About Me

Dereck Skeete, Lecture
Education: University of Michigan, The Union Institute and University, Ph.D. Candidate, Fall 2010 (expected) Pennsylvania State University, MS, 1998 Medgar Evers College, BS, 1995
Phone: 718-270-6447
E-mail:dskeete@mec.cuny.edu

Research Interest: Indoor Air Quality, Soil Analysis of Urban Playgrounds, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Determination of Carbon, Heavy metals and Volatile Organic compound in Aquifers.

Current Research: For several urban residents the problem of poor indoor air quality is a never ending saga. The MEC ES indoor air quality studies are giving an initial focus on basement living facilities. The practice of converting building basements into living quarters is increasing at an alarming rate. Renovated basements are where a growing number of individuals in large urban areas such as New York City call "home". However, basement areas are also the locales for boilers, burners, heaters and other polluting sources including elevated radon levels. It is reasonable to assume that dangerously high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may become trapped in these indoor environments rendering them unsuitable for human occupancy. This research focuses on detection and monitoring of indoor air.