Ona Gallimore, Junior Environmental Studies and Art major shares about their internship for the Washington State Department of Health.
“Hello! My name is Ona Gallimore and I am a rising junior majoring in environmental studies and art combined.This summer, I am a PFAS health education intern for the Washington State Department of Health! Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), often called “Forever Chemicals” in the news, are human-made chemicals that are often used in non-stick, stain-resistant, and water-proof products. They have also been used in special firefighting foams such as AFFF on military and fire training sites.These chemicals have contaminated the drinking water of millions of people. PFAS are a public health concern because some of them build up in the body through a process known as bioaccumulation and may cause adverse health effects such as lowered immune response to vaccinations, elevated risk of kidney and testicular cancer, and lower birth rates.
As an intern, I work remotely on updating and redesigning existing environmental health education materials as well as conducting research to guide future health education tools. When reviewing existing material, I flesh out inconsistencies across documents and ensure PFAS materials meet state “plain language” requirements. In Washington, state agencies are required to use accessible language on public-facing documents (this process is also referred to as plain-talking).
Though my internship is remote, I had the opportunity to travel to Whidbey and Camano Islands for two community listening sessions this past June. I took flip notes during both listening sessions and enjoyed seeing how state agencies collaborate with communities across the state to address pressing public issues. The Department of Health has partnered with Washington State Ecology and Community Advocates and other agencies to facilitate community listening sessions with communities that have elevated PFAS levels in their drinking water. PFAS are currently unregulated in drinking water, though EPA has announced draft legislation that would set standards for certain PFAS in water across the United States in 2024. DOH is working to provide state guidance on PFAS in drinking water and collaborate with community partners to ensure people are aware of the risks of PFAS and assistance available through the state.
This week, I am working on a script for an upcoming video as part of their PFAS Basics Series! This video provides guidance on what one should consider when choosing between a water filter or bottled water. I am also writing a literature review on resilience and coping with exposure to environmental contaminants for their next PFAS Basics video.
I am grateful for the opportunity to have an internship that directly intersects with interests in both art and environmental studies. I have taken many courses at Whitman that now support the work I am doing as an intern —particularly sociology courses like principles of sociology, sociology of health and illness, and environmental sociology. As I write the video script, I include animation suggestions that correspond to the material. I also enjoy the process of editing existing material and considering how to make the design and language more accessible to people across the state.”