Healthy Environment

Allison Kellenberger on Asthma and the Importance of Clean Air Standards

In my job as a registered nurse, breathing is on the "assess first" list. If you can't breathe, there is nothing more to do to save your life. As nursing students, we were told not to wear cologne or strong scents in our profession because it could harm patients if... Read more...

Carol Warren on the Importance of Clean Air and Fossil Fuel Extraction Rules

My husband Todd and I both suffer from asthma. When we met, we knew we were a match because each was the only other person we had ever encountered who had been strapped to an ironing board and turned upside down as a child (to aid breathing). Fortunately, we have... Read more...

Mark Mitchell on Air Pollution, Asthma, and Environmental Justice

I was conducting camp physicals for children attending the church camp across the street from my office, and I found that one-third of them had asthma. When I met with the state health official charged with investigating environmentally related disease clusters, she would not investigate because she said "it's not... Read more...

Rev. Kristina Peterson on the Importance of Air Qualilty and the Need for Corporate Accountability

Air pollution became a personal issue for me following Hurricane Katrina, when I developed respiratory problems. Since that time, everyone in my family has been diagnosed with asthma. People in the community, my congregation and the University of New Orleans (where I work) have the constant "Katrina cough." Read more...