Category: National Center for Environmental Health

You Are What You Eat

March is National Nutrition Month. Read about a National Center of Environmental Health study that measured trans fatty acids in blood. CDC study shows notable decrease in the levels of trans-fatty acids in the blood. As the old saying goes, you are what you eat. The problem is that sometimes the things we eat can Read More >

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Random Acts of Kindness to the Environment

  February 13-19 is National Random Acts of Kindness Week. Although the origin of this unofficial observance is unclear, the Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) movement appears to have started in California in response to the “random acts of violence” occurring in the late 1990s. An RAK day or week is observed in many nations Read More >

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Stay Safe and Healthy in Winter

Although some parts of the country are warming up already, winter is not “officially” over until March 20. So stay ready for winter hazards. You will be more likely to remain safe and healthy if you are prepared. Indoor Safety You may prefer to remain indoors in the winter as much as possible, but staying Read More >

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Aflatoxin in Kenya: Finding Our Way Through the Maize

In April 2004, illness and death plagued rural Kenya. No one knew what the source could be. At the core of this mystery, however, was an outbreak— jaundice with a high rate of fatality in the districts of Makueni and Kitui, Eastern Province. Officials were at a loss for answers. Stumped, they were catapulted into Read More >

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With Health and Justice for All

NCEH and ATSDR post this blog in honor of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, January 21, 2013. An industrial plant, a truck depot, a hazardous waste site, a garbage dump—would you mind having one of these in your neighborhood? Of course you would! No one wants to live with dirty air or Read More >

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Folic Acid

January 6-12, 2013 is National Folic Acid Awareness Week. The following blog post explains the importance of folic acid in the diet of a pregnant woman and her unborn child and the significance of folic acid research and biomonitoring by NCEH’s Environmental Health Laboratory. A couple of decades ago, about 4,000 babies were born each Read More >

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Meet the Scientist: Annabelle Allison

My “Meet the Scientist” series brings you conversations with NCEH/ATSDR scientists. These conversations aim to give you a sense of the talented people who are working to keep you safe and secure from things in the environment that threaten our nation’s health. Meet Annabelle NCEH/ATSDR Tribal Affairs Liaison and Hatch green chili fan Annabelle Allison Read More >

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International Disease Detectives Discover Cause of Disease in Ethiopia

Mystery Illness in Ethiopia A strange new illness was spreading throughout Tigray, the northern region of Ethiopia. People living in remote homes and villages developed swollen, painful abdomens and then lost weight. Some of them had trouble breathing as the fluid in their abdomens crowded their lungs. Three or four family members in one household Read More >

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Cookstove Alliance

For many Americans, the most pressing concern about stoves is whether they are made of stainless steel. But more than 3 billion people in the world have more serious worries.  Read More >

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Meet the Scientist Interview: Cory Kokko

My “Meet the Scientist” series brings you conversations with NCEH/ATSDR scientists that aim to give you a sense of the talented people who are working to keep you safe and secure from those things in the environment that threaten our nation’s health. What does someone who enjoys singing, has a biopsychology background, and is a Read More >

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