Healthier housing, rooted in social justice
MỹDzung Chu, PhD '20, explores the health impacts of housing inequities and advocates for housing security in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood.
Opinion: Why pollution problem is neglected
Even though studies suggest that pollution kills nine million people each year, the problem is largely neglected by policymakers, funding organizations, and the media, according to an April 16, 2020 opinion piece in Undark. One reason is that…
Near highways, air pollution getting into homes, schools
Dangerous levels of fine particulate air pollution have been found in homes, schools, and businesses near highways in Boston, according to new research. A September 23, 2019 WGBH News article described how Boston-area scientists, including Gary Adamkiewicz, assistant…
When should you consider buying organic?
When buying vegetables and fruits, it can be challenging to know when it’s worth spending more for organic products over conventionally produced options that generally have more chemicals. Scientists have linked pesticides in foods to fertility issues and…
Even ‘green’ homes contain hazardous chemicals
Thirty remodeled “green” public housing units in Boston were each found to have at least one toxic chemical — including concentrations of formaldehyde that exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s cancer-based screening level — in the air both…
Involving residents could help as public housing goes smoke-free
Enlisting all residents of public housing authorities—both smokers and non-smokers—could help with the implementation of a new policy prohibiting indoor smoking in federally funded public housing, including within residents’ apartments, according to a new commentary by researchers from…
Future of food discussed in Facebook Live Q&A
How will climate change affect the food we eat? What does it mean to eat sustainably? How can consumers make environmentally-friendly food choices? Those questions will be discussed during a Facebook Live Q&A on Monday, December 12.
A sustainable Thanksgiving
In this week’s episode: It may be hard to have a truly healthy Thanksgiving, but we have some tips to make your holiday feast more environmentally friendly.
Green public housing may reduce health risks from environmental pollutants
For immediate release: October 15, 2015 Boston, MA ─ Low-income housing residents who live in “green” buildings that are built with eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient features appear to have fewer “sick building” symptoms (SBS) than residents of traditionally…
‘Green’ buildings appear to boost health of low-income residents
Residents of low-income housing appear to get a boost in health from living in “green” buildings that are built with eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient features, according to a Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) study. The researchers, led…