Areas of Focus / Research Topic

Environmental Health

Our environmental health is effected by toxic materials around us. This picture showcases plastic and litter washed up on a river bank.Virtually every sector of the modern economy introduces toxic material into the environment, from energy production and consumption to industrial activity, transportation, and more. As these toxins find their way into drinking water, the land surrounding homes and businesses, and everyday consumer products, poor environmental health can have detrimental effects on human health and, eventually, the broader economy.

EPIC scholars are advancing knowledge of the social, economic and legal ramifications of damage to environmental health —from studying how the pesticide DDT effected infant mortality in the cotton-rich south to earning how power plants affect home values and birth weight. A first-of-its-kind study explores the impact of oil and gas development, finding that fracking can impact surface water quality. Another study explores trends in air and water quality five years after China’s “war on pollution,” finding significant progress. Meanwhile, partners at the Abrams Environmental Law Clinic are working with organizations to encourage further protection of water, air and all environmental resources. Together, this work is helping to educate policymakers and consumers on the potentially detrimental effects of environmental pollution and empowering them with the tools to effect change.

Associated Scholars

Tamma Carleton

Assistant Professor of Economics, Bren School of Environmental Science &Management, University of California, Santa Barbara
EPIC Scholar

Eyal Frank

Assistant Professor, Harris School of Public Policy
Scholar

Michael Greenstone

Founding Director, Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth; Director, EPIC

Guojun He

Research Director, EPIC-China; Associate Professor, University of Hong Kong
EPIC Scholar

Koichiro Ito

Professor, Harris School of Public Policy
EPIC Scholar

Amir Jina

Assistant Professor, Harris School of Public Policy
EPIC Scholar

Christian Leuz

Charles F. Pohl Distinguished Service Professor of Accounting and Finance at the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business
EPIC Scholar

Mark Templeton

Clinical Professor of Law, University of Chicago Law School; Director, Abrams Environmental Law Clinic
Scholar

Shaoda Wang

Assistant Professor, Harris School of Public Policy; Inaugural Liang Family Fellow