CHEC Newsroom
Recent News
Pitt project examining environmental threats in region
November 10, 2009 — Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Are mercury levels in Pittsburgh-area rivers a health threat? If so, how big a threat? What are the risks from coal waste impoundments & gas well drilling operations? What about emissions from power plants, specific industrial facilities or diesel engine-powered construction equipment & tow boats?
A comprehensive environmental health risk analysis for southwestern Pennsylvania, recently started by the University of Pittsburgh's Center for Healthy Environments & Communities, aims to provide some answers to those questions & dozens more. Read more»
Dr. Volz recognized as one of GASP's 40 Environmental Heroes in 2009
October 23, 2009 — Who else was honored? (PDF)
Fossil Fuels’ Hidden Cost Is in Billions, Study Says
October 19, 2009 — The New York Times
Burning coal and oil adds up to about $120 billion a year for the United States in health costs, including those tied to thousands of premature deaths from air pollution, researchers say. Read more»
Toxic Waters: From Air to Water
October 13, 2009 — The New York Times
A growing number of coal-burning power plants around the nation have moved to reduce their air emissions, but many of them are creating another problem: water pollution. Video | In Print
Surge in gas drilling amplifies debate over water treatment rules in PA
September 6, 2009 — Tribune-Review
A battle is brewing over proposed rules designed to protect the state's water resources from high levels of pollutants — action prompted by a boom in natural gas drilling that generates millions of gallons of wastewater laced with salts and chemicals. Read more»
Something's Fishy
September 3, 2009 — Pittsburgh City Paper
Modern humans live in a chemical soup. Auto fumes & food preservatives, prescription drugs & polyester dust ... we eat man-made chemicals, drink them, inhale them & absorb them through our skin. Read more»
American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting, November 7-11, 2009
CHEC has had 5 abstracts accepted for publication & presentation at the 137th annual APHA meeting in Philadelphia, PA. Links to the abstracts, times & locations of the presentations are listed below:
- Community-based participatory environmental health research to improve water quality on a major water source in Southwestern PA. Abstract #197439»
- Coal combustion waste placement in PA; An environmental justice issue with implications for contamination of surface & ground waters & human & ecological exposure via inhalation & ingestion. Abstract 202076»
- Community participatory driven research; Comparisons of water quality variables & concentrations of toxic elements downstream from Allegheny River gravel mining operations during periods of activity & inactivity. Abstract# 200296»
- An evaluation of the Pittsburgh Healthy Home Resources Environmental Asthma Intervention; Assessing primary caretaker changes of knowledge, attitudes & beliefs concerning their ability to care for their child. Abstract# 204200»
- A revised Aquatic Hazard Assessment of Bisphenol A: Evidence that current risk models may not be sufficiently protective. Abstract# 203316»
EPA Approves Plan for Disposal of Coal Ash from TVA Kingston Site at the Arrowhead Landfill in Perry County, Alabama
July 2, 2009
EPA Region 4 has taken a formal oversight role in the TVA Kingston cleanup through an Administrative Consent Order with TVA. The cleanup will be governed by CERCLA & the NCP for hazardous substances releases, & it sets forth individuals to oversee specific cleanup actions & a timeline for cleanup. It also allows EPA to assess penalties on TVA for violating the cleanup schedule. Read more»
Opening Pandora's Box - Coal & Your Health: From Cradle to Grave
May 21, 2009
CHEC Speaker: Conrad Dan Volz, DrPH, MPH - Forum 1: Water»
Coal Combustion Waste & Water Quality testimony
April 30, 2009
Dan Volz, MPH, DrPH testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Water Resources & Environment regarding “Coal Combustion Waste & Water Quality." The Subcommittee requested testimony regarding the water quality impacts of coal combustion waste storage & what actions should be taken to mitigate these impacts. Read testimony»
Toxic metals in Valley fish exceed Pittsburgh's
April 21, 2009 — Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Mercury, arsenic & selenium found in fish sampled in the Allegheny River from Springdale north to Ford City were found at levels significantly higher than in fish in the Pittsburgh area, according to a new study. Read more»
Directive to PPG Industries by PADEP
| March 9, 2009 The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP), along with evidence from the research of the Allegheny River Stewardship Project, has issued a directive to PPG industries to collect & treat wastewater at Armstrong County site. Read more» |
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EPA Seeks Rules for Utilities' Runoff
May 3, 2009 — Washington Post — Read article»
Faced with new evidence that utilities across the country are dumping toxic sludge into waterways, the Environmental Protection Agency is moving to impose new restrictions on the level of contaminants power plants can discharge.
SAHA’s coal-ash residue
February 11, 2009 — San Antonio Current — Read article»
Dust Mights
January 21, 2009 — San Antonio Current
SAHA’s digging up coal ash at its old Swift site. Neighbors say they’re getting the blowback. Dr. Dan Volz visits Tennessee Valley Authority Fly Ash Disaster & comments. Read more»
View archived media coverage.
Recent Awards
GASP Environmental Hero Award
September 18, 2009
This year the Group Against Smog & Pollution (GASP) celebrates their 40th year of working to clean up the air & improve the environment in southwestern Pennsylvania by recognizing 40 “Environmental Heroes” for the good work they have done for the environment in the greater Pittsburgh area. The director of CHEC, Conrad Dan Volz, DrPH, MPH, was chosen from a pool of nominees by a panel of judges. The judges strove to identify individuals from an array of backgrounds who have worked to improve our environment.
The Environmental Heroes were recognized at GASP's 40th Anniversary celebration on Friday, October 23, 2009, from 6 to 9 PM at the Union Project, 801 N. Negley Avenue in Highland Park (Pgh 15206). Who else was honored? (PDF)
CHEC Awarded Grant for Program Evaluation of Childhood Environmental Asthma Control Project
September 1, 2009
The Center for Healthy Environments and Communities has been awarded a $30,000 grant from Healthy Home Resources (HHR) of Pittsburgh. HHR provides assessment & remediation services to remove asthma triggers from the homes of children, living in Pittsburgh and the surrounding area, diagnosed with asthma. Read more»
Heinz Endowments Renews Funding for CHEC
August 25, 2009
To expand environmental public health efforts at the University Of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public, the Heinz Endowments has awarded $250,000 to the school’s Center for Healthy Environments & Communities (CHEC). The grant will help support the mission of the CHEC, which is to improve environmental health in Western PA through the merging of community concerns with; ecological research targeting assessment of exposure to environmental contaminants; assessment of human health risks to these exposures; environmental monitoring; & the modeling of contaminant exposures in order to visually describe & predict their movement through environmental media (air, water, groundwater) to both human populations & ecological receptors. Learn more»
James L. Craig Award for Excellence in Teaching
April 25, 2009
CHEC is pleased to announce that Assistant Professor Dan Volz, DrPH, MPH, Director of CHEC has been awarded the James L. Craig Award for Excellence in Teaching at the Graduate School of Public Health. The Craig Award was established through the generosity of GSPH alumnus James Craig, MD, MPH (’63), to recognize GSPH faculty who have excelled in teaching & mentoring of students.
Craig awardees are nominated annually by GSPH students & selected by a committee of GSPH students & past Craig awardees. The Craig awardee receives a plaque, & his or her department receives $5,000, which the awardees can use for teaching-related activities.
View all previous awards.
