Lee Ann Green

Lee Ann Green serves as an Associate Research Scientist in Analytic Chemistry at the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC), University of Illinois. Her research focuses on environmental contaminants, particularly microplastics and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), across agricultural streams, landfills, and lake ecosystems. Green actively contributes to scientific discourse through high-impact publications and media engagement on critical pollution issues.

Green's primary research areas include:

• Microplastics in freshwater and wastewater systems
• PFAS contamination and transport mechanisms
• Environmental analytical chemistry methods
• Persistent organic pollutants in aquatic environments
• Rare earth elements in plastic waste
• Contaminant interactions in complex matrices

Her work integrates advanced chemical analysis with field studies to assess ecological risks and inform remediation strategies.

Analysis of Green's publications (2021-2025) reveals a cohesive research program centered on:

• Field assessments of microplastics/PFAS in agricultural streams (Iowa), landfills, and Muskegon Lake
• Interactions between microplastics and chemical contaminants
• Development of analytical protocols for emerging pollutants
• Environmental fate of contaminants in wastewater treatment systems
• Resource recovery from plastic waste streams
• Pollution monitoring in sustainable technology frameworks

This research trajectory highlights growing concerns over plastic and chemical pollution in critical water resources, with significant policy implications.

Green operates within the collaborative framework of the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, engaging with multi-institutional teams including the US Geological Survey and environmental agencies. Her projects leverage interdisciplinary expertise in hydrology, ecology, and engineering to address complex contamination scenarios across land-water interfaces.