Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID RI_2025_2

The use of macroalgae as indicators of pollution by Platinum Group Elements (PGEs) in estuaries

Institute: Rhode Island
Year Established: 2024 Start Date: 2024-09-01 End Date: 2025-08-31
Total Federal Funds: $25,000 Total Non-Federal Funds: $27,131

Principal Investigators: Carol Thornber

Project Summary: In this project will study how much of certain pollutants, known as Platinum Group Elements, are found in specific types of seaweed in the Narragansett Bay Estuary. These pollutants are often used in factories and can end up in waterways like rivers and streams. We don’t know a lot about how much of these pollutants are in our waterways and what effect they have. This study will use seaweed to measure these pollutants in the Narragansett Bay Estuary, which is an area with a high human activity. The team is formed by three experienced female scientists who have worked together on similar projects before.