“'Quick! Look out the window, do you see the sun and the sky?'” I hear my sister say. I put down my book, run to my window, and am instantly awed by the red sun and dark, smoky sky. I realize that 'fire season' has begun."
Last October, 50 Detroit community residents, faculty, staff and students from Michigan Public Health explored southwest Detroit and how public policies influence access to clean air and health inequities for Detroit residents.
Every day, people are exposed to toxins. This article outlines the history of these toxic environmental exposures in the state of Michigan and what researchers from the University of Michigan are doing to address the situation.
Trish Fisher, a dual degree Master of Public Policy and Master of Public Health student, details her research on agricultural methane policy and the role that public health can play in championing strategies to support climate change mitigation.
Nutritional Sciences PhD candidate Astrid Zamora has vivid memories of her Abuela coming home from working in the fields, experiencing intense pain, burning sensations, and trouble breathing. These ailments were the result of long-term exposure to pesticides. Now, an extensive body of research shows that occupational exposure to pesticides is detrimental to human health, including sleep health. Zamora explores two studies she was involved in exploring the links between pesticide exposure and poor sleep health.
Eating more fruits, vegetables, and nuts can make a meaningful impact on a person’s health—and the planet’s too. Crunching the numbers, two Michigan researchers have some recommendations on how to eat—one meal at a time—for health and environmental sustainability.