By: Jacob Charest I have been working at Radix for three months. I have helped plant gardens to allow the community to pick vegetables so they could feed their families healthy meals. Often times, young children would stop by and learn about animals. Many had never seen a chicken or a goose. We taught them … Continue reading We Need More Inner-City Community Farms

By Andrew Poitras Airborne pollutants are the root of many serious health concerns, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthmatic and allergic symptoms, and respiratory infections which threaten at-risk populations such as children, older adults, and immunocompromised individuals4. In extreme cases, the inhalation of toxic metals such as arsenic, lead, and nickel has highly carcinogenic effects … Continue reading Reducing Health Risks and Assessing Major Urban Sources of Air Pollution

By: Dan Burke Perez In recent years, beautifying urban areas with trees, gardens, and parks has gained popularity as a way to improve the look of an area as well as the health and lives of residents. Urban vegetation serves a number of essential functions, from reducing concentrations of greenhouse gases to providing habitats for … Continue reading Reducing Pollution through Urban Greening

By Andrew Poitras When oil spills, the effects can be observed across layers of biota. The quality of soil, groundwater, and drinking water are subject to the consequences of ecotoxicity1. Contamination represents a great potential harm to human and environmental health, with increased risks of respiratory and neurological diseases and various forms of cancer2. Phytodegradation … Continue reading Phytodegradation and Environmental Remediation

By: Dan Burke Perez Many enjoy urban green spaces for their beauty and for the opportunity to sit, relax, and take in the scenery. Remarkably, urban green spaces and city beautification efforts have real impacts on both the physical and mental health of communities. Urban green spaces may be nice places to relax, but their … Continue reading City Beautification is More than Meets the Eye