Photo 3. Umikka Chopra participated in drinking water sampling to test for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to determine leachate contamination from landfills in Nome, Alaska. Photo courtesy of Alicia Reitz.
Photo 2. As part of her internship, Umikka Chopra traveled to surrounding villages to collect water samples and provide other services offered by the Office of Environmental Health at the Norton Sound Health Corporation in Nome, Alaska. Pictured are Alicia Reitz (left) and Umikka Chopra (right) packing the side-by-side ATV for a sampling trip. Photo courtesy of Racheal Lee.
A significant part of my internship was village travel where I engaged in the main project of my internship (Photo 2). I assisted OEH in their landfill PFAS sampling project, funded by a grant from the Rural Develop- ment program within the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The project was dedicated to examining PFAS contamination in leachate from solid waste disposal sites. We collabo- rated with tribal environmental program staff and city staff to collect samples from three communities in the region (Photo 3). The goal of the project was to provide a small pic- ture of how PFAS might be transported from the landfill via leachate into spaces used for subsistence. Since a majority of communities in rural Alaska rely on subsistence activities to obtain a majority of their food, the poten- tial of PFAS moving into the environment can disproportionately affect these communities. Through village travel for the sampling project, I practiced environmental health communication where I explained the premise of our PFAS project and important health considerations. In addition, I gained a deeper appreciation for Alaska Native culture through interactions with residents, from enjoying traditionally dried salmon to admir-
ing intricate ivory artwork. The warm recep- tion we received in each village made this experience especially meaningful. In addition to engaging with the commu- nity, one of my favorite activities during my internship was giving rabies vaccinations to dogs (Photo 1). Providing rabies vaccinations might be one of the most significant interven- tions that OEH provides for the region. Due to climate change, rabies incidences have become more frequent in Nome and the sur- rounding villages. Most dogs in the region are outside dogs, which make them much more susceptible to contracting the disease and passing it on to the community. Since I never really had pets growing up and I had never administered any vaccinations before, it was a completely new experience. I had not considered myself a dog person before, but after my internship I have definitely found a love for dogs! My NEPHIP internship culminated in an academic poster that was presented at sev- eral symposiums and conferences. Through this incredible opportunity I applied what I learned in the classroom to real-world chal- lenges while making meaningful contribu- tions to environmental health. The hands-on
experience gave me a deeper understanding of the complexities of public health in rural communities and allowed me to understand the disproportionate impacts of environmen- tal hazards on marginalized populations. Beyond technical skills, the internship strengthened my ability to effectively com- municate scientific findings, work collab- oratively with diverse teams, and adapt to unfamiliar environments. Thanks to NEPHIP, I feel more prepared than ever to take the next steps in my professional journey. These experiences reaffirmed my passion for envi- ronmental justice and research and clarified my desire to pursue a career dedicated to addressing health disparities. About the Author: Umikka Chopra is a 4th year undergraduate student at the Univer- sity of Washington. She will be graduating in the spring 2025 with a bachelor of science in environmental public health and a minor in classical studies. She plans on continuing researching at the university and would like to work toward a master’s degree in genetics.
Corresponding Author: Umikka Chopra. Email: uchopra@uw.edu
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March 2025 • Journal of Environmental Health
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