Faculty notes: Bauer, Zorn, Fermanich manuscript on estrogen in the water

Profs. Angela Bauer (Human Biology) and Michael Zorn and Kevin Fermanich (both of Natural and Applied Sciences) recently had a manuscript accepted for publication in the journal Water Environment Research. The manuscript, titled “Well Water in Karst Regions of Northeast Wisconsin Contains Estrogenic Factors, Nitrate and Bacteria” documents the presence of a potential health hazard (namely, chemicals with estrogenic activity) in some wells found in rural areas of Northeast Wisconsin, a region known for its shallow topsoil and relatively porous karst bedrock. The UW System-funded study was conducted in collaboration with Sarah Wingert (graduate of the Environmental Science and Policy Master’s Program) and land and water officials in the counties of Brown, Fond du Lac, Kewaunee and Calumet.