By Gregory Kolen II.

As the world faces increasing environmental challenges, from climate change to pollution, the most vulnerable among us often bear the brunt of these impacts—our children. Environmental justice is not just about addressing the broad issues of pollution and climate change; it’s about ensuring that every child, regardless of where they live or the color of their skin, has the right to grow up in a healthy environment. Protecting children’s health through environmental justice is a moral imperative that requires urgent attention and action.

Children are particularly vulnerable to environmental hazards due to their developing bodies and behaviors. They breathe more air, drink more water, and eat more food per unit of body weight than adults, making them more susceptible to the harmful effects of pollution. Additionally, children’s natural curiosity often leads them to explore their environments, sometimes exposing them to toxic substances in soil, water, and air.

Pollution, from industrial emissions to pesticides in agricultural areas, disproportionately affects low-income communities and communities of color. These communities often live near highways, factories, and waste disposal sites, where the air is thick with pollutants that contribute to respiratory diseases, developmental delays, and other health problems in children.

The environmental injustices faced by children in marginalized communities are stark. For example, children in urban areas with high levels of traffic pollution are at a greater risk of developing asthma. According to the American Lung Association, children living in low-income neighborhoods are twice as likely to suffer from asthma as those in wealthier areas. This disparity is not just a health issue but a social justice one, as it reflects broader systemic inequalities.

In rural areas, the use of pesticides and poor access to clean water pose significant health risks. Children in agricultural communities are often exposed to harmful chemicals used in farming, leading to higher rates of neurodevelopmental issues and cancer. These children, often from migrant worker families, are caught in a cycle of poverty and environmental neglect.

Addressing these injustices requires strong environmental policies and advocacy at all levels of government. Environmental justice must be at the forefront of policy-making, ensuring that regulations protect the most vulnerable populations. This includes stricter controls on industrial pollution, improved standards for clean water, and the reduction of pesticide use near schools and residential areas.

Moreover, community-driven solutions are essential. Empowering communities to have a voice in the decisions that affect their environment is crucial for creating sustainable change. Grassroots organizations, often led by parents and local leaders, play a vital role in advocating for safer environments for their children. These groups have been instrumental in pushing for legislation that addresses environmental hazards in schools, playgrounds, and homes.

Protecting children’s health through environmental justice is not just about reducing pollution or cleaning up toxic sites. It’s about ensuring that every child, regardless of their socioeconomic background, has the opportunity to live in an environment that nurtures their growth and development. It’s about breaking the cycle of poverty and health disparities that plague marginalized communities.

We must hold industries accountable for their environmental impacts and demand that our leaders prioritize the health of our children in their policy decisions. Every child deserves to grow up in a safe, clean, and healthy environment. The fight for environmental justice is a fight for our future—one where all children have the chance to thrive.

Together, through advocacy, policy change, and community action, we can protect our children’s health and build a more just and equitable world.

By Stephen Lester.

Just over a month ago, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) concluded its investigation into the train accident that occurred in February last year in East Palestine, OH. A Norfolk Southern train with more than a hundred cars many of which were carrying toxic chemicals derailed causing 38 cars to come off the tracks. Five of these tanker cars contained vinyl chloride, a highly toxic chemical known to cause cancer, liver damage, central nervous system and other adverse health effects.

Concerned that the derailed cars might explode causing a disaster in the community, Norfolk Southern made the decision to drain the liquid chemicals in the derailed tanker cars and burn them. This released a huge toxic cloud which contained its own toxic ingredients including dioxin, a potent carcinogen and one of the most toxic chemicals ever tested. The decision to intentionally burn the five tanker cars of vinyl chloride has remained a controversial issue for the community which continues to report various health problems that they believe were caused by the intentional burn.

The community now has a clear answer about what happened. The NTSB concluded that intentional burn-off of toxic chemicals was unnecessary. At the public meeting in East Palestine where the NTSB released its findings, Jennifer Homendy, the chair of the NSTB committee, described the impact on the community of the derailment and hazardous material release as “devastating.”

The committee found that the derailment occurred because a bearing on one of the cars  overheated and caused an axle to separate. The NTSB Report described a number of factors including design constraints and Norfolk Southern’s (NS) standard operating procedures that led to the train crew not having adequate warning to stop the train before derailment. The committee found that the vinyl chloride in the 5 derailed tanker cars “… remained in a stabilized environment (that is, was unable to undergo polymerization, a potentially dangerous chemical reaction) until those tank cars were deliberately breached with explosives (the vent and burn procedure).” They went on to say, the “vent and burn procedure was not necessary to prevent a polymerization induced explosion.“

Furthermore, “NS and its contractors continued to describe the polymerization as an imminent threat when expert opinions and available evidence should have led them to reconsider their course of action. NS compromised the integrity of the decision to vent and burn the tank cars by not communicating expertise and dissenting opinions to the incident commander making the final decision. This failure to communicate completely and accurately with the incident commander was unjustified.”

The chair of the NTSB committee Jennifer Homendy also criticized Norfolk Southern for its reluctance to provide information to the committee. A Washington Post news report cited Homendy saying that “the company delayed handing over or failed to provide information to the NTSB and attempted to  ‘manufacture evidence’ outside of the NTSB investigation.” According to the Post, Homendy also alleged that a senior Norfolk Southern executive delivered what she and other NTSB employees interpreted as a “threat” several weeks before the  public meeting when a “ … senior executive allegedly asked her to ‘put to rest’ speculation about whether Norfolk Southern pushed for the vent-and burn to get the train cars moving and suggested the results of the investigation could ‘close a chapter’ for the railway.”

I learned a long time ago that when someone protests too loudly, there’s usually a good reason. We may never know the real reason why Norfolk Southern pushed for the vent-and burn. Maybe it was to quicky and efficiently reopen the rail line, or not. One can’t but help wonder. To read the published synopsis of the NTSB report, click here.

By Leila Waid.

The climate change crisis worsens year by year, yet somehow, it feels like not enough progress is ever achieved. Frustratingly, there are many people who choose to ignore the issue, don’t believe it is real, or simply don’t think that there is anything they can do about it. So, how can environmental justice advocates reach these groups of people who don’t want to discuss the issue, let alone even think about it?

Researchers from all different fields of studies, not just those in environmental health, have spent years trying to understand what makes people tick – what kinds of messages are the most impactful, what will impact people’s behavior the most, and, most importantly, what will inspire behavior change? In the public health field alone, decades of research have been conducted to understand what motivates behaviors and, in turn, how they can be changed. For example, consider smoking and the astronomical decline in use that has occurred since the 1960s, when smoking was at an all-time high. A variety of factors led to the rapid reduction in smoking rates – from the Surgeon General report of 1963, to increased policy restrictions, and an understanding of the health effects of secondary smoke. All of these factors influenced the public perception of smoking. Public health researchers were able to utilize these factors to influence behavior change. By creating health communication campaigns based on theories of change, they were able to shift the tides to turn smoking from something that was seen as cool and desirable to socially unacceptable. And that’s really the key to behavior change – you have to make the desired behavior the norm. 

Of course, it is important to not oversimplify an issue – smoking and climate change action are two completely different areas of focus. Thus, they require entirely different communication and outreach efforts. However, I think that, at its core, the lessons that were learned from the successful smoking cessation campaigns (one of the biggest public health challenges of the 20th century) can be translated to the work that is being done on climate change (one of the biggest public health challenges of the 21stcentury). Most public health theories of behavior change – such as the Health Belief Model and Social Cognitive Theory – have a component focused on self-efficacy. Self-efficacy is the belief that an individual is capable of change. For example, self-efficacy could be manifested in their confidence to quit smoking. Before any change can occur, a person’s self-efficacy must be raised. In a climate change context, self-efficacy can manifest as a person’s belief that their actions can help reduce climate change risks. A study by Bostrom et al. found that “self-efficacy beliefs are both directly and indirectly associated with greater support for reducing the risks of climate change, even after controlling for ideology and causal beliefs about climate change.”

When crafting outreach messaging for climate change, it is crucial to focus on this construct of self-efficacy. If we want people actively engaged in climate change issues, then we need to increase their self-confidence in their ability to do so. Many climate change messages tend to have a very pessimistic tone. Of course, climate change is a dire issue that needs immediate attention, but bombarding your audience with messages of doom and gloom doesn’t get anyone riled up to act. Instead, there needs to be a focus on positivity. An audience member needs to believe that there are concrete steps they can take to help this issue. In an age of information, this is even more important. You need to be able to catch your audience’s attention, convey to them the seriousness of the situation, and also make them feel empowered enough to take action on it. It’s not an easy ask. But achieving this balance is one of the most effective ways to change people’s attitudes and influence behaviors. And then maybe one day, climate change actions (such as policies, reducing a person’s carbon footprint, pressuring companies to go green) will no longer be a point of cultural contention but, instead, can become a social norm. After all, up until the 90s, you could smoke on an airplane – now the idea would seem preposterous. Why? Because social norms changed. They changed based on science and backed by effective policy action. For climate change, the science is there – it has been there for a long time and continues to build exponentially every day. Now, it is time for policy to catch up. We need to address social norms around climate change and make people realize that this is something that everyone needs to focus on. Everyone’s voice matters. Everyone’s actions matter. No one person can tackle the issue of climate change. But every person needs to contribute. 

By Sophie Jackson.

I don’t often question my use of everyday household products. I tend to assume that someone has tested them, and they have been proven safe, hence, why they have ended up in my shopping cart and onto a shelf in my home. However, as I scrolled through the news and came across an article about toxic metals found in tampons, I lost that sense of assurance.

The study analyzed 14 different brands of tampons for the presence of 16 metals. The metals evaluated were detected in each brand. Lead and arsenic are two of the metals highly emphasized in the findings of the study, with arsenic levels higher in organic brands and lead levels higher in non-organic brands. This emphasis is likely due to their harmful health impacts. Common health effects associated with lead exposure are brain, kidney, and reproductive issues. It is also important to note there is no “safe” level of lead exposure. Arsenic exposure is associated with skin, lung, and bladder cancers.

While the contamination source is currently unknown, researchers believe likely possibilities are manufacturing-related metal additions or the bioaccumulation of metals in cotton exposed to contaminated waters or soils.

Unfortunately, there are many unknowns. There is currently no research available to determine if metal presence in tampons is leading to an actual exposure to these metals or related to conditions like endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, cervical cancer, or infertility.

With an average of 52-86% of women in the US using tampons, these findings should be of interest to a majority of women. Many have been using tampons since their early teens and for a period of 3-7 days each month, thus facing a fairly regular risk of potential exposure.

This leaves women with many questions. Is this contamination a recent occurrence or have women potentially been exposed for years or even decades? Is tampon usage actually leading to metal exposure and does this result in accumulation of metals in the body? If so, which metals are more likely to accumulate? Answers to these questions are vital to provide clarity and create proper guidance for women.

To lower the potential for exposure, women can opt for alternative menstrual products. Pads and menstrual cups are two common options. However, studies must still be conducted to determine if pads face the same metal contamination as tampons, potentially acting as an additional exposure risk for women. Menstrual cups are another option. Although they are initially more expensive, they are cost-effective long term.

It is important to acknowledge that alternative products may not be accessible to all women. With 21% of women in the U.S. facing difficulty affording period products every month, precautionary actions are not always a valid option. These disparities carry over when addressing access to toxin exposure screenings and reproductive healthcare. While women wait to see the potential ramifications of these findings, we must do more to test everyday products and protect all groups of people from harmful chemical exposures.

By Prasa Thapa.

On a Sunday morning, as I flipped eggs in my non-stick Cuisinart pan, I recalled an article I had read the previous week about the “forever chemicals” and its presence in the non-stick cookware. This sparked a curiosity about the items I won that might have forever chemicals and I couldn’t resist myself as I started looking for articles as I had my breakfast.

Forever chemicals, also known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic compounds known for their exceptional durability and resistance to degradation. These substances are present in most household items like-cleaning products, shampoos, cosmetics, nail polish, paints, fast-food wrappers, non-stick cookware, water resistance clothing, candy wrappers and even water. These synthetic chemicals do not break down naturally or easily in the environment and are known to accumulate in the human body, hence, they are known as forever chemicals.

In the US, approximately, 98% of the people have PFAS in their bodies. PFAS contamination have been detected in coastal waters, rivers and lakes, including drinking water supplies, which is a significant public health risk. Research also shows that people who consume high amounts of white rice, coffee, milk and seafood have been associated with higher level of toxic chemicals in their blood. In recent research done at WVU, several forever chemical hotspots were identified where “socioeconomic attributes like housing density, income and raw water intake sources” determined the level of PFAS. Communities that have manufacturing industries and the communities that use aquifers rather than natural source for water had higher levels of these chemicals. The identified hot spots were different counties in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware, Connecticut, border of North Carolina and South Carolina, and Colorado.

A study predicted that the tap water in half of the states in the US are contaminated with at least one PFAS. EPA states that “There is no safe level of exposure to PFAS without health impacts.” The exposure to these chemicals is linked to wide range of health issues, including cancer, high-blood pressure, reproductive defects, thyroid, liver disease, compromised immune system etc. To lower the exposure, one can take steps for themselves. Filtering drinking water, avoiding food in paper/plastic containers, avoiding Teflon cookware and even limiting the consumption of fish from local freshwater could be few steps to minimize the exposure.

As the awareness regarding the risks of forever chemicals grow, there have been efforts to regulate and mitigate the use and impact of forever chemicals. Government, different organizations, stakeholder, researchers and public health department are working to understand the full extent of these chemicals, their alternative as well as safe disposal. However, the fight against these chemicals is ongoing and hopefully, there is a future where these persistent chemicals

By Claire Robinson.

In the summer, I love spending as much time outdoors as I possibly can. But in recent years, climate change has increased the frequency and severity of wildfires such that their smoke sometimes spreads even to states far away. This is how I found that wildfire smoke gives me migraines so serious that I have to stay inside. I am far from the only one whose disability is exacerbated by the effects of climate change. Krystal Vasquez, who has a chronic illness, similarly says that wildfire smoke makes her feel “really fatigued, really achy, really sore.”

For disabled people, the consequences of climate change are numerous and can sometimes be severe or even fatal. Indeed, disabled people are two to four times more likely to die in climate emergencies. People with limited or no mobility may not be able to evacuate from an area quickly or at all, which could make a wildfire or flood deadly for them. Even disabled people who do evacuate may lack access to vital medical equipment or medications at emergency shelters. 

Disabled people are also much more likely to be low-income and thus to face issues like food insecurity, issues that are worsened by climate change. Worldwide, 80% of disabled people live in low-and middle-income countries, meaning that these people are likely not just to be low-income but also to live in places that are especially affected by climate change.

These are just a few of the means through which disabled people are uniquely affected by climate change; there are many other ways as well. For example, immunocompromised people are particularly at risk from mosquito-borne illnesses, illnesses which will affect people in more locations as the earth warms, and people with mental health-related disabilities are three times more likely to die during heatwaves.

Disabled people are the world’s largest minority group: over a billion people worldwide are disabled. When the risks or impacts of climate change are calculated, though, disabled people often are not considered. Recently, human rights organizations have called for governments to include disabled participants when creating climate plans and policies, and scientists have stated that climate change research should include disabled people. Still, much of that work is yet to be done.

A note on identity-first language: In this post, I chose to refer to“disabled people,” not “people with disabilities.” Nowadays, this identity-first language is preferred by many, though not all, people in the disabled community. I personally prefer the term “disabled person” to “person with a disability” because my disability is inextricably part of me.

By Gregory Kolen.

Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19th, marks the day in 1865 when enslaved African Americans in Texas were informed of their emancipation, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation. This day has evolved into a broader celebration of African American freedom, culture, and achievements. As we reflect on Juneteenth, it is crucial to recognize its relevance to ongoing struggles for justice, including the environmental justice movement. Both movements, at their core, seek to address deep-seated inequities and strive for a future where all people can thrive.

Historical Context and Shared Struggles

The environmental justice movement emerged in the late 20th century in response to the disproportionate burden of environmental hazards borne by marginalized communities, particularly communities of color and low-income groups. This movement recognizes that environmental issues are not just about nature but are deeply intertwined with social justice, economic inequality, and systemic racism. Similarly, Juneteenth is a reminder of the historical and ongoing fight against racial oppression and the quest for true freedom and equality.

African American communities have long been at the forefront of environmental justice activism. From protesting hazardous waste sites in Warren County, North Carolina, in the 1980s to advocating for cleaner air in urban neighborhoods, these communities have highlighted how environmental degradation disproportionately affects people of color. This connection underscores a broader understanding of freedom and justice, one that includes the right to live in a safe and healthy environment.

A Continuing Challenge

Environmental racism refers to the policies and practices that disproportionately expose communities of color to environmental hazards. These communities often live near industrial facilities, waste disposal sites, and other sources of pollution. The resulting health disparities, such as higher rates of asthma, cancer, and other illnesses, reflect a legacy of systemic neglect and discrimination.

Juneteenth reminds us that freedom from slavery was just the beginning of the struggle for African Americans. Similarly, achieving environmental justice requires confronting and dismantling the structures that perpetuate these inequities. It calls for recognizing the historical context in which these environmental injustices occur and addressing the root causes of racial and economic disparities.

Building a Just and Sustainable Future

The intersection of Juneteenth and environmental justice is also about envisioning a future where equity and sustainability go hand in hand. This vision includes:

1. Inclusive Policy Making: Ensuring that marginalized communities have a voice in environmental decision-making processes. Policies should be designed with the input and leadership of those most affected by environmental harms.
2. Equitable Access to Resources: Promoting access to clean air, water, and land, as well as green spaces and renewable energy sources. This includes addressing food deserts and promoting sustainable agriculture in underserved communities.
3. Economic Empowerment: Creating green jobs and economic opportunities in marginalized communities. This can help address both environmental and economic inequities, fostering resilience and self-sufficiency.
4. Education and Awareness: Raising awareness about environmental justice issues and their connections to broader social justice movements. Education can empower communities to advocate for their rights and hold polluters accountable.

As we celebrate Juneteenth, we honor the resilience and contributions of African Americans throughout history. At the same time, we acknowledge the ongoing struggles for justice and equity. The environmental justice movement, like the fight for civil rights, is rooted in the belief that all people deserve to live free from oppression and harm. By connecting these two movements, we can work towards a future where freedom and justice are not just ideals but realities for all.

By Sharon Franklin.

Current Research Is Predicting More Than 50% Of American Adults

Will Have Cardiovascular Disease by 2050

Is It Related to Their Environment ???

On March 27, 2024, the American Heart Association released new research stating that people who live in areas with social and environmental adversities may have up to twice the increased risk for developing heart disease and stroke. https://newsroom.heart.org/news/social-environmental-factors-may-raise-risk-of-developing-heart-disease-and-stroke.  In this study, environmental adversities included air and water pollution and potentially hazardous and/or toxic sites.  Dr. Sarju Ganatra, M.D., senior author stated, “This study is one of the first to examine the impact of both social and environmental factors in combination and looked at the complex interplay between them,”  

As reported on June 4, 2024 by Jen Christensen, CNN Health, Medical and Wellness Unit that further new research from the American Heart Association Forecasting the Burden of Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke in the United States Through 2050   https://professional.heart.org/en/science-news/forecasting-the-burden-of-cardiovascular-disease-and-stroke-in-the-us-through-2050   finds that approximately 61% of US adults will have cardiovascular disease by 2050. This is alarming because it has increased from 28 million in 2020, and now it is predicted that 45 million adults will have some type of cardiovascular disease by 2050. 

The biggest driver of this trend will be the large number of people who have or will develop high blood pressure, which makes them much more likely to develop dangerous problems like a heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular problems (i.e. heart attacks, atrial fibrillation or “a-fib”, heart failure and congenital heart disease).  By 2050, 22% of the US will be over the age of 65, and this aging population will be another factor contributing to these trends, because the older you get, the more likely you are to have heart problems.

By 2050, people who identify as Hispanic will make up about a quarter of the United States population and are projected to have the greatest population growth for cardiovascular disease or stroke, and people who identify as Black will be 14.4% and the number of people who identify as Asian will also increase to 8.6%, according to the US Census predictions https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popproj.html   .  

The June 4, 2024 Heart Association report also offers a closer look at the heart health of children. It finds “concerning trends” in key risk factors, including a predicted increase in the number of kids living with obesity, in large part due to a lack of exercise and poor diet. The report projects that the number of American children with obesity will jump from 20.6% in 2020 to 33% in 2050, meaning 26 million kids will have obesity by that time.  The study also projected that the number of people with high cholesterol will decline due in part to the sharp increase in the number of people who take drugs called statins, which can reduce cholesterol.

So, What Can We Do Now?  The research suggests:

1.  Prevention efforts to improve population health would be important, and would save America a significant amount of money.  (The costs including direct health care costs and productivity losses are expected to almost triple to more than $1.8 trillion by 2050.)

• The creation of clinical and policy interventions specifically to help people of color, who are already disproportionally affected by heart problems and who tend to have less access to basic affordable health care.