Sarah Gewurtz
Conduct wastewater-related research and monitoring within ECCC and collaborate with federal, provincial, municipal, and academic colleagues on studies of trace contaminants in wastewater.
Current research and/or projects
Reducing the impacts of contaminants on the natural environment:
- Evaluating the occurrence and fate of pharmaceuticals, personal care products, flame retardants, per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, antioxidants, metals, and other trace contaminants in municipal wastewater and solids treatment processes.
- Communicating wastewater-related contaminants information.
Professional activities / interests
Fate and transport of contaminants in wastewater treatment plants.
Evaluation of wastewater treatment plants as pathways of contaminants to the environment.
Providing high quality science and technology advice and support for policy development, regulatory decision-making, and internal processes.
Education and awards
Ph.D. in Environmental Science, Department of Geography, University of Toronto
M.Sc. in Environmental Science, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Windsor
B.Sc. (Hons.) Environmental Science, University of Guelph
Key publications
Gewurtz, S.B., Teslic, S., Hamilton, M.C., Smyth, S.A., 2022. Influence of Conjugation on the Fate of Pharmaceuticals and Hormones in Canadian Wastewater Treatment Plants. ACS ES&T Water. DOI: 10.1021/acsestwater.1c00376.
Gewurtz, S.B., Tardif, G., Power, M., Backus, S.M., Dove, A., Dubé-Roberge, K., Garron, C., King, M., Lalonde, B., Letcher, R.J., Martin, P.A., McDaniel, T.V., McGoldrick, D.J., Pelletier, M., Small, J., Smyth, S.A., Teslic, S., Tessier, J., 2021. Bisphenol A in the Canadian environment: A multimedia analysis. Sci Total Environ. 755, 142472. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142472.
Lakshminarasimman, N., Gewurtz, S.B., Parker, W.J., Smyth, S.A., 2021. Removal and formation of perfluoroalkyl substances in Canadian sludge treatment systems – A mass balance approach. Sci Total Envion. 754, 142431. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142431.
Gewurtz, S.B., Guerra, P., Kim, M.G., Jones, F., Challen Urbanic, J., Teslic, S., Smyth, S.A., 2020. Wastewater treatment lagoons: Local pathways of perfluoroalkyl acids and brominated flame retardants to the Arctic environment. Environ Sci Technol. 54, 6053-6062. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b06902.
Guerra, P., Teslic, S., Shah, A., Albert, A., Gewurtz, S.B., Smyth, S.A., 2019. Occurrence and removal of triclosan in Canadian wastewater systems. Environ Sci Pollut Res. 26, 31873–31886. DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-06338-w.
Contact
Research facility
ORCIDExpertise
Affiliations
Water Environment Association of Ontario
Laurentian Chapter of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry