The article profiles environmental health scientist Jane Clougherty, a professor at Drexel University whose federal grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was abruptly canceled as part of the series documenting politically motivated funding cuts. Clougherty specializes in researching how pollution impacts health differently based on an individual’s surroundings and socioeconomic status, specifically focusing on the cascading effects of combined heat and pollution on children’s health in the context of climate change. Her canceled study focused on New York State, intended as a vital case study covering diverse demographics and environments, from highly populated cities like Manhattan to rural areas like the Adirondacks.
The reported cancellation of this highly specific and necessary study represents a profound setback for public health preparedness. Children are uniquely vulnerable to the synergistic risks posed by extreme heat and air pollution due to physiological factors, yet targeted research exploring these complex environmental interactions is inconsistent globally, particularly in areas requiring nuanced, localized data. Discontinuing Clougherty’s work—which aimed to map these intersecting vulnerabilities across a varied region like New York—undermines the scientific foundation required to develop equitable, effective early warning systems and infrastructure planning necessary to safeguard children against escalating climate crises.
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