Federal Housing Assistance and Blood Lead Levels in a Nationally Representative US Sample Age 6 and Older: NHANES, 1999–2018

Background: Federal housing assistance is an important policy tool to ensure housing security for low-income households. Less is known about its impact on residential environmental exposures, particularly lead. Objectives: We conducted a quasi-experimental study to investigate the association between federal housing assistance and blood lead levels (BLLs) in a nationally representative US sample age 6 y and older eligible for housing assistance. Methods: We used the 1999–2018 National Health and…

Lead from old paint and pipes is still a harmful and deadly hazard in millions of US homes

Lead is a potent neurotoxin that causes severe health effects such as neurological damage, organ failure and death. Widely used in products such as paint and gasoline until the late 1970s, lead continues to contaminate environments and harm the health of people around the world. The World Health Organization estimates that more than 1 million deaths each year are attributable to lead poisoning, with the highest exposures in developing nations. Lead continues…

Surviving indoor heat stress in United States: A comprehensive review exploring the impact of overheating on the thermal comfort, health, and social economic factors of occupants

In the face of escalating global climate change and the increasing frequency of extreme heat events, the mitigation of building overheating has become an urgent priority. This comprehensive review converges insights from building science and public health domains to offer a thorough understanding of the multifaceted impacts of indoor overheating on occupants. The paper addresses a significant research gap by offering a holistic exploration of indoor overheating of residential buildings…

Black carbon concentrations, sources, and health risks at six cities in Mississippi, USA

Black carbon (BC) in ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was measured for 15 months (Sept 2013–Dec 2014) at six locations throughout the state of Mississippi, USA, to investigate the distribution, temporal variations, potential sources, and health risks of BC. Sampling sites were divided into two groups based on population: large cities (Gulfport, Hattiesburg, and Jackson) and small cities (Grenada, Hernando, and Pascagoula). The mean concentration of BC was higher in large…

New Paper: Energy Insecurity Indicators Associated With Increased Odds Of Respiratory, Mental Health, And Cardiovascular Conditions

Energy insecurity, defined as the inability to meet household energy needs, has multiple economic, physical, and coping dimensions that affect health. We conducted the first citywide representative survey of energy insecurity and health in a sample of 1,950 New York City residents in 2022. We compiled ten indicators that characterize energy insecurity as experienced in New York City housing settings and then examined associations between number and types of indicators…

HOT TOPICS IN URBAN POLICY AND HEALTH: PROTECTING OUTDOOR WORKERS FROM EXTREME HEAT

Hot Topics in Urban Policy and Health: In a new UHC Policy Core blog series, we’ll highlight important topics in urban policy with implications for health and health equity. We hope the series will help our collaborators learn about various policy areas and potentially spark interest in future research and practice experience on these policies. This month we start with a (literal) hot topic in health policy: extreme heat and worker protections. Summer…

New Article: Justice and injustice in “Modular, Adaptive and Decentralized” (MAD) water systems

Centralized water infrastructure is challenged by climate change, infrastructure degradation, underinvestment, and shifting water demands. In its place, scholars have argued for “Modular, Adaptive and Decentralized” (MAD) water systems. We critically interrogate the environmental injustices that produce, and may be reproduced through, MAD water systems. We focus on two key dynamics by which MAD systems emerge: “shoving-out” of, and “opting-out” from, centralized water systems. Using a justice-based framework, we synthesize…

New Article: Indoor and Personal PM2.5 Samples Differ in Chemical Composition and Alter Zebrafish Behavior Based on Primary Fuel Source

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure has been linked to diverse human health impacts. Little is known about the potential heterogeneous impacts of PM2.5 generated from different indoor fuel sources and how exposure differs between personal and indoor environments. Therefore, we used PM2.5 collected by one stationary sampler in a kitchen and personal samplers (female and male participants), in homes (n = 24) in Kheri, India, that used either biomass or liquified petroleum gas…

These 10 scientists are on the cusp of changing the world

Leaving a tangible mark on your scientific field is a staggering achievement at any stage of your career. Each year, Popular Science honors 10 early-career researchers who’ve gotten a head start: The Brilliant 10. These researchers already stand out as innovators and change makers in their fields. They are asking the unasked questions, adopting novel methods, and pursuing remedies where none exist. Whether they are driven by the desire to fill a…

Invited Perspective: Important New Evidence for Glyphosate Hazard Assessment

Glyphosate is the most widely used pesticide in the world.1 It is also, arguably, the most controversial. Since being classified as “probably carcinogenic to humans” by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in 2015,2 glyphosate has received close scrutiny from scientists and regulatory bodies. A new study in this issue of Environmental Health Perspectives by Chang et al.3 provides important new evidence to support glyphosate hazard assessment. The IARC conclusion was driven by the…