Health Equity – Page 7 – UC Irvine Wen Public Health

Verywell Health, July 11, 2024

Why Are So Many Minority Patients Declining Breast Cancer Treatment?

"We see a lot of worry about how the cancer and then the treatment will compromise their abilities to fill their roles in their families. Asian Americans are more likely to agree to surgery, but there are a lot of concerns about the side effects of chemotherapy. They worry about fatigue, loss of time, and the impact it has on their role as a wife or mother." (Sora Park Tanjasiri)

Underground Infrastructure, July 11, 2024

Survey reveals concerns over PFAS contamination in U.S. drinking water

"While the EPA's new regulations represent progress, many water utilities won't need to comply until 2029. This delay, combined with the complexity of PFAS, underscores the need for immediate consumer education and proactive measures." (Scott Bartell)

Health, July 11, 2024

Nearly 1 in 4 U.S. Households Could Have Dangerous Levels of Lead Lurking in Their Soil

"Lead can get into the soil in many different ways, including from leaded gasoline used in cars until 1975 and lead in aviation fuel. The burning of that would end up releasing into the air. Then the air pollution would deposit, and so you get lead from the air into the soil. " (Jun Wu)

Medscape, July 9, 2024

US, Mexican Border Restrictions Did Not Reduce HIV Infection

"Our analysis showed that the HIV epidemics in Tijuana and San Diego are intertwined and that border closure did not impact frequent viral mixing between the two municipalities." (Tetyana Vasylyeva)

ABC7 Los Angeles, July 5, 2024

Doctors highlight hidden health risks associated with Fourth of July celebrations

"July 5 is one of the most polluted days of the year. It can worsen people’s health conditions, including asthma, children’s outcomes and pregnancy outcomes" (Jun Wu )

The Weather Network, July 4, 2024

Heat waves can damage organs, new study suggests – The Weather Network

"In a dynamically changing global landscape, the imminent threat of climate change is evident in rising temperatures, raising concerns about intermittent heat waves. Our heating planet is undoubtedly leading to acute and chronic heat stress that harms the health of our aging population." (Saurabh Chatterjee)

Ask A Leader, July 2, 2024

PFAS: Forever and Everywhere Chemicals

"And so first thing to understand is PFAS are constituted of many different chemicals. But what they have in common is that they're all manmade. None of these exist in nature. But they've been produced widely in the developed world for many decades now since about the 1940s 1950s." (Scott Bartell)

National Geographic, July 2, 2024

The hidden toll of July Fourth fireworks

"L.A. has less stringent policies regarding bigger fireworks shows and purchases by residents. A lot of the fireworks displays typically happen in the bigger cities, especially along coastal communities, and lower income [minority] communities typically are closer to those ports." (Jun Wu)

Verywell Health, July 2, 2024

What to Know About the LB.1 COVID-19 Variant

"There is no evidence today that the LB.1 variant is causing different or more severe symptoms compared to past variants. The real difference is on an individual’s immunity either built up by maintaining adherence with booster vaccines or a combination of past COVID-19 infections. " (Bernadette Boden-Albala)

Voice of OC, July 2, 2024

How Much Do Fireworks Impact Orange County’s Air Quality?

"Basically you can think of it as trying to define a dirt clod – no two dirt clods are going to look the same. So what scientists do instead is we think of them in terms of their size breakdown. Some particles reach deeper into the lung … they can enter the bloodstream." (Shahir Masri)