Students Lead Project by Julia Nunez - City News Group, Inc.
View Upcoming Events View Your Local Sales

Community Calendar

◄ NOVEMBER ►
S M T W T F S
01 02 03 04 05 06 07
08 09 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 01 02 03 04 05
View Events
Submit Events
directory

Students Lead Project

By Julia Nunez, Community Writer
April 13, 2017 at 08:50am. Views: 138

LOMA LINDA>> On Tuesday, Feb. 14, Dr. Ryan Sinclair led a team of Loma Linda students to complete a significant portion of the Eastern Coachella Valley Environmental Justice Data Project. The Justice Data Project assesses environmental factors including mold, septic system safety, drinking water quality and air quality in the communities of Oasis, Thermal, Mecca, North Shore and Coachella City. Sinclair's team consisted of Loma Linda University School of Public Health students: Ben Muniz, Macy Westbrook, Charity Russel, Wendy Kray, and Loma Linda University School of Medicines, Thomas Hile. The students conducted face-to-face interviews that represented 1,824 survey respondents. They gathered information about the hygiene of each home by conducting household hygiene environmental assessments. After testing each homes air quality, surface hygiene, home temperature, mold levels and more, the team was able to make observations regarding the overall hygiene of the household. Their tests revealed evidence suggesting microbial contamination in self-filled 5-gallon jugs, which were a commonly used primary source of drinking water. The team added a field assessment to test if the contamination was a result of the vending machine water or poor cleaning of the 5-gallon jugs. Analysis will be completed before April, 2017. The team mapped and photographed all water vending machines in the Eastern Coachella Valley, most of which were clustered in Coachella City, with a few in the stores around Mecca. Photographs of spigots on the water vending machines revealed that over half of them had rust, indicating poor maintenance. Additionally, the team was unable to find a date of service or other evidence of maintenance on most machines. During the winter of 2015, the LLU team of students began developing a system that uses a laser-based particulate sensor to upload real-time air quality measurements. The system successfully uploaded air quality data to the internet every 30 seconds. The system, located at PUCDC’s San Jose Community Center in Oasis, allowed for one months worth of air quality data streaming to the internet. As the community was concerned about asthma and it's potential linkage to the unregulated dumpsites and poor outdoor air quality, the team specifically targeted the exposure of small children to contaminants that cause or worsen symptoms of asthma. Excessive mold contamination was discovered in many of the houses by the team when they tested indoor air quality. While the team is currently in the analysis phase, preliminary results show that older mobile homes in Coachella City and Thermal have high concentrations of mold while more modern homes having the lowest concentrations of mold. The team said they hope to publish the results of this work in a peer-reviewed journal and develop a policy brief about the severity of this problem and the health risks to children. This information will be used to advocate for improved on-site wastewater systems in the many rural mobile home parks and off-grid communities in the Eastern Coachella Valley.

Related Articles

Photo Courtesy of: Grand Terrace Woman's Club

By Hattie Strong, Community Writer

November 13, 2026 at 04:48pm. Views: 289

Join the celebration on Sunday, November 15, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Richard Rollins Community Park. Come play, have fun, win prizes and help celebrate 48 years of Grand Terrace!

Photo Courtesy of: BBOP Center

By Justus Baker-Postell, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:19am. Views: 730

BBOP Information Session The Black and Brown Opportunities for Profit (BBOP) Center, an Inland Empire economic and workforce development hub and a project of Time for Change Foundation, has launched Pathways to Prosperity, its Employment Training Pathway Program (ETPP), a comprehensive workforce initiative designed to connect residents facing barriers to employment with the skills, credentials, hands-on experience and employer relationships needed to enter and advance in high-demand careers.

Photo Courtesy of: San Bernardino's California Theatre from 1930

By Amanda Spencer, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:19am. Views: 512

Nearly a century after opening its doors, the downtown landmark remains an important connection between the city's entertainment history and its cultural future. In downtown San Bernardino, the California Theatre of the Performing Arts stands as a reminder of a time when attending a movie or live performance was one of the most anticipated social occasions in a growing Southern California city.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By William Cortez, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:19am. Views: 482

With winter approaching, emergency officials are coordinating flood prevention, roadway maintenance and public alerts to help residents prepare for dangerous weather. A heavy rainstorm can change the landscape of San Bernardino in a matter of hours. Streets that ordinarily carry commuters and school buses can become difficult to navigate, drainage channels can fill rapidly, and neighborhoods near foothills may face increased risks from flooding and debris.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By William Cortez, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:19am. Views: 463

A sweeping decision involving California's most serious criminal sentences has drawn strong opposition from San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson, placing the county's chief prosecutor at the center of a statewide debate over justice, victims' rights and executive authority.

Photo Courtesy of: West Valley Water District

By Socorro Pantaleon, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:14am. Views: 368

Group photos of WVWD Board Members and winning students of the 2026 Poster Contest

Photo Courtesy of: CalKIDS

By Justus Baker-Postell, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:13am. Views: 601

During National Scholarship Month, families are encouraged to check their eligibility for scholarships supporting college and career training.

Photo Courtesy of: Khouri Evans-Dangerfield

By Mike Hoover. President, Inland Empire Civil War Round Table, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:18am. Views: 371

University of Redlands student Khouri Evans-Dangerfield will examine slavery, constitutional law and the decisions that divided a nation during a free November 15 presentation at A.K. Smiley Public Library.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By William Cortez, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:18am. Views: 378

November 11 screening of acclaimed film “All We Imagine as Light” invites students and community members to experience international cinema and discussion. Films can transport audiences to places they have never visited, introduce them to unfamiliar experiences and encourage them to consider how people in different parts of the world navigate relationships, work and personal challenges.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By Willam Cortez, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:18am. Views: 375

A decision announced in Sacramento could change the sentences of hundreds of California prisoners, bringing renewed attention to the death penalty and the future of criminal punishment across the state. Governor Gavin Newsom announced November 5 that he intends to commute the death sentences of all 548 people currently sentenced to death in California.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By Stella Pierce, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:18am. Views: 455

November 21 event at Olive Avenue Market will introduce residents to drought-tolerant landscaping, city rebates and the benefits of native plants. A beautiful garden does not have to depend on a large lawn or plants that require frequent watering.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:17am. Views: 309

A school announcement can contain information that changes a family's entire afternoon. A reminder about an upcoming meeting, a schedule adjustment or a message from a teacher may determine when a parent leaves work, arranges transportation or helps a child prepare for the next school day.

--> -->