Natalie Exum, PhD
@nataliegexum.bsky.social
Assistant Professor of environmental health and engineering @JohnsHopkinsSPH, bridging the gap between public health and water systems. Mother to 4. Lots of poop talk.
Reposted by Natalie Exum, PhD
This is a travesty, eliminating #PublicHealth loans for PT, OT, MPH, DrPH and many other degrees. They are trying to kill us.
the Department of Education’s Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Committee reached preliminary consensus on a proposed definition of “professional degree programs” under Big Bill
ASPPH is deeply concerned that the proposal excludes public health programs
aspph.org/department-o...
ASPPH is deeply concerned that the proposal excludes public health programs
aspph.org/department-o...
Department of Education Proposal Excludes Public Health Degrees from “Professional Degree” Definition
Discover the new results and implications of Dept of Ed consensus regarding professional degree programs and public health education.
aspph.org
November 14, 2025 at 1:45 PM
This is a travesty, eliminating #PublicHealth loans for PT, OT, MPH, DrPH and many other degrees. They are trying to kill us.
NHANES is a national treasure of health data that we must stand up for.
I can’t begin to tell you how much research, policy, and programming revolve around the use of NHANES data. Again, you think these lay offs don’t affect you? Think again- money gets allocated based, in part, on what these data show. This is stunning
CDC team running top survey on health and nutrition is laid off
NHANES has collected data on eating patterns, diabetes, and other common diseases for decades. The CDC team that runs it has been fired.
www.statnews.com
October 16, 2025 at 1:19 AM
NHANES is a national treasure of health data that we must stand up for.
Reposted by Natalie Exum, PhD
RIFs at CDC.
Destroying the Epidemic Intelligence Service, NCIRD, NCIPC & a dozen other areas/divisions/branches will cause enormous harm and suffering to America, and indeed to the whole world.
Call your Reps about it.
Then call them again.
Destroying the Epidemic Intelligence Service, NCIRD, NCIPC & a dozen other areas/divisions/branches will cause enormous harm and suffering to America, and indeed to the whole world.
Call your Reps about it.
Then call them again.
October 11, 2025 at 4:09 PM
RIFs at CDC.
Destroying the Epidemic Intelligence Service, NCIRD, NCIPC & a dozen other areas/divisions/branches will cause enormous harm and suffering to America, and indeed to the whole world.
Call your Reps about it.
Then call them again.
Destroying the Epidemic Intelligence Service, NCIRD, NCIPC & a dozen other areas/divisions/branches will cause enormous harm and suffering to America, and indeed to the whole world.
Call your Reps about it.
Then call them again.
Reposted by Natalie Exum, PhD
The White House projects its FY 2026 budget would result in over 75,000 lost research jobs and over 150,000 fewer students and teachers who engage with STEM programs and research nationwide.
nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/files/00-NSF...
nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/files/00-NSF...
September 24, 2025 at 8:47 PM
The White House projects its FY 2026 budget would result in over 75,000 lost research jobs and over 150,000 fewer students and teachers who engage with STEM programs and research nationwide.
nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/files/00-NSF...
nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/files/00-NSF...
The Navajo Nation is 60x less likely to have piped water than most Americans.
“And it’s very expensive for our people to haul their own, and they have to ration, which has had a direct impact on the health of the Navajo Nation.”
www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-...
“And it’s very expensive for our people to haul their own, and they have to ration, which has had a direct impact on the health of the Navajo Nation.”
www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-...
How RSV Immunizations Bring Hope for Indigenous Infants in the U.S.
American Indian and Alaska Native infants experience the highest rates of RSV-related hospitalization in the U.S., but a breakthrough immunization is helping to close the gap
www.scientificamerican.com
September 24, 2025 at 6:06 PM
The Navajo Nation is 60x less likely to have piped water than most Americans.
“And it’s very expensive for our people to haul their own, and they have to ration, which has had a direct impact on the health of the Navajo Nation.”
www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-...
“And it’s very expensive for our people to haul their own, and they have to ration, which has had a direct impact on the health of the Navajo Nation.”
www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-...
Reposted by Natalie Exum, PhD
Toxicology principle that needs to be mainstream:
The dose makes the poison.
That’s true of everything. Water. Oxygen. Vitamin A. Vitamin D. Aspartame. Formaldehyde.
A single pear contains 120 times MORE formaldehyde than what might be in a vaccine.
1/
The dose makes the poison.
That’s true of everything. Water. Oxygen. Vitamin A. Vitamin D. Aspartame. Formaldehyde.
A single pear contains 120 times MORE formaldehyde than what might be in a vaccine.
1/
September 21, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Toxicology principle that needs to be mainstream:
The dose makes the poison.
That’s true of everything. Water. Oxygen. Vitamin A. Vitamin D. Aspartame. Formaldehyde.
A single pear contains 120 times MORE formaldehyde than what might be in a vaccine.
1/
The dose makes the poison.
That’s true of everything. Water. Oxygen. Vitamin A. Vitamin D. Aspartame. Formaldehyde.
A single pear contains 120 times MORE formaldehyde than what might be in a vaccine.
1/
Our water treatment workers are public health heroes and now the front line for thwarting cyber security attacks.
Great piece to give a listen. Favorite quote: “I don't really have the background to be fending off foreign entities, you know?”
Great piece to give a listen. Favorite quote: “I don't really have the background to be fending off foreign entities, you know?”
Water treatment workers are grappling with how to protect against a new threat: hackers burrowing into the system and wreaking havoc.
Flushable wipes and Iran: Water treatment facility adds cyberattacks to worry list
Water treatment workers are grappling with how to protect against a new threat: hackers burrowing into the system and wreaking havoc.
n.pr
September 20, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Our water treatment workers are public health heroes and now the front line for thwarting cyber security attacks.
Great piece to give a listen. Favorite quote: “I don't really have the background to be fending off foreign entities, you know?”
Great piece to give a listen. Favorite quote: “I don't really have the background to be fending off foreign entities, you know?”
Schistosomiasis is such a challenging disease to prevent. Well done @apoorvanyt.bsky.social for this excellent piece.
“Without clean water and other changes to accompany the treatment programs, the effectiveness of the drugs is already limited.” www.nytimes.com/2025/09/15/h...?
“Without clean water and other changes to accompany the treatment programs, the effectiveness of the drugs is already limited.” www.nytimes.com/2025/09/15/h...?
When a Simple Swim Carries a Risk of Dangerous Illness
www.nytimes.com
September 20, 2025 at 2:44 AM
Schistosomiasis is such a challenging disease to prevent. Well done @apoorvanyt.bsky.social for this excellent piece.
“Without clean water and other changes to accompany the treatment programs, the effectiveness of the drugs is already limited.” www.nytimes.com/2025/09/15/h...?
“Without clean water and other changes to accompany the treatment programs, the effectiveness of the drugs is already limited.” www.nytimes.com/2025/09/15/h...?
Reposted by Natalie Exum, PhD
Alabama lost a $14m grant to upgrade sanitation systems. A historically Black Virginia neighborhood won’t receive $20m to stop severe flooding. Louisiana lost grants to monitor air quality in “Cancer Alley,” an 80-mile stretch of mostly Black towns.
www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...
www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...
Black communities, shaken by Trump cuts, feel ‘left behind again’
The Trump administration has canceled nearly two dozen projects, according to a Post analysis, undermining efforts on pollution, sewage leaks and flooding.
www.washingtonpost.com
September 17, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Alabama lost a $14m grant to upgrade sanitation systems. A historically Black Virginia neighborhood won’t receive $20m to stop severe flooding. Louisiana lost grants to monitor air quality in “Cancer Alley,” an 80-mile stretch of mostly Black towns.
www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...
www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...
Reposted by Natalie Exum, PhD
EPA decides not to defend federal drinking water standards for PFAS chemicals in court - CBS Albany cbs6albany.com/news/local/e...
EPA decides not to defend federal drinking water standards for PFAS chemicals in court
The fate of stronger protections for safe drinking water are in jeopardy after a court filing by the Environmental Protection Agency saying they will not be def
cbs6albany.com
September 14, 2025 at 1:51 PM
EPA decides not to defend federal drinking water standards for PFAS chemicals in court - CBS Albany cbs6albany.com/news/local/e...
“Paraquat symbolizes the challenges of environmental health and chemical regulation… Companies, following the tobacco playbook, hire lobbyists and highlight the uncertainties” www.nytimes.com/2025/09/08/o...
Opinion | The Clue to Unlocking Parkinson’s May Be All Around Us
www.nytimes.com
September 13, 2025 at 7:51 PM
“Paraquat symbolizes the challenges of environmental health and chemical regulation… Companies, following the tobacco playbook, hire lobbyists and highlight the uncertainties” www.nytimes.com/2025/09/08/o...
Reposted by Natalie Exum, PhD
More great news for Big Diarrhea!
The CDC has quietly and drastically scaled back the country’s most comprehensive system for tracking the food-borne illnesses estimated to sicken millions of Americans each year.
The CDC’s Cuts to FoodNet Could Threaten Americans’ Health
Public health experts worry that downsizing the sprawling FoodNet surveillance system could make it harder to prevent food-borne illnesses.
nyti.ms
September 11, 2025 at 9:36 PM
More great news for Big Diarrhea!
Reposted by Natalie Exum, PhD
"After local officials give the all-clear, it’s a good idea to let the water run for a while to flush the pipes of any residual gunk" ☣️🚿
@nataliegexum.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/18/w...
@nataliegexum.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/18/w...
The Unseen Dangers of Floodwaters
www.nytimes.com
August 20, 2025 at 12:19 PM
"After local officials give the all-clear, it’s a good idea to let the water run for a while to flush the pipes of any residual gunk" ☣️🚿
@nataliegexum.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/18/w...
@nataliegexum.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/18/w...
Reposted by Natalie Exum, PhD
“We want to empower kids to become change-makers and messengers in their own communities." @johnshopkinsehe.bsky.social's @nataliegexum.bsky.social is working with high school MERIT scholars to supercharge community outreach to address lead pipes in Baltimore. engineering.jhu.edu/news/getting...
Getting the Lead Out: Community Outreach Pushes Baltimore Toward Safer Drinking Water - Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering
As Baltimore faces a federal deadline to identify and replace lead service lines, local researchers and community groups are stepping in to reach residents the city has struggled to engage.
engineering.jhu.edu
August 7, 2025 at 4:54 PM
“We want to empower kids to become change-makers and messengers in their own communities." @johnshopkinsehe.bsky.social's @nataliegexum.bsky.social is working with high school MERIT scholars to supercharge community outreach to address lead pipes in Baltimore. engineering.jhu.edu/news/getting...
Staying hopeful the EPA will uphold this rule that gives cities and towns a 10-year deadline to replace all of their lead pipes apnews.com/article/epa-...
Trump EPA says it will defend tough lead pipe rule from Biden, but details to come
The Environmental Protection Agency announced it would defend the Biden administration's strict rules to reduce lead in drinking water against a utility group court challenge.
apnews.com
August 11, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Staying hopeful the EPA will uphold this rule that gives cities and towns a 10-year deadline to replace all of their lead pipes apnews.com/article/epa-...
Reposted by Natalie Exum, PhD
Re-upping one small idea: Universities should commit to preserving library/journal/software access for students and researchers who have to leave academia because of funding cuts. We need concrete, practical ways of preserving scholarship.
June 3, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Re-upping one small idea: Universities should commit to preserving library/journal/software access for students and researchers who have to leave academia because of funding cuts. We need concrete, practical ways of preserving scholarship.
Reposted by Natalie Exum, PhD
We should be expanding wastewater surveillance to help guide farms in more effectively implementing costly biosecurity measures. But even the limited wastewater surveillance we have is imperiled by looming budget cuts. www.statnews.com/2025/03/21/h...
Bird flu is spreading. Wastewater monitoring can help us stop it
The National Wastewater Surveillance System’s funding expires at the end of fiscal year 2025, just as bird flu heats up.
www.statnews.com
March 21, 2025 at 12:21 PM
We should be expanding wastewater surveillance to help guide farms in more effectively implementing costly biosecurity measures. But even the limited wastewater surveillance we have is imperiled by looming budget cuts. www.statnews.com/2025/03/21/h...
Air quality monitoring at our embassies brought awareness and data transparency that otherwise did not exist. Why take down such an effective program that improved health?
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
State Department halts global monitoring of air pollution
The program had used sensors at more than 80 U.S. embassies and consulates to track air quality, mostly in places where such data was unavailable.
www.washingtonpost.com
March 6, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Air quality monitoring at our embassies brought awareness and data transparency that otherwise did not exist. Why take down such an effective program that improved health?
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
"Vaccination remains the best defense against measles infection."
Since it is buried in this communication, whispered this morning. www.cdc.gov/media/releas...
Since it is buried in this communication, whispered this morning. www.cdc.gov/media/releas...
CDC Statement on Measles Outbreak
CDC is in close communication with Texas health authorities over the recent measles outbreak.
www.cdc.gov
February 28, 2025 at 2:03 PM
"Vaccination remains the best defense against measles infection."
Since it is buried in this communication, whispered this morning. www.cdc.gov/media/releas...
Since it is buried in this communication, whispered this morning. www.cdc.gov/media/releas...
Reposted by Natalie Exum, PhD
WHO update today on the unidentified illness & deaths in #DRC Equateur Province.
As of 27 Feb:
- 1096 cases 60 deaths identified (over 2 locations)
~ 50% of samples tested +ve for malaria (not unusual)
- ongoing tests for food, water, environmental contamination
www.afro.who.int/countries/de...
As of 27 Feb:
- 1096 cases 60 deaths identified (over 2 locations)
~ 50% of samples tested +ve for malaria (not unusual)
- ongoing tests for food, water, environmental contamination
www.afro.who.int/countries/de...
Democratic Republic of the Congo deepens investigation on cluster of illness and community deaths in Equateur province
Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and experts from World Health Organization (WHO) are carrying out further investigations to determine the cause of another cluster of illness...
www.afro.who.int
February 27, 2025 at 1:56 PM
WHO update today on the unidentified illness & deaths in #DRC Equateur Province.
As of 27 Feb:
- 1096 cases 60 deaths identified (over 2 locations)
~ 50% of samples tested +ve for malaria (not unusual)
- ongoing tests for food, water, environmental contamination
www.afro.who.int/countries/de...
As of 27 Feb:
- 1096 cases 60 deaths identified (over 2 locations)
~ 50% of samples tested +ve for malaria (not unusual)
- ongoing tests for food, water, environmental contamination
www.afro.who.int/countries/de...
Reposted by Natalie Exum, PhD
Federal scientists should know their rights, agency policies, and whistle-blower protections to safeguard scientific integrity.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
‘Despair is not an option’ — how scientists can help protect federal research
Government scientists in the US must be clear-eyed and continue to serve the public.
www.nature.com
February 5, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Federal scientists should know their rights, agency policies, and whistle-blower protections to safeguard scientific integrity.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Natalie Exum, PhD
National Science Foundation "is planning to lay off between a quarter and a half of its staff in the next two months," Politico reports. www.politico.com/news/2025/02...
Science funding agency threatened with mass layoffs
National Science Foundation staff heard the plans at a meeting Tuesday.
www.politico.com
February 5, 2025 at 2:56 PM
National Science Foundation "is planning to lay off between a quarter and a half of its staff in the next two months," Politico reports. www.politico.com/news/2025/02...
Public health is about all of us. Grateful our work with Navajo Nation was included in our new @johnshopkinssph.bsky.social Bloomberg School video: youtu.be/5lsQseG5HBg?...
Public Health is About All of Us: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
YouTube video by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
youtu.be
January 23, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Public health is about all of us. Grateful our work with Navajo Nation was included in our new @johnshopkinssph.bsky.social Bloomberg School video: youtu.be/5lsQseG5HBg?...