Agents of Change

We also wish everyone a Happy (early) International Women's Day! Comment below if you know any other changemakers furthering women's health and rights!

April Ballard on the importance of empathy in public health research — Agents of Change in EJ
agentsofchangeinej.org/podcast/apri...

Michelle Gin on the role of government in advancing beauty justice — Agents of Change in EJ
agentsofchangeinej.org/podcast/mich...

Beauty Justice with Dr. Ami Zota — Climate with Kiana
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...

The hidden culprit stealing people’s breath in Puerto Rico (by Lorraine N. Vélez-Torres) — Environmental Health News
www.ehn.org/puerto-rico-...

Brianna VanNoy’s plan to integrate medicine and health justice — Agents of Change in EJ
agentsofchangeinej.org/podcast/bria...

Aalayna Green on how race and gender intersect with conservation — Agents of Change in EJ
agentsofchangeinej.org/podcast/aala...

This March, we celebrate International Women’s Month by highlighting some of our fellows whose work and research promote environmental health and awareness for women across the nation and around the world.

These humans deserve all the flowers 🌸
Drop some love below 💛 and past fellows — tell us what YOU'VE been up to 👀👇
#AgentsOfChange #EnvironmentalHealth #EnvironmentalJustice #ClimateJustice

🌈 Brandon Rothrock was elected Chair of the Board of OUT for Sustainability — building climate resilience and environmental justice by and for LGBTQ2S+ communities. He steps into the role clear-eyed and ready. So are we. 💪

Towards a Community-Driven Framework to Promote Justice for Agricultural Workers Published in Journal of Agromedicine (Ahead of Print, 2026)

✍🏽 Laura Diaz published a paper calling out a hard truth: community-engaged research has to actually serve the community. Her work centers farmworkers and calls for frameworks that dismantle systems causing harm.
🔗 www.tandfonline.com/eprint/AXDEV...

A pesticide that has been banned for decades is still showing up in Long Beach and other communities near shipping yards The air in Long Beach and other communities near shipping yards is tainted by methyl bromide, a fumigant that was technically banned decades ago.

🚢⛴️ @yoshira.bsky.social exposed that methyl bromide — supposed to be phased out in 2005 — is still being used in 36 of 58 CA counties, with the heaviest exposures hitting communities already flagged as most environmentally burdened.
🔗 www.latimes.com/environment/...

Harmful chemicals lurk in extensions and braiding hair marketed to Black women, study finds Researchers at the Silent Spring Institute found compounds linked to cancer and other health harms in both synthetic and human hair samples.

💅🏾Lariah Edwards was quoted in NBC News after a study found toxic chemicals lurking in hair extensions marketed to Black women. Her work is pushing for accountability and safer products.
🔗 www.nbcnews.com/health/women...

Intersectional Environmentalist | Eco-media for all Intersectional Environmentalist is a climate justice media platform uplifting BIPOC voices and communities through education, storytelling, and creative climate solutions.

📣 Alexa B. White just joined the Advisory Board of Intersectional Environmentalist — translating complex science into culturally resonant narratives for the climate justice movement.
🔗 intersectionalenvironmentalist.com

National Academy of Sciences Selects the 2026 Frontiers of Science Fellows - NAS The National Academy of Sciences announces the selection of eighty-one of the nation's brightest young scientists from industry, academia, and government to take part in the National Academy of Scienc...

🔥 @robbieparks.bsky.social was selected as a 2026 Frontiers of Science Fellow by the National Academy of Sciences — one of 81 of the nation's brightest young scientists, presenting on heat stress & human health this March.

🔗 www.nasonline.org/news/nationa...

Our fellows are doing the most (affectionate) 🏅

No medals — but the way they're out here changing environmental health research? they should have some.

Meet the agents of change doing Olympic-level work 🧵👇

Thank you for following along! Do you have any inspirational stories to share? 📚

Tatiana Height on the importance of cultural perspectives in environmental education — Agents of Change in EJ:
agentsofchangeinej.org/podcast/tati...

We don't farm because it's trendy; we farm as resistance, for healing and sovereignty [by Ashley Gripper] — Environmental Health News: www.ehn.org/black-farmin...

Regan Patterson on Transportation Justice— Agents of Change in EJ: agentsofchangeinej.org/podcast/rega...

Happy Black History Month!

🌳 In our third part of the series highlighting AoC fellows and historical changemakers who have contributed to environmental justice in Black communities, we learn about addressing toxic threats, standing up for food and land sovereignty, and environmental education.

Dr. Ami Zota of Columbia will be one of the speakers at our Hill briefing next week. Join us: Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Feb 25, 11:30 AM ET. #neurotoxins #childrenshealth

Tomorrow, Wed Feb 25, 11:30 AM ET: Join us on Capitol Hill for a briefing on how toxic chemicals are harming children's brains. Scientists are calling on Congress to protect children's health.

A weak TSCA didn't protect us before. It won't now. 🧬

👩‍🔬 One of our own is headed to the Hill. Dr. @amizota.bsky.social is joining a group of researchers on Capitol Hill this week to tell legislators exactly why TSCA must be protected.

Stay tuned for her on-the-ground report. 👀

💡TSCA's language is actually powerful:
➡️ EPA must consider impacts on frontline communities
➡️ EPA must account for unintentional exposure — spills, contaminated air, kids ingesting things they shouldn't
➡️ EPA must use the best available science, including cumulative impact research.

⚠️ Since day one, the second Trump administration has been rolling back environmental protections — rescinding the Endangerment Finding, weakening mercury and air pollution rules.

‼️ Researchers and advocates fear TSCA is next on the list.

The new TSCA came with a plan:
✅ review existing chemicals,
✅ fill the gaps,
✅ hold the industry accountable.

Then Trump's first term hit. The law barely got off the ground. It wasn't until 2021 that TSCA finally got a real shot.

And now? History is repeating itself. 🔁

📜 But TSCA wasn't always this strong.

Before 2016, EPA had almost no power to review chemicals before they entered the market.

The result ➡️ Thousands of chemicals in circulation that have NEVER been properly evaluated.

In 2016, Obama signed a reformed TSCA. It was a huge deal. 💪

🚨 And it's not one-size-fits-all. The law requires EPA to pay special attention to who's most at risk: pregnant people, children, and communities already carrying the heaviest pollution burden.

🧪 Man-made chemicals are literally everywhere — your electronics, your kid's toys, your clothes, your couch. The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) lets the EPA review them BEFORE and AFTER they hit shelves to make sure they're not harming us.