Contaminants of Emerging Concern

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) as new or existing chemicals/substances that may or may not have regulatory standards, are not currently included in routine monitoring programs, and/or have the possibility of adverse toxicology effects.

These include but are not limited to: perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other persistent organic pollutants (POPs), pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), and nanomaterials. CECs are being detected at increasing levels in the environment, and are receiving attention as their total toxicity to humans and wildlife is not fully understood.

Regional Program Request for Proposals

In the Southeastern U.S., there is a growing need for interdisciplinary research regarding CECs, especially due to the rapid coastal change occurring in the region. The South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium, University of Georgia Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, and the National Sea Grant Law Center are leading a southeast regional research program focused on the influence of climate change on these CECs.

The geographical scope of this project is focused on South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, and includes both the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of Florida. We aim to support research that will address priorities defined through our literature gap analysis, legal scan, and advisory committee discussions. Interested teams of researchers, graduate students, and outreach professionals are encouraged to submit Letters of Intent by November 16, 2023, and full proposals by December 16, 2023.