Previous Health News 2023
Mercury is Still an Environmental Threat 11-09-23
The heavy metal is poisoning Indigenous peoples’ environment and health, but no one can agree on how or when to get rid of it. Read more
Pennsylvania’s fracking boom is hurting its oldest residents 11-06-23
“Up until 10 years ago, I was a pretty healthy bitch. And, unfortunately, I’m dying.” Read more
October is the global breast cancer awareness month. Here’s what to know about Cape Cod. 10-26-23One in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime.
Workers are dying from extreme heat. Why aren’t there laws to protect them? 10-19-23
“We’re asking for something so simple. Something that could save so many lives.” Read more
Opinion: When kids feel the magic of nature, they will want to protect it 08-30-23
Improving our quality of life starts with the simple of act of getting kids outdoors. Read more
Dirty air is biggest external threat to human health, worse than tobacco or alcohol, major study finds 08-29-23
Air pollution is more dangerous to the health of the average person on planet Earth than smoking or alcohol, with the threat worsening in its global epicenter South Asia even as China quickly improves, a benchmark study showed Tuesday. Read more
Chronic Kidney Disease Is Poised to Become the Black Lung of Climate Change 08-09-23
It’s official. July was the world’s hottest month on record, scientists from the European climate monitoring agency confirmed on Aug. 8, a full 1.5°C (2.7°F) warmer than pre-industrial averages. Read more
From Samoa to the East Coast, doctors are diagnosing and treating climate change 08-03-23
Physicians and medical schools alike are tailoring their approach to public health as climate-related illnesses rise. Read more
As the Salton Sea Shrinks, Agriculture’s Legacy Turns to Dust 07-17-23
As drought dries up the shallow sea, near a half-million farmable acres in the Imperial Valley, farmworkers living nearby are exposed to toxic dust and airborne pollution from algae blooms. Read more
The EPA’s plan to eliminate lead in buildings is a ‘gigantic leap forward’ for public health 07-12-23
Removing lead from homes, schools, and daycare centers could reduce exposure for half a million children under the age of 6. Read more
Extreme heat will cost the US $1 billion in health care costs — this summer alone 06-27-23
High temperatures could lead to 235,000 ER visits and 56,000 hospital admissions for heat-related conditions annually. Read more
How much would US air quality improve if it shifted to EVs? 06-25-23
Air pollution will plummet as EVs and renewables are adopted, showcasing the public-health benefits of moving away from fossil fuels. Read more
Common Chemical Strongly Linked to Parkinson’s 05-23-23
Service members stationed at Camp Lejeune, where water was contaminated, had a 70 percent greater risk of developing the movement disorder, new study finds. Read more
Plastic bottles harm human health at every stage of their life cycle 05-23-23
A new report says beverage companies like Coca-Cola must be “held accountable for the supply chain impacts of their plastics.” Read more
Study: Even a small increase in pollution raises risk for dementia 04-06-23
Research from Harvard suggests that governments need to revamp air quality rules. Read more
Lead keeps poisoning children. It doesn’t have to. 03-22-23
The only way to stop long-lasting harms is to end exposure. And that’s possible — with the right actions. Read more
‘A strange and beautiful place’: My portable paradise 03-17-23
Mine is a short journey, but you wouldn’t know it. Read more
Biden misses the point on cancer fight 02-09-23
In President Biden’s state of the union address Tuesday night, he pledged his devotion to a fierce “fight against cancer,” invoking a heart-tugging story of baby “Ava,” who began battling kidney cancer at the age of 1. Read more
In polluted cities, reducing air pollution could lower cancer rates as much as eliminating smoking would 02-03-23
“Places with high levels of air pollution would still have higher cancer rates even if smoking was eliminated.” Read more
Gas stove pollution causes 12.7% of childhood asthma, study finds 01-06-23
Gas-burning stoves in kitchens across America are responsible for roughly 12.7 percent of childhood asthma cases nationwide — on par with the childhood asthma risks associated with exposure to secondhand smoke, according to a study. Read more
West Baltimore Residents, Students Have Mixed Feelings About Water Quality After E. Coli Contamination. 01-04-23 Read more