The National Science Foundation's Geosciences Program (CFDA 47.050) awarded a $300,000 EAGER grant to the University of Mississippi to investigate potential linkages between the use of lignite-bearing aquifers in the Gulf Coastal Plain region and increased rates of kidney disease in Mississippi. The 2-year project will collect water chemistry data, perform geospatial analyses, and apply machine learning techniques to determine if a statistical correlation exists between groundwater from these aquifers and elevated kidney disease incidence. The University of Mississippi is collaborating with the University of Mississippi Medical Center on this research, which could help identify mitigation strategies and inform water supply decisions in the impacted region. Broader impacts of this work may extend to residents across the Gulf Coastal Plain states who rely on these groundwater sources for drinking water.
Generated 3/4/25, 7:25 AM