Brown University recruits teens for NIH-funded environmental health study

JANS – Do you live near a major industrial plant or an incoming data center? Researchers from the Brown University School of Public Health are seeking Mississippi and Alabama families to enroll in a long-term study examining how local environmental surroundings impact adolescent health and development.

The Mississippi and Alabama Adolescent Environmental Health Study, led by the university’s Community Noise Lab, is recruiting parents and teenagers (currently aged 12 to 17) and plans to follow them into adulthood. The initiative focuses on how daily exposure to air, noise, soil, and water quality collectively affects youth health and well-being.

Participation requires an annual 1.5-hour health visit scheduled at a convenient local time. During the visit, researchers will collect survey information from both parents and children, alongside a host of health measurements including the child’s height, weight, blood pressure, lung function, and hearing. Teenagers will also be screened for indicators of chronic stress, heavy metals, and chemical exposures.

Participants will receive a full breakdown of all health and lab results within three months, along with local specialist referrals if needed. To compensate families for their time, participating households will receive $175 per child for new participants, and $200 per child for returning participants.

Study Requirements 

& Contact

Families are eligible if they live in Mississippi or Alabama, the child is currently between 12 and 17 years old, and a parent or guardian can accompany them to the appointment.

If you are interested in participating, scan the QR code in the image to pre-register. A member of the CNL research team will reach out to determine your eligibility.

For questions or concerns, please contact Mrs. Adrian Roberson at adrian_roberson@brown.edu or call (769) 572-7547.

The study is fully approved by Brown University’s Institutional Review Board (Study #STUDY00000007).