Are There Toxic Chemicals in People’s Bodies?
Scientific Reports
Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10Biology, Health
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Provided by Science Journal for Kids
What it is
- In this adapted peer-reviewed article, students will learn about Superfund sites and how they impact the health of nearby communities.
- The study looked at residents near three Superfund sites in Glynn County, Georgia, to determine if they had toxicants in their bodies after living near the sites.
Teaching tips
Positives
- The glossary in the article is a helpful resource for students to reference as they read.
- The activities at the end of the article have a variety of low- to high-lift options, allowing for an extension that fits the group's needs.
Prerequisites
- Teachers will need to enter some information, such as their school, name, and email, to access the answer key.
- It may benefit students to discuss what makes certain chemicals toxic and the impacts that some toxic chemicals have on the human body.
Differentiation & Implementation
- Teachers may want to begin by showing students the map on page two to give them an idea of where Glynn County is located.
- Teachers can use this article in a lesson or unit about environmental justice, noting that it is important that researchers look at the data as a whole, and also specifically for marginalized groups such as Black populations and elderly populations, as was done in this study. Teachers can also implement this high school lesson on environmental justice as an introduction.
- To make connections between food webs, toxins, and bioaccumulation, teachers can reference the section about bioaccumulation and biomagnification in this report and show students this video to illustrate how it happens.
- This report can be used to make connections to Sustainable Development Goal 3, Good Health and Well-Being.
From the scientist review
This resource is an adaptation of a peer-reviewed science article studying human exposure to toxic chemicals near three Superfund sites in Georgia. All key terms are clearly defined, and key findings are highlighted in the text. This resource engages students with cutting-edge research into environmental contamination and is recommended for teaching.
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