Boston, MA – Elderly people living near or downwind of unconventional oil and gas development (UOGD)—which involves extraction methods including directional (non-vertical) drilling and hydraulic fracturing, or fracking—are at higher risk of early death compared with elderly individuals who don’t live near such operations, according to a large new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School […]
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Posted inCalifornia
Wildfire smoke may have contributed to thousands of extra COVID-19 cases and deaths in western U.S. in 2020
Thousands of COVID-19 cases and deaths in California, Oregon, and Washington between March and December 2020 may be attributable to increases in fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) from wildfire smoke, according to a new study co-authored by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The study is the first to quantify the degree to which increases in […]
Posted inUS
Half of households in the 4 largest U.S. cities report facing serious financial problems during the coronavirus outbreak
Boston, MA September 10, 2020 – According to a new NPR/Robert Wood Johnson Foundation/Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health poll, at least half of households in the four largest U.S. cities—New York City (53%), Los Angeles (56%), Chicago (50%), and Houston (63%)—report facing serious financial problems during the coronavirus outbreak. Serious problems are reported across a […]
Posted inSci/Tech
Study of more than 68 million older Americans shows more evidence of causal link between air pollution and early death
Boston, MA, June 26, 2020 – Strengthening U.S. air quality standards for fine particulate pollution to be in compliance with current World Health Association (WHO) guidelines could save more than 140,000 lives over the course of a decade, according to a new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The study, published June […]
Posted inSci/Tech
Close to half of US population projected to have obesity by 2030
Boston, MA, Dec. 19, 2019 – About half of the adult U.S. population will have obesity and about a quarter will have severe obesity by 2030, according to a new study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The study also predicts that in 29 states, more than half of the population will […]
Posted inSci/Tech
Fatal police shootings more frequent in US states with high household gun ownership
Boston, MA, Oct. 12, 2018 – U.S. states with high levels of household gun ownership have higher rates of fatal shootings of civilians by police than states with lower gun prevalence, according to a new study led by researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Northeastern University. The study found that […]
Posted inWorld
As carbon dioxide levels climb, millions at risk of nutritional deficiencies
Boston, MA, Aug. 27, 2018 – Rising levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) from human activity are making staple crops such as rice and wheat less nutritious and could result in 175 million people becoming zinc deficient and 122 million people becoming protein deficient by 2050, according to new research led by Harvard T.H. Chan School […]
Posted inUS
Researchers estimate 4,645 additional deaths in the three-month period following Hurricane Maria
Boston, MA, May 29, 2018 – The mortality rate in Puerto Rico rose by 62% [95% confidence interval (CI) 11% to 114%] after Hurricane Maria, according to a new study led by researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The study was conducted in January and February 2018, in collaboration with colleagues from […]
Posted inUS
Outcome of Senate ACA debate influenced by substantial growth in public support for federal role in universal coverage
BOSTON, MA, Aug. 18, 2017 – A new in-depth analysis of results from 27 national public opinion polls by 12 survey organizations finds that the failure of the recent U.S. Senate debate over proposals to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) relates to deep divisions among Republicans, as well as between Republicans and Democrats, on the future […]