Human Health Assessment

Principal Investigators: J. Hesse and R.Godbold.

This unit of MSU-Water  projects works on baseline assessments of bacteriological contamination of the Red Cedar River, river sediment and fish tissue. The Red Cedar River offers students and members of the community recreational opportunities such as canoeing, fishing and wading and educational experiences in the form of in-stream studies. These activities should be able to be carried out without concerns of exposure to unsafe water, sediments or fish.

To ensure the safety levels two steps are performed:

• Bacteriological Sampling
• Fish Tissue Analysis

In addition to bacteriological contaminants in the water and contaminants contained within fish tissue, human contact with river sediment can represent another route of possible exposure to toxic chemicals and pathogens, this is the case only if the contaminants are present in large amounts.

• RED CEDAR RIVER: The “Tipping Point” is Growing Closer!
  In an earlier issue of the Bailey Dailey Dr.John Hesse talked about several initiatives started by students who were enrolled at that time in my ANR 392 class, The Red Cedar River, A Meandering Laboratory. Knowing the river’s long-standing public image of being badly polluted and the problems with it being trashed with bicycles, shopping carts and other litter, the students focused on small actions that they hoped would help improve the river’s image and the negative behaviors toward it.To learn more about latest updates click the title….. Bailey Dailey Article October 2002
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• Health Assessment Sub-Committee of MSU-Water Progress Report
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