Kristen Tam

GFI Fellow - Class of 2022

Undergraduate student, environmental science
UCLA

DESCRIPTION

2022-23 GFI student fellow

To feed a growing population requires building up more urban agriculture systems. However, one health and environmental blockade to implementing this in Los Angeles is lead (Pb) accumulation in soils. Pb in soils leads to plant uptake, bioaccumulation in animals and can result in decreased brain volume in children, link to IQ drops, and ADHD. Kristen’s project seeks to determine the Pb levels in community and backyard gardens in the Los Angeles area to gain an understanding of the potential hazards to home farmers and ways to mitigate the damage if levels are dangerously high.