(Radio Iowa) – The University of Iowa announced a new research program today (Wednesday) called the Iowa Integrated Network for Science, Information, and Geospatial Health Tracking or INSIGHT. David Cwiertny at the U-I’s Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination says the project will study how environmental factors like nitrate and PFAS affect Iowans’ health.
“We want people to understand their environmental vulnerabilities, so they can actually take action or talk to their representatives and figure out how to address it, and not just engage in conversations that may not be relevant to them or their community,” he says.
The I-I-H-R Hydroscience and Engineering department is also involved and director Larry Weber says Iowans have growing concerns about how their environment is affecting their health. “As you look at the water quality and nitrate is only one analyte that we’re interested in, but the nitrate concentrations and loads have continued to rise in Iowa. We’re on track for this year to be the highest nitrate load leaving the state of Iowa on record,” Weber says.
Researchers say Iowa Insight will last five years. Its initial funding is through a five million dollar donation from the Kyle J and Sharon Krause Family Foundation.
