Phil Brown Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Health Sciences, Director of Social Science Environmental Health Research Institute p.brown@neu.edu 617.373.2687 Expertise environmental health, environmental justice, environmental sociology, medical sociology Phil Brown in the Press What to Know About the EPA Limits on ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Drinking Water and Your Health “It is really one of the broadest categories of chemical ever used, so that does make it very exceptional,” said Phil Brown, an environmental sociologist at Northeastern University in Boston who has studied the chemicals. The 19th A train derailment spilled toxic chemicals in her Ohio town. Phil Brown, a professor of sociology and health sciences at Northeastern University who has written books on toxic waste activism, said women, and mothers in particular, have consistently organized locally after incidents like the Ohio train derailment. Lots of Tap Water Contains ‘Forever Chemicals.’ Take These Steps to Reduce Your Risk. Carpets that contain PFAS are likely continually shedding the chemicals, says Phil Brown, director of the social science environmental health research institute at Northeastern University. It’s unclear whether such shedding goes down or up over time or is reduced when washed or steam-cleaned, scientists say. What to Know About ‘Forever Chemicals’ and Your Health “It is really one of the broadest categories of chemical ever used, so that does make it very exceptional,” said Phil Brown, an environmental sociologist at Northeastern University in Boston who has studied the chemicals. US to limit PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water “Wherever you test for it, you find it,” said Phil Brown, a co-director of the PFAS Project Lab at Northeastern University. Le Monde Forever Pollution Project: How ‘Le Monde’ traced PFAS chemicals across Europe “Our main goal was to address the disconnection between known contamination and where contamination actually is out in the world,” explained Alissa Cordner (Whitman College, Walla Walla) and Phil Brown (Northeastern University, Boston). Euronews Exposed: 17,000 European sites contaminated by forever chemicals. Where are the worst spots? The results are extremely concerning, said Phil Brown, a health sciences professor at Boston’s Northeastern University. E&E PFAS testing overlooks tribal systems “This paper demonstrates the need for prioritizing tribal drinking water systems in future testing initiatives, as tribal systems are often undertested despite additional vulnerabilities for contamination,” said Phil Brown, co-author on the paper and a Northeastern University professor. The Hill Scientists say ‘forever chemicals’ may be contaminating 57,000 US sites “While it sounds scary that there are over 57,000 presumptive contamination sites, this is almost certainly a large underestimation,” co-author Phil Brown, director of Northeastern University’s Social Science Environmental Health Research Institute, said in a statement. Daily Mail Are YOU living in a toxic neighborhood? Map reveals 57,000 areas with unsafe levels of ‘forever chemicals’ – used to make everything from carpets to frying pans Dr Phil Brown, director of Northeastern University’s Social Science Environmental Health Research Institute and paper co-author, said: ‘While it sounds scary that there are over 57,000 presumptive contamination sites, this is almost certainly a large underestimation.’ Phil Brown for Northeastern Global News Are returning wildfire victims facing a hidden toxic threat? Northeastern health expert weighs in Are returning wildfire victims facing a hidden toxic threat? Northeastern health expert weighs in Northeastern expert Phil Brown warns of toxic hazards lurking in wildfire-ravaged Los Angeles neighborhoods. RFK Jr directs CDC to stop recommending use of fluoride in water. What would that mean for our health? RFK Jr directs CDC to stop recommending use of fluoride in water. What would that mean for our health? Excess fluoride poses some risks, but RFK Jr's day one priority for the Trump administration would cause more harm than good, experts say. Drinking water in communities of color is more likely to be contaminated by ‘forever chemicals,’ research finds Drinking water in communities of color is more likely to be contaminated by ‘forever chemicals,’ research finds From 2019 to 2021, PFAS were detected in 63% of New Jersey water systems, but people of color had higher contamination. Report says Band-Aids contain PFAS, the ‘forever chemicals.’ Many small exposures can add up to a big exposure, environmental expert warns Report says Band-Aids contain PFAS, the ‘forever chemicals.’ Many small exposures can add up to a big exposure, environmental expert warns A health science expert explains how bandages can contain PFAS and why putting them on a cut may be hazardous. U.S. House passes legislation to regulate the ‘forever chemicals’ in your food, water, and air U.S. House passes legislation to regulate the ‘forever chemicals’ in your food, water, and air A bill to establish federal regulations for a group of harmful chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday with bipartisan support. Phil Brown, director of Northeastern’s Social Science Environmental Health Institute, discusses the dangers these chemicals pose, and the challenges of regulating them. Researchers receive $13.2 million to continue study of health challenges facing women, children in Puerto Rico Researchers receive $13.2 million to continue study of health challenges facing women, children in Puerto Rico For the past 10 years, Northeastern-led research teams have been studying how the environment affects the health and development of mothers, infants, and children living on the island of Puerto Rico. Now, the researchers have received a $13.2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to continue their study of the effects of environmental contaminants on the well-being of people in the region. Scholars’ ‘flash talks’ explore resilience, from health to media innovation Scholars’ ‘flash talks’ explore resilience, from health to media innovation More than a dozen faculty members, doctoral students, and visiting scholars gave lighting-fast overviews of their community resilience research on Monday afternoon as part of a TED-style event hosted by Northeastern’s Global Resilience Institute. Here, we share some highlights. Study: Toxic chemicals found in drinking water of 15M Americans Study: Toxic chemicals found in drinking water of 15M Americans The research pointed to EPA testing that found toxic chemicals PFASs were detected in 162 U.S. drinking water systems. Powerful stories, music at Northeastern Holocaust Commemoration Powerful stories, music at Northeastern Holocaust Commemoration Professor Phil Brown and Gideon Klein Scholar Elijah Botkin shared stories about Jewish history and led moving musical performances on Thursday at the annual event held during Holocaust Awareness Week at Northeastern. What do human research subjects have the right to know? What do human research subjects have the right to know? An interdisciplinary group of researchers from around the world converged at Northeastern last week to grapple with the ethics of informed consent when using humans as their subjects.
What to Know About the EPA Limits on ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Drinking Water and Your Health “It is really one of the broadest categories of chemical ever used, so that does make it very exceptional,” said Phil Brown, an environmental sociologist at Northeastern University in Boston who has studied the chemicals.
The 19th A train derailment spilled toxic chemicals in her Ohio town. Phil Brown, a professor of sociology and health sciences at Northeastern University who has written books on toxic waste activism, said women, and mothers in particular, have consistently organized locally after incidents like the Ohio train derailment.
Lots of Tap Water Contains ‘Forever Chemicals.’ Take These Steps to Reduce Your Risk. Carpets that contain PFAS are likely continually shedding the chemicals, says Phil Brown, director of the social science environmental health research institute at Northeastern University. It’s unclear whether such shedding goes down or up over time or is reduced when washed or steam-cleaned, scientists say.
What to Know About ‘Forever Chemicals’ and Your Health “It is really one of the broadest categories of chemical ever used, so that does make it very exceptional,” said Phil Brown, an environmental sociologist at Northeastern University in Boston who has studied the chemicals.
US to limit PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water “Wherever you test for it, you find it,” said Phil Brown, a co-director of the PFAS Project Lab at Northeastern University.
Le Monde Forever Pollution Project: How ‘Le Monde’ traced PFAS chemicals across Europe “Our main goal was to address the disconnection between known contamination and where contamination actually is out in the world,” explained Alissa Cordner (Whitman College, Walla Walla) and Phil Brown (Northeastern University, Boston).
Euronews Exposed: 17,000 European sites contaminated by forever chemicals. Where are the worst spots? The results are extremely concerning, said Phil Brown, a health sciences professor at Boston’s Northeastern University.
E&E PFAS testing overlooks tribal systems “This paper demonstrates the need for prioritizing tribal drinking water systems in future testing initiatives, as tribal systems are often undertested despite additional vulnerabilities for contamination,” said Phil Brown, co-author on the paper and a Northeastern University professor.
The Hill Scientists say ‘forever chemicals’ may be contaminating 57,000 US sites “While it sounds scary that there are over 57,000 presumptive contamination sites, this is almost certainly a large underestimation,” co-author Phil Brown, director of Northeastern University’s Social Science Environmental Health Research Institute, said in a statement.
Daily Mail Are YOU living in a toxic neighborhood? Map reveals 57,000 areas with unsafe levels of ‘forever chemicals’ – used to make everything from carpets to frying pans Dr Phil Brown, director of Northeastern University’s Social Science Environmental Health Research Institute and paper co-author, said: ‘While it sounds scary that there are over 57,000 presumptive contamination sites, this is almost certainly a large underestimation.’