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Final Progress Reports: Michigan State University: Community Engagement Core

Superfund Research Program

Community Engagement Core

Project Leader: James Dearing
Grant Number: P42ES004911
Funding Period: 2013-2021

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Final Progress Reports

Year:   2020 

Over the previous funding cycle, the Community Engagement Core (CEC) has made significant progress in both of its specific aims. Regarding SA1, the team has completed research investigating news media as a source of information about dioxins (Zhuang 2019), interviewed residents (Zhuang 2016) and surveyed anglers (Hamm 2019) regarding their thoughts and protective behaviors, and assessed the impact of dioxin remediation on local property values (Zwickle 2019). The team also brought together a group of 30 academics, practitioners, and community members to discuss New Directions in Environmental Health Research in a special issue published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. This volume of 10 manuscripts included five manuscripts by current and former MSU SRP CEC members. Regarding SA2, the team has developed strong relationships, especially with Region 5 of the USEPA; the Michigan Departments of Health and Human Services, Natural Resources, and Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy; the Saginaw-Tittabawasee Rivers Community Advisory Group; and Dow Chemical Company. Among these, the team’s relationship with the MDHHS is of particular note. They met regularly and worked closely, especially with the Division of Environmental Health. During the current funding cycle, the team has also engaged in research and outreach activities with the goal of preparing for the next phase of their research. These activities included a “Listening Tour” of Saginaw and a series of focus groups and interviews with community leaders in three Michigan communities facing dioxin contamination.

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