AU Alumna publishes her research and continues studies at Wright State University

AU forensic biology and toxicology alumna Maria Kern (’20) is the author of a recent paper on her Honors’ Thesis research, titled “Buyer beware: Inexpensive, high cadmium jewelry can pose severe health risks.”  The paper was published in the journal Science of the Total Environment, and reports the results of extractions that Maria performed to determine how much cadmium could be released if jewelry containing as much as 90% cadmium by weight is mouthed or swallowed.  Her results show the potential for serious hazards from this jewelry.  The paper was co-authored by Dr. Mallorie Boron, who had previously done work on the potential of high cadmium to release cadmium when disposed of in landfills, and Dr. Jeff Weidenhamer, who supervised the work.

Maria has kept busy in the past year, just graduating with a Master’s degree in Toxicology from Wright State.  This program focused on Leadership in science, and she found that it greatly improved her leadership, communication, writing, and presentation skills. Maria offered some comments on her experience at Ashland. 

What was the most valuable aspect of working on your research project?

The two most valuable aspects of this research project were the technical skills and the confidence that I gained from completing the project. I learned so much over the course of this project about how to conduct research in the lab, develop timelines, set deadlines, record data for later use, and how to combine everything into a paper that was eventually published. I also learned many technical skills specific to laboratory methods, instrumentation, data analysis, quality control, and even cleaning that will be used throughout my entire career as a scientist. Upon completing the project, I gained much more confidence in myself and my abilities as a scientist. It really proved to me that I was capable of completing extended research projects and then publishing the data for the rest of the scientific community and the word to see. 

How did your time at Ashland prepare you for the future?

Without my time at Ashland, I do not think I would be where I am today. Because of the small class sizes, I got lots of hands on experience in the lab, and formed close relationships with several of my professors, making it easy to ask for help when I needed it. During my time in the Honors Program, I completed a three-semester long research project, which instilled me with many technical skills that will be useful during the rest of my career as a scientist. 

What were the highlights of the AU Science Program for you?

The small class sizes and the abundant research opportunities are both highlights of the AU science program. Small class sizes allow for a free flow of ideas during class discussions, as well as allowing students and professors to form relationships outside of the classroom. Smaller class sizes and better relationships with professors also make it easier to ask for help or get further clarification on subjects you may be struggling with. The research opportunities at AU are remarkable, and really sets AU apart from other universities. There are numerous projects going on at any given time, in many different majors. This ensures that any interested student can participate in extra research and learn hand-on skills if they are interested.Both of these are huge highlights of the science program at AU and some of the reasons that I chose to attend AU. They are also both reasons that I will now recommend the AU science program to anyone who asks, and something that I will always be grateful for participating in. 

AU research sparks further investigation of a public health threat

Scrap material used for cookware in 

Cameroon includes old engine parts

In 2013, Dr. Jeff Weidenhamer was contacted by Perry Gottesfeld of Occupational Knowledge International with a question about the safety of cookware.  Mr. Gottesfeld was working with colleagues at an NGO (see: http://www.crepdcm.com/) in Cameroon to reduce toxic exposures from lead paint, when questions were raised about the possible hazards of the aluminum cookware that most people there use.  In Cameroon, and throughout the developing world, the recycling of scrap aluminum into cookware is a widespread practice.  After a preliminary investigation we learned that source materials can include items such as old engine blocks, radiators, and computer parts.

Pots awaiting sale in a Cameroon market

Dr. Weidenhamer and several AU students – Peter Kobunski, Alison Biro, and Meghann Fitzpatrick – along with AU colleagues Dr. Rebecca Corbin and Dr. Michael Hudson, set out to investigate the hazards of this cookware by looking at the metals that leached from the pots in dilute vinegar solutions that mimicked mildly acidic solutions that are often used for cooking.  Working with Mr. Gottesfeld, and beginning with cookware from Cameroon and then ten other developing nations, they found a number of cookware items that released toxic levels of lead during simulated cooking.  The worst was a pot from Viet Nam that yielded more than 1400 micrograms of lead per serving.  Other metals detected in the leachates of some pots included arsenic and cadmium, and almost all of the items released levels of aluminum that exceed World Health Organization guidelines. 

The studies, which have been published in the journal Science of the Total Environment, have encouraged researchers in Cameroon, South Africa and other countries to conduct follow-up studies to assess the hazards of this cookware. 

Dr. Weidenhamer notes that it is not often that undergraduates can participate in research that has such direct and immediate impact on public health.  Two of the students involved in this work are pursuing medical careers.  Perry Gottesfeld comments, "Dr. Weidenhamer took on this research without hesitation and now we have seen these important results replicated by independent researchers in at least five countries demonstrating the significance of the work by he and his students."