EHN Originals

Theresa Guillette joins the Agents of Change in Environmental Justice podcast to discuss her research on alligators and fish as sentinel species for environmental health, and how PFAS are moving through our ecosystems. Guillette, an ORISE Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment at the Environmental Protection Agency in Research…

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An under-researched field exploring the intersection of pollution and mental health is gaining momentum as evidence mounts that environmental pollutants damage every organ in our bodies—including our brains. This guide explores the emerging science, and offers solutions aimed at better supporting mental health in the face of these environmental challenges. Air pollution and mental health…

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Toxic PFAS are often added into consumer products to make items stain- or water-resistant. But mounting evidence indicates that many products made without the intentional addition of PFAS are also contaminated. Researchers say these products may unintentionally become contaminated with PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, during the manufacturing or distribution process, raising concerns…

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Joe Biden broke with tradition in his State of the Union address by offering more than a throwaway platitude or two on climate change. Here are three past examples from consecutive decades: In 1984, Ronald Reagan said “Preservation of our environment is not a liberal or conservative challenge, it’s common sense.” In Bill Clinton’s first…

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In biology, there is a rule of thumb that upholds food webs: the 10% rule, meaning animals are generally good at converting energy from their food into body weight at a rate of about 10%. For example, a cow might eat 100 pounds of grass, but only grows by 10 pounds. This rule sustains life…

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Former Agents of Change fellows Azmal Hossan and Cielo Sharkus speak with Hossan’s mentor, Dr. Katharine Hayhoe about climate change science and communication. Hayhoe is the Paul Whitfield Horn Distinguished Professor and Endowed Chair in Public Policy and Public Law in the Public Administration program of the Department of Political Science at Texas Tech University,…

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Every year my home of Visalia, California, makes it to the top of lists like the “worst places to live” or “least educated places in the country.” California’s Central Valley, one of the most productive farming regions in the world, faces serious social, economic, and environmental challenges including pollution from three major industries: agriculture, dairy,…

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Since it first went on the market in 1974, glyphosate has been used for weed control, as an exfoliant to eradicate unwanted vegetation and illegal crops, and as a crop desiccant—a chemical applied to crops to dry them out more quickly before harvest. What is glyphosate?  As a non-selective herbicide, it kills most plants. Scientists…

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The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has released its Sixth Assessment Report on the impacts of climate change. The report has a clear message: Communities must adapt to climate change that has already happened and more that is on the way. This is not new information. Climate adaptation experts have been telling us this for…

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On Monday, world leaders will gather at the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) in Nairobi to negotiate a global treaty to address plastic pollution. Scientists and at least 60 of the member states support a version of the treaty that could put caps on the world plastic production in addition to other policy interventions. A…

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