MIT SRP Retreat – 2023

May 24, 2023

On May 24, 2023, MIT SRP held a retreat.  Dr. Bevin Engelward kicked off the retreat by presenting an overview of the SRP work as well as how NDMA related contaminations play a major role in the SRP projects.  She highlighted the elevated cancer cases in Wilmington, MA and the Passamaquoddy drinking water issues from the water treatment process where NDMA was the hazardous chemical of concern for both situations.  For Wilmington, MA, groundwater contamination from the Olin Chemical Superfund site caused several residential well closures due to the presence of NDMA along with other contaminants.  In the Passamaquoddy situation, there was the concern that the use of disinfectants, such as chlorine or chloramine, may cause the formation of NDMA as a by-product from this treatment process.  Finding solutions for these public health problems are drivers for Projects 1 to 4.  The dissemination of this information and the related community engagement action plans are an integral part of all Cores activities.

To provide more details to the types of SRP projects in public health protection, SRP trainees gave “flash talks” followed by a discussion regarding their work in investigating and identifying the health effects associated with low-level NDMA exposure as well as the development of solutions to measure and destroy NDMA.  The flash talks were helpful in keeping discussions and plans for cross-disciplinary research vibrant.

There were two outside guests at the Retreat, namely Dr. Marilyn Black, VP and Senior Technical Advisor for Chemical Insights Research Institute (CIRI), and Dr. Christa Wright, Director for the Center for Toxicological and Human Health within CIRI. They talked about their organization and about specific challenges being addressed. Dr. Wright is also an MIT SRP Community Engagement Core team member, contributing to many community engagement programs as well as spearheading Research Experience Training Coordination Core activities.  Sharing her research findings, Dr. Wright discussed the adverse health impacts associated with vaping.  She highlighted how the inhaled mist (vapor) from handheld electronic devices introduce fine particulates and heavy metals into the lungs. There are nitrosamines in vapes, drawing an important connection between the mission of CIRI and that of the MIT SRP. Education regarding the risks from vaping has not been as prominent as with cigarette use given the perception that vaping is safer than smoking cigarettes.  This is especially worrisome for teens and young adults because their bodies are still growing, making them more susceptible to the harm caused by vaping.

Taken together, the MIT SRP Retreat was an opportunity for faculty, graduate students, and postdocs to learn and share their research and community engagement work.  Knowing the various aspects of the SRP work enhances collaboration between the Projects and Cores.  Furthermore, having CIRI speakers at the retreat enabled SRP members to gain insights on other emerging environmental and public health issues. The event ended with refreshments and lawn games, enjoyed by all.