Posts by nickr
Hidden Harms: How Plastics & Chemicals in Plastics Affect the Developing Brains of Children
Children’s brains are rapidly developing and especially sensitive to environmental exposures, making early-life contact with toxic substances a critical public health concern (Project TENDR, 2024). In this webinar, leading experts with Project TENDR (Targeting Environmental Neurodevelopmental Risks) Maureen Swanson, Dr. Carmen Marsit, and Dr. Sue Schantz will examine the emerging science on how plastics, (and…
Read MoreHouse bill 25 would ban use of Styrofoam in food establishments
House bill 25 would ban use of Styrofoam in food establishments | The Cordova Times By: Margaret Bauman Photo courtesy of Unsplash/Julio Lopez Legislation to ban use of polystyrene (Styrofoam) for takeout food service has passed the Alaska House and is now before the state Senate. House Bill 25, sponsored by Rep. Andy Josephson,…
Read MoreACAT’s April Newsletter
[short introductory paragraph and a featured image go here] Full April Newsletter 2026
Read MoreMore Than Rain: The Hidden Presence of Glyphosate in April Showers
Last month, we discussed Trump’s executive order to prioritize domestic production of glyphosate-based herbicides and the growing concerns around their health impacts. This month, we’re focusing on why this issue affects you, even if you never use glyphosate yourself. Studies increasingly show that once applied, glyphosate can move through both water and air, traveling far beyond where…
Read MoreCleaning House: The Fight to Rid Our Homes of Toxic Chemicals
Environmental health expert Lindsay Dahl reveals how toxic chemicals end up in everyday products due to weak U.S. regulations—and what that means for our health. Blending personal experience with science and advocacy, she exposes industry tactics and calls for systemic change to create a safer, healthier future. CHE-Alaska is part of CHE’s broader network, which…
Read MorePFAS in Drinking Water: Health Risks, Science, and Solutions for Alaska and Beyond
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a class of highly persistent chemicals that have been linked to serious health effects, including increased risk of certain cancers, immune system suppression, developmental harms, and impacts on liver and thyroid function. In Alaska, concerns about PFAS contamination, particularly near military installations, airports, and firefighting training sites, have raised…
Read MoreFrom Lawns to Lawsuits: The Expanding Fight over Glyphosate
Glyphosate, the most widely used herbicide in the world and a key ingredient in products like Roundup, is sprayed on farms, roadsides, and home lawns, with residues now being detected in soil, water, and food across the U.S. (Benbrook, 2016; USGS, 2019). For communities already overburdened by pollution and limited healthcare access, this widespread exposure…
Read MoreInterlinkages Among Plastics, Chemicals, and Climate Change: Harm to Health and Environment Across the Full Lifecycle from Extraction to Disposal
Plastics are often treated as just a waste problem; however they are fundamentally a toxic chemical and climate problem. Derived from fossil fuels, plastics contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and toxic chemical releases at every stage of their life cycle, from extraction and production to use, disposal, and degradation. This CHE-AK webinar will explore the…
Read MorePolicy, Prevention, and Protection: Opportunities for States to Lead on Toxic Chemicals and Plastics Policies
This Alaska Collaborative on Health and the Environment (CHE-AK) webinar will examine how state and local policy initiatives are shaping the future of chemical safety and public health protection. Featuring Pamela Miller, Executive Director of Alaska Community Action on Toxics, and Gretchen Salter of Safer States, the session will explore how prevention-focused policies, community-driven advocacy,…
Read MorePrioritizing the Mental Health of Young People in Times of Rapid Climate Change
Prioritizing the Mental Health of Young People in Times of Rapid Climate Change – SOL DE MEDIANOCHE By: Samarys Seguinot Medina As children grow older, climate-related mental health issues intensify. Vulnerability is further compounded by factors such as poverty, racism, gender, disability, and integrational trauma. Climate change and rising temperatures are significantly impacting mental health…
Read MoreThoughts on Xmas Trees
Every December, millions of people worldwide purchase Christmas trees to decorate for the holidays, but the nostalgic sight and smell of a fresh cut tree can come with hidden chemical costs. Conventionally grown Christmas trees are often treated with pesticides and herbicides over their multi‑year growth cycles to control pests, weeds, and diseases. Common chemicals…
Read MoreMercury in a Warming Arctic: Science, Public Health Hazards and the Path Forward
As the Arctic warms at four times the global rate, Alaska is experiencing rapid permafrost thaw that is reshaping landscapes, ecosystems, and community health. For millennia, mercury has accumulated and remained locked within frozen soils—absorbed by Arctic vegetation from global atmospheric circulation and deposited as plants died and decomposed. As climate change accelerates thaw, this…
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