This month, we at the Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health are encouraging you to reduce your meat consumption. While meat contains many essential nutrients, over consumption can lead to increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. Meat consumption in the United States has been on the increase since the 1940s, inspiring campaigns such as “Meatless Mondays” that encourage the public to eat less meat in favor of a more plant-based diet. These have seen partial success, with consumption of vegetables and fruits increasing over the last few decades, but meat consumption is still much higher than recommended.

Additionally, livestock production utilizes huge amounts of land and water and produces about 14.5% of total greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. Air pollutants emitted from livestock farms travels to nearby communities, affecting the health of residents. Higher rates of asthma, respiratory symptoms, and bronchitis have been found in children who live near these farms.

Shifting towards a plant-based diet will improve your personal health as well as reduce your environmental impact. For the health of the environment, communities, and children, we’re hopeful that you will be able to reduce your meat consumption.

CCCEH & EHS News

A NEW RESEARCH STUDY FINDS THAT TELOMERES SHORTEN MOST RAPIDLY DURING EARLY CHILDHOOD, REPLICATING, FOR THE FIRST TIME, STUDIES DONE IN ANIMAL MODELS

“Given the importance of telomere length in cellular health and aging, it is critical to understand the dynamics of telomeres in childhood,” says senior author Julie Herbstman, PhD, Director of CCCEH and Associate Professor of Environmental Health Science at Columbia Mailman School. “

Telomeres are protective caps on DNA that shorten as we grow older. READ MORE 



STUDY SHOWS GREAT PROMISE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: PUBLIC HEALTH RESEARCH TOOL SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTS STEM-CAPACITY SCORES

“Our findings suggest that the Photovoice activities result in greater environmental awareness and may be associated with improved learning skills,” said Nadav Sprague, doctoral fellow, Environmental Life Course Epidemiology in the Department of Epidemiology at Columbia Mailman School.
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With Gratitude

Julie Herbstman, PhD
Director, Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health

Frederica P. Perera, DrPH, PhD
Director of Translational Research and Founding Director
Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health

Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health