MDI Biological Laboratory

Archive for: Arsenic

Funding Helps Expand Arsenic Awareness Program

Long-term exposure to arsenic can lead to a host of health issues, including heart disease; cancer of the bladder, lung, liver, prostate, and skin; diabetes, and more.

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Not Just a Drop in the Bucket

Students in Lynn Hanna’s class at Conners Emerson School in Bar Harbor are working with Bar Harbor’s local health officer Mike Gurtler to test all residential wells in Bar Harbor for arsenic.

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Citizen Scientists Support Doctoral Research

Arsenic, lead, and uranium, naturally occurring contaminants in some groundwater, are not uncommon in New England, where significant portions of the population rely on wells for drinking water. Long-term or acute exposure to these contaminants can lead to multiple types of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and more. Federal and state guidelines regulate the maximum contaminant...

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How safe is your water? MDIBL talks arsenic with Voice of Maine Radio

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MDI Biological Laboratory Gets Children Involved Through Citizen Science

  So far, schools in the program have collected 1,200 samples and 15% of them have had higher than recommended levels of arsenic (the Environmental Protection Agency’s safety level is 10 parts per billion).  “All About Arsenic” aims to build scientific literacy and interest, and to show school-aged children that as citizen scientists they can...

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Anecdata.org: Citizen Science keeps us connected while we’re apart

MDI Biological Laboratory has moved quickly to continue providing opportunities for educational experiences and public engagement in scientific research. Anecdata.org, our online citizen science platform, is just one way we’re increasing our connectivity with like-minded people while we all need to stay apart to slow the spread of COVID-19. Based out of our Community Lab,...

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Troubled Water

Jane E. Disney, Ph.D., MDI Biological Laboratory senior staff scientist and director of education, and Anna Farrell, program coordinator for the institution's Community Environmental Health Laboratory, were interviewed for the investigative documentary, "Troubled Water," on environmental threats to the nation's water supply.

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