Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research
Center at Dartmouth Margaret R. Karagas, Ph.D. The Children's
Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research Center at
Dartmouth studies the effects of arsenic exposure on children's
health. Arsenic naturally occurs in well water in parts of the
United States and is harmful to our health. It can be present in
rocks and soil and exposure can occur through contaminated
drinking water, food, or air. Exposure to arsenic in large or
small amounts over time can cause skin lesions, cancer, and
other health problems. Despite the significant potential public
health impact of arsenic, the effect of arsenic exposure on
fetal development and maternal and child health is not yet
known. The center informs the public about ways to minimize
risks from arsenic exposure and collaborates with local
communities to reduce the risk of environmental threats to
children's health. Project leader: Margaret R. Karagas, Ph.D.
This research is part of an ongoing study