Uncovering the dangers of hair products marketed to Black women, girls
A growing body of evidence suggests that chemicals in hair relaxers—products aimed at straightening hair—and other hair products marketed to Black girls and women contain endocrine-disrupting substances linked with early menstruation, reproductive health issues, and cancer. But these…
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Fighting ‘forever chemicals’
PhD student Jahred Liddie discusses his research on PFAS—also known as “forever chemicals” because of their persistence in the environment.
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How studying the ‘exposome’ can reveal harmful environmental exposures
In the not-too-distant future, doctors may be able to determine what sort of damaging exposures their patients have faced—everything from toxic chemicals to unhealthy foods—all from a blood test. This largely invisible collection of exposures is known as…
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Dangerous hair products more commonly sold in Black, low-income neighborhoods
Hair products sold in Boston neighborhoods with higher percentages of people of color and poorer people tend to be more toxic than those sold in neighborhoods with more white and affluent people, according to recent research led by…
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Confronting climate change from the factory, the classroom, and beyond
Tackling the consequences of climate change requires an all-hands-on-deck effort, drawing on expertise from a wide range of disciplines and people, according to a panel of Harvard University experts.
![](https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2023/10/Inauguration-symposium-climate-change_1200x800.jpg)
Hair product safety could depend on where you live
Hair products sold in neighborhoods that are poorer or that have a higher percentage of residents of color were more likely to contain higher levels of hazardous chemicals than products sold in predominantly white and affluent areas, according…
![](https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2023/09/Woman-personal-care-products_1200x800.jpg)
New podcast aims to help women boost health and fertility
A new podcast delves into what women can do to improve their health and wellbeing to boost their fertility, focusing on topics such as toxins in the home, diet, exercise, sex and intimacy, and mental health.
![](https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2023/06/Carmen-and-Lara-Messerlian_1200x800.jpg)
Communities of color disproportionately exposed to PFAS pollution in drinking water
People who live in communities with higher proportions of Black and Hispanic/Latino residents are more likely to be exposed to harmful levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in their water supplies than people living in other communities,…
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Op-ed: How to achieve ‘beauty justice’ for Black people
Communities of color, notably Black people, are disproportionately exposed to harmful chemicals via personal care items such as hair products, studies have found. Harvard Chan School doctoral student Marissa Chan thinks it’s important to change the societal factors…
Protecting against ‘forever chemicals’
The U.S. Environmental Protectional Agency has proposed strict new limits on six types of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water. Public health experts are positive about the move but say that, ultimately, all types of these…
![](https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2023/03/Water-faucet_1200x800.jpg)