the food web and reaching humans.

“Once dispersed in sediments, the activated carbon binds to hydrophobic pollutants like PCBs, making them less bioavailable to aquatic organisms,” Ghosh explained. “What sets this technology apart from traditional methods like dredging is that it minimizes environmental disruption.”

Ghosh and his colleagues are also experimenting with remediation methods using microbes, which he calls the ultimate solution. The microbes break down the chlorine in the compounds, leaving less harmful byproducts.

Read more in the NIEHS Environmental Factor Newsletter.