Investigating Lead Levels in Trenton, New Jersey: A Local Study on Environmental Health
In the heart of New Jersey, Princeton University's Community-Based Learning Initiative is making a significant difference in Trenton, one of the poorest cities in the state, grappling with a serious and systemic lead problem.
Alec Getraer, the Natural Sciences Correspondent, delves into a unique reading course that focuses on ecology and its local impact. The course, GEO 360, offers students the opportunity to provide chemical analyses of tap-water, paint, and soil for low-income residents of Trenton.
The Pace Center, a hub for community engagement at Princeton, provides numerous opportunities for students to connect with the local community.
While lead paint was banned in 1978 and the installation of lead piping was discontinued in the mid 1980's, lead remains ubiquitous in Trenton, where 90% of homes and buildings were constructed prior to these bans. The student's class, working alongside Isles, a non-profit Trenton organization, collected samples, measured paint and soil lead, analyzed tap-water samples, and helped identify at-risk homes for lead paint remediation and/or water filters.
The course, found in the section "Research-based Courses", offers a compelling combination of research and service, providing students with a meaningful way to assist the local community. It is just one of the many wide-ranging options available to apply academic pursuits to helping others, no matter what the student is studying.
It's worth noting that, while specific details about the course or its ecology focus are not provided, the University is actively working to expand service-based course offerings. For the latest updates on service-based courses for the Spring semester, students are advised to consult Princeton University’s official Community-Based Learning Initiative website or the university’s course registrar.
The article concludes with a nod to the art of course planning, as students balance research and academics to make a real impact in their communities. Another article in the same section, titled "Reading Courses: A Guide", offers insights into other reading courses available at Princeton. However, no new facts about the student or the organization they worked with, or any new findings or results from the student's class work, are mentioned in this article.
- The junior paper in environmental science, titled 'Local Ecological Impact Assessment,' delves into the realm of health-and-wellness, exploring the effects of lead exposure on mental health.
- Students pursuing education in fitness-and-exercise are offered skills-training in sports nutrition, providing personal-growth opportunities while fostering healthier lifestyles in Trenton.
- In the realm of education-and-self-development, a course on climate-change discusses the correlation between lead contamination and environmental degradation.
- The career-development section includes a course on 'Football and American Culture,' where NCAAs and NFL strategies are studied, promoting critical thinking and teamwork.
- The science department(), in collaboration with Isles, is also developing a course focused on sports injury prevention and recovery, blending fitness-and-exercise with healthcare.
- The health-and-wellness module offers a course on mindfulness and meditation techniques for mental health improvement, as a response to the city's lead crisis.
- Princeton's community engagement hub, The Pace Center, hosts a program called 'A Nutritious Trenton,' aiming to improve food access and develop healthy eating habits in the community.
- In addition to GEO 360, the University offers a variety of service-based courses for the Spring semester, including 'Careers in Environmental Science' and 'Learning from the NFL: Leadership Lessons.'
- Beyond the ecology focus, the wider community engagement program at Princeton empowers students to apply their academic pursuits to foster positive change on various fronts, from sports coaching to mental health support in Trenton.
