Making a Difference

During the summer 2012 semester, EHS students, Elizabeth Huff and Katie Eversole, completed their internship with an Environmental Consulting Firm in Louisville, KY.  Elizabeth reflects upon her internship in the following:

"Over the summer I worked for an air monitoring consulting firm in Louisville that monitors air for abetment contractors who remove asbestos, lead, or mold from buildings.  Throughout my work period I traveled to many different schools in the Louisville, Kentucky area.  At the schools abetment contractors removed asbestos from various materials like floor title and windows.  During the removal I would use pumps that monitor the air for the outside work area and the inside work area and subsequently analyze the samples for asbestos fibers.

The work I performed was an important contribution to public health because it ensured environs were safe in public buildings. For example after the removal of floor tile and floor mastic from a classroom I would take clearance samples in the room.  Clearing a room confirmed that the room would be breathable for future use.  Also my work would measure the asbestos fibers that the workers inhaled during the removal.  That way we know if the room would be safe for the workers. After  interning, I am now interested in consulting firm careers because not only do they protect people, but they protect the environmental as well. 

Over all I enjoyed this internship immensely.  It was great opportunity to learn about one of the many areas of environmental health and to think more about my options once I get my Environmental Health Science Degree."

-Elizabeth Huff

Published on May 13, 2010