Alicia McCarthy

Expertise

Research Interests

Antimicrobial Active Ingredients, Devices, and Coatings; Public Health; Green Chemistry and Engineering;, Bioplastics; Sustainable and Safer Film Photochemistry and Alternative Processes, Science Communication; Pollution Prevention; Manufacturing Techniques

Education

• Master of Science (M.S.): Molecular and Cellular Biotechnology, University of New Hampshire
• M.S.: Work Environment, Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, University of Massachusetts Lowell
• Bachelor of Science (B.S.): Environmental Health, University of Massachusetts Lowell

Selected Awards and Honors

• Most Valuable Student (2016), National Pollution Prevention Roundtable (NPPR)
• Volicer Award (2015), University of Massachusetts Lowell, Department of Public Health

Selected Publications

• Scispot. (2025, June 9). Customer spotlight: Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) enhances laboratory efficiency with Scispot.
• Rizzuto, P. (2025, March 11). Colgate, other firms fight to save EPA Safer Chemicals Program. Bloomberg Law.
• Shaughnessy, R., McCarthy, A. M., et al. (2024). Air Just Air Report. National Healthy Schools Summit. Lowell, MA: Toxics Use Reduction Institute, University of Massachusetts Lowell.
• Toxics Use Reduction Institute. (2020). Assessment of safer and effective alternatives for coating removal products. Lowell, MA: University of Massachusetts Lowell.
• Morose, G., Marshall, J., & McCarthy, A. (2020). Identification of Safer Alternatives to Trichloroethylene (TCE) for Industry Cleaning Applications in Minnesota. TURI (Toxics Use Reduction Institute). Lowell: University of Massachusetts.
• Toxics Use Reduction Institute. (n.d.). Alternatives to halogenated solvents used in surface cleaning applications. Lowell, MA: University of Massachusetts Lowell.
• Morose, G., Marshall, J., McCarthy, A., Harripersaud, V., & Giarrosso, A. (2017). Assessment of safer and effective alternatives to methylene chloride for paint stripping products (Technical Report No. 2017-102). Lowell, MA: Toxics Use Reduction Institute, University of Massachusetts Lowell.

Selected Presentations

• McCarthy, A. (2025, August). Exploring greener cleaners & disinfectants [Webinar]. Center for Environmental Health.
• Goodyear, N., Marshall, J., & McCarthy, A. (2025, June 26). Integrating toxics use reduction in cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting products [Conference presentation]. ACS Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
• McCarthy, A., Morose, G., Salierno, G., & Tuncak, B. (2025, June 25). Safer chemistry for a sustainable future: Identifying and evaluating safer PFAS replacements [Conference presentation and panel discussion]. ACS Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
• McCarthy, A., & Marshall, J. (2020, May 28). Safer cleaning and disinfecting [Webinar]. Toxics Use Reduction Institute.
• Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MnTAP) & Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI). (2019, June 11). TCE alternatives project: Training webinar series [Webinar series]. University of Minnesota.
• McCarthy, A. (2018, June). Chemical hazard resources: Where and how to use them [Conference presentation]. ACS Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference, Portland, Oregon.
• McCarthy, A. M. (2016, April 20). Critical evaluation of GreenScreen® Benchmark 1 chemicals to identify structural alerts [Conference presentation]. Society for Chemical Hazard Communication, Spring Meeting, Florida.

Selected Artistic and Professional Performances and Exhibits

• McCarthy, A. (2024, March 18). Healthy home: A deep dive into safer cleaning and disinfection practices [Audio podcast episode]. In Green Living with Tee.
• Toxics Use Reduction Institute. (2020–2024). Clean Break [Video series]. YouTube.
• ISSA Media. (2025, April 27). Alicia McCarthy knows product transparency is key interview [Video]. YouTube.

Research Currently in Progress

• Antimicrobial Performance Testing of Biobased Plastic Film Coatings
• Safer Active Ingredients and Devices for Sanitizing and Disinfection Applications
• Dismantling Misinformation and Advancing Ingredient Chemistry Education Around DIY Cleaning Recipes
• Evaluating hypochlorous acid (HOCl) disinfection performance across a range of nonporous and porous surfaces against bacterial and viral surrogates.
• Alternative assessment testing and implementation for manufacturing cleaning and disinfection applications to replace halogenated solvents and other hazardous chemicals.
• Plant and Food Waste Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Black and White Film Photography Developers for Safer and Sustainable Darkroom and Home Development