Department of Environmental Health at Harvard Chan School

Earlier this month, we were honored to have indoor air quality expert Dr. Joseph Allen join us for the second instalment in our Environments for Health and Happiness Seminar Series, "Healthy Buildings as a Foundational Tool for Health Promotion". Dr. Allen serves as Associate Professor of Environmental Health at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Director of Harvard’s Healthy Buildings Program. If you missed the event, and you're curious to know how indoor air quality can affect your physical health and cognitive performance, don't worry! You can find the seminar recording on our YouTube channel here: https://lnkd.in/eKx6jCYv #HealthyBuildings #IndoorAirQuality #HealthPromotion #CognitiveFunction #Wellbeing #EnvironmentalHealth Harvard Public Health magazine Department of Environmental Health at Harvard Chan School Harvard Alumni for Climate and the Environment

Should you throw out your black plastic kitchenware? Dr. Joseph Allen addresses this very issue in a recent The New York Times article. Dr. Allen states that if used properly, these items will not cause harm. Despite this, he expresses concern about banned chemicals appearing in household items stating that they, "can bite us a second time if we’re not careful." Read more here: https://loom.ly/leCEiSw

A study published today in The Lancet found that long term exposure to air pollution across India led to increased deaths. “We found that every 10 microgram per cubic meter increase in PM2.5 led to an 8.6 percent increase in mortality," stated study co-author Dr. Joel Schwartz. He continued, “Delhi may get the headlines, but this is a problem all over India, and nationwide efforts are needed... the government needs to recognize this as a major issue." Read the study here: https://loom.ly/oXiTaSo Read the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Environmental Health article here: https://loom.ly/mbLfmnE Read The Conversation U.S. article here: https://loom.ly/CKdfyqU Read the IBT Media article here: https://loom.ly/TDbjSeM

A new course at Harvard Chan School, “Leadership for Sustainable Reconstruction of Ukraine,” is aimed at supporting Ukraine on the road to rebuilding. First launched this September, it attracted nearly 300 applicants for just 60 spots. “Planning this course, we didn’t know how many people would apply,” said Jack Spengler, Akira Yamaguchi Professor of Environmental Health and Human Habitation, who created the course along with Linda Tomasso, research associate in the Department of Environmental Health at Harvard Chan School. “When I saw how many did, it moved me. We really hit a touchstone. The demand was there and was reflected in what applicants told us in interviews, to the effect of ‘thank you for not forgetting us.’”

A new Los Angeles Times article addresses a California biofuel project that aims to reduce wildfire risk by thinning forests, potentially subjecting locals to increased #pollution. In the article, Dr. Joel Schwartz addresses the impacts of chronic versus short-term exposure to PM2.5 pollution. He states that chronic exposure can have up to 8x worse health impacts than short term exposure from events such as wildfires. https://loom.ly/AJGFxpI

Can air pollution impact pregnancy? A new study by researchers in the Department found that exposure to fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) was associated with altered immune responses in pregnant women, leading to increased inflammation in both women and fetuses. In pregnant women, this increase in inflammation can correspond with adverse pregnancy outcomes. “Our findings highlight the importance of minimizing air pollution exposure in pregnant women to protect maternal and fetal health,” explained co-author Dr. Youn Soo Jung. The study was also co-authored by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health's Drs. Abhinav Kaushik, Mary Johnson, and Kari Nadeau. 📖Read the Press Release here: https://loom.ly/EsgOBRc 📖Read the Study here: https://loom.ly/0HlHLkI 📖Read the Hill Article here: https://loom.ly/6IZ-kgI

Tuesday, December 3, marks the 40th anniversary of the Union Carbide Bhopal Disaster of 1984. Survivors of the disaster have worked to make December 3rd an international day of remembrance, and have also introduced a resolution in Congress to mark December 3rd as "National Chemical Disaster Awareness Day." Chris Clark, a PhD student in the Department of Environmental Health wrote the following commentary about this disaster, and its impact on public health. #Bhopal40 https://loom.ly/ic2AU5g

We are hiring a Faculty Assistant to provide administrative support to the Director of Harvard C-CHANGE and its GEOHealth India program. The Center for Climate, Health and the Global Environment (C-CHANGE) conducts solutions-based research to inform climate actions that build a healthy, more just, and sustainable world. The GEOHealth India program examines the impact of air pollution in India, and trains Indian scientists so that they can assess and respond to environmental health concerns in their home country. The role includes: ✏️ Providing administrative support to the director, including assisting with travel arrangements and composing and editing letters, course materials, and presentations. ✏️ Assisting with adminstiration of the GEOHealth India project, including help with visa applications, hiring, and Harvard Sponsored Role status. This is a part-time (28 hours/week), benefits-eligible position! Check out the full job description here: https://loom.ly/Aq46DgE

Are shellfish good for you? Actually, they are good for you, and for the #environment! 🦪🦀🦞🦐 “Shellfish are the most sustainably produced type of seafood,” stated Dr. Christopher Golden in a The New York Times article. He also explains that shellfish are a great source of nutrients. https://loom.ly/p6HbSt0

A recent study presented at the American Heart Institute's #AHA24 Scientific Sessions co-authored by Dr. Barrak Alahmad and Dr. petros Koutrakis found that extreme heat could increase risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) in patients with implanted cardiac devices. “AFib is becoming more prevalent both in the U.S. and globally, with its incidence rising at an alarming rate,” stated Dr. Alahmad, emphasizing the importance of researching AFib's relationship with our warming climate. Read more here: https://loom.ly/t3HenPU