School buildings can influence student health, performance
Environmental exposures in school buildings—to mold, poorly ventilated air, uncomfortable temperatures, inadequate lighting, or noise—can negatively impact student health, thinking, and performance, according to a new report from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s Healthy Buildings Program.…
‘Healthy’ buildings can improve workers’ performance
Improving lighting, ventilation, and heat in office buildings can boost workers’ performance and productivity and can even help them sleep better at night—which is why developers, architects, and businesses are becoming increasingly interested in “healthy” buildings. In a…
Harmful chemicals removed from products often replaced with something as bad or worse
The harmful, hormone-disrupting chemical BPA, or bisphenol-A, has been removed from baby bottles and other plastic products—but that doesn’t mean consumers should rest easy, according to Joseph Allen, assistant professor of exposure assessment science at Harvard T.H. Chan…
Survey reveals significant number of airline pilots report depressive symptoms, suicidal thoughts
For immediate release: Wednesday, December 14, 2016 Boston, MA – Hundreds of commercial airline pilots currently flying may be clinically depressed, according to an anonymous survey of nearly 1,850 pilots conducted by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School…
Can businesses make a profit while saving the planet?
September 29, 2016—As cofounder of the organization that created the LEED green building rating system, Rick Fedrizzi spends a lot of time working to help business people and environmental activists see themselves as allies. Speaking at the kickoff…
Can ‘green’ offices sharpen productivity?
People who work in “green” offices that are well-ventilated and have low levels of indoor pollutants and carbon dioxide may have significantly better cognitive function than people working in more traditional office environments, according to a recent study…
Zika and the Rio Olympics
One expert explains why the threat of Zika at the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics is actually quite low.
Brazil’s Olympic preparations highlight challenge of slums, pollution
Challenges faced by Brazil to reduce pollution and upgrade the slums of Rio de Janeiro prior to the August 2016 Summer Olympics illustrates the struggles faced when trying to protect the respiratory health of approximately a billion people…
Battling a 'superbug'
In this week’s podcast: The "superbug" that is igniting new concerns over antibiotic resistance, plus the common chemicals linked to health problems in women, and the global toll of slavery.
Exposure to common flame retardant chemicals may increase thyroid problems in women
For immediate release: Monday, May 23, 2016 Boston, MA — Women with elevated levels of common types of flame retardant chemicals in their blood may be at a higher risk for thyroid disease—and the risk may be significantly higher…
