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Environmental Health and Safety

Environmental health and safety research examines how pollutants and toxins in air, water, and soil affect human health and ecosystems. The National Academies study exposure risks and develop guidance to reduce harmful impacts through safer design, regulation, and policy. 

What's happening

How does Ebola spread from person to person?

Based on Science

Ebola spreads through direct contact with the body fluids of a symptomatic person or with contaminated clothing or other materials. Ebola virus is in saliva and other body fluids but has not been found to spread as easily as airborne viruses, such as COVID-19 or measles.

May 22, 2026
Light micrograph histologic section showing human liver infected with Ebola virus causing African Hemorrhagic Fever

New Report on Managing Highway Stormwater Quality

Announcement

Stormwater infrastructure plays an important role in protecting water resources, but contaminants from highway runoff are not adequately removed by current structures, and improved management of the various types and sources of pollutants is needed. A new congressionally mandated report from the National Academies recommends methods state departments of transportation could use in their strategies to manage highway stormwater quality.

May 21, 2026
Drenched road from heavy rainfall.

Gulf Futures Challenge Awards $20 Million Each to Two Projects Building a Safer, More Resilient Gulf Coast

News Release

The National Academies’ Gulf Research Program has awarded $20 million each to the Louisiana Public Health Institute and the Gulf Offshore Research Institute through the Gulf Futures Challenge, an initiative to fund projects that apply, translate, or communicate science, engineering, or medical knowledge to produce inclusive, innovative, and transformative solutions to the key challenges facing the Gulf Coast region.

Apr 23, 2026
Drone aerial image of houses on a barrier island in Louisiana

Featured Publications

Featured work

Strengthening Adaptive Capacity for Healthy and Resilient Gulf Communities

Initiative

In Formation

Developing a Strategy to Evaluate the 5th National Climate Assessment

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Completed

Independent Scientific Review of Everglades Restoration Progress

Initiative

Completed
Banner-Independent-Scientific-Review-of-Everglades-Restoration-Progress-X.jpg | https://nasemoceprodcomm-nationalacademies.cec.ocp.oraclecloud.com/content/published/api/v1.1/assets/CONT8F435135ACD747CD8DB1D68F7C58D3AC/native?cb=_cache_daba&format=webp&channelToken=d2dc71410b56f1d61406108f1738d0f4

Independent Scientific Review of Everglades Restoration Progress VIII

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Completed

Review of the draft Fourth National Climate Assessment

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Completed

Study of the Control of Respirable Coal Mine Dust Exposure in Underground Mines

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Completed

Review of EPA’s 'Science to Achieve Results' Research Grants Program

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Completed

Extreme Weather Events and Climate Change Attribution

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Completed

Urban Meteorology: Forecasting, Monitoring, and Meeting Users’ Needs

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Completed

Review of the National Levee Safety Guidelines

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Terminated

Units

Strengthening Adaptive Capacity for Healthy and Resilient Gulf Communities

Initiative

In Formation

Standing Committee on Gulf Legacy Offshore Oil and Gas Infrastructure

Standing Committee

In Formation

Transportation Research Board Executive Office

Oversight Unit

In Formation

Committee to Advise GRP on Rapid Response to Oil Spills of National Significance

Standing Committee

In Formation

Health in Buildings Roundtable

Roundtable/Forum

In Formation

Independent Scientific Review of Everglades Restoration Progress

Initiative

Completed
Banner-Independent-Scientific-Review-of-Everglades-Restoration-Progress-X.jpg | https://nasemoceprodcomm-nationalacademies.cec.ocp.oraclecloud.com/content/published/api/v1.1/assets/CONT8F435135ACD747CD8DB1D68F7C58D3AC/native?cb=_cache_daba&format=webp&channelToken=d2dc71410b56f1d61406108f1738d0f4

Mapping Science Committee

Standing Committee

Completed

Geographical Sciences Committee

Standing Committee

Completed

Roundtable on Unconventional Hydrocarbon Development

Roundtable/Forum

Completed

Center for Health, People, and Places (CHPP)

Oversight Unit

In Progress
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