Alicia McCarthy.

Alicia M McCarthy

Senior Safer Chemistry Scientist; Adjunct Professor

Pronouns
She/Her
College
Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences
Department
Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI); Center for Pathogen Research & Training; Department of Public Health
Phone
978-934-3889
Office
Boott Mills, Room B218
Email
Alicia_McCarthy@uml.edu
Links

Expertise

Toxics Use Reduction, Antimicrobials, Performance Testing, Manufacturing, Microbiology, Cell Culture, Tissue Engineering, Film Photochemistry

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

M.S.: Molecular & Cellular Biotechnology, (2022), University of New Hampshire
M.S.: Work Environment, Occupational & Environmental Hygiene, (2017), University of Massachusetts Lowell
B.S: Environmental Health, (2015), 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. Retrieved from https://www.scispot.com/blog/customer-spotlight-turi-enhances-laboratory-efficiency-with-scispot
  • Rizzuto, P. (2025, March 11). Colgate, other firms fight to save EPA Safer Chemicals Program. Bloomberg Law. Retrieved from https://news.bloomberglaw.com/environment-and-energy/colgate-other-firms-fight-to-save-epa-safer-chemicals-program
  • 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. Retrieved from https://healthyschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Air-Just-Air-Report_digital.pdf
  • Toxics Use Reduction Institute. (2020). Assessment of safer and effective alternatives for coating removal products. Lowell, MA: University of Massachusetts Lowell. Retrieved from https://www.turi.org/publications/assessment-of-safer-and-effective-alternatives-for-coating-removal-products-3
  • 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. Retrieved from https://www.turi.org/publications/alternatives-to-halogenated-solvents-used-in-surface-cleaning
  • 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. Retrieved from https://www.masscta.org/pdf/2017/2017%20Report%20102%20Morose%20Marshall%20McCarthy%20Harripersaud%20Giarrosso.pdf

Selected Presentations

  • McCarthy, A. (2025, August). Exploring greener cleaners & disinfectants [Webinar]. Center for Environmental Health. Retrieved from https://ceh.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Cleaners-and-Disinfectants-Webinar-PDF-FINAL-PRESENTATION.pdf
  • 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, PA.
  • 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, PA.
  • McCarthy, A., & Marshall, J. (2020, May 28). Safer cleaning and disinfecting [Webinar]. Toxics Use Reduction Institute. Retrieved from https://www.uml.edu/news/stories/2020/disinfectingsafely.aspx
  • Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MnTAP) & Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI). (2019, June 11). TCE alternatives project: Training webinar series [Webinar series]. University of Minnesota. http://www.mntap.umn.edu/industries/facility/machine/tcealternatives/webinar-and-training/
  • McCarthy, A. (2018, June). Chemical hazard resources: Where and how to use them [Conference presentation]. ACS Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference, Portland, OR. Retrieved from https://www.beyondbenign.org/bbdocs/toxicology-presentations/GC&E%20Conf%202018/01_McCarthy_Chemical_Hazard_Resources.pdf
  • 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. Retrieved from https://www.schc.org/assets/meetings/spring_2016/mccarthy_schc_s16.pdf

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. Retrieved from https://greenlivingwithtee.libsyn.com/alicia-mccarthy-healthy-home-a-deep-dive-into-safer-cleaning-and-disinfection-practices
  • Toxics Use Reduction Institute. (2020–2024). Clean Break [Video series]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MA-lSlD-UIQ
  • ISSA Media. (2025, April 27). Alicia McCarthy knows product transparency is key interview [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhTZtCMxnmM

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