My introductory-level Inorganic Chemistry course includes a literature-based research project centered on an environmental problem related to inorganic chemistry. In addition to the chemistry we also highlight the social, political, and/or social justice issues that arise from these environmental problems (1). In the past we have looked at the residential lead-poisoning in Flint, Michigan and at the Gold King Mine spill in Colorado that impacted the Diné (Navajo) reservation in northern Arizona. This year we are examining the Tar Creek superfund site in far northeastern Oklahoma, centered around the once-thriving, now largely abandoned city of Picher.
As with all things this semester, the Covid-19 crisis has had an impact on our research projects. I had to cut the amount of time we would normally spend for in-class and office hours research consultations. Also we normally would end the semester with a public poster session to present our results. Instead, this year, students were asked to present their results in the form of a blog post. I had to also realign my expectations, so students were only required to have three sources from the primary literature and only limited journalistic/non-science sources. Most students used the documentary Tar Creek (2) as the basis for their overarching view of the situation.
I am hoping you will take a few minutes to read the work of one or two students and ask questions the way you normally would at a poster session. Please do not critique their work — I will take care of that. Also remember they did almost all of their literature work with minimal (or zero) help from their instructor.
Students were allowed to pursue a research topic that was of interest to them. Killingworth and Moelling took a closer look at the aqueous chemistry that results in lead being released into the environment while Hernandez examined techniques for understanding bioavailability of the lead in the Tar Creek area chat piles. Aboudja, Beathard, Bennefield, and Foster chose to look at different methods of remediating lead in the environment.
Many of the students chose to explore a biological context. In humans, Barks looked at effects of ingesting lead, while Bryant focused on inks between heavy metals and infertility. Goddard looked at neurological effects. Several students specifically examined the effects of lead on children, one of the sadder legacies of Tar Creek. Guidry and Shelton looked specifically at the effects of lead in children while Matrone looked at lead in children’s teeth. Asif, Johnson and Khader focused on the secondary environmental effects experiences by wildlife in Tar Creek and other heavy metal-rich environments.
Alphabetical list of students and their projects
Tar Creek pollution and remediation by Maelle Aboudja
Tar Creek aquatic life by Alisha Asif
Ingestion of metals by Noah Barks
Remediation methods by Alexa Beathard
Remediation with EDTA by Chris Bennefield
Pathways of lead causing infertility by Derek Bryant
Water remediation by Cierra Foster
Effects of lead poisoning on the brain by Dillon Goddard
Effects of lead on children by Raven Guidry
Mining, bullets and toxic waste by Emily Hernandez
Effects of mining on waterfowl by Logan Johnson
Heavy metal exposure in birds by Sireene Khader
Water testing by Cabe Killingsworth
Effects of lead exposure on primary teeth by Loren Matrone
Keeping metals out of water by Matthew Moelling
Lead effects on children by Halie Shelton
References
- Prilliman, S. G. “The Flint water crisis as a case study in inorganic chemistry.” Science Education and Civic Engagement: An International Journal, 9, 24−27. (link)
- Tar Creek [Film]: Jump the Fence Productions: Denver, Coloarado, 2009. (link)
The Simple Candle 