A thread. When I was a young assistant professor at my first university (late 70's), my then Dean told me that in a few years there would be no need for #environmentalengineering. (he was in materials). Since then, we've had:
1/N need to control protozoa in drinking water
hazardous waste remediation
wastewater reuse
the energy/water nexus
PFAS
indoor air quality/respiratory infectious diseases
materials recovery from wastewater
etc.
I left that first university after 3 years.
2/N

Partial good news out of @CDCgov today. cdc.gov/coronavirus/20…
Recognition that fomites are a minor route, and stop the #hygienetheatre . Also good, and pathbreaking that they cite #QMRA studies in support. 1/N Interesting that they use a 1/10,000 from a surface contact as being indicative of low risk from fomites (many of us have seen that number before). But, still some problems in this updated science brief. 2/N

The fallacy of #fomites.
There has been a lot of attention devoted to the potential transmission of #COVID19 by fomites, a lot of money and time spent on "sanitizing" surfaces, and on marketing various chemicals, treatments, etc. 1/N While generically, cleanliness is good, I am convinced that the vast amount of these efforts when targeted at #COVID19 are misguided and represent more #hygienetheatre than true prevention. 2/N

I wish in this rush to reopen, there was not the unstated assumption that everyone can just hop into their private car (bubble) and get from the personal home to their personal office. We don't have teleportation. 1/N Some must rely on public transit and may not have other options, and the comfort level with this needs to be substantially assured. In office buildings, there is growing recognition of "choke points" such as 2/N