Environmental Health

Can air pollution contribute to Autism?

A new study says: Yes, air pollution may be a factor contributing to autism . Researchers at the University of Southern California and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles looked at 500 children in California, half of whom had autism, finding that pollution may affect the developing brain among children...

Cleaner Living: Non-Toxic Toys for the Holidays

Before my days as the “crazy chemical lady,” I figured that most things sold for use by children are tested for safety in all areas. As long as I steered clear of cheaply made Dollar Store finds I could sleep at night knowing that my kids were not being exposed to hazards such as lead, cadmium, and other carcinogenic materials. I was wrong.

Sandy: Devastation, Destruction, Reality Check

Is climate change a real crisis? This is the question many of us have been asking ourselves in the aftermath of Hurricane/Superstorm Sandy. We have had hurricanes in the past. But nothing like Sandy has ever hit New York City. For those of us who have been warning people about climate change to no...

Heavy Weather: How Sandy, Other Climate Destruction Harm Middle and Lower Income Americans

The devastating Hurricane Sandy caused a huge swath of destruction in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States on October 29. The storm is responsible for at least 110 fatalities in the United States. Preliminary estimates indicate that it caused $30 billion in damages, with only one-quarter to...