Lauren Ead
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E-mail:
Research and Professional Interests
Currently, no standardized method exists for identifying microplastics in the respirable size fraction (<2.5 um), which hinders our understanding of human exposure and risk. My current research seeks to explore size-discriminate analytical techniques and size-selective sample collection methods to quantify and characterize respirable microplastics in the indoor air of Canadian homes. Through this work, I hope to identify a methodological avenue to characterize respirable microplastics in the air, their source contributions, and exposure risks to further our understanding of microplastics as an atmospheric contaminant. I am also interested in examining the role of artificial and solar light on indoor air chemistry and composition, which was the focus of my undergraduate thesis.
Outside of the laboratory, I engage in sustainability and equity-related advocacy work. I am interested in exploring the intersectionality of environmentalism by examining how it relates to social justice and equity-oriented issues through student outreach and education.
Honours and Awards
- 2022 – Ontario Graduate Scholarship, the University of Toronto, Dept. of Geography & Planning.
- 2022 – Graduate Research Award, the University of Toronto, Centre for Global Change Science.
- 2022 – John R. Brown Memorial Award, the University of Toronto, School of the Environment.
- 2022 – Graduate Expansion Fund, the University of Toronto Mississauga, Dept. of Geography, Geomatics, & Environment
- 2021 – Best Thesis Award, the University of Toronto Mississauga, Dept. of Geography, Geomatics, & Environment
- 2021 – Student Leadership Award in Sustainability, the University of Toronto Mississauga
- 2021 – Undergraduate Research Award, the University of Toronto’s Centre for Urban Environments
- 2021 – Adams Sustainability Grant, the University of Toronto, Committee on the Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainability
- 2020 – Amrita Daniere Undergraduate Research Grant in Sustainability, the University of Toronto Mississauga
- 2018 – Youth Environmental Award (Undergraduate), Partners in Project Green
Social Media Profiles
Publications
- Rochman, C. M., Brookson, C., Bikker, J., Djuric, N., Earn, A., Bucci, K., Athey, S., Huntington, A., McIlwraith, H., Munno, K., De., Frond, A., Erdles, L., Grbic, J., Bayoumi, M., Borrelle, S., Wu, T., Santoro, S., Werbowski, L., Zhu, X., Giles, R., Hamilton, B., Thaysen, C., Kaura, A., Klasios, N., Ead, L., Kim, J., Sherlock, C., Ho, A., & Hung, C. (2019). Rethinking microplastics as a diverse contaminant suite. Environmental toxicology and chemistry, 38(4), 703-711. https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.4371