• Air

Dirty Air Goes Underground

• #COVID
• air pollution
• public health
• subway
• transit

People riding American subway lines are exposed to air pollution that’s worse than a bad day in Beijing, according to new research that studied subway networks in Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, and D.C.  

Why this Matters: We hope Secretary Pete takes note because this is an environmental justice issue.

• Health

Heightened PFAS Levels Linked to Severe COVID-19

• coronavirus
• COVID-19
• Environmental Justice
• PFAS
• public health

by Amy Lupica, ODP Contributing Writer A new Danish study has found that elevated levels of Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of man-made chemicals linked to cancer, in the bloodstream are linked to severe COVID-19. The study observed 323 patients infected with the virus and found that those with elevated levels of the […]

• Health

Coronavirus Compounds Black Lung Disease as Coal Miners Fight for Their Health

• black lung disease
• Coal Miners
• coronavirus
• COVID-19
• public health

While we’re still learning about the long terms damage caused by the novel coronavirus, we have enough evidence to show that some of the virus’ victims experience permanent lung damage. But for America’s coal miners, there’s a lung disease that most fear far more than coronavirus: black lung disease. Not only is black lung disease […]

• Weather

East Coast Heat Won’t Let Up as Mayors Work to Save Lives

• extreme heat
• heat illness
• heat island
• public health

The month of July was a scorcher along the Eastern Seaboard. Throughout the month, heat advisories and excessive heat warnings were in effect along the I-95 corridor, and in Washington D.C., July saw the most 90-degree days of any month on record and was the first month to never fall below 71 degrees since record-keeping […]

• People

Hero of the Week: Olivia Tyler

• coronavirus
• COVID-19
• public health

You’re never too young to make a difference and seven-year-old Olivia Tyler is on a mission to protect Chicago’s homeless from COVID-19 by providing housing insecure people free facemasks. Olivia’s Mom Linda told Good Morning America that her daughter turned to her and asked, “How are homeless people going to get masks? How are they […]

• Politics

One Real Thing: The World Watches America Sputter

• #COVID19
• coronavirus
• European Union
• public health
• United States

Boy, are we blowing it. After the July 4th holiday weekend cases of COVID-19 surged in the United States due to a piecemeal response by governors throughout the country. Last week, the EU banned American travelers, while Canada is fining them and Mexico is working to introduce tighter restrictions on them. It seems as if […]