Agents of Change
@agentschangeej.bsky.social
Fostering diverse and inclusive leaders in environmental health. Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health (Director: Dr. Ami Zota) + Environmental Health News (Media Partner).
https://agentsofchangeinej.org/
Ami R. Zota is an associate professor at George Washington University Milken School of Public Health, specializing in public and occupational health.
Source: Wikipedia
Environmental science
61%
Geography
15%
Pinned
A 🧵on why our fellowship is changing.
In the first five years, we’ve achieved so much:
🧑🏾🔬👩🏿🔬👨🏽🔬We have trained 57 fellows from 30 U.S. cities
✍️📝We have published 62 essays that have reached 1.7 million readers
🎧🎤Our podcast has reached more than 80,000 listeners annually across platforms.
In the first five years, we’ve achieved so much:
🧑🏾🔬👩🏿🔬👨🏽🔬We have trained 57 fellows from 30 U.S. cities
✍️📝We have published 62 essays that have reached 1.7 million readers
🎧🎤Our podcast has reached more than 80,000 listeners annually across platforms.
📌 Taken together, this is a reminder that regulatory action can be meaningful—and still limited by how authority and exposure are defined.
Worth reading past the headline. 📰
Worth reading past the headline. 📰
🏛️ Separately, chemical policy debates continue in Congress, including discussions around the future of the Toxic Substances Control Act.
🏭 For now, the EPA says next steps will focus on worker protections and implementation with industry.
🧩 Why weren’t consumer products part of the review?
In many cases, those uses fall under FDA oversight rather than the EPA.
In many cases, those uses fall under FDA oversight rather than the EPA.
🌍 Researchers have also identified them in water, soil, and household dust, with studies examining links to hormone activity—particularly during pregnancy.
🔬 That scope is notable, given how frequently phthalates appear in studies. They’re commonly detected in population-wide samples.
📊 What did the assessments conclude?
✔️ Risks for workers in certain industries
✔️ Risks to fish and aquatic life
❌ No evaluation of risks to consumers or communities
✔️ Risks for workers in certain industries
✔️ Risks to fish and aquatic life
❌ No evaluation of risks to consumers or communities
🤔 The agency focused on two main questions:
• Do these chemicals pose unreasonable risks?
• Are some groups more vulnerable than others?
• Do these chemicals pose unreasonable risks?
• Are some groups more vulnerable than others?
📅 On Dec 31, 2025, the EPA released final risk assessments for five phthalates—chemicals used in cosmetics, food packaging, flooring, and other products.
🧪 The EPA just regulated several so-called “everywhere chemicals.”
That sounds straightforward—but the details matter. 🧵👇
That sounds straightforward—but the details matter. 🧵👇
When Cities Sweep Encampments, Where Does Dignity Go?
The last essay in our "From the Vault" reflects on stigma, survival, and why dignity must be treated as a health issue.
agentsofchangeprogram.substack.com
As encampment sweeps ramp up, how we respond matters. In the final essay of our From the Vault series, April Ballard reflects on why public health responses must center dignity, autonomy, and human rights.
🔗 Read the essay: agentsofchangeprogram.substack.com/p/when-citie...
🔗 Read the essay: agentsofchangeprogram.substack.com/p/when-citie...
Here’s why new EPA rules on ‘everywhere chemicals’ could fall short
The Environmental Protection Agency will issue regulations to protect workers from phthalates, chemicals found in plastics that are linked to health problems.
www.washingtonpost.com
🧪 The EPA says five phthalates pose no unreasonable risk to the general public. But as @amizota.bsky.social told @washingtonpost.com, that conclusion clashes with strong evidence linking everyday phthalate exposure to harms.
👉See the full story here: url-shortener.me/6XJA
👉See the full story here: url-shortener.me/6XJA
Communities don’t experience harm one issue at a time — they face pollution, unsafe housing, and economic stress all at once. 🌍⚠️
A new National Academies consensus report finally reflects that reality.
Read about why it matters in our latest Substack 👉https://substack.com/home/post/p-181087850
A new National Academies consensus report finally reflects that reality.
Read about why it matters in our latest Substack 👉https://substack.com/home/post/p-181087850
These are the voices redefining what “climate leadership” actually means — not corporate pledges, not vague promises, but sovereignty, accountability, and justice rooted in lived experience.
Who else should we elevate? Drop your recommendations.
Let’s amplify the folks building a livable future 💚🔥
Who else should we elevate? Drop your recommendations.
Let’s amplify the folks building a livable future 💚🔥
Groups like COICA, Pacific Climate Warriors, Pueblo Action Alliance, and so many others aren’t waiting for permission to protect their lands, their water, or their futures.
🌎 Why this matters:
World leaders left Brazil without a clear plan to phase out fossil fuels.
Meanwhile, the people most impacted by the climate crisis are pushing forward solutions rooted in justice, sovereignty, and survival. 🌎✊🏽
World leaders left Brazil without a clear plan to phase out fossil fuels.
Meanwhile, the people most impacted by the climate crisis are pushing forward solutions rooted in justice, sovereignty, and survival. 🌎✊🏽
COP30 is over — but the real climate leadership is happening far from the negotiating rooms.
Here’s who to follow now (with help from senior fellows @robbieparks.bsky.social, @timisneat.bsky.social, Kevin Patterson and Denise Moreno Ramírez) — and why it matters. 🧵👇
Here’s who to follow now (with help from senior fellows @robbieparks.bsky.social, @timisneat.bsky.social, Kevin Patterson and Denise Moreno Ramírez) — and why it matters. 🧵👇
From the Vault: Housing status should not determine access to clean, safe bathrooms
On World Toilet Day, we bring you an essay that argues that the absence of toilets isn’t just inconvenient. It’s a matter of health, safety, and basic human dignity.
agentsofchangeprogram.substack.com
We just pulled a powerful essay from the vault that dives into why housing status should never determine access to a clean, safe bathroom.
👉 Read the essay: agentsofchangeprogram.substack.com/p/from-the-v...
👉 Read the essay: agentsofchangeprogram.substack.com/p/from-the-v...
For people experiencing homelessness, lack of bathrooms isn’t an inconvenience — it’s a daily barrier to health, safety, and dignity. Many cities have 1 public toilet per 100+ people, far below the UN’s recommended 1:50 standard.
💥 3.5 billion people don’t have access to safe toilets.
That’s almost half the planet.
That’s almost half the planet.
🚽 It’s World Toilet Day — yes, that’s a thing.
And it matters more than most people realize. A 🧵👇
And it matters more than most people realize. A 🧵👇
From the Vault: Why housing security is key to environmental justice
Across U.S. cities, a new wave of mayors is putting housing justice on top of the agenda. Mỹ Dzung Chu reminds us why seeing housing as a human right and a public health matt is more urgent than ever.
agentsofchangeprogram.substack.com
As housing took center stage in local elections, we’re revisiting an essay by MyDzung Chu as part of our From the Vault series.
She reminds us that housing justice isn’t just about affordability; but it’s about health and belonging 🌱🏘️
🔗 Read here: agentsofchangeprogram.substack.com/p/from-the-v...
She reminds us that housing justice isn’t just about affordability; but it’s about health and belonging 🌱🏘️
🔗 Read here: agentsofchangeprogram.substack.com/p/from-the-v...
The Hidden Devastation of Hurricanes
Their health effects extend far beyond official death tolls.
www.newyorker.com
🌪️ @newyorker.com just spotlighted former Agents Of Change fellow @robbieparks.bsky.social!
His research reveals the invisible health toll of hurricanes — from chronic illness to mental health impacts long after storms end.
Read more 👇
www.newyorker.com/news/the-led...
His research reveals the invisible health toll of hurricanes — from chronic illness to mental health impacts long after storms end.
Read more 👇
www.newyorker.com/news/the-led...
Big news! 🥁
Dr. @amizota.bsky.social, our founder and director, just received the David P. Rall Award from @apha.org for her trailblazing work on toxic chemicals and health equity. 🌿👏
Here’s to science that protects us all! 💪
Dr. @amizota.bsky.social, our founder and director, just received the David P. Rall Award from @apha.org for her trailblazing work on toxic chemicals and health equity. 🌿👏
Here’s to science that protects us all! 💪
From the Vault: Protecting Indigenous children means protecting water
For Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we're republishing Kevin Patterson's essay, which illuminates the deep connections between environmental justice, cultural survival, and tribal sovereignty.
substack.com
This #IndigenousPeoplesDay, we revisit Diné Fellow in Residence Kevin Patterson’s essay on how drought & water loss endanger not just survival, but culture & sovereignty.
🪶✍️ Read here → substack.com/home/post/p-...
🪶✍️ Read here → substack.com/home/post/p-...
What a James Beard award-winner taught us about ourselves
A recap of our fourth in-person retreat.
agentsofchangeprogram.substack.com
That time we met a James Beard Award winner 🍲
At Kalaya, in Philly, Chef Nok Suntaranon reminded us that every story — and every meal — carries memory, care, and purpose.
Read our latest Substack post on what her story taught us about ours ⬇️ agentsofchangeprogram.substack.com/p/what-a-jam...
At Kalaya, in Philly, Chef Nok Suntaranon reminded us that every story — and every meal — carries memory, care, and purpose.
Read our latest Substack post on what her story taught us about ours ⬇️ agentsofchangeprogram.substack.com/p/what-a-jam...
✨ The Agents of Change retreat is back! For the 4th year, we gather in Philly to think about environmental health & justice. 🌍💡 #AgentsOfChange
NEW PAPER ALERT❗ The Taking Stock study, a collab taking a look into the impacts of beauty products on Black and Latina women in California, just published new results.
@columbiauniversity.bsky.social , @ucsantabarbara.bsky.social , Silent Spring Institute, LA Grit Media and @bwwla.bsky.social
@columbiauniversity.bsky.social , @ucsantabarbara.bsky.social , Silent Spring Institute, LA Grit Media and @bwwla.bsky.social
Taking Stock-home - Taking Stock
About Our Research Our goal is to understand if the products used by women of color might harm their health. The Environment & Our Health The public health burden of breast cancer and other…
takingstockstudy.org
The Taking Stock Study is a community-academic partnership between:
👩🏽🔬 @columbiauniversity.bsky.social Mailman School of Public Health
👩🏽🎓 @ucsantabarbara.bsky.social
🌱 Silent Spring Institute
🎥 LA Grit Media
💜@ bwwla.bsky.social
Learn more abput it here: takingstockstudy.org
👩🏽🔬 @columbiauniversity.bsky.social Mailman School of Public Health
👩🏽🎓 @ucsantabarbara.bsky.social
🌱 Silent Spring Institute
🎥 LA Grit Media
💜@ bwwla.bsky.social
Learn more abput it here: takingstockstudy.org
🌍 Bottom line: Women’s choices can help reduce exposure — but equity, affordability, and policy reforms are key to safer products for everyone.