Young Joo Choi, 2020, Undeclared

Young Joo Choi ’20

Major

Undeclared

Project Title

Lead in the Human Environment: A No-Cost Monitoring Program for Trenton, New Jersey

Presentation Link

View Young's Presentation

My internship focused on determining the presence of lead in the human environment, specifically in Trenton. Lead from paint, pipes and gasoline can cause lifelong impacts on residents, especially infants and children. Collaborating with the nonprofit organization Isles, Inc., I conducted lead surveys of soil, paint, dust and water in households and community gardens. I was engaged in the entire scientific process and learned to use a variety of scientific instruments. I collected samples with an X-ray fluorescent (XRF) spectrometer and analyzed them using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). I helped provide Trenton residents with assurance that their homes are safe. This internship challenged me to think creatively about problems and to think more critically about the scientific process and quality assurance. Because of this internship, I intend to pursue a career that intersects chemistry and human health due to its direct and vital influence.

* This internship is connected to the PEI Urban Grand Challenges project, “Urban Tap Water and Human Health.”