Urban Environmental Quality and Human Health: Conceiving a Sustainable Future

Rationale

Dunbar Vocational Career Academy is one of many public schools in Chicago. Chicago has a total population of almost 3 million in 2000.² From this population, about 395, 907 school-aged children (below 18) enrolled in 600 schools of CPS participate in the food service program on a daily basis. $88.6 million worth of donated prepackaged foods are a great part of meals served in 2003.³ Looking at the national mean consumption of packaged meals and drinks, the same scenario can be seen. Children soda intake is at 12 ounces/day and this means less milk and fruit juices are consumed.⁴ In 1997, the National Academy of Sciences did a huge study on 12,000 people and determined that they consumed up to an average 317 mg of food dyes per day.⁵ These were consumed from toothpaste, shampoo, hand and body lotion, cereal, and juice drinks. From 1965 to 1966, concurrent increases occurred in the consumption of higher fat potatoes and mixed dishes (pizza, macaroni cheese). This increase is accompanied by greater fluid non-citrus juice intake that are below the recommended daily allowance.⁶

I teach science courses to all levels of the Medical Career Academy at Dunbar High School in Chicago, Illinois. At the beginning of every school year, it is part of my class protocol as a science teacher to ask my students complete lab safety agreements where they indicate any form of illness. I find it alarming that at least three out of my 20 to 24 students have allergies and at least two have asthma. I start my class everyday at eight o'clock in the morning and I see that about five out of my twenty students eat hot chips with even hotter sauce. Majority of them have colored fruit drinks or soda hidden in their book bags. When the bell rings and I leave the classroom for a short break (this happens regularly everyday), I see them stopping momentarily to get some other food items in their lockers, and again, they are either chips, chocolates, or candies. My big garbage bin is full at the end of each day mostly with paper, food wrappers, and plastic containers. During classes, I have to issue passes to the nurse's office because one or two of my students need immediate help. Stomach upset, attacks of asthma, and headaches are some common complaints. I, as a health science teacher, tell them to eat nutritious foods yet, they pay little attention. Hence, I have this curriculum unit.