Environmental factors, both natural and man-made, play a significant role in shaping our well-being, affecting everything from respiratory conditions to the spread of infectious diseases.

As global populations grow and industrial activities expand, understanding these relationships becomes crucial to public health planning and intervention.

In this blog, we will share insights into how various environmental factors critically impact public health and what measures can be taken to mitigate these effects.

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Sleep disturbances linked to worse COVID-19 outcomes Pre-existing sleep disturbances were tied to an increased risk of COVID-19 infection of 12%. CIDRAP

A new meta-analysis of 48 observational studies that included 8,664,026 people reveals that pre-existing sleep disturbances are tied to an increased risk of COVID-19 infection and worse outcomes if infected. The study is published in eClinicalMedicine. 

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Commission finds COVID pandemic caused $18 trillion in economic damage to US | Fox Business

A new report by the Heritage Foundation's Nonpartisan Commission on China and COVID-19 found that the COVID pandemic caused $18 trillion in economic losses to the U.S. and placed blame for the outbreak on the Chinese government.

'Playing COVID roulette': Some infected by FLiRT variants report their most unpleasant symptoms yet COVID cases and hospitalizations rise in L.A. County — and some of those recently reinfected with the FLiRT variants are finding the latest bout the worst yet. Yahoo News

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Heat waves are getting longer and more brutal. Here’s why your AC can’t save you anymore | CNN The combination of a hurricane, heat wave and a multi-day blackout is a nightmare scenario, but it’s one that is set to become more common as humans continue to warm the planet. Laura Paddison CNN

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Earth sees warmest June on record, boosts odds of warmest year June marked the 13th-straight month to meet or beat the 1.5-degree Paris Agreement target. Andrew Freedman Axios

June was the warmest such month on record worldwide, according to figures released Monday, extending a heat streak even longer.

NYC COVID cases up 250% in 2 months — and this variant's harder to duck The increases is driven by the new FLiRT variant. Gothamist

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New York City data shows an average of 687 cases of COVID reported per day during the week ending on June 22, 250% higher than the amount reported two months prior. That same week, there was an average of 53 COVID-related hospitalizations each day — primarily involving older adults — and one death, according to city data. ...