Heat waves and cold snaps linked to death rate spikes
New England’s sudden temperature shifts may be causing spikes in deaths among the region’s seniors, according to new research from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The study followed about 2.9 million people on Medicare for eight…
Human-wrought environmental changes impacting crops and pollinators could harm health of millions
Studies quantify potential effects of pollinator declines, decreased zinc levels in food For immediate release: July 15, 2015 Boston, MA ─ Changing environmental conditions around the globe caused by human activity could negatively impact the health of millions of…
Sudden weather shifts linked with more deaths
Lots of heat waves and cold snaps can increase mortality rates, according to a new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Previous studies have shown that more people die when it gets very hot or…
Nickel may contribute to air pollution’s cardiovascular effects
Nickel appears to contribute to adverse cardiovascular outcomes associated with fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) according to a study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health researchers. The study was published online June 19, 2015 in…
Air pollution below EPA standards linked with higher death rates
For immediate release: June 3, 2015 Boston, MA – A new study by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that death rates among people over 65 are higher in zip codes with more fine particulate…
Power plant standards could save thousands of U.S. lives every year
New study from Harvard, Syracuse, and Boston University scientists links strong carbon standards to substantial reductions in air pollution and widespread health benefits For immediate release: Tuesday, September 30, 2014 Boston, MA -- Power plant standards to cut…
Coal burning, road dust most toxic air particles
A new Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) air pollution study of millions of deaths from heart disease, lung disorders, and other causes in 75 American cities found that the effect of particles on mortality rates was about…
Rising CO2 poses significant threat to human nutrition
For immediate release: May 7, 2014 Boston, MA — At the elevated levels of atmospheric CO2 anticipated by around 2050, crops that provide a large share of the global population with most of their dietary zinc and iron…
Getting the lead out
[Fall 2013 Centennial issue] “Every time you fill up your car with gasoline, you can think of Joel Schwartz,” William Reilly, former administrator of the EPA, remarked several years ago. That’s because Schwartz, professor of environmental epidemiology, is…
Measuring the effectiveness of public health interventions
February 11, 2013 -- If you’re examining the impact of air pollution control efforts in Denver, how do you statistically account for the fact that air pollution travels east—and that pollution reduction in the western United States could…
