In the early fall of 2015, UGA’s College of Public Health, UGA Marine Extension Service and Georgia Sea Grant began field sampling for a collaborative research project to evaluate impacts from personal care products on microbial ecology in coastal waters.
The team will evaluate the extent of triclosan pollution and its impacts on the microbial community at a range of sites receiving wastewater input in and around Brunswick. Triclosan is an ingredient commonly found in consumer products, such as soaps, detergents and toys, that is used to reduce bacterial contamination.

Keri Lydon, Ph.D. student under Dr. Erin Lipp (UGA’s College of Public Health) and 2015 Graduate Assistant for UGA’s Public Service and Outreach, collects water samples on Dunbar Creek to be analyzed for bacteria and triclosan.
The research will consider possible concerns to citizens and visitors to these waters. The data provided by this research will be used to develop appropriate and scientifically grounded educational curricula and outreach materials for UGA graduate students, as well as communities and stakeholders in Georgia.