Public health, environment protections debated at clean air summit
Debates continue to rage in Congress to address a simple question with a complex answer: Clean air is essential to public health, but how much should be invested to protect it?
Federal agencies announce asthma plan to reduce incidence, promote equity
Asthma is not only one of the most widespread chronic diseases nationally, affecting nearly 26 million Americans, but it also disproportionately affects poor and minority children. To culminate Asthma Awareness Month, U.S. agencies on Thursday presented the “Coordinated Federal Action Plan to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Asthma Disparities” in Washington, D.C.
Webinar: How climate control will lower health costs
Increasingly dangerous shifts in climate worldwide — including an unprecedented national number of extreme weather events last year such as fatal heat waves, droughts, floods and snowstorms — are threatening the livelihoods of local communities everywhere.
Earth Day is April 22: How are you celebrating?
A local cupcake store in New Jersey is donating 10 percent of its sales to local environmental centers. The Glen Ellyn Park District outside of Chicago is organizing a clean-up day. Even the U.S. Postal Service is holding events to recognize Earth Day.
EPA announces clean air standard for power plants
A new standard released today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will limit emissions of carbon dioxide from new coal- and oil-fired power plants, the nation’s single-largest source of carbon pollution, a leading contributor to climate change.
Health groups file suit to support EPA standards that limit mercury, air toxics pollution
On the heels of industry opposition, five health groups, including APHA, took legal action Friday to support measures that protect the public from emissions of hazardous air pollutants from 600 coal- and oil-fired power plants in more than 40 states.
Health concerns of ‘fracking’ drawing increased attention
Energy independence has become a popular catchphrase, and efforts to achieve it have led companies to hydraulic fracturing. While "fracking" offers hope for a robust domestic supply of energy, it may come at a cost to health. Read more from this story as reported in the March 2012 issue of The Nation's Health.
Mercury standards facing early opposition
It didn’t take long after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency published new, life-saving mercury standards on Thursday for foes of the regulation to fight back.
Health groups defend new EPA air standards in ad
Public health groups strongly applauded new air quality standards when they were announced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in December. They’re now working to shore up support for the rules on Capitol Hill with a new advertisement.
Power plants are top emitters of greenhouse gases
A new tool released Wednesday by EPA shows that power plants are by far the nation’s largest stationary source of emissions contributing to climate change. The tool makes public for the first time greenhouse gas emissions data searchable across industry from more than 6,700 facilities.
EPA Mercury Ruling, Needle-Exchange Programs under threat, breast implants
The Environmental Protection Agency unveils long-awaited mercury rule, Wednesday, Dec. 21. Federal funding for needle-exchange programs is about to be prohibited once more. Concerns in at least a half-dozen countries of women who received breast implants with substandard silicone made in France. All this and more, topping this morning's public health headlines, Thursday, December 22....
New report outlines anti-environment votes in U.S. House
Never mind this year’s wicked weather. One of the biggest concerns for environmental and public health groups in 2011 was, in fact, opposition in the U.S. House of Representatives.
