Natalia Soares Quinete of FIU is studying chemical exposures from soil and dust with a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to improve children’s health. Accurate measurements of soil and dust ingestion rates are needed for risk assessment and mitigation.

“Toxic chemicals that may be present in soil and dust can impact the health of younger children, but we don’t know yet how to accurately estimate chemical exposure by soil and dust ingestion,” Quinete said. “We will identify chemical tracers and will also focus on understanding the impacts on underrepresented groups of children living in Florida.”

• Natalia Soares Quinete