E-cigarettes may help adults quit but get teens hooked
Makers of e-cigarettes say their products could save lives by helping adult smokers quit traditional cigarettes. But critics say that the electronic devices, which deliver nicotine via a heated aerosol and come in fruit flavors, are being marketed…
Designing for climate change
How we can better design our buildings and cities to adapt to our changing climate?
Carbon dioxide levels on flight deck affect airline pilot performance
For immediate release: August 8, 2018 Boston, MA – Commercial airline pilots were significantly better at performing advanced maneuvers in a flight simulator when carbon dioxide (CO2) levels on the flight deck (cockpit) were 700 parts per million…
Op-ed: Reducing air conditioning’s environmental impact
With the number and intensity of heat waves on the rise, experts estimate that the world will need 1.3 billion more air conditioners by the year 2050. Two faculty members from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health…
Extreme heat linked with reduced cognitive performance among young adults in non-air-conditioned buildings
For immediate release: July 10, 2018 Boston, MA – Students who lived in dormitories without air conditioning (AC) during a heat wave performed worse on a series of cognitive tests compared with students who lived in air-conditioned dorms,…
What makes a building 'healthy'?
Good ventilation and air quality, a comfortable temperature, low noise levels, and natural light are all components of a “healthy” building, according to experts at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. A June 28, 2018 ArchDaily article…
EPA proposal to ban ‘secret science’ could derail use of new research
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health researchers are working on a study that aims to shed light on how buildings affect the health, well-being, and productivity of office workers. But U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) staffers may…
Gina McCarthy, former U.S. EPA Administrator, launches C-CHANGE at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Center using science to drive actions on climate change and improve public health For immediate release: May 30, 2018 Boston, MA – The Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment (C-CHANGE) was officially launched today at the…
E-cigs pack a harmful punch
Although e-cigarettes may be a useful tool for people trying to quit regular cigarettes, they also contain harmful chemicals, including formaldehyde and diacetyl, according to Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s Joseph Allen. In an April 4,…
Plants, fresh air, natural light make workplaces healthy
For office buildings to be truly healthy places to work, they should have plenty of leafy plants, fresh air, and natural lighting, according to environmental health experts. Inspired by “biophilic design”—a term that comes from the Greek for…