A Healthy Union

States have
tremendous power
to protect
their residents'
health. In the absence of adequate federal safeguards against pollution and toxic chemicals, state policies are the strongest tools available to create safe, sustainable environments. The good news is, around the country,
red states and blue states are taking up the charge.







In California, state agencies are partnering with disadvantaged communities to measure air quality, reduce pollution, and advance environmental justice. In Texas, a state law requires every school to cut down on the use of dangerous pesticides, helping
to keep
kids safe. In New York, a network of clinics trains medical professionals in occupational health and children's environmental
health, ensuring that patients receive excellent care and specialists are ready to advocate for protective policies. The success of these programs is not haphazard;
instead, effective approaches share key elements, including state-university-industry partnerships, collaboration across government agencies, and
strong environmental health education.







In A Healthy Union, Susan Kaplan highlights examples of groundbreaking state environmental health policies, exploring
what has worked, what needs improvement, and how other areas of
the country can build on these advances. Further,
she
shows how public
health advocates can push forward new
protections, creating safer environments
for the next
generation. Ultimately, Kaplan argues, we need a coordinated federal and state response to environmental health threats. Until then, innovative policy solutions can go a long
way to
improve the nation's wellbeing, one state at a
time.