By Kacey Fitzpatrick
Along with this being the month for all things pumpkin, October is also Children’s Health Month—a month devoted to promoting children’s environmental health. Check out some of EPA’s children’s health research.
And here is some more EPA research we are highlighting this week.
Commuting Decathlon
Deposition from vehicle emissions is a significant source of nitrogen to estuaries like Narragansett Bay and Chesapeake Bay. EPA researcher Stephen Hale set out to commute to work using ten different “nitrogen-free” modes of transportation.
Read about his challenge in the blog Commuting Decathlon.
Congratulations to EPA’s Jacob Moss and Robert J. Kavlock!
EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy shared the great news that our own colleague Jacob Moss is the winner of one of this year’s prestigious Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals, also known as the “Sammie” award. Moss’ Environment and Science Medal recognizes his work spearheading a global initiative that seeks to eliminate the threat of toxic smoke from indoor cookstoves. Developing a new generation of cleaner, safer cookstoves is a priority for EPA research.
Read Administrator McCarthy’s blog about the honor.
In addition, Robert J. Kavlock was recognized as a 2015 finalist for career achievement. Kavlock, the Deputy Assistant Administrator for Science in our Office of Research and Development, has led the effort to transform how the EPA tests the toxicity of industrial and household chemicals, dramatically increasing the number that are assessed for potential health risks, while reducing the cost, time, and need for animal studies. Paul Anastas, director of the Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering at Yale University, described Kavlock as “perhaps the best scientist in the federal government today.”
Read more about Kavlock on the website of the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals.
Photo of the Week
Researcher examines a clean cookstove at EPA’s lab in Research Triangle Park, NC. EPA is a leader in clean cookstove research.
If you have any comments or questions about what I share or about the week’s events, please submit them below in the comments section!
About the Author: Kacey Fitzpatrick is a student contractor and writer working with the science communication team in EPA’s Office of Research and Development.