Online Course
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Open Course Ware: Chemicals in the Environment: Toxicology and Public Health

For Students 9th - 10th
A college course featuring instructor's notes and case studies about the relationship between exposure to environmental chemicals and human diseases.
Lesson Plan
PBS

Now With Bill Moyers: Kids and Chemicals: Facts and Laws

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Investigate synthetic chemicals that may be found in one's environment, and consider how toxic synthetic chemicals may affect people differently. Reflect on alternatives to toxic home-use products, and evaluate the risks and benefits.
Handout
US Environmental Protection Agency

Epa: Chemicals in the Environment

For Students 9th - 10th
Information summaries on some chemicals and descriptions of how you might be exposed to these chemicals, how that exposure might affect the environment, etc. Please note that this type of information changes rapidly.
Website
Boston University

Lessons From Love Canal: History: The Start of a Movement

For Students 9th - 10th
A look at how a group of residents who were affected by the leak of chemicals at Love Canal, banded together to force the New York government, and ultimately the federal governmnent, to take their complaints seriously.
Primary
New York State Dept. of Health

New York State Department of Health: Love Canal Public Health Time Bomb

For Students 9th - 10th
Read the report to the New York governor and legislature from the Commissioner of Health laying out the dangers presented by the toxic chemicals dumped in the town of Love Canal.
Primary
University at Buffalo

Love Canal Collections: Niagara Gazette Newspaper Clippings

For Students 9th - 10th
Newspaper clippings covering many aspects of Love Canal including much information about the litigation and claims filed by those so affected by the pollution that seeped into the town.
Primary
Other

Pollution Probe: Mercury in the Environment [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
High levels of mercury exposure can cause birth defects, permanent brain or kidney damage, and/or death. This resource focuses on the impacts of mercury in the environment. Learn how mercury can reap havoc on lakes and other aquatic...
Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: Why Do We Have to Wear Sunscreen?

For Students 9th - 10th
You already know that a trip to the beach can give you a nasty sunburn, but the nitty gritty of sun safety is actually much more complex. Wrinkle-causing UVA rays and burn-inducing UVB's can pose a serious risk to your health (and good...
Website
Other

Green Facts: Scientific Facts on Dioxins

For Students 9th - 10th
Dioxins have been found to impose potentially harmful, even fatal effects. Learn about these persistent organic pollutants in this thorough report on dioxin exposure. A summary, details, and cited sources section are provided on this site.
Handout
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Centers for Disease Control: Atsdr: Beryllium

For Students 9th - 10th
Information on beryllium and beryllium exposure disease for those who need information due to possible exposure at work.
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: It Burns!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In this activity, students learn how to prevent exposure to the Sun's harmful ultraviolet rays. Students will systematically test various sunscreens to determine the relationship between spf (sun protection factor) value and sun...
Handout
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Centers for Disease Control: Facts About Vx

For Students 9th - 10th
An overview of VX, a nerve agent and known weapon of chemical warfare. Includes information about the signs and symptoms of VX exposure and recommended treatments.
Handout
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Centers for Disease Control: Facts About Sarin

For Students 9th - 10th
An overview of the nerve agent sarin, including signs and symptoms of sarin exposure, ways to protect yourself from exposures, and treatment.
Handout
US Environmental Protection Agency

Epa: Assessing Health Risks From Pesticides

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides information about the active ingredients registered as pesticides. Site discusses toxicology, exposure, dose-response and risk characterization.
Handout
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Centers for Disease Control: Facts About Sulfur Mustard

For Students 9th - 10th
An overview of sulfur mustard, also known as mustard gas. Includes signs and symptoms of, and treatment for exposure to sulfur mustard.
Handout
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Centers for Disease Control: Facts About Ricin

For Students 9th - 10th
Information that answers the questions what ricin is, where ricin is found and how it is used, how ricin exposures occur, how ricin affects the body, signs and symptoms of ricin exposure, and the like.
Handout
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Centers for Disease Control: Facts About Phosgene

For Students 9th - 10th
Find out about the dangers of the chemical, phosgene, and how people can protect themselves from exposure.
Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Dioxin

For Students 9th - 10th
Use Wikipedia to explore dioxins. It gives the definition, as well as, sources, health effects, and exposure incidents.
Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Environmental Public Health: Protect Your Health and Environment

For Students 3rd - 5th
Learners learn what they can do to protect themselves from health hazards in their environment. They learn about potential hazards, how these can affect their health, and what they can do to minimize their exposure.
Website
National Institutes of Health

Niehs: Kids' Pages: What's Wrong Whiskers?

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Online children's story that teaches about the health effects of exposure to environmental hazards such as chemicals. Click on "next" at the bottom of the story to see why Whiskers, the family cat, becomes ill from all the chemicals used...
Website
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Centers for Disease Control: Atsdr: Superfund Hazardous Waste Sites

For Students 9th - 10th
Extremely detailed look at the dangers associated with the hazardous and solid waste sites in the U.S.
Activity
Other

Phosphoric Acid

For Students 9th - 10th
This Canadian Centre of Occupational Health & Safety site offers links about the specific health effects, safety, proper handling, and first aid of phosphoric acid exposure.
Handout
Encyclopedia of Earth

Encyclopedia of Earth: Uranium

For Students 9th - 10th
Information about the radioactive element, Uranium, atomic number 92. Describes its history, physical and atomic properties, how abundant it is on the Earth, and permissible exposure limits. Also discusses sources, uses, isotopes,...
Article
US Environmental Protection Agency

Epa: Air Toxics Website Nickel

For Students 9th - 10th
Very detailed information on the chemical element Nickel. Discusses its uses, physical properties, and the potential effects of exposure.