The New York State Center for Clean Water Technology at Stony Brook University is focusing on developing and evaluating methods of removing contaminants from drinking water supplies with an initial focus on 1,4-dioxane.
The deadline for submissions ins December 15.
The aim of the effort is for the center to develop and commercialize affordable, high performance drinking water quality protection and restoration technologies that are suitable for widespread deployment, Mr. Thiele said.
Last June, the Reporter wrote about concerns pertaining to 1,4-dioxane with particular emphasis on Suffolk County where higher levels of 1,4-dioxane had been detected than in the rest of the state.
Suffolk County Water Authority has been testing for the substance since 2003.
Studies among people whose occupations exposed them to 1,4-dioxane showed symptoms of nausea, drowsiness, headaches, and eye, nose and throat irritations.
Some animals developed cancer, according to a June 2015 Suffolk County Department of Health Services report.
The report warned that adverse health effects in animals after high levels of exposure may pose a risk to humans exposed to lower levels of 1,4-dioxane.
Islanders concerned about their private wells can have the water tested under the stated Environmental Laboratory Approval Program.
Complicating the problem is that many shampoos, body wash gels or cleaning products, paint strippers or other products that contain 1,4-dioxane don’t list it as an ingredient.