Health Archives - State of the Planet

The False Trade-off Between Green Energy and Toxic Chemical Regulation

The long and tortuous effort to regulate toxic chemicals in America has now come up against an ironic obstacle: anti-environmental lobbying by the manufacturers of batteries and other renewable energy technologies that rely on toxic substances.

by |March 20, 2023
a tick on a stalk of grass

Tick Tock: CDC Takes Its Time Treating Chronic Lyme Disease

A student’s long and painful journey toward diagnosis and treatment shows the urgent need for chronic Lyme disease awareness and funding.

by Grace Burns |March 10, 2023
Green forest with skyscrapers in the background.

Opinion: Why Environmentalists Should Oppose ‘Cop City’ and Defend the Atlanta Forest

A Sustainability Management graduate student discusses questions of environmental injustice in Atlanta, Georgia, as one county prepares to turn a large greenspace into a police training facility.

by Aditi Desai |February 24, 2023

The Ohio Toxic Train Wreck and Government’s Failure of Regulation and Response

We need to improve the way we regulate the transport, use, and disposal of toxic substances.

by |February 20, 2023
used car taxi

Why Ghana Relies Heavily on Used Cars

Used vehicles serve real needs across Africa, but they also contribute to its public health and environmental problems through crashes and pollution.

by Festival Godwin Boateng and Jacqueline Klopp |January 10, 2023

People Like to Breathe: The Importance of EPA’s New Air Particulate Proposal

In the United States, we need strong pollution control standards that are enforced carefully, precisely, and with a deep understanding of the pace of operational change that is feasible for a particular business or locality.

by |January 9, 2023
A crowded subway train in New York City

Tackling Crowd Management in Subways During Pandemics

Columbia researchers are working with the MTA to develop machine learning and traffic models to optimize traffic flow during pandemics.

by Holly Evarts |December 16, 2022
a woman sits next to a cookstove with an open flame and smoke

Traditional Cookstoves: Fueling a Health and Climate Crisis?

Switching to cleaner cookstoves can save lives, cut carbon emissions, and promote gender equality. At COP27, world leaders should take steps to ensure universal clean cooking access by 2030.

by Benjamin Ritter and Kevin Karl |November 14, 2022

Aging Populations, Low Economic Development May Amplify Future Air Pollution Health Impacts

Even if pollution goes down and climate change is slowed, deaths from air pollution in some regions may still rise.

by |October 24, 2022
person cracking egg over electric stovetop

Why We Need to Ban Gas in New York State Buildings

Banning gas connections in new buildings would have significant health benefits, in addition to helping to curb climate emissions.

by Thomas Turnbull |September 30, 2022