Jeremy Gernand
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jeremygernand.bsky.social
Jeremy Gernand
@jeremygernand.bsky.social
Associate Professor of Environmental Health and Safety Engineering | Penn State University | https://jeremygernand.com/ | RPCV Guinea '98-'00
Reposted by Jeremy Gernand
For exactly 25 years humans have continually occupied space on the International Space Station. 290 people from 26 countries. NASA image. 🔭 🧪
November 2, 2025 at 4:02 PM
The most significant Halloween safety risk for most participants is auto-pedestrian crashes. These studies found a 43% higher risk on Halloween in the US: https://bit.ly/4ntKQ3W. Wear bright costumes, go in groups with a lookout, and don't trick-or-treat under the influence.
October 29, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Reposted by Jeremy Gernand
Portable air filters clean indoor air from smoke, dust, pet dander, viruses, and more. They are cheap & simple to make — I’ve built several — and nearly silent to run. *There is no downside.* Should be in every workplace, community space, school, daycare, medical facility, & home.
In our short existence, The Corsi-Rosenthal Foundation has issued 58 grants providing healthier indoor air to 30,000 ppl.

The Foundation aims to substantially increase these benefits to under-resourced schools over the next several months.

Please consider helping us: givebutter.com/buildabox2025
Build a Box Campaign
Help Us Bring Clean Air to More Classrooms
givebutter.com
October 27, 2025 at 4:11 AM
Capturing CO2 from pre-combustion natural gas will not offer the same health-related benefits as capturing CO2 from exhaust gases. Public investment should support more exhaust capture for immediate benefits with climate mitigation. | https://politi.co/47gbJSE
October 22, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Solar is generally a capital availability problem, for which this is a solution, but keep in mind that rooftop solar as opposed to other forms has a small though not insignificant worker safety impact | doi.org/10.1016/j.js...
Many rooftops are perfect for solar but owners and renters can’t afford it. Here’s our answer
Solar panels can be a low priority for cash-strapped homeowners – but a ‘use it or lend it’ program could help
theconversation.com
October 22, 2025 at 2:18 PM
In the past 40 years, we have greatly reduced fire-related deaths by improving safety measures like warning devices, building codes, regulations, less indoor smoking, and safer electrical systems. With investment, effort, research, and good decision-making, significant safety advances can be made.
October 21, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Recent data from UL (https://bit.ly/4999W4j ) confirms that 3D printers in classrooms have minimal air quality impact. Even though there were slight increases in ultrafine particles and VOCs, the risk appears low when low-temperature polymer printers are used occasionally.
October 21, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Forecasting models like this can be useful for public warnings, policy responses, and health care system readiness. But, can anyone tell me what the truck is spraying in this image (not described in linked article)?
October 20, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Interesting air pollution visualization tool: https://bit.ly/47kfo32. It shows how pollution spreads from major emitters but doesn't include local sources like vehicles and home heating. It's helpful for visualizing pollution dispersal but doesn't give the full picture of exposure.
October 17, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Reposted by Jeremy Gernand
Rondo Energy begins commercial operations of the world's largest industrial heat battery — 100 MWh — capable of converting low-cost electricity from wind & solar into heat at >1000°C and supply constant heating needs for industrial processes. 🔌💡

share.google/rniuYqTcGHfo...
'World’s largest' industrial heat battery is online and solar-powered
Rondo Energy launches the world's largest industrial heat battery in California, delivering 24/7 steam and heat powered by renewables.
share.google
October 17, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Cities, where most people live, can take action with dramatic effect to improve air quality, and improve the health of their residents. Saving 61 billion euros in this example from Paris means more learning, more working, and more innovation for the future.
61 milliards d’euros, c’est ce que nous avons économisé grâce à nos actions contre la pollution de l’air !

AirParif conclue dans sa dernière étude que nos actions en matière de lutte contre la pollution de l’air ont permis d’économiser 61 milliards d’euros.
October 17, 2025 at 12:43 AM
I understand some of the rationale for this bill in the first place, but air quality regulation will sometimes have some local impact on certain economic activity, but with corresponding benefits including reduced disease and increased productivity elsewhere. Each rule needs to stand on its own.
October 17, 2025 at 12:35 AM
New study finds 10% higher risk of Parkinson's disease linked to trichloroethylene (TCE) exposure. TCE was used in dry cleaning and decaffeination. Counterintuitively, discoveries like this are partly the result of improving environmental quality. (https://bit.ly/3L9rof6 & https://bit.ly/4o2q77N)
The invisible chemical in the air that could be raising Parkinson’s risk
A massive nationwide study has linked long-term exposure to the industrial chemical trichloroethylene (TCE) with a higher risk of Parkinson’s disease in older adults. Researchers examined over 1.1 million people, finding that those living in areas wi...
bit.ly
October 14, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Everyone needs to be reminded of this, but also... This is a technological and policy choice. Generators don't have to release so much CO. They seem to be more common now with greater critical needs for electricity making better emissions controls more important.
One portable generator can produce as much carbon monoxide (CO) as hundreds of cars. If you own a generator and are getting it ready for the nor’easter this weekend, check and make sure your CO alarms are working too. CO is a deadly gas you can’t see or smell and it can kill in minutes.
October 11, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Air quality management in warm regions like Texas faces challenges from increased photochemical effects on emissions (https://bit.ly/42oYsWr). But this is a solvable problem with potentially massive health benefits for residents in reduced asthma, cardiovascular disease, and premature death.
Texas air quality is terrible—Here's why
Several of Texas's largest cities have experienced multiple ozone action days this week.
bit.ly
October 10, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Though city air quality is influenced by hundreds of thousands of individual choices, determined policy can make a surprisingly fast difference.
“London hits 'historic' clean air milestone 184 years early…a 'truly remarkable turnaround for the city's air quality.”

Quite a leadership achievement for @london.gov.uk’s government! While nations talk, (some) cities act. And get results.
London hits clean air milestone 184 years early - ULEZ makes 'big difference'
A professor has branded the success a 'truly remarkable turnaround for the city's air quality'
www.mylondon.news
October 9, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Replacing industrial boilers with heat pumps could prevent 77,200 premature deaths and 204,000 asthma cases, 6 asthma cases and 2.3 fatalities for each replaced boiler. This transition would improve air quality, quality of life, and productivity. (Source: https://bit.ly/46HchSF)
October 8, 2025 at 6:47 PM
We need quick-response risk maps for media during pollution incidents like the recent refinery fire in El Segundo (https://bit.ly/4gZEcke), showing regions of concern, incorporating wind and sensor data for rapid predictions. This system would benefit emergency mgmt and help build public trust.
October 6, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Indoor air quality and temperature are usually only thought of as a modern comfort issue, but they significantly affect our decision-making, risks, and cognitive function. (Sources: http://bit.ly/4gWaqNg, http://bit.ly/48cICSy, https://bit.ly/4nxaFAN, https://bit.ly/3VLVkQF)
October 3, 2025 at 4:48 PM
This is my favorite Safety requirement for the International Space Station. I attended numerous meetings to discuss its purpose and rationale. We eventually waived it for the ARED weight machine after a design change.
October 2, 2025 at 6:37 PM
NHTSA delays new auto pedestrian safety testing rules until 2027, raising concerns about effectiveness and costs. With 7,300+ US pedestrian deaths yearly, uncertainties persist on safety ratings. German and Swedish studies provide insights: https://bit.ly/42gFm4S; https://bit.ly/42Yy5Xs.
September 30, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Reposted by Jeremy Gernand
Global expansion of data centers heightens environmental worries regarding power plants and water cooling systems. A study in Memphis revealed air pollution from natural gas burning, worsening local air quality issues. Choosing locations with low impact is crucial for public health.
Air quality analysis reveals minimal changes after xAI data center opens in pollution-burdened Memphis neighborhood
Analysis of the air quality data available for southwest Memphis finds that pollution has long been quite bad, but the turbines powering an xAI data center have not made it much worse.
bit.ly
September 26, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Notifying consumers about the risks of chemicals is crucial, taking into consideration exposure, potency, and dosage in addition to toxicity. California's prop 65 did not decrease average chemical exposure and led companies to switch to lesser-known unlisted chemicals. https://bit.ly/46KPcx0
September 29, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Reposted by Jeremy Gernand
Extended exposure to air pollutants could be contributing to high rates of myopia, also known as short- or nearsightedness, in schoolchildren in China, new research found.

Read more: https://wapo.st/46BuakC
September 28, 2025 at 11:00 PM
The UK's ONR is updating safety assessment principles (SAPs) with AI-enhanced drafting for improved document development. This approach seems to encourage feedback and responsible AI use, highlighting the benefits of using AI for clarity in writing without potential pitfalls.
September 27, 2025 at 6:41 PM