The Impact of Toxins on Health and Communities of Color in Massachusetts

Assignment Objective

Assignment Objective. This assignment is intended to help you apply our lessons on the neuroscience perspective in Psychology to the realities that our communities face right here in Massachusetts: the presence of toxins that are associated with the risk of disease, and what we can do about this situation as individuals and as a community.

Instructions & Questions. For this assignment, I expect to you to submit a paper that is 4-5 pages in length (not including the separate page for References), double spaced with 1-inch margins on all sides, using a clear font style that is at least 12-point in size. Please submit your assignment via Moodle on or before the specified deadline. Please remember that I expect you to demonstrate honesty and academic integrity in your writing as stated in your course syllabi.

For this assignment, I recommend that you read/visit at least three basic references which will help you gain a better understanding of how our lesson applies to the wider context and challenges that we face in our own communities:

In this part of the assignment, you are expected to demonstrate your understanding of how our nervous and endocrine systems work. Please answer the following questions in about 1-3 short paragraphs:

1. What is a neuron and why is it important to understand how it works?
2. Discuss how a neuron gets activated and how the signal travels through neurons. Your discussion should include definitions/descriptions of the following key terms: (a) resting potential; (b) action potential; (c) major parts of the neuron and how they function when a signal is transmitted; (d) the reuptake process.
3. After defining the basic terms involved in the electrochemical process of transmission between neurons, discuss also: (a) what agonists and antagonists are; and (b) the major neurotransmitters and how they affect our functioning.
4. What is the function of the endocrine system? How is it similar and different from the way our nervous system works? What are the major glands of the endocrine system and the function of each?
5. Given the role that chemicals play in our nervous and endocrine systems, what implications does this have on the chemicals that our bodies get exposed to in the environment?

For the second part, do some research on how chemicals from our environment can impact our health. For purposes of this assignment you can choose to either focus on: (1) toxins that are associated with breast cancer in women; or (1) toxins that impact the health of people living in predominantly communities of color. Use the 3 articles/websites given above as starting points. Feel free to use additional reliable and reputable sources to help you understand the issues further. It will help to do the following:

Focus on just 1, at most 2, types of toxin and explain its/their impact on just 1 type of illness (e.g., breast cancer only OR asthma – do NOT do both). You must declare this choice explicitly in your paper. This will help you develop a more in-depth understanding of the association that has been found between the toxin/s and the disease/illness. Some of the major toxins that have received a lot of attention in the last decade are PDBE (found in flame retardants), phthalates, parabens, lead, triclosan, and pesticides. Support your findings with data and information from multiple sources/articles (at least 2-3) from reliable sources.

1. Include also in your discussion how the toxin gets into our bodies – do we get it through the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, the furniture or cleaning products we use in our homes, the clothes we wear, the personal care products we use?
2. If you have chosen to focus on the relationship between an environmental toxin’s impact on communities of color, please state clearly which community you have chosen, and the predominant people of color residing in that community. Answer this question as well:

Why do you think communities of color suffer from greater exposure to this type of environmental toxin (and are therefore at greater risk for having a specific disease?) What explanations are offered by scholars? Do you agree and why?

What actions are people/communities taking, or can take, to prevent this environmental toxin from further increasing the risk of diseases in their community? What steps can individuals like you and I take to prevent the problem from becoming even more serious? For this question, consider downloading the free Detox Me app on your smartphone to help you answer this question better. It gives simple but practical ideas that you can do to start making small changes in your lifestyle in order to promote a healthier environment and a healthier you.

What impact did this assignment have on you? Use the following guide questions for your reflection:

1. How did you feel about this assignment? What thoughts and feelings (positive and negative) did you have while you were doing this assignment?
2. How does this assignment impact the way you see or think about your own community (or the other communities that other people live in)? How does it impact your own sense of agency?
3. What changes in lifestyle (if any) are you willing to try/commit to after doing this assignment? Please note that these changes don’t have to be big. They can be small changes. I encourage you to consult the Detox Me app in addressing this question – it might help you to think about realistic changes you can make.

Part IV. References.

On a separate page, list the references you used in doing the assignment. APA style is preferable, but I will also accept MLA style. Make sure that each reference includes the name of the author, year of publication, title of the article or book chapter, the main source and if appropriate, the publisher.

Grading Rubric. Below is the grading rubric for this assignment. Please refer to it constantly while writing your assignment.

How well did your explanation demonstrate your mastery of the key ideas, concepts, or theories?

How well did you discuss the connection between your chosen environmental toxin/s and disease, and if appropriate, on your chosen community of color? How well did you support your claims with data and information from multiple, reliable sources?

How well did you demonstrate the capacity to use what you have learned to gain a better, deeper understanding of yourself and others?

How well did your ideas flow? How much did you written work show evidence that you carefully edited for correct spelling and grammar?