Collaborative for Health and Environment

09/18/2025

It’s time to Power On ⏰

Next week, from September 21 - September 28, it is , organized by Climate Group 🌱

There are so many climate events in or close to the NYC area – in person, hybrid, and virtual, some hosted by our partners Union of Concerned Scientists and WE ACT.

Visit https://www.climateweeknyc.org/event-search for more details.

09/08/2025

✨ NUEVO Science Snippet! ✨

¿Sabías que la exposición a pesticidas en el hogar y el jardín aumenta el riesgo de cáncer infantil?

En este Science Snippet, Dr. Mark Miller comparte la importancia de elegir alternativas a los pesticidas para la seguridad infantil. A continuación, se incluye un breve video animado creado por Western States Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit (WSPEHSU) que ofrece pasos prácticos para evitar la exposición a pesticidas.

Ve el seminario web completo de Science Snippet aquí: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6M1S5fdhNc

Ve el Science Snippet traducido al inglés aquí: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QB3RW2qkmw

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✨ NEW Science Snippet! ✨

Did you know that exposure to pesticides in the home and garden has been found to increase the risk of childhood cancers?

In this Science Snippet, Dr. Mark Miller shares the importance of choosing alternatives to pesticides to keep children safe, followed by a short animated video created by Western States Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit (WSPEHSU)
that provides actionable steps to avoid exposure to pesticides.

Watch the Science Snippet here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6M1S5fdhNc

Watch the English-translated Science Snippet here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QB3RW2qkmw

In this Science Snippet with Alaska Community Action on Toxics/CHE Alaska (), Dr. Mark Miller shares the importance of choosing...

09/03/2025

Did you know one study found that humans inhale as many as 68,000 microplastic particles daily?

Recently, The Guardian released an article highlighting findings from a new peer-reviewed research in the Plos One journal. The study estimates that humans can inhale as many as 68,000 microplastics daily, ranging from exposure in our home environments to our cars.

“We were quite surprised about the microplastic levels we found – it was much higher than previously estimated. . . The size of the particle is small and well-known to transfer into tissue, which is dangerous because it can enter into the bloodstream and go deep into the respiratory system.”

🌱 To read the full article, visit

Particles are small enough to burrow into lungs, says report, with health impacts ‘more substantial than we realize’

08/28/2025

Did you know that the drinking water of more than four percent of US residents exceeds the EPA’s maximum contaminant level of nitrates, most frequently in wells in agricultural areas?💧

August is National Water Quality Month. This month, we are highlighting the importance of protecting water resources for our health and our environment.

💻To learn more about water pollution and resources for prevention and regulation, visit

Water is not only essential to life but intimately interwoven with quality of life across the globe. Access to enough clean water is crucial every day for every person. Beyond the need for water are the impacts of droughts, floods, storms, and other water events. With water-related hazards responsib...

08/25/2025

With a new school year around the corner, we’re highlighting several hopeful stories to inspire schools to create a healthy school environment. From using stainless steel lunch products to eliminating single-use plastics, these schools have found innovative solutions to reducing waste and promoting children’s health.

“People in my position have an opportunity to make a change. . . And if somebody is willing to put their necks forward to make that change, others will follow.” - Helina Dlugon, Brown Avenue Elementary’s principal for 23 years.

Learn more here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2025/01/04/plastic-free-foam-school-lunch/

08/21/2025

This month, we’re highlighting two key individuals who attended multiple Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee sessions of the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations, advocating for vulnerable communities— specifically those targeted for raw material extraction and confronted with the leftover toxic waste. Meet Pamela Miller, founder of Alaska Community Action on Toxics (ACAT) and Co-Chair of International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN), and Frankie Orona, Executive Director of the Society of Native Nations.

“A just transition cannot mean shifting the burden onto the people least responsible for this mess. . . It means phasing out fossil fuel-based plastics while empowering the communities most affected to lead the way forward."

Watch our webinar last year with Frankie to learn more about the Global Plastics Treaty: https://www.healthandenvironment.org/che-webinars/96902

08/20/2025

CHE BLOG: A tool to improve breast cancer risk prediction

In this third blog in our series exploring how chemical mixtures relate to breast cancer risk, Rhea Patney, CHE Science Communications Intern, and Lianna Hartmour, Zero Breast Cancer Program & Communications Director, interviewed Dr. Park from UC Irvine about DNA methylation, the method she brought to the study, and how it is relevant to a groundbreaking new research study.

“The study will give insight into how we can reduce exposure to chemicals to lower the risk of getting breast cancer.”

📃To read the full article, visit

In this third blog in our series exploring how chemical mixtures relate to breast cancer risk, we explain what DNA methylation is and how it is relevant to a groundbreaking new research study. (Read the first blog explaining the study background and the second blog explaining non-targeted analysis.)

08/12/2025

CHE blog: Climate Change, Heat & Pregnancy: Health risks rise with temperatures☀️🤰

The frequency and intensity of extreme heat continue to rise, and many negative health impacts are associated with these rising temperatures. Although it is not projected to be as hot as last summer, 2025 is still on track to be the second or third warmest year on record.

Last summer, we covered two of the many groups vulnerable to heat-related illnesses: children and athletes. This year, we focus on another population: pregnant individuals.

“The pregnant woman’s body is already undergoing vast changes to accommodate supporting a fetus, and it’s harder to regulate and especially cool the fetal environment to a healthy range. . .The fetus doesn't have its own capacity to regulate its temperature, and we know that [much of] the development of the fetal organs are temperature sensitive.” - Shruthi Mahalingaiah, Associate Professor of Environmental, Reproductive, and Women’s Health at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

📃To read the full blog, visit

08/11/2025

🦐 Did you know? krill annually stores the equivalent of carbon produced by 35 million cars! But Antarctica and the Southern Ocean are threatened by the climate crisis, with temperatures rising at an unprecedented rate.

This warming threatens amazing wildlife like krill — and us. Because what happens in affects all of us! The climate emergency dictates that countries set aside national interests and work together to accelerate protection, as nature does not know political boundaries.

08/06/2025

"Have you ever left your plastic water bottle in your car and wondered, “Is it safe to drink this?”

The short answer is “No. Not a good idea.”

In a recent New York Times article, experts explain some of the potential health risks when your plastic water bottle is exposed to high temperatures and UV rays.

“If you’re unsure, don’t drink it.”

To read the full article, visit https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/29/well/eat/plastic-water-bottle-health-microplastics.html

To learn more about the health impacts of plastic, visit healthandenvironment.org

Experts explain some of the potential risks.

08/04/2025

Tomorrow begins the final round of negotiations for the Global Plastics Treaty.

Not only is the Global Plastics Treaty essential to addressing plastic pollution, it can also address the health harms associated with plastics. In CHE’s recent blog, Dr. Jennifer Kay and Rashmi Shakti from Silent Spring Institute discuss the links between plastic chemicals and rising breast cancer rates, and outline the challenges and recommendations for addressing the problem of plastic chemicals.

“Potential carcinogens are important targets for regulation, and the Global Plastics Treaty is an opportunity we cannot ignore.”

To read the full blog, visit

08/04/2025