Blog

Plastic waste is a growing global problem. The negative impact of plastic debris, particularly on marine ecosystems, has been appreciated for decades. But potentially, an even more significant danger is the insidious microplastic we cannot see. Plastic waste does not biodegrade, rather, it breaks down, fragmented by wind, waves, and sunlight into ever-smaller pieces.

Wildfires have dramatically increased in number, size, and duration over the past several decades. Defined as unplanned and uncontrolled fires, wildfires are spreading to every corner of the globe. From the Siberian taiga forest to the Australian bush, wildfires have affected 17 million people since 2010. Impacting agriculture, transportation, power and gas services, water supply, and the health of humans, animals, and ecosystems, wildfires affect every aspect of life.

It is now scientific consensus that household air pollution can increase the risk for numerous noncommunicable diseases, including stroke, ischemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer.

The COVID-19 pandemic flipped our world upside down. Among other things, it had a dramatic effect on work & workers. Yet, particularly during the early days of the pandemic, this effect was unclear. 

EHSC researchers developed a survey to understand how workers and their families have been affected by COVID-19 – both on the job and at home. We also collaborated with several organizations to develop customized versions of the survey. 

The simple answer is yes. A walk in the city, blasting music on the radio on your daily drive, or working around loud machines all expose you to noise pollution. 

The environmental health movement was built by visionaries who refused to accept that some communities deserved cleaner air, safer water, and healthier land than others. From W.E.B. Du Bois's groundbreaking social epidemiology to Dr. Beverly Wright's decades of frontline leadership, their work laid the foundation for the science, policy, and advocacy that drives EHSC's mission today.

Ghosts and ghouls aren’t the only things children should be scared of during the spooky Halloween season. October is Children’s Environmental Health Month. There are many environmental hazards and toxins that kids are exposed to daily that are far scarier than ghosts and ghouls, and many are invisible to parents.