By Sharon Franklin. Recent data collected by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) during a air monitoring trip included a benzene reading that was three times the Texas hourly guideline, which is the weakest in the nation.  In two instances, benzene fumes were so strong that scientists with TCEQ, experienced headaches and had to leave the area.  Why is this important?  The health effects of benzene can cause immune problems, nervous system conditions, and even certain cancers. Acute symptoms of relatively short-term exposure to benzene include skin, eye, and

By Stephen Lester. Excerpted from Bhopal: 40 Years of Injustice, an update and report by Amnesty International Yesterday marked the 40th anniversary of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, often considered the world’s worst chemical industrial disaster. Shortly before midnight on December 2, 1984, tons of the deadly chemical methyl isocyanate (MIC), along with other chemicals, began to leak from storage tanks on the property of the U.S. multinational corporation Union Carbide Corporation located on the outskirts of Bhopal in central India. Over the course of that night, more than 27 tons of this

By Ben Chisam. With the recent presidential election, it’s important to anticipate the incoming administration’s approach to environmental issues. While Trump’s exact plans are unclear, we can gain some insight from Project 2025, a federal policy agenda written by former Trump officials and The Heritage Foundation.  Project 2025 is a thorough blueprint for restructuring the federal government, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Overall, the plan would greatly reduce the size and strength of the EPA to target the economic impact of environmental regulations. In practice, Project 2025 would reduce

By Leila Waid. During a presidential election cycle, it may feel like national-level politics will make or break the societal issues you care the most about for the next four years – or even beyond. Environmental justice and climate change have always been politically charged topics, so it’s no wonder that during this election cycle, people felt a lot of climate anxiety. In fact, climate anxiety among youth is on the rise, according to the World Economic Forum. The uncertainty, fear, and anxiety that individuals feel about what the future

By Lois Gibbs. As we sit back and ponder yesterday’s election results, it seems like a good time to pause and reflect on how lasting change happens. One valuable lesson is that long-term change, a cultural shift in society, begins at and grows from local communities to the national level. Peter Montague, a scholar of the grassroots environmental health movement who has written about lasting change talks about changing the climate of opinion. He wrote that, “today slavery is not only illegal, it is unthinkable. The climate of opinion would

By Gregory Kolen II. As individuals who care deeply about the health of our communities, environment, and future, we know that the decisions made at every level of government impact us all. Voting is one of the most effective ways to shape those decisions, ensuring our voices are heard on issues that matter most. At the Center for Health, Environment & Justice, we believe that every person has the right to live in a safe, healthy environment. Voting connects us with this right, giving each of us a say in