Kinney - Environmental Science Institute · Kerry Kinney Department of Civil, Arch. & Environmental Engineering • Interests – Human exposure to contaminants in the indoor & outdoor

Kerry KinneyDepartment of Civil, Arch. & Environmental Engineering

• Interests– Human exposure to contaminants in the indoor

& outdoor environment– Microbiome, allergens, PM, organics– Asthma triggers, potential pathogens– Water Quality (residential, harvested rainwater, 

water reuse)– Water & wastewater treatment– Outreach Programs

SummerWinter

Asthma with intervention

n=20

Asthma without

interventionn=20

No asthman=20

HVAC Filter

Healthy Homes Project: Exploring asthma triggers for children in low‐income rural homes with S. Horner (SoN), Y. Xu, & JP Maestre, N. Saleh (CAEE), JA Siegel (U of T)

• Bacterial and Fungal Microbiome• Allergens (cockroach, dust mite, cat, dog, 

mouse, endotoxin)• Asthma Severity: Spirometry and exhaled 

breath condensate (IL‐4, IL‐6) (Dr. Horner)• Phthalates & Flame Retardants (Dr. Xu)

Micrococcus spp.

Staphylococcus spp.Corynebacteriumspp.

Pseudomonas spp.

Propionibacteriumspp.

Acinetobacter spp.

Prevotella spp.

Sphingomonas spp.

Comamonadaceaefam.

Taxa highlighted>3500 reads

Healthy Homes Project

Data provided by Dr. Ying Xu

Human Exposure to Bioaerosols Generated in Showerswith M. King (Texas A&M)

• Water systems are rich in bacteria and fungi

• Implicated as potential source of infections

• Residential & laboratory studies

Bacterial Community & Potential Pathogens Found in Residential Showers

Austin San Antonio

AirPlumbingBiofilms

SurfaceBiofilms

AirPlumbingBiofilms

SurfaceBiofilms

Genus:Mycobacterium Common in drinking water. Resistant to chlorine and UV disinfection; grows in biofilms.(Taylor et al., 2000; Falkinham et al., 2001)

Day 146

Water From Pipe Before Showerhead

Water from Showerhead

Microbiome in Residential Showers

Showerhead Biofilm

Air Before

Showerhead Biofilm

WallAir 

Before

UnknownUnknown

Water Before Showerhead

Water After Showerhead

Wall

Water After Showerhead

Outside Air

Day 6 Day 146

Waller creek (x4)

Classroom study

Battle Hall & BME studies

Forty acres

Mapping the UTBIOMECollaboration with Cockrell School of Engineering, ESI, School of 

Nursing, Center for Sustainable Development, TX City Lab + Others 

UNIMAP?

Indoor Environmental Quality in SchoolsNew Project with R. Corsi, A. Novoselac, Y. Xu (CAEE), S. Wu (Center for Sustainable Development) and S. Horner (School of Nursing)

• High schools ‐ virtually unstudied environments

• Field campaign in 6 high schools • 120+ Classroom visits & selected 

portables• Identifying relationship between health 

symptoms and– Environmental Conditions– Microbiome– Chemical contaminants   

• Integrating community engagement and research

Related Research• Toxicity of fine particulate matter 

(Reactive Oxygen Species in the indoor & outdoor environment) 

• Removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products from water (with D. Lawler and C. Whitman (School of Pharmacy)

• Harvested Rainwater Quality        (Kirisits, CAEE)

• Removal of algae & P from water     (Katz, CAEE)

Opportunities for Collaboration

• Linking climate change mitigation strategies with protection of human health– Relationship between water/energy conservation measures & human exposure to contaminants

• Exposures:– Viruses– Nanoparticles – Lung Cell

• Links with Public Health Researchers

UNIMAP