Climate Change and Health News and Research

RSS

Expanded HIV treatment dramatically reduced orphanhood rates in Uganda

The scale-up of HIV treatment and prevention programs has led to remarkable declines in orphanhood rates in Rakai, Uganda, according to a new study at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

7 Jan 2026

Simple reminder emails increase clinicians' use of database for safe opioid prescribing

A new randomized clinical trial finds that simple reminder emails substantially increase clinicians' use of a database that supports safe prescribing of opioids and other drugs, even though opioid prescribing patterns themselves did not meaningfully change during the study period.

30 Dec 2025

Air pollution and immune changes could trigger autoimmune conditions

A new study has linked air pollution exposure and immune-system changes that often precede the onset of autoimmune diseases.

15 Dec 2025

Rising nighttime heat is linked to shorter and more disrupted sleep

Higher nighttime temperatures are linked to shorter sleep times and lower sleep quality, especially for people with chronic health conditions, lower socioeconomic status, or those living on the West Coast, according to a new USC study.

4 Dec 2025

Arsenic reduction in drinking water associated with lower risk of death from chronic illnesses

A new 20-year study of nearly 11,000 adults in Bangladesh found that lowering arsenic levels in drinking water was associated with up to a 50 percent lower risk of death from heart disease, cancer and other chronic illnesses, compared with continued exposure.

17 Nov 2025

Long-term poverty and rising unsecured debt may increase risk of premature mortality

Adults who experience poverty-level family income-whether sustained or intermittent-over two decades spanning young to mid-adulthood face a significantly higher risk of dying prematurely than those who are never in poverty, according to new research led by Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

10 Nov 2025

Climate change and conflict combine to deepen global health crises

The combined impact of climate change and conflict "can produce synergistic effects, leading to more severe and complex outcomes," warn experts in The BMJ's climate issue today.

5 Nov 2025

Study finds possible molecular connection between air pollution and Lewy body dementia risk

A team of researchers found there is a possible molecular connection between air pollution and an increased risk of developing Lewy body dementia.

4 Sep 2025

Columbia study urges federal recognition of public health nurses

After 140 years of vital, often invisible service, public health nurses (PHNs) deserve formal recognition as a distinct occupation, says a new study from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

27 Aug 2025

Uranium isotope in urine identified as early warning sign of kidney damage

A new study by researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health identified that uranium's isotopic composition can be used as a biomarker to noninvasively measure accumulation of uranium in the kidneys.

22 Jul 2025

Inflammaging may be a lifestyle phenomenon rather than a universal aging trait

Inflammation, long considered a hallmark of aging, may not be a universal human experience, according to a new study from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

1 Jul 2025

Low levels of arsenic in public water linked to adverse birth outcomes

Babies born to mothers potentially exposed to low levels of arsenic in public drinking water-even at levels below the federal safety standard-were more likely to be born preterm, with lower birthweight, or be smaller than expected, according to a study at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and funded by the National Institutes of Health's Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program.

16 Jun 2025

Asthma sufferers could be at greater risk if Trump cuts health program

Esther Bejarano's son was 11 months old when asthma landed him inhh the hospital. She didn't know what had triggered his symptoms — neither she nor her husband had asthma — but she suspected it was the pesticides sprayed on the agricultural fields near her family's home.

6 Jun 2025

Mental health among U.S. mothers declines sharply between 2016 and 2023

A new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine reveals a concerning decline in self-reported mental health among mothers in the United States between 2016 and 2023.

27 May 2025

Rethinking the public health workforce for a changing world

As the U.S. continues to face complex public health challenges, a new paper published by a researcher at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health calls for a redefinition of the public health workforce-one that goes beyond traditional boundaries and acknowledges the growing number of professionals outside government agencies who contribute to public health.

15 May 2025

Psychotherapy gains ground in outpatient mental health care

Psychotherapy assumed a larger role in outpatient mental health care while psychiatric medication without psychotherapy became less common, according to a new study at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

1 May 2025

Study reveals significant racial and sex disparities in drug overdose mortality rates

A recent study from Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health reveals significant racial and sex disparities in drug overdose mortality rates.

1 Apr 2025

A global movement to address the health impacts of air pollution

In an unprecedented show of unity, more than 47 million health professionals, patients, advocates, representatives from civil society organizations, and individuals worldwide have signed a resounding call for urgent action to reduce air pollution and to protect people's health from its devastating impacts.

18 Mar 2025

Duke and Duke-NUS collaborate to fund innovative climate health research projects

Duke University and Duke-NUS Medical School are proud to announce the recipients of their latest Research Collaboration Pilot Project grants, totalling more than S$1 million.

14 Feb 2025

Research highlights depression trends in community-dwelling older adults

Marked variation in the prevalence of depression was found in a multisite sample of community-dwelling older adults in the United States reports a study by Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

8 Jan 2025