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Dear Study Participants,


Greetings in this new year. We are excited to share with you what's new at the Center and to keep forever present the work of environmental justice.


The train derailment and environmental tragedy in the community of East Palestine, Ohio, reminds us that there are no shortcuts in protecting and ensuring the health and environmental justice of our children. We always have to keep an eye on the policy, regulation, and enforcement of laws concerning toxic chemicals across all industries.


Efforts in environmental research and advocacy have made important strides. There is a growing awareness of the actions we must take. These efforts require continued study and community vigilance.



We are grateful for your support as study participants, that through your col-labor-ation we collect important data to ensure the environmental health of our children. We would also like to recognize our community partners committed to amplifying community voices and safeguarding children's health and environmental justice.



Thank you and Adelante!


*In solidarity with Ukraine

CCCEH Publications


Study Finds Most U.S. Children Use Potentially Toxic Makeup Products, Often During Play


CHILDREN CAN BE EXPOSED TO LEAD, ASBESTOS, AND OTHER TOXIC CHEMICALS THROUGH USE OF MAKEUP AND BODY PRODUCTS


A study by scientists at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and Earthjustice found that most children in the United States use makeup and body products that may contain carcinogens and other toxic chemicals.

Results are published in the peer-reviewed International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

The study, based on more than 200 surveys, found that 79 percent of parents say their children 12 or younger use makeup and body products marketed to children, like glitter, face paint, and lip gloss.


READ MORE 

Credit: Victoria St. Martin

Inside Climate News

Justice


The ‘Environmental Injustice of Beauty’: The Role That Pressure to Conform Plays In Use of Harmful Hair, Skin Products Among Women of Color

A new study cites “growing public health concern” around the way that racialized notions of beauty drive women of color to use hazardous hair relaxers, skin lighteners. By Victoria St. Martin, Feb. 27, 2022

Credit: Javier Jaén

New York Times - Many Personal Care Products Contain Harmful Chemicals. Here's What to Do About it. Take small steps to lower exposure, Feb 24, 2023, by Knvul Sheikh



Getty Images/iStockphoto

New York Post, Too Many Kids Use Extremely Toxic Toy Cosmetics: Public Health Experts, January 27, 2023, Brooke Kato

Early Learn Nation, The Independent Magazine devoted to Early Learning


Book Review: Children’s Health and The Peril of Climate Change

Mark Swartz, Book Review, February 7, 2023


An Environmental Health Scientist’s Recipe for Giving the Next Generation a Safe Future

By Mark Swartz Conversations, February 7, 2023

Children's Makeup & Body Products

(CMBP)

FACT SHEET

How Racialized Beauty Norms Motivate the Use of Toxic Beauty Products Among Women of Color, Jan. 18 2023


A new study sheds light on racialized beauty norms that motivate the use of chemical hair straighteners and skin lighteners linked to poor health outcomes. Among survey respondents, beauty was the leading reason for using both chemical straighteners and skin lighteners. Evidence suggests chemical straightener use has declined among Black women, in line with the rise of the natural hair movement, while skin lightener use by Asian woman remains steady, the study also finds.


Data analysis was led by researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in close partnership with the environmental justice group WE ACT for Environmental Justice, which also led the design and execution of the study. Findings are published in the journal Environmental Justice.



READ MORE

BEAUTY INSIDE OUT ADULT SURVEY FACT SHEET


ECHO FACT SHEET


CCCEH

Community Outreach & Translation Core (COTC)

CCCEH's Youth Council the EHJ Advocates steering committee met to plan community activities and discuss their career goals.



The group worked on resume writing and helped each other with revisions highlighting their skills and knowledge and how to present these in professional platforms such as LinkedIn.

Sanna Alas (CASB member) and Yasmin Isari, Columbia University medical student members of the Brown Scholars Primary Care Program organized the healthy eating challenge.


Medical students prepared nutritious, patient centered meals. Quincy Wise, CCCEH Youth Council, EHJ Advocate, participated as a tasting judge. Healthy cooking conversations included avoiding chemicals such as BPA, pesticides, and the impact of climate change on our food supply.


Our appetites are warmed by the holistic approach to health embraced by our future doctors.

Workshops have been held with our CASB members, Gregorio Luperon High School, the Dominican Women's Development Center early childhood program, Mama Tingo, PS 189, and Leave It Better at MS 331.


More than 267 individuals participated. Sessions included discussions on the Center's research, BPA, lead, carbon monoxide, air pollution and the recent train derailment in New Palestine, Ohio.


We are grateful to our study participants as these educational sessions are a product of their research collaboration.

COTC - Community Advisory & Stakeholder Board, (CASB) Meeting

This January the CASB gathered to review and assess 2022 CEHJ activities and provide feedback to guide this year's initiatives. Twenty-four people attended. We are very grateful to our CASB members for their active engagement.


Components discussed include:

  • CEHJ Research Opportunities
  • Youth Internships & Practicums
  • College Prep New Strategies
  • Youth Coalition and Earth Month 2023
  • CEHJ Educational Sessions & Media Outreach (ongoing)

MPH Practicum: Water-Testing Project

NYC DOH Open Data Set Analysis

Analysis of lead exposure in NYC drinking water. Focused on Washington Heights, Harlem & South Bronx zip codes, home to CCCEH study participants and our CASB's members.


  • Graphed presence of lead ≥0.005mg/L* (after 1st draw)


Observed Findings (data 2019 - 2021)


  • Overall, lead levels in drinking water are within safety standard


Highest levels of possible

lead exposure in water were found in:


  • Bronx Zip codes

10452

10456

10463


Test your water order your free test kit!

82 Participants  ordered  kits 
Order NYC Test Kit FORM
Full Report

Summer Internships for CCCEH Youth Study Participants


In collaboration with NYP Hospital we are offering internship opportunities for our study participants ages 16-20.


This is a 5 week program.

  • July 10th - August 18th
  • Monday - Thursday 9 am to 5 pm
  • Friday are half day and in-person


Objectives:

  • Skill development in the health field
  • Exposure to health and public health careers


Only 15 spaces available

Register 

New Staff and We are Recruting

We welcome our new staff member, Berenice Lama. She joins the Fair Start and the Siblings-Hermanos Studies as a research assistant. She has worked tutoring children of all ages helping them succeed and achieve their academic goals. She is passionate about working in the community to better understand the needs of others, give back and grow as an individual. She is a graduate of Lehman College and holds a BS in anthropology, biology, and chemistry.

READ MORE

  • Pregnant women 30 weeks or less


  • Delivering at NYP hospital or Allen Pavilion


Thank you! 


More information

Community Activities/Resources

Free Prenatal and Postnatal Resources from NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene


For More Information 

View WE ACT Beauty Inside Out Panel Discussion

Agent of Change

English as a Second Language

ESL

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