Environmental data lab
Thu, Mar 25, 2027 · Week 10 · Biotechnology for Health (Biomedical Innovations)
Today's goal: Analyze a public environmental dataset to estimate exposure dose and bioaccumulation risk.
What a finished product looks like
This is a model of the work you should turn in today. Use it to check your own: match the structure and the level of detail, do not copy it. Your data and wording should be your own.
Dataset: city drinking-water lead samples (units: parts per billion, ppb).
Measured values: 8, 12, 15, 22, 9 ppb. Average = 13.2 ppb.
Published threshold: EPA lead action level is 15 ppb.
Comparison: The average (13.2) is below 15 ppb, but two individual samples (15 and 22 ppb) meet or exceed the action level, so some homes are over the limit.
Dose estimate: For a 20 kg child drinking 1 liter/day at 22 ppb: 22 micrograms/L times 1 L = 22 micrograms/day, divided by 20 kg = about 1.1 micrograms per kg per day.
Bioaccumulation flag: Flagged. Lead accumulates in bone over time and is eliminated slowly, so repeated daily intake builds up rather than clearing, which raises long-term risk even at concentrations near the threshold.
| Sample | Lead (ppb) | Over 15 ppb action level? |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 | No |
| 2 | 12 | No |
| 3 | 15 | At limit |
| 4 | 22 | Yes |
| 5 | 9 | No |
Also due today: Submit your completed data table and written conclusion in the course LMS.
WebXam problem for today's skill
One exam-style question that uses exactly what you practiced today. Try it before you reveal the answer, then read why each choice is right or wrong.
Tap an answer to see the full explanation. Nothing is recorded or graded.