Community outreach to reduce exposure to NDMA in local drinking water
Core C: Community Engagement Core
This project works with nearby residents, tribal educators, and schools to teach youth about NDMA contamination and promote actions to make drinking water safer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11126799 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team partners with communities near the Olin Chemical Superfund Site and with the Passamaquoddy Tribe to co-create hands-on environmental health learning kits and programs for youth and teachers. They will link classroom activities to lab projects (BMR Projects 1 and 2) and run workshops, school activities, and community meetings to share information about NDMA and water safety. The core maintains two-way communication with stakeholders to shape materials and priorities and to encourage local steps that can reduce exposure. The outreach also aims to inspire students toward careers in environmental health science.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are residents, students, and educators living near the Olin Chemical site or members of the Passamaquoddy Tribe who want to join educational programs or community activities.
Not a fit: People who do not live in the affected communities or who are seeking clinical medical treatment for NDMA-related disease are unlikely to gain direct benefit from the outreach activities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lower community exposure to NDMA by improving local practices, awareness, and collaboration with water managers.
How similar studies have performed: Similar community-engagement and school-based environmental health programs have boosted awareness and behavior change, though reducing contaminant levels usually also needs technical cleanup actions.
Where this research is happening
Cambridge, United States
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Cambridge, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vandiver, Kathleen Mead — Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Vandiver, Kathleen Mead
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.