Date/Time
Date(s) - 20/07/2022
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Zoom link available from gsamcgss@mcmaster.ca or chemrad@mcmaster.ca

Susana Y. Kimura Hara is an Assistant Professor and Canadian Research Chair
Tier 2 in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Calgary. Prior to her
current appointment, she was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of
Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of South Carolina. She received
her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Environmental Engineering from the University
of Illinois at Urbana?Champaign, and B.Eng. in Industrial Engineering from
CETYS Universidad in Mexico. She currently serves on the Early Career
Advisory Editorial Board for Environmental Science & Technology. Dr. Kimura
Hara’s research interests include the chemical formation, and toxicological
mechanisms of priority contaminants in drinking and reused waters using
advanced mass spectrometry instrumentation and techniques.

Disinfection by products: what is in your water?

The sustainability of freshwater supplies is a growing concern that is being
jeopardized by population growth, and changing climate patterns. Water
supplies with increasing anthropogenic inputs are already being used to
supply drinking water for a growing population and regions that are
severely affected by water scarcity. Water disinfection is effective to control
microbial pathogens in drinking water, but can also unintentionally react
with other constituents in source waters to form disinfection by-products
(DBPs). These DBPs may produce health problems caused by long-term
exposure. Chemical and ultraviolet (UV) light disinfection processes are
used to effectively control microbial pathogens in drinking water, but can
also unintentionally react with other constituents in source waters to form
disinfection by-products (DBPs). These DBPs may produce health problems
caused by long-term exposure. In our research we combine chemical and
biological assays to determine the DBP composition and toxicity of
disinfected waters. We also investigate the formation mechanisms of toxic
DBPs to understand the water quality parameters that affect their
formation and devise control strategies that minimize their formation. This
multidisciplinary approach is necessary to ensure the safe use of recycled
waters and continue to provide safe and sustainable drinking water.