Potential Crisis in Environmental Health Research
Scientists are concerned about the consequences of the federal government canceling and scaling back funding for environmental health research.
Benjamin Zaitchik, a professor of Earth and planetary sciences at Johns Hopkins University, expressed his concerns on a late-summer day in his office. He stated,
"Baltimore is sinking, and the sea is rising."
Zaitchik explained that extreme weather conditions in Baltimore, such as excessive rainwater pouring into aging infrastructure, are causing floods. He noted that
"The soil doesn't stay frozen as long in January, and it rains much more than it snows."
This situation poses health and economic risks to society. The reduction in research funding may exacerbate these issues.
Author's summary: Environmental health research faces a crisis due to funding cuts.