Latest News On Environmental Health

Latest California Healthline Stories

Dirty Air And Disasters Sending Kids To The ER For Asthma

Children in some California counties visit emergency rooms for asthma at nearly double the statewide rate, which experts attribute largely to air pollution that is likely to worsen as wildfires and other environmental disasters increase in severity.

Bad Air And Inadequate Data Prove An Unhealthy Mix

San Joaquin Valley residents breathe some of the dirtiest air in the country, but it can be a challenge for them to find accurate and timely information on the air quality in their neighborhoods. This summer, nonprofit organizations began distributing 20 small air monitors to hard-hit families, and next year, the state is expected to install monitoring systems in some communities.

Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ Opioids, EpiPens And Health Funding

In this episode of KHN’s “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Alice Ollstein of Talking Points Memo, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times and Joanne Kenen of Politico discuss Senate action on health funding and opioid legislation, the state of the individual insurance market and consternation over expiration dates on EpiPens, the self-injected allergy remedy. Also, could an otter with asthma signal a potential public health crisis?

Using Drones And Ditties To Help Hunt Down Disease-Bearing Mosquitoes

Last year, 44 Californians died from West Nile virus. Invasive mosquitoes that can carry the illness, as well as other serious diseases such as Zika, are spreading across the state. Mosquito-control officials are responding with new and aggressive tactics to limit the threat.