MEMCARE-SRC
The Metals and Metal Mixtures, Cognitive Aging, Remediation and Exposure Sources (MEMCARE) Superfund Research Center aims to understand how metals and metal mixtures contribute to cognitive decline in older age and the biological mechanisms underlying these effects; and to develop new ways to detect and remove metal contaminants in drinking water sources.
677 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
Community Engagement Core (CEC)
We strive to engage with communities to provide both information and resources, but also to hear what concerns communities have around chemicals and drinking water, and other topics.
Our Goals
The goals of the Community Engagement Core are to:
- Identify community concerns around metals exposures among pregnant people and parents/guardians of young children.
- Conduct citizen science to assess exposures to multiple metals.
- Engage the community in an intervention to reduce metals exposures to improve health.
Our Approach
During the pandemic, we’ve had to move away from our traditional in-person community events and instead pivot to virtual listening sessions. Social media platforms continue to be important. Our two primary communities that we engage with are found in Boston, Massachusetts, and the San Luis Valley in Colorado. Our Boston cohort is mostly women and families in the early stages of pregnancy. The San Luis cohort has been living near a Superfund site for most of their lives, so they have day-to-day experiences with environmental contamination right in their backyards.
The Metals Around Me
As part of this work, the MEMCARE CEC developed an interactive curriculum for youth in the community to learn about metals and their impact on health.
