Project Addressing Tetrachloroethylene Exposure in an Impacted Community: Residents Program Agriculture Term Academic Year 2023 Status Accepted Research Area Environmental Health Science Description Groundwater in Martinsville, IN has been contaminated by tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and other toxic chemicals for many years. These chemicals are also found in soil, as well as the indoor air in some buildings/homes, at elevated levels in Martinsville. PCE is a known neurotoxicant and probable human carcinogen. However, health effects of PCE exposure in communities near or on hazardous waste sites are unclear because exposure levels are generally low and vary substantively. Researchers from Purdue University, University of Illinois at Chicago, and Indiana University are working in collaboration with local community-based organizations to conduct a Research to Action project in Martinsville, IN. We plan to work with the Martinsville community to pursue following goals: 1. Learning about the community’s concerns and perceptions on the contamination. Focus groups, questionnaires, and interviews will be used to gather a variety of community perspectives. 2. Measuring exposure to PCE and its potential health effects through breath, air, water, visual, and cognitive testing. As a part of this goal, an exploratory investigation of cancer incidence in Martinsville will be conducted using data from the Indiana state cancer registry. 3. Based on these findings, an action plan will be co-developed with the community to address any issues that may be uncovered. Supervisor Sa Liu Mentor Type of work required Analyzing existing data; and collecting field data in 2023-2024. Websites https://www.pceh.net/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/342431110420741 Qualifications Good class standing and basic data analysis and statistical skills Credit Hours 0 Weekly Hours 3 (estimated)