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b'Modern disinfectant products work really, really well at killing disease-causing microbes. But they bring problems along with them \\u2013 from possible long-term environmental damage to antibiotic resistance. But what if you could create a chemical that was just as good at killing bacteria, but neutralized itself into harmless, natural molecules after it did its job? Researchers at the USDA\\u2019s Agricultural Research Service think they may have done just that. Billy Hart-Cooper is an ARS research chemist in Albany, California. For his work on those biodegradable disinfectants, he\\u2019s been chosen as a finalist in the Service to America Medals\\u2019 Emerging Leaders category. He talked with the Federal Drive about why ARS is interested in disinfectant research, and what his team has developed so far. \\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices'