By Julia Malits Published March 23, 2016
An outbreak of Zika Virus Disease occurred in May of 2015 in Brazil. With its rapid and widespread proliferation, Zika has highlighted the threats that climate change poses to global public health. In light of the current trends in global warming associated with climate change, the spike in Zika, like many other vector-borne infectious diseases, should come as no surprise.
By Julia Malits Published November 9, 2015
Water is essential for life on Earth, and with the rising lack of access to fresh water, nations will fall into a humanitarian crisis that already exists in certain areas of the world. India is currently one of the lead developing countries in water pollution as a result of its growing population and economy. However, in order to maintain access to clean water for its citizens, the Indian government must curtail its water polluting activities.
By Julia Malits Published October 5, 2015
Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial chemical commonly found in many food and beverage products. Despite its harmful health effects, there continues to be a lack in regulatory action to address BPA on a large scale in the U.S.
By Julia Malits Published March 11, 2015
Indoor and outdoor air pollution has proven to be especially harmful to mothers and children, who are particularly vulnerable as a result of both biological and socioeconomic factors. The environmental health risks among both mothers and their children have been observed across the globe, in cities like Beijing and New York City. Unfortunately, these negative trends do not appear to be slowing down.
By Julia Malits Published February 18, 2015
Northern European countries, such as Norway and Sweden, have proven the immediate necessity of waste-to-energy programs. The waste-to-energy incinerators burn all sorts of waste in order to generate municipal and household heat and electricity. The demand for waste, however, has recently outstripped its supply in Nordic countries, forcing them to import waste from neighboring countries.
By Julia Malits Published November 6, 2014
Researchers at the Wyss Institute of Harvard University have synthesized bioplastic products composed of fully biodegradable chitosan. Their discovery has the potential to revolutionize the polyethylene-based plastics production industry if their work is applied on a larger scale.
By Julia Malits Published October 21, 2014
With today's society generating the largest amount of waste in human history, sustainable waste management practices are indispensable to a healthy economy, human population and environment. As the photo from Indonesia's Bantar Geband landfill site illustrates, waste levels are rising beyond capacity. Waste management needs to be more heavily prioritized and urgently dealt with by policymakers, innovators, and communities.