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National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

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Your Environment. Your Health.

Final Progress Reports: Boston University: Community Engagement Core

Superfund Research Program

Community Engagement Core

Project Leader: Madeleine Kangsen Scammell
Co-Investigators: Michael D. McClean, Wendy J. Heiger-Bernays, David H. Sherr
Grant Number: P42ES007381
Funding Period: 2005-2021

Project-Specific Links

Final Progress Reports

Year:   2019  2016  2004 

The Community Engagement Core (CEC) empowers communities affected by Superfund contaminants to be full participants in environmental decision-making, creating a mutual understanding of scientific research on the ecological and human health effects of Superfund chemicals among community members and organizations, technical assistance providers, and researchers. Primary partners of the community engagement core include Alternatives for Community & Environment (ACE), Toxics Action Center, and the Science & Environmental Health Network; local, regional and national environmental health and justice organizations. Standout accomplishments from this year have included translation of the Health Studies Guide Chapters 1-3 into Spanish, the redevelopment of the Health and Environment Assistance Resources HEAR Database, and launching an initiative to address communities’ concerns on polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination in drinking water. These innovative infrastructure developments have been carried out with deep participation from CEC partners. Next steps will include the creation of additional PFAS resources, recruitment of PFAS experts for the HEAR database, and continued translation and outreach to Spanish-speaking communities on the topic of health studies. Also, the CEC and Research Translation Core, in partnership with the University of Iowa SRP, have been responding to concerns and engaging with the community in the New Bedford Harbor area with a study monitoring PCB concentrations in air. Researchers have collected four rounds of data from air monitors placed at residents’ homes and have worked with Toxics Action Center to translate the data with community members, including two manuscripts for publication. The research team will complete a human health risk assessment in spring 2017.

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