Project labs give students educational experience to gain knowledge beyond the classroom as comparable to traditional labs. A lead remediation project was implemented into the classroom as a project lab. Lead poisoning is one the most pressing environmental issues. Students were taken to the lead contaminated brownfield, provided by the city of Indianapolis. Students were introduced to proper sampling methods on contaminated soils. This included estimating the field, representative sampling, safety guidelines for collection, and appropriate washing techniques with acid. In the laboratory setting, students then evaluated the properties of collected soil, including measuring the concentrations of lead in the soil and grass.  The most common remediation technique is removing and placing contaminated soil on a landfill. Students were encouraged to think critically and use research papers to choose the most suitable remediation technique. Students implemented their own method, analyzed their own data, and wrote a final paper with a poster presentation to their peers. Students completed the class with a better understanding of environmental issues related to poverty and diversity in their own city.

Lead-remediation project in environmental chemistry

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