Blog
2024
What’s new
Forever Chemicals in Artificial Turf: Understanding PFAS testing
Artificial turf poses a range of health and environmental concerns, including chemicals in the rubber and plastic materials, excess heat, skin abrasions, macro- and microplastic pollution in the environment, and habitat loss, among others. . . .
2024
What’s new
Cancer in Young Adults: The role of the food system
According to the American Cancer Society, about 80,000 adults aged 20-39 are now diagnosed with cancer every year, with the most common types being breast cancer, lymphomas, thyroid cancer, colorectal cancer, and brain and spinal cord tumors. This number has been on the rise in recent years, sparking public health concerns and raising questions about the drivers of the upward trend. The potential contribution of the food system – from food packaging and agricultural chemicals to diet and nutrition – is a key area that cannot be ignored. . . .
2024
Guest commentary
What’s new
Attacks on Scientists: Lessons from the Monsanto papers
In the documentary film Merchants of Doubt, Marc Morano, a former staffer for Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), described working to thwart action on climate by attacking the scientists speaking out about the crisis. “You’ve got to name names and you’ve got to go after individuals,” Moreno said. He describes how they “went after” climate scientists James Hansen and Michael Oppenheimer – “and we had a lot of fun with it,” he adds. . . .
2024
What’s new
Summer Heat (Climate Change Version)
Record-breaking heat waves have been making their way through the country as we move into the height of summer. Heat waves in the summer are not unusual. It is the rising frequency of extreme heat waves — and their health impacts — that are a growing concern.
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2024
Guest commentary
What’s new
Plastics: Multiple problems in urgent need of solutions
Oceanic currents deposit enormous amounts of debris into an expansive area of the Northern Pacific Ocean sometimes called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Sailing through that gyre in 1975 was like wandering through a poorly-curated community yard sale with few treasures and lots of trash — mostly plastic. Thick then, it is worse now. . . .
2024
What’s new
Meeting cancer together, with tender fierceness
Too many of our lives are touched by cancer. I’ve lost several people to this terrible disease, including my mother, an uncle and one of my dearest friends. This is one of the reasons I’ve devoted my career to shining a light on environmental drivers of cancer, and what can be done about them. . . .
2024
What’s new
The Plastics Treaty: An opportunity to multisolve
Evidence of human health harms of plastics across the life cycle has been strong for decades. Now, as the next meeting of the global plastics treaty gets underway, new studies documenting these harms (and their costs) have been coming fast and furious. It's now crystal clear that plastics are not only a pollution problem, but also an urgent threat to public health and environmental justice. . . .
2024
Guest commentary
What’s new
On the Brink of Ink: The impact of tattoos and their safety
Tattoos have been a cornerstone in human expression for thousands of years. From an ancient iceman whose remains were found with tattoos across his body, to modern day tattoo conventions, this art form has transcended its ancient roots and is now a common form of expression. . . .
2024
Guest commentary
What’s new
A vision for safer, more sustainable food contact materials
The world is working on ending plastic pollution through a new plastics treaty. If the treaty gets the science right, it has enormous potential to detoxify the planet. But right now, this goal is far beyond reach because there is an elephant in the room: plastic chemicals. . . .
2024
Guest commentary
What’s new
Untangling the causes of obesity
As researchers look for the reasons to explain the global rise in obesity, one thing has become clear — chemicals in our food, packaging, personal care items, and other products are playing a key role. . . .
2024
Guest commentary
What’s new
Under the Surface: What does the fracking boom mean for our health?
Over the last seven years, as I traveled the United States reporting on the oil and gas industry, I have learned a disturbing and little-considered fact: a lot more comes to the surface at a well than just the oil and gas. Each year the industry produces billions of tons of waste, much of it toxic and radioactive. The fracking boom has only worsened the problem. So where does it all go? . . .
2023
What’s new
Webinars
PFAS and Testicular Cancer: A study of U.S. Air Force servicemen
A recent study investigated serum PFAS concentrations and their associations with testicular cancer risk among Air Force servicemen. Dr. Mark Purdue presented findings from the study in an EDC Strategies Partnership webinar. . . .
2023
What’s new
Playground Surfacing: Fun and safety without toxic chemicals
A playground is a wonderful place for kids to play, exercise, build skills, and make friends. It’s important that the materials used in playgrounds are as safe as possible. . . .
2023
Guest commentary
What’s new
“Advanced Recycling” of Plastics: Largely waste disposal by another name (Part 2)
“Advanced recycling,” also sometimes called molecular recycling or chemical recycling, is a term that encompasses several technologies that use heat, solvents, enzymes, or microwaves to break down plastic waste. Among the so-called “advanced recycling” methods, attempts to commercialize and scale up have focused mainly on pyrolysis and gasification. Pyrolysis or gasification of plastics both pose significant challenges, and their performance thus far has been poor. . . .
2023
What’s new
PFAS, phenols, and parabens: Links to hormone-mediated cancers
In a recent webinar, Dr. Max Aung presented the results of a study that examined the relationship between certain chemicals and previous diagnoses of hormone-mediated cancers. . . .
2023
What’s new
Bold ideas at the intersection of climate, health, & justice
By Max Aung, MPH, PhD and Lariah Edwards, PhD
Three leaders in the fields of public health and agroecology recently put the heat on historic injustices — and shed light on necessary paths forward.
In the latest collaboration between the Collaborative for Health and Environment, the Agents of Change in Environmental Justice Program, and the Center for Environmental Health and Justice in Northern Manhattan at Columbia University, we hosted a dynamic discussion with Ans Irfan, Daniel Carrión, and Alexa White. . . .
2023
Guest commentary
What’s new
“Advanced Recycling” of Plastics: Largely waste disposal by another name (Part 1)
Plastics are complex, heterogeneous chemical polymers with varying amounts of thousands of chemical additives that impart properties such as color, flexibility, stability, water repellency, flame retardance, and ultraviolet resistance. While many plastic products have obvious benefits, throughout their lifecycles — from production to use, recycling, and disposal — plastic polymers and their additives are also responsible for extensive harm to human health and the environment.
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2023
What’s new
A Poison Like No Other: New book on microplastics highlights global threat
Around the world today, microplastics are largely unseen but ubiquitous. This makes it difficult to grasp the scope of the problem. Matt Simon’s book, A Poison Like No Other: How Microplastics Corrupted Our Planet and Our Bodies, sets out to show us exactly what we’re dealing with. In a recent webinar, Simon shared findings from his book with CHE Alaska. . . .
2023
Guest commentary
What’s new
Atrazine: Latest science & policy analysis on a hormone-disrupting herbicide
Guest Post by Stacy Malkan
Atrazine is the second most widely used weed killer in the United States. Yet a significant body of scientific research suggests the herbicide harms the normal functioning of the endocrine system. In humans, atrazine has been linked to irregular menstrual cycles, abnormal birth weight and unexplained infertility. Animal studies have shown that atrazine may affect reproductive function in mammals, including estrous cycles, sperm motility, testosterone levels, and prolactin, luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormone levels. In amphibians and various fish, atrazine has been shown to damage reproductive organs and systems. . . .
2023
What’s new
6PPD in Tires: A concern for playgrounds, artificial turf, and more
By Rachel Massey, ScD and Zhenyu Tian, PhD
Waste tires are used in a variety of applications, including widespread use as recreational surfacing. This includes artificial turf and “rubber mulch” marketed for use in gardens and on playgrounds. These products are marketed as a solution to the problem of burgeoning tire waste, but they disperse waste material widely into the environment, creating a future cleanup problem. And they create the conditions for young children to be exposed to this problematic material. . . .
