Human Exposure and Public Health

Sunday, October 24, 2021

How Air Pollution Regulation Can Affect Bird Populations

September 12, 2021September 12, 2021 Jessica Espinosa 0 Comments birds, ozone, policy, Pollution

Although we have strong evidence that air pollution poses significant health risks to humans, how air pollutants affect plants and animals is not well studied. Birds are especially susceptible to air pollution because they have a unique way of breathing and interacting with air. Therefore, a group of scientists conducted a study on how air pollution affects North American birds and how air quality regulations, which were initially created to benefit humans, can also benefit these bird species.

Cities Climate Environmental Science Human Exposure and Public Health

Hot take – we need diverse and rich tree species, not just more trees to reduce the urban heat island effect

July 12, 2021July 12, 2021 Jessica Wright 0 Comments #greenspace, #urbandesign, Ecology, Trees

Wang, X., M. Dallimer, C.E. Scott, W. Shi, J. Gao. (2020). Tree species richness and diversity predicts the magnitude of

Cities Climate Environmental Science Human Exposure and Public Health

The Urban Heat Island Challenge – How to quantify this pressing concern for cities facing a changing climate

May 25, 2021May 25, 2021 Jessica Wright 0 Comments city, climate resiliency, heat, human health, urban planning

Sangiorgio, V., Fiorito, F., & Santamouris, M. (2020). Development of a holistic urban heat island evaluation methodology. Scientific Reports, 10(1),

Environmental Science Human Exposure and Public Health

Metal Accumulation in Sharks of the Caribbean

May 11, 2021May 10, 2021 Elisabeth Lang 0 Comments marine pollution, Sharks

Pollution threatens marine life worldwide. Some of this pollution includes metals that build up in the tissues of marine life, including sharks. People around the world consume shark meat as a part of their diets. Caribbean reef sharks are commonly consumed by people throughout the Caribbean and South America, but a study on metal levels in their tissues had never been done. A team of researchers undertook this study to assess the danger to people and to better identify sources of pollution so that marine pollution can be better managed.

Cities Climate Environmental Science Human Exposure and Public Health

Public Health & Urban Trees – What you need to know

April 19, 2021April 19, 2021 Jessica Wright 0 Comments government, infrastructure, street trees, urban planning

Read all about the public health benefits of trees in cities. Team of researchers complete scoping literature review to help urban planners learn about the importance of urban trees.

Animal behavior Climate Ecosystems Environmental Science Human Exposure and Public Health Toxicology

The “Heartbreaking” Effect of Algal Blooms – Heart disease and the Southern Sea Otter

February 4, 2021February 4, 2021 Brianne Palmer 0 Comments Conservation, health, marine pollution, ocean health, Pollution, toxins

Our favorite hand-holding marine mammals, sea otters, are threatened by environmental toxins. Chemicals produced by algae blooms move up the food chain and cause a multitude of diseases in top predators. A new study documented how algae blooms cause heart disease in sea otters, what this means for our own seafood consumption, and proposes solutions to our pollution.

Animal behavior Cities Environmental Science Human Exposure and Public Health

Cat-agorizing Cat Owners to Reduce Environmental Harm caused by Domestic House Cats

January 6, 2021January 6, 2021 Brianne Palmer 0 Comments Cats, humans and wildlife, invasive species, Sociology, wildlife conservation

According to conservationists, domestic cats belong indoors for their safety and the safety of other animals. But, some cat owners disagree, causing rifts between pro-outdoor and pro-indoor cat parents. In a new study, researchers interviewed cat owners across the United Kingdom and cat-agorized cat owners into six distinct groups. Depending on the cat owner’s views , conservationists may have a larger impact if they target their message towards the emotional connection owners have with their feline friends.

Ecosystems Environmental Science Human Exposure and Public Health

What is to blame for harmful algal blooms?

December 23, 2020December 23, 2020 Sarah Shainker 0 Comments dams, HABs, Harmful Algal Blooms, hydropower, reservoir, rivers

The world’s largest dam provides a massive amount of energy, but has unintended consequences as well.

Environmental Science Human Exposure and Public Health

Growing safe drinking water: from the ground up

October 16, 2020October 16, 2020 Mary Davis 0 Comments drinking water, green chemistry, Solar Disinfection

The Privilege of clean drinking water It’s easy to take for granted the availability of clean, safe water at the

Climate Human Exposure and Public Health

Measuring who our carbon footprint landing on

October 8, 2020October 8, 2020 Christina M. Marvin 0 Comments climate change communication, human risk

Who is impacted most by climate change? While most environmental carbon originates in the developed world, most of the immediate effects are being felt by those in developing or least developed countries. Could describing climate change in a human frame be the key to mobilizing mitigation action? Researchers use new data sets to assess the flood risk of a previously unexplored population of vulnerable communities living in river deltas around the world.

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