# Collaborative Research: RUI: Evaluating the Impacts of Toxic Dust from the Great Salt Lake on Agriculture and Ecosystems

> **NSF 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT** · Colby College (ME) · $480,175

## Abstract

The Great Salt Lake (GSL) is vital to Utah’s economy, contributing over $1 billion annually through mineral extraction, brine shrimp harvesting, and recreation. However, the lake has reached historically low water levels due to upstream water diversions for agriculture, industry, and municipalities. As the lake shrinks, the newly exposed lakebed is emitting wind-blown dust containing harmful heavy metals like arsenic and lead—byproducts of past industrial activity. This toxic dust threatens public health, agriculture, and ecosystems, with risks that extend far beyond the lake itself. This project will shed light on the role that dust plays in depositing heavy metals into ecosystems and onto important crops including corn and alfalfa. As metals accumulate in plants, they may ascend the food chain into livestock, predators, and ultimately humans, with a variety of negative health outcomes. Therefore, the results of this study will have direct implications for the health of ecosystems and communities both within the Great Basin and around the world.  The results of this research be shared with communities that may be directly impacted by increased dust emission, by leveraging partnerships with local and state agencies and non-profit organizations in outreach through their regular programming such as fact sheets, newsletters, and community presentations. The research will be integrated with education activities by building and distributing soil test kits for students to use within their local communities, and by engaging local K-12 teachers in hands-on research through teacher internships.

As the Great Salt Lake continues to shrink and emit more dust, native and agricultural plants may act as vectors of metal contamination, locally and regionally. As such, this study will utilize a combination of greenhouse and field-based sampling and atmospheric modeling to evaluate the risk to humans and ecosystems posed by GSL dust deposited on key native plants and agricultural 

## Key facts

- **NSF award ID:** 2449121
- **Awardee organization:** Colby College (ME)
- **SAM.gov UEI:** EP1ALCV8VN65
- **PI:** Bess G Koffman
- **Primary program:** 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
- **All programs:** HEALTH, EXP PROG TO STIM COMP RES
- **Estimated total:** $480,175
- **Funds obligated:** $480,175
- **Transaction type:** Standard Grant
- **Period:** 09/01/2026 → 08/31/2029

## Primary source

NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2449121

## Citation

> US National Science Foundation, Award 2449121, Collaborative Research: RUI: Evaluating the Impacts of Toxic Dust from the Great Salt Lake on Agriculture and Ecosystems. Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nsf/2449121. Licensed CC0.

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