Center for Health, Environment & Justice
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A student’s reflection on the EPA, Superfund and CHEJ

Maddelene Karlsson. As a Community Health student, I had the opportunity to go as an intern with Center for Health Environment and Justice to the EPA headquarters for a meeting regarding the Superfund program on March 5. This meeting, although very emotional, was also intellectually rewarding and confirming in many ways. It is one thing to read and learn about public health, community health and the topics under those umbrellas in class, but a whole other thing to see it and experience it in reality. At the meeting, there were

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March 6, 2019

Necessary Prevention: Toxic Pollution and Natural Disasters

By: Maia Lemman Starting as thunderstorms that travel west across Sub Saharan Africa, these weather systems grow in size and magnitude as they move across the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean. As the moisture evaporates it rises creating twisting air flows that develop into hurricanes. One such storm developed in the summer of 2017. Harvey was first labeled as a slow-moving tropical storm on August 17th as it made its way towards North America from the Gulf of Mexico. Two days later Harvey was downgraded, only to steadily regain

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March 1, 2019

PFAS Chemicals: Failing to Protect the American People

Last week the EPA announced its “Action Plan” for a group of chemicals referred to as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS chemicals. In its news release, the agency described this effort as “historic” and as the “most comprehensive cross-agency plan to address an emerging chemical of concern ever undertaken by EPA.” However, environmental advocates and people who live in communities contaminated by PFAS chemicals were not impressed by the agency’s plan. Group after group released news statements blasting the plan as inadequate and lacking action, lamenting the agency’s failure

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February 21, 2019

What is PFAS, where is it, and what is government doing about it in 2019?

By: Daisy Clennon PFAS is short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. It is an umbrella term for manmade chemicals that have a carbon and fluorine atom backbone. PFAS encompasses PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid) as well as hundreds of other compounds. PFAS are used in industrial processes and consumer products such as non-stick cookware, grease resistant paper, fast food wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, stain-resistant carpets and fabrics, cleaning products, and more. PFAS frequently get into groundwater though industrial factories, military bases, and also because they are used in

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February 13, 2019

Urban Tree Cover Decline Increases Health Risks

By: Jeremy Buchanan Trees are one of the most important resources we have available to us. Traditionally, trees have been most valued by those living in rural communities where they are mainly used for building materials or for warmth during the winter. However, recent evidence suggests trees provide further benefits to the health of people living in urban areas. As tree cover loss accelerates within urban communities though, it’s important to understand how your health could be at risk. A study from Urban Forestry & Urban Greening estimates that between 2009

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February 7, 2019

Johnson County, Indiana, A Trump Supported County, Confronts EPA on Rash of Childhood Cancer Cases 

By: Sharon Franklin When their children in Johnson County, a suburban Indianapolis community fell ill with cancer, no one had heard of Glioblastoma, Ewing’s Sarcoma, or Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. Now, families in a county that voted overwhelmingly for President Trump are making demands of his administration that collide directly with one of his main agendas: rolling back health and environmental regulations. A community group in Franklin, Indiana documented at least 58 cases of childhood cancer, including blood and brain cancer since 2008. Families and residents started asking whether the cancer

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January 30, 2019
Blog Roll
Greenpeace’s The Witness
Grist
Groovy Green
Healthy Child Healthy World
Inside Prevention
It’s Getting Hot in Here
Moms Rising
Pharos
Safe Mama
Safer Chemicals Healthy Families
The Soft Landing
Treehugger
Zero Waste World