Wildfire smoke may have contributed to thousands of extra COVID-19 cases and deaths in western U.S. in 2020
Thousands of COVID-19 cases and deaths in California, Oregon, and Washington between March and December 2020 may be attributable to increases in fine particulate air pollution from wildfire smoke.
Wildfire smoke in New England underscores climate change-related health risks
After smoke from wildfires in the western U.S. cast a dangerous haze over New England on July 26 and 27, experts spoke out about the growing health risks spurred by climate change, which has led to more frequent…
Stronger air pollution standards in U.S. would have significant public health benefits
Reducing certain air pollutants in the U.S. by small amounts would prevent thousands of early deaths each year among elders, according to new research led by Harvard Chan School.
Policies to keep fracking from harming health may be inadequate
Policies aimed at protecting people from adverse health impacts related to fracking may not work as intended, according to a new study led by Harvard Chan School.
Q&A: Gaurab Basu on climate change, racial justice, and COVID-19
Gaurab Basu, a physician with the Cambridge Health Alliance and a health equity fellow at the Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment at Harvard Chan School, discusses how a legacy of racist policies in the U.S.…
Pollution from fossil fuel combustion deadlier than previously thought
Fine particulate pollution from fossil fuel combustion was responsible for one in five early deaths worldwide in 2018, with vulnerable groups at greatest risk.
Texas storm offers glimpse of how climate change threatens public health
In the wake of extreme weather that led to prolonged power outages and water shortages in Texas, Yerby Fellow Renee Salas discussed the health challenges posed by climate change and the complexities of responding to a disaster in…
Pollen seasons are getting longer, driven by climate change
Since 1990, pollen seasons have gotten longer and more pollen-filled, and climate change is responsible, according to a new study.
Student report examines COVID-19 spread in Chelsea, Mass.
A report by Cristina Alonso, DrPH ’21, found two major reasons for the swift coronavirus spread in Chelsea, Mass.: the lag time between when people first noticed symptoms and when they got tested and the fact that about…
Study: Regional transportation pact could save more than 1,000 lives
A regional initiative among 12 Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states aimed at reducing carbon emissions from transportation could help avoid about 1,100 deaths and nearly 5,000 asthma cases each year, and could save more than $11 billion in health…