Ann T. Lemley
Specialist in Water Quality

Are you worried that textile wastewater from your plant or the ones where you buy your fabric might cause water quality issues? Have you ever had an employee express concern regarding plant air quality reduction due to dyes and finishes on fabrics? Professor Ann Lemley, Chair of the Textiles and Apparel Department and an environmental toxicologist, is someone you should know about.

Professor Lemley's research interests focus on water quality, particularly degradation of contaminants such as chemicals, dyes, and pesticides. She and her graduate students are exploring fast, convenient methods to break down chemicals in textile dye wastewaters and pesticide rinse waters. Professor Lemley and former student David Saltmiras hold a patent on an electrochemical process for flow-through clean up of wastewater that can be done efficiently and inexpensively on-site at a manufacturing facility or an agricultural site. The system, called anodic Fenton treatment, was first used with pesticide residues, but the methods can be applied to many other toxic organic chemicals, including textile manufacturing wastes. Their system avoids some of the problems associated with other removal methods for organic contaminants in water, and their hope is that its greater convenience will lead to widespread use.

Professor Lemley has also collaborated in research on air quality, notably testing pesticide exposure levels on surfaces, including fabric seat covers, within air filtered cabs on pesticide applicator tractors. She has further interest in measurement of chemical residues in home settings, particularly pesticides. Her familiarity with textile dye chemistry would allow her to address air quality concerns caused by new textiles as well.

In addition to toxicology research, Professor Lemley conducts an extensive consumer outreach program through Cornell Cooperative Extension. She has authored several major publications concerning home drinking water quality for owners of wells and septic systems. She has also authored consumer publications on safe environmental disposal of household chemicals, ranging from products used for personal care, home care and maintenance, automobile, and lawn and garden. She collaborated on a consumer publication recommending effective laundry spot and stain removal methods. Her publication on environmentally friendly substitutes for commercially formulated cleaning products may be of interest to your firm. Some of the other publications might be of interest to those of you with smaller firms that face some of the same issues concerning homeowners.

Professor Lemley plays an important role in overseeing Cornell's involvement with the National Textile Center, as well. This is a consortium of eight universities that that conduct cooperative research and educational activities designed to work towards the continuing viability of the U.S. Fiber/Textile/ Fiber Products/Retail complex.

Some questions you might ask Ann T. Lemley:

• What strategies should my business use to assure water quality in my factory?
• Should I be concerned if I am dyeing garments at my firm and our water is treated in an on-site septic system