Make a difference in the challenge to confront global warming and prevent nuclear war and the development and use of nuclear weapons.
Today, PSR is joining with dozens of organizations, representing millions of Americans, calling on the U.S. Senate to pass clean energy and climate legislation. Please tell your Senators that we can no longer delay action if we are to protect our health and the health of future generations from catastrophic climate change.
The report, which examines coal’s damaging effects on health, finds that coal pollution affects all major body organ systems and contributes to four of the five top causes of mortality in the US: heart disease, cancer, stroke, and chronic lower respiratory diseases.

At PSR press conference in Washington, DC, Dr. Katherine Shea discusses coal’s contribution to global warming while Dr. Alan Lockwood reflects.
Since its release in mid-November, the report has garnered substantial media coverage. Among the media coverage secured:
The briefing on Capitol Hill was sponsored by Senator Menendez of New Jersey and attracted staff from the offices of seven senators working on climate issues, one congressman, and four relevant Senate committees. It featured Dr. Lockwood; Kristen Welker-Hood, ScD MSN RN, director of PSR’s environment and health program; Katherine Shea, MD MPH, an expert on global warming; and representatives of the American Lung Association and the American Nurses Association.

PSR briefing in the U.S. Senate. L-r: PSR spokespeople Drs. Katherine Shea, Alan Lockwood, Peter Wilk, and Kristen Welker-Hood; Janice Nolan, American Lung Association.
Highlights of the successes of PSR chapters’ outreach include:
In Los Angeles, PSR was honored to be represented by Richard “Dick” Jackson, MD MPH, formerly of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Jackson conducted a live radio interview on Pacifica KPFK-FM’s “Uprising” which airs out of Los Angeles and is also nationally syndicated to 15 other stations. He also conducted an in-person television taping with ECO NEWS TV.
Also in L.A., Marta Arguello, executive director of PSR-Los Angeles, brought the report’s health message to a Spanish-speaking audience via a live interview on CNN Radio en Español.
In the San Francisco Bay area, PSR board member and chapter leader Bob Gould, M.D. discussed the report on the well-known KPFA Morning Show. KPFA is a Pacifica affiliate.
In Tucson, Eve Shapiro, MD conducted a 30-minute in-studio interview at KCUB-AM that aired on five affiliated radio stations. The Tucson Green Times also ran a story about the report.
In Seattle, Steven Gilbert, PhD, DABT, was interviewed on Washington Public News Service, which aired on commercial and public radio stations throughout Washington State. The story noted that the Sierra Club had picked up PSR’s report and was using it in their drive to make Washington a “coal-free state.”
In Portland, OR, the Portland Oregonian ran an online story about the report on their Environment site. The Portland Tribune plans to run an op-ed by Maye Thompson, RN, PhD.
In Chicago, Peter Orris, MPH MD, conducted a radio interview with the state-wide syndicated network Illinois Radio Network, which aired over 40 radio stations state-wide. Dr. Orris also conducted an interview with the state-wide syndicated Illinois Public News Service, which aired on commercial as well as public radio stations throughout the state.
In Cedar Rapids, IA, Paul Deaton conducted an in-studio interview with the local NPR affiliate. The Des Moines Register also published an article about the report.
In Philadelphia, James Plumb, MD MPH, was featured in a 30-minute in-studio interview at WRDW-FM.
In Tampa, Lynn Ringenberg, MD conducted an interview with Florida Public News Service that aired on commercial and public radio stations throughout Florida.
In Ann Arbor, MI, we are still making efforts to line up Ann Behrmann, MD for a syndicated state-wide interview to air in mid-December.
PSR’s national staff also landed newspaper coverage when Dr. Welker-Hood presented Coal’s Assault as part of her testimony against a coal plant proposed for construction in Surry County, Virginia.
Today, PSR is joining with dozens of organizations, representing millions of Americans, calling on the U.S. Senate to pass clean energy and climate legislation. Please tell your Senators that we can no longer delay action if we are to protect our health and the health of future generations from catastrophic climate change.
The Clean Air Act, our only regulatory tool to cut carbon emissions and prevent catastrophic climate change, is under attack. To protect our nation's health, we need your help!
Physicians for Social Responsibility has released a groundbreaking medical report, “Coal’s Assault on Human Health,” which takes a new look at the devastating impacts of coal on the human body. Coal combustion releases mercury, particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and dozens of other substances known to be hazardous to human health. This report looks at the cumulative harm inflicted by those pollutants on three major body organ systems: the respiratory system, the cardiovascular system, and the nervous system. The report also considers coal’s contribution to global warming, and the health implications of global warming. Read more »
Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) in partnership with American Nurses Association (ANA) and Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) have released the “Hazardous Chemicals In Health Care” report, detailing the first investigation ever of chemicals found in the bodies of health care professionals. The inquiry found that all of the 20 participants had toxic chemicals associated with health care in their bodies. Each participant had at least 24 individual chemicals present, four of which are on the recently released Environmental Protection Agency list of priority chemicals for regulation. These chemicals are all associated with chronic illness and physical disorders. Read more »
Every day, pregnant women are exposed to toxic substances that can be harmful to their babies. Potential effects include physical defects, learning disabilities, and other disorders. This pamphlet suggests some easy things you can do to protect your baby’s health. Read more »