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Archive for STEER

How can GAMP & UPenn partner with local neighborhoods to understand Philly’s Air Monitoring Plan?

Posted by Adrian Hoppel 
· Monday, September 8th, 2014 
· No Comments

photo (6)

Project:

Our COEC has been working with Philadelphia Air Management Services (AMS) as they expand their monitoring network for air quality (AQ) in South Philadelphia.

How did we get involved?

Our CEET summer research program entitled Short-Term Educational Experiences for Research (STEER) for undergraduates arranged to incorporate this air monitoring initiative into the curriculum of a local South Philadelphia school. Adriana Garcia, a rising senior in the Earth and Environmental Science Department, worked with two teachers at Girard Academic Music Program (GAMP) preparatory school at 2136 W. Ritner Street to develop a teaching module on air quality for students in the Environmental Science classes. The module has now been taught for two semesters, and the participating faculty has been delighted with the results of the project.

How did the project expand?

Over the course of 18 months, AMS put in place the expanded AQ network located several blocks from GAMP, which was funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The monitoring station is now fully operational and focuses on the collection of data on priority air toxics as mandated by the 1972 Clean Air Act (CAA) and the subsequent 1990 amendments. During the summer of 2013 with encouragement of AMS, Adriana worked with Jason Henderson from the GAMP faculty and a graduate student from Duke University to expand the teaching module and to draft a proposal to expand the communication of this important AQ data to the surrounding neighborhoods.

How did this idea become a reality?

A STEER student from Brown University, Livia Frasso Jaramillo, and Upenn MPH student, Jessica Meeker, worked with Mr. Henderson and Mr. Ruddick, both from the GAMP faculty to finalize the project this summer and submit it to the City(AMS). AMS agreed to fully fund the proposal, which will initially focus on data interpretation and communication of AQ information to the GAMP school community and its surrounding neighborhoods.

What are the expected outcomes?

AMS financial support will provide increased technology for the GAMP school and the development of two courses that will be taught at GAMP on air quality and community outreach to the GAMP family. By the conclusion of the 2014-15 academic year, we anticipate that GAMP’s leadership role will result in a better-informed student body and community on the importance of AQ and the potential risks that ambient air toxics may present to an unsuspecting South Philadelphia population. The second year of the project will provide additional outreach to the Point Breeze community in another section of South Philly that is experiencing asthma rates well above national and regional levels.

This successful collaboration brought together many willing partners to address an important environmental issue that warrants more investigation. The initiative designed a novel communication approach to better inform an urban population in South Philadelphia addressing their questions and concerns with credible local data on the quality of the air they breathe.

No Comments
Categories : CEET Blog, COEC Blog
Tags : #IamEH, Air Management, AMS, CEET, COEC, GAMP, Philadelphia, STEER

STEER Student Oscar Serpell’s Work with GIS and the Lancaster Community

Posted by Adrian Hoppel 
· Friday, July 25th, 2014 
· 1 Comment

STEER

The Center of Excellence in Environmental Toxicology (CEET) of the University of Pennsylvania has received an NIEHS award for summer internships for selected undergraduate students (the Short Term Educational Experiences for Research (STEER). The program includes ten weeks of summer activities including lectures and field trips that expose students to the field of environmental health science through mentorship, coursework, and field experience. Click here for more information on STEER.

photo-3

Meet 2014 STEER Student Oscar Serpell

I am a rising senior at the University of Pennsylvania studying Environmental Management and Sustainability. I also have a minor in Biological Anthropology,
exploring how humans have historically interacted with our environment on a biological level. This combination of studies has given me an appreciation of how significant our modern times are in the narrative of our species. After graduation, I will be going on to complete a Master of Environmental Studies degree with a concentration in Resource Management. Environmental Toxicology, and lead poisoning specifically, is of interest to me because it is a striking example of how irresponsible environmental decision-making can lead to profound human health effects and substantial loss of resources (in this case, the high cost of remediation).

What is your summer research project?

For my research this summer with the STEER Internship Program, I am assisting Mr. Rich Pepino and Dr. Marilyn Howarth with the determination of the potential correlation between high lead levels in the soil and elevated blood lead levels (EBLL’s) in young children. Over the years Professor Pepino has collected samples in Lancaster City and identified hot spots of high lead levels in the soil. Using ‘Geographic Information Systems’ (GIS), I am mapping the several dozen non-random soil samples taken by Professor Pepino, and over-laying data that shows the areas of the city that have the greatest number of children with EBLL’s, provided to us by Dr. Michael Horst, an epidemiologist at Lancaster General Hospital.

Childhood lead exposure, even in very small doses, can lead to serious behavioral and cognitive impairments that can affect an individual for the rest of their lives. The most common lead exposures for children are through lead contaminated paint chippings, dust, toys, and water. Recent research also clearly indicates that soil may also represent a significant risk to children in the 0-6 year age bracket. Click here for more information on lead and CEET’s activities in Lancaster.

What are the implications of your research?

If a correlation between location and high lead levels does exist, it would suggest that there might be historic industrial practices or activities in Lancaster’s past other than lead paint that are leading to soil lead levels of significant concern to public health. Any further evidence for or against this hypothesis will require an extensive and systematic lead surveillance project like the one we hope to fund with this grant. If a concentration was found, and an appropriate source was identified, this project would provide the field of Environmental Toxicology with further evidence that sources other than paint need to be considered when attempting to help communities remediate its lead hazards.

What new skills have you gained through this experience?

I started this internship with no prior experience with GIS. I have learned so much just by working with this data and now feel confident in constructing basic maps with the software. I have also learned from Rich how to track down the information you need, and the people you need to contact. As he puts it, you need to find all the pieces before you start building the puzzle.

We want to hear from you!

Please share with us any questions you have regarding asbestos or any other environmental health issues by using the comment field, contact us, Twitter or Facebook!

Have a suggestion for a topic to be covered in our blog? Let us know! We would love to cover a topic that you are interested in learning more about!

Follow #IamEH for all of our posts and learn about what environmental health questions are being asked all over the country!

1 Comment
Categories : CEET Blog, COEC Blog
Tags : #IamEH, COEC, Community, contamination, Environmental Toxicology, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Lancaster, Lead poisoning, soil, STEER

Summer Programs Field Trip

Posted by Adrian Hoppel 
· Tuesday, June 17th, 2014 
· No Comments

The STEER and TREES students will visit Bartram’s Garden.

No Comments
Categories :
Tags : Community, education, environmental health, research, STEER, summer programs, TREES

Summer Programs Field Trip

Posted by Adrian Hoppel 
· Tuesday, June 17th, 2014 
· No Comments

The STEER and TREES students will be visiting the Palmerton Superfund Site in Palmerton, PA.

 

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Categories :
Tags : Community, education, environmental health, Lead, Palmerton, STEER, summer programs, Superfund, TREES, Zinc

Summer Programs Field Trip

Posted by Adrian Hoppel 
· Tuesday, June 17th, 2014 
· No Comments

The STEER and TREES students will be visiting the Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority.

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Categories :
Tags : Camden, Community, education, environmental health, Public Health, STEER, summer programs, TREES, Water

Summer Programs Field Trip

Posted by Adrian Hoppel 
· Tuesday, June 17th, 2014 
· No Comments

The STEER and TREES students will be attending a Chester Environmental Partnership (CEP) Meeting.

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Categories :
Tags : Chester, COEC, Community, education, Public Health, STEER, summer programs, TREES

Summer Programs Field Trip

Posted by Adrian Hoppel 
· Tuesday, June 17th, 2014 
· No Comments

The Summer Program students will be visiting Philadelphia Air Management Services

No Comments
Categories :
Tags : Air, air pollution, asthma, Community, particulates, Philadelphia, Public Health, STEER, summer programs

Summer Programs Field Trips

Posted by Adrian Hoppel 
· Tuesday, June 17th, 2014 
· No Comments

Our STEER students will be visiting the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge.

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Categories :
Tags : Community, education, John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, STEER, summer programs

Cutting Edge Environmental Health Seminars

Posted by Adrian Hoppel 
· Tuesday, June 17th, 2014 
· No Comments

Environmental Health Career Panel with Professionals in various Environmental Health Positions.

This lectureship series is for STEER and TREES students.

No Comments
Categories :
Tags : CEET, COEC, education, environmental health, Public Health, research, STEER, summer programs, TREES

Cutting Edge Environmental Health Seminars

Posted by Adrian Hoppel 
· Tuesday, June 17th, 2014 
· No Comments

Dr. Melpo Christofo-Solomidou will be presenting “Usefulness of a Botanical in Radiation-Induce Tissue Damage”

This lectureship series is for STEER and TREES students.

 

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Categories :
Tags : education, environmental health, health seminars, STEER, summer programs, TREES
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