Friday, October 20, 2017

Six students from the Human Toxicology Program did a road trip to East Chicago, Indiana to support the outreach activities of the Iowa Superfund Research Program (ISRP) at a junior high school. The students assisted Ashlee Johannes, Community Engagement Coordinator for the ISRP. Students taught 8th grade students at Joseph Block Junior High about PCBs during their science class.

East Chicago is home to several Superfund sites. The Indiana Harbor and Ship Canal, just a few blocks from Block Junior High, is being dredged. Dredging first began in 2012 in the Grand Calumet River, which contains polychlorinated biphenyl, or PCBs, and is considered one of the most polluted in the country.

Toxicology students really enjoyed the chance to interact with junior high students. It was a good lesson on how toxic substances affect the surrounding community and how toxicologists can assist communities as part of their job.

Another group photo of trip members.
Pictured are Human Tox students Nate Parizek, Visarut (Cody) Buranasudja, ISRP Community Engagement Coordinator Ashlee Johannes, Human Tox students Laltia Mazgaeen, Ezazul Haque, Nazmin Eti and ISRP trainee Victoria Parker.
Nate and Ezazul in front of Joseph L. Block Middle School.
Nate Parizek and Ezazul Haque
Group photo of trip members in front of Joseph L. Block Middle School.
Trip members in front of Joseph Block Junior High