Road salt, widely used for winter safety, contaminates waterways and drinking supplies by increasing sodium and chloride levels. This year-long study of Pennsylvania watersheds found consistent exceedances of EPA guidelines, posing risks to human health and aquatic ecosystems. The research highlights the need to reduce salt use and adopt more sustainable deicing practices.

Infertility affects one in six adults and carries profound emotional, psychological, and social burdens often overlooked in medical care. This research evaluates a four-week yoga intervention for individuals undergoing IVF, aiming to reduce anxiety and depression while improving quality of life, addressing the unmet psychosocial needs of those experiencing infertility.

This research critiques the Hatch-Waxman Act, arguing it enables pharmaceutical companies to extend monopolies through “evergreening,” delaying cheaper generics. It proposes legal reforms to restore balance between innovation and access, strengthen FDA oversight, and reduce drug costs, ensuring life-saving medications remain affordable for patients across the United States.

This research uses low-cost air quality sensors to monitor pollution exposure in underserved communities in Philadelphia. It reveals unexpected indoor and temporal pollution patterns and highlights disparities in exposure. By involving residents as citizen scientists, the study demonstrates how accessible data can inform policy and improve public health outcomes.

This research investigates whether thallium exposure from 9/11 dust contributes to long-term memory loss in first responders. By linking biological samples with decades of cognitive data, findings suggest higher exposure increases risk of early Alzheimer’s indicators. The study emphasizes early detection and prevention for those exposed to environmental toxins.

This research investigates how bisphenol A (BPA), a common plastic chemical, may contribute to obesity. By disrupting hormonal systems during brain development, BPA alters appetite regulation and metabolic set points. Animal studies show increased obesity and diabetes risk, suggesting environmental chemicals may play a significant role in the obesity epidemic.

This research explores biofiltration as a sustainable alternative to chemical water treatment. By supplying bacteria with nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, it improves removal of harmful organic matter. Results show a 20% efficiency increase, reducing chemical use and risks, and offering a cost-effective solution for safe drinking water worldwide.

This research examines harm reduction practices and their limitations within systems of prohibition. While designed to support people without judgment, institutional rules and boundaries restrict access. Case studies reveal how these constraints can increase risks, including overdose, highlighting a gap between harm reduction philosophy and real-world implementation.

This research tackles harmful cyanobacteria blooms that threaten drinking water. Using ceramic membrane filtration, it prevents toxin release by retaining intact cells. Improved cleaning methods with eco-friendly chemicals enhance membrane efficiency and longevity. The work aims to ensure safe water treatment as climate change increases the frequency and severity of algal blooms.

This research examines how neonicotinoid pesticides affect frog immune systems, contributing to amphibian decline. Since frogs naturally control mosquito populations, their loss may increase the spread of diseases like malaria. The study aims to inform regulatory policies by linking pesticide exposure to weakened immunity, disease susceptibility, and broader public health risks.