Blog

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Safeguarding Science: Protecting researchers & scientific integrity

Independent environmental health researchers work within an economic system that is often hostile to their findings. When their research reveals environmental or health hazards, it can lead to regulatory actions and the possibility of financial losses for industries. In some cases, these industries may attempt to discredit and silence scientists through tactics like funding counter-studies, launching PR campaigns, or engaging in legal battles.  . . .

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Guest commentary
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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.  . . .

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What’s new
Two Decades of Progress in Environmental Health & Science Communication

After Theo Colborn, Dianne Dumanoski and I published Our Stolen Future in 1996, we got “slapped” by one of the most prominent science journalists of the day, Gina Kolata writing for the New York Times. Among her criticisms was that one chemical can’t cause a plethora of diseases.  It was one chemical, one disease, like asbestos and mesothelioma.  . . .

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What’s new
Meet our 20 Pioneers under 40 in Environmental Public Health: Ami Zota, ScD, MS

Ami Zota, ScD, MS has been working in the environmental health world since she was an undergraduate, and a main focus of her work has been looking at the intersection of environmental health and environmental justice.

Much of her research has specifically focused on “[characterizing] exposure to a wide range of environmental hazards in the general population with a real emphasis on identifying vulnerable populations or highly exposed populations,” Dr. Zota says.  . . .

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What’s new
#GivingTuesday 2017

Dear CHE Friend,

Today, Tuesday November 28^th, is #GivingTuesday, a day where millions of people come together to support and champion the causes they believe in.

For CHE, we believe that identifying and reducing environmental risks to human health is essential. We believe that investing in prevention, rather than just treatment, is critical for a healthier and more equitable world. With pollution responsible for 16% of all deaths globally, three times more than AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria combined, we believe this is no small problem.  . . .

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What’s new
Just released! Protecting Children’s Health Where They Live, Learn, and Play.

This report from the NIEHS/EPA Children’s Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Centers highlights some of the important contributions the centers have made toward reducing the burden of environmentally induced or exacerbated diseases placed on children. The report provides examples of success in the community and in support of public health. It is organized in three section:

• Health outcomes, presenting scientific findings from the Children’s Centers on diseases that sometimes affect children
• Environmental exposures, presenting research findings on chemicals and pollutants children are commonly exposed to through air, water and food. 
• Hallmark features, highlighting the unique features that have facilitated the work of the Children’s Centers and advancements in the field. 

Read the full Children's Centers impact report.

Webinars
Meet our 20 Pioneers under 40 in Environmental Public Health: Simona Bălan, PhD

We wanted to find the best young researchers and advocates who might change the future of environmental health. So, we asked a panel of luminaries in environmental health to nominate rising stars who are doing pioneering work. After a rigorous selection process, we invited 20 of these nominees to be our 20 Pioneers under 40 in Environmental Public Health.

This month, we held our first webinar in the series. In addition to these presentations, we got to sit down and learn a little bit more about the researchers. While we did talk about their research, we also learned how they first got interested in the field and what this work means to them, plus a few tips for staying healthier.

Simona Bălan, one of our first presenters, got her start in environmental health very early. She was 11 when her aunt gave her a book about how chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), used in aerosols and refrigerants, destroyed the ozone layer. While not typically a book that would interest an 11 year old, she found it mind-boggling and felt inspired to study chemistry diligently. As she got older, she realized chemistry alone wasn’t exactly the right path. It wasn’t until she was at Berkeley working on her PhD that she found her real passion in reducing the use of chemicals of concern in products that consumers interact with on a regular basis.  . . .

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What’s new
New Pages: Cardiovascular Disease and Air Quality

CHE is proud to announce that two new webpages have been added to our website: Cardiovascular Disease Research and Resources and Air Quality. The Cardiovascular Disease page summarizes evidence connecting various cardiovascular diseases with environmental, lifestyle and medical risk factors. The Air Quality page lays out what research indicates are the health impacts of a variety of air pollutants. Sections on prevention conclude both pages.

Newsletter essay
CHE’s 15th Anniversary: March On!

CHE was established 15 years ago this month. At that time, a small group of us imagined what we might next do to build a stronger environmental health movement. We wondered if health-affected groups and others, emboldened by knowledge of the emerging environmental health science, might create a groundswell of new voices demanding more prevention-oriented public health policies. We considered whether a variety of different learning forums based on civil dialogue might help launch more cross-sectoral collaborations to reduce exposures to chemical contaminants that can lead to chronic disease and disability. (See Michael Lerner's letter dated March 21, 2002.)  . . .

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