Rutgers Health’s Center for Environmental Exposure and Disease (CEED), founded in 1987, has developed a long-standing model that connects scientists with residents to create tailored, data-informed solutions. Today, the center includes over 60 researchers from Rutgers, Princeton, Rowan, and NJIT, who collaborate with local organizations to address everything from lead exposure to air pollution and water contamination.
By supporting grassroots initiatives through targeted funding, CEED has built partnerships where community members help define priorities, co-lead studies, and engage in the interpretation of results. This model makes research more relevant and ensures that outcomes are practical and aligned with public need.
Recent efforts in Paulsboro, for instance, measured high levels of PFAS chemicals in residents’ blood, catalyzing local and federal health investigations and helping shape some of the strictest drinking water standards in the country. In East Trenton, CEED helped residents document household lead hazards, prompting federal agency involvement. And in Elizabeth, NJ, research on truck traffic near schools directly informed local traffic policy.
New Jersey’s environmental profile is unique—not just in its number of Superfund sites, but in the everyday exposures many residents face. Busy highways, industrial corridors, and outdated housing stock contribute to a layered public health risk that requires cross-sector solutions.
CEED’s interdisciplinary team—spanning epidemiology, toxicology, exposure science, and community engagement—is built for agility, allowing the center to quickly respond to emerging environmental health concerns. This collaborative structure is intentionally designed to stay ahead of evolving issues like PFAS, air pollution, and the need for more accessible community reporting tools.
Now supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, CEED is enhancing its community engagement strategies, including the development of a mobile app for real-time environmental reporting. This digital tool will allow residents to more easily document local hazards, facilitating faster response from both researchers and regulators.
By fostering partnerships rooted in mutual respect and clear communication, CEED is creating replicable strategies that other states can learn from—while delivering measurable impact for New Jersey communities.
