Aug 6, 2019Hannah Donart, MPH
It’s almost the end of summer and time to start thinking about those back-to-school supplies. Backpack, lunch box, pencils, pens, crayons, notebooks, NSF/ANSI 53 certified water bottles to filter lead…wait, what was that last one? Yep, many children in this...
Jul 1, 2019Emma Zang-Schwartz, MPH
No matter where you live, sustainability is becoming a hot topic. It might be a friendly reminder sign to bring your reusable bag to the grocery store, a city government conversation about not using straws, or it could run as deep as cities committing to be zero waste...
Mar 26, 2019Emma Zang-Schwartz, MPH
Some of the best-known ways we interact with electromagnetic fields are through cell phones, wifi, microwaves, and x-rays. Basically, we interact with them or use them do to mundane, but sort of magical, tasks every day. But, have you ever wondered if and how those...
Nov 9, 2018Because Health
You know how you can flip over a yogurt container (or really any container) and see that little recycle triangle? Well, if you look even closer, there is an even tinier number inside that triangle. You might think those numbers are just for the people at the recycling...
Sep 28, 2018Erica Chung, MPH
You know it’s coming, the dreaded flu season. Maybe you’ve tried investing in an antimicrobial mattress, shower curtain or probably the most common, soap, to try and prevent those germs from making you and your family sick. They just seem so promising,...
Sep 6, 2018Erica Chung, MPH
If you’re eating healthy, getting lots of sleep, but just can’t seem to hit a healthy weight, it might be something you’ve never thought about. Obesogens, a term coined in 2006 to refer to chemicals that cause us to gain and hold on to weight, and...
Apr 11, 2018Emma Zang-Schwartz, MPH
What is BPA?BPA, or bisphenol A, is a chemical that is often used in plastics to make them clear and strong. It is also in epoxy resins that can line water pipes and food cans, and is used in receipt paper. Although BPA is the most well-known bisphenol, there are...
Apr 11, 2018Emma Zang-Schwartz, MPH
Let’s get right to the point, while BPA-free is a great step forward and shows how customers can call for big commercial and policy change, BPA-free isn’t always quite what it seems. If you want a little refresher about what BPA is and how it can affect...
Apr 11, 2018Emma Zang-Schwartz, MPH
What are they?Flame retardants are a group of chemicals that are added to a variety of different products to help them meet flammability standards. These standards were set back in the 70s, and we have learned a lot since then about flammability, chemicals, and even...
Apr 11, 2018Emma Zang-Schwartz, MPH
What is it?Phthalates are similar to BPA in that they are an additive to plastic. Phthalates are technically a group of chemicals, and they are added to plastics to make them more flexible and durable.What can it do to me?Phthalates are one of the better known...
