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.
PSR and the National Wildlife Federation today released More Extreme Heat Waves: Global Warming’s Wake Up Call, a new report describing the health dangers from extreme heat and identifying the 30 U.S. cities whose populations are most vulnerable.
The report received immediate press attention. PSR’s executive director, Dr. Peter Wilk, was quoted in USA Today and was interviewed by seven live news broadcasts across the country. PSR board members Dr. Cindy Parker and Dr. Don Mellman and PSR-Philadelphia executive director Patricia Harner participated in simultaneous press events in three of the “vulnerable” cities.
The report focused on heat waves, which increase the rates of potentially lethal heat stroke, asthma attacks and other respiratory problems, and many cardiovascular diseases. The number of heat waves is rising, due primarily to global warming produced by burning fossil fuels such as coal and oil.
The report ranks 30 large U.S. cities, from New York to Houston to Los Angeles, where major risk factors associated with heat-related mortality make residents especially vulnerable to extreme heat.
Citing the dangers posed by global warming, Dr. Wilk underscored the need to enact strong climate and energy policy, based on four key elements:
With the U.S. Senate set to debate climate and energy legislation in September, this is a critical time to get our voice heard. We encourage you to contact your senators.
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 »