CITIZEN SCIENCE AS A TOOL FOR COMMUNITY OUTREACH, DATA COLLECTION, AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IN SOIL GEOCHEMISTRY

Lead contamination is a prevailing environmental justice and public health issue in aging US cities, where legacy paint contributes to the continuous enrichment of lead (Pb) in residential soils. In Vermont, this leads to widespread urban soil Pb levels frequently above the EPA threshold of toxicity. Lead contamination disproportionately affects low-income households and people of color, an issue exacerbated by the large rental population in the cities of Burlington and Winooski (VT). Within these communities, however, children are those who are at the greatest risk of lead poisoning, leading to deleterious health effects such as developmental delays and behavioral issues.

In order to obtain a comprehensive dataset on local lead contamination, a new EPA-supported project seeks to equip Burlington and Winooski students with the tools and background to do citizen science targeted at identifying Pb contamination in residential soils. Over 1,000 students will be recruited as citizen scientists through collaboration between the University of Vermont, 7th–12th grade teachers from six Burlington and Winooski schools, and local government. By using the existing school structure, we ensure that a diverse group of young citizen scientists from varying socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds are reached within a stable framework. This will enable mass sampling in areas of concern, provide a pathway for awareness outreach to the greater community, and encourage a generation of community and environmental problem solvers. Ultimately this project aims to serve as a replicable citizen science template for other cities in New England, and beyond, where the intersection of human health and lead contamination may be an issue.