Shakhriiarkhon Karimova
Class of 2026Brooklyn, NY
About
Hello! My name is Shakhriiarkhon and my project is about how contaminated water can affect our health. I choose to work on that topic because I lived in the village where there was not any pure water. I was watching how my family was drinking that water and catch some sort of diseasesProjects
- "The Impact of New York City Water Quality on Dental Enamel" with mentor Cyrus (Sept. 5, 2025)
Project Portfolio
The Impact of New York City Water Quality on Dental Enamel
Started May 30, 2025
Abstract or project description
Tap water is the primary drinking source for most New Yorkers, with about 75% of residents consuming at least one cup daily (New York City Department of Environmental Protection [NYC DEP], 2023). Though the city’s tap water meets safety standards, it contains various dissolved minerals and particles like calcium, copper, fluoride, zinc, and nitrates, which contribute to water hardness. Hard water has been linked in scientific studies to enamel erosion and tooth decay, which is concerning because tooth enamel does not regenerate once damaged (Goldblatt, 2003). Factors influencing water quality include the original water source, aging building pipes, water storage tanks, and filtration systems. This study aims to determine which specific substances in NYC tap water contribute most to enamel deterioration among residents.