Latest news with #HarvardStudy
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
FACT FOCUS: Posts misrepresent report to falsely claim nearly 400,000 Palestinians are missing
As the number of Palestinians killed in the Israel-Hamas war continues to rise, social media users are falsely claiming that a Harvard University study has determined that hundreds of thousands in the Gaza Strip are also missing. 'Israel has 'disappeared' nearly 400,000 Palestinians in Gaza since 2023,' reads one X post that had been shared and liked more than 35,700 times as of Thursday. 'Harvard has now confirmed what we've been screaming into a deaf world: This is a holocaust — and it's still happening.' But Harvard did not publish the report in question. Moreover, these claims misrepresent data from the report that was intended to address an entirely unrelated topic. Here's a closer look at the facts. CLAIM: A Harvard University study found that nearly 400,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are missing as a result of the Israel-Hamas war. THE FACTS: Harvard published no such study. This estimate misrepresents a map included in a report by a professor at Israel's Ben Gurion University that shows the distance between new aid distribution compounds in Gaza and three main populations centers. Using spatial analysis, the report determined that these compounds are inadequate and also does not address how many people in Gaza are missing. It was published on the Harvard Dataverse, a repository managed by the university where researchers can share their work. Contributors do not need to be affiliated with Harvard and publish directly to the repository without approval from the university. 'If anyone had asked me about these numbers I would have set things straight right away,' said the Yaakov Garb, a professor of environmental studies who authored the report. 'Instead the number was circulated and recirculated by people who had not read the report or stopped to think about it for a moment.' The inaccurate estimate comes from a post on the blogging site Medium. In the post, the author uses a map from Garb's report showing how many people live in what are currently Gaza's three main population centers — Gaza City, central refugee camps and the Muwasi area — according to estimates from the Israeli Defense Forces, to determine how many Palestinians are allegedly unaccounted for. The author subtracts the former number — 1.85 million — from the population in Gaza before the Israel-Hamas war began — 2.227 million — for a total of 377,00 missing people. But the numbers on the map are not comprehensive. 'These IDF numbers were not intended to sum to 100% of the Gaza population,' Garb said. 'There may be Gazans in other locations outside these areas of concentration.' Many Palestinians also have left Gaza since the war began in October 2023, a fact the Medium post does not take into account. The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics said in January that about 100,000 had left. According to Garb, the map was meant to show how difficult it would be for people in these areas to reach new aid distribution compounds. He also noted that it had a typo, which he intends to fix. There are approximately 700,000 people in the Muwasi area, not 500,000. The author of the Medium post did not respond to a request for comment. Other estimates have put the number of missing people, typically defined as those who are dead under the rubble of Gaza, much lower than what the Medium post alleges. A June 2024 study published in The Lancet, for example, found that between about 15,000 to 38,000 people could have been missing at that time. 'Clearly time has passed, and more have died and been buried under rubble. But it is unlikely that numbers of people buried under rubble could increase to 400,000 since then," said Shelly Culbertson, a senior policy researcher at RAND who studies disaster and post-conflict recovery. She added that even if missing people included those who had completely lost communication with their families, it is unlikely that the number would reach 400,000. Garb lamented the negative impact this type of misinformation could have for Palestinians and those trying to help them. 'If somebody like me who's doing serious work thinks twice next time about, oh my god, do I even want to put out something about Gaza if I have to sully myself with this stuff, they've done a disservice — done a disservice to the Palestinian cause, which they are ostensibly trying to further. I mean, they need to realize that," he said. ___ Find AP Fact Checks here:
Washington Post
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
FACT FOCUS: Posts misrepresent report to falsely claim nearly 400,000 Palestinians are missing
As the number of Palestinians killed in the Israel-Hamas war continues to rise, social media users are falsely claiming that a Harvard University study has determined that hundreds of thousands in the Gaza Strip are also missing. 'Israel has 'disappeared' nearly 400,000 Palestinians in Gaza since 2023,' reads one X post that had been shared and liked more than 35,700 times as of Thursday. 'Harvard has now confirmed what we've been screaming into a deaf world: This is a holocaust — and it's still happening.' But Harvard did not publish the report in question. Moreover, these claims misrepresent data from the report that was intended to address an entirely unrelated topic. Here's a closer look at the facts. CLAIM: A Harvard University study found that nearly 400,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are missing as a result of the Israel-Hamas war. THE FACTS: Harvard published no such study. This estimate misrepresents a map included in a report by a professor at Israel's Ben Gurion University that shows the distance between new aid distribution compounds in Gaza and three main populations centers. Using spatial analysis, the report determined that these compounds are inadequate and also does not address how many people in Gaza are missing. It was published on the Harvard Dataverse , a repository managed by the university where researchers can share their work. Contributors do not need to be affiliated with Harvard and publish directly to the repository without approval from the university. 'If anyone had asked me about these numbers I would have set things straight right away,' said the Yaakov Garb, a professor of environmental studies who authored the report. 'Instead the number was circulated and recirculated by people who had not read the report or stopped to think about it for a moment.' The inaccurate estimate comes from a post on the blogging site Medium. In the post, the author uses a map from Garb's report showing how many people live in what are currently Gaza's three main population centers — Gaza City, central refugee camps and the Muwasi area — according to estimates from the Israeli Defense Forces, to determine how many Palestinians are allegedly unaccounted for. The author subtracts the former number — 1.85 million — from the population in Gaza before the Israel-Hamas war began — 2.227 million — for a total of 377,00 missing people. But the numbers on the map are not comprehensive. 'These IDF numbers were not intended to sum to 100% of the Gaza population,' Garb said. 'There may be Gazans in other locations outside these areas of concentration.' Many Palestinians also have left Gaza since the war began in October 2023, a fact the Medium post does not take into account. The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics said in January that about 100,000 had left. According to Garb, the map was meant to show how difficult it would be for people in these areas to reach new aid distribution compounds. He also noted that it had a typo, which he intends to fix. There are approximately 700,000 people in the Muwasi area, not 500,000. The author of the Medium post did not respond to a request for comment. Other estimates have put the number of missing people, typically defined as those who are dead under the rubble of Gaza, much lower than what the Medium post alleges. A June 2024 study published in The Lancet , for example, found that between about 15,000 to 38,000 people could have been missing at that time. 'Clearly time has passed, and more have died and been buried under rubble. But it is unlikely that numbers of people buried under rubble could increase to 400,000 since then,' said Shelly Culbertson, a senior policy researcher at RAND who studies disaster and post-conflict recovery. She added that even if missing people included those who had completely lost communication with their families, it is unlikely that the number would reach 400,000. Garb lamented the negative impact this type of misinformation could have for Palestinians and those trying to help them. 'If somebody like me who's doing serious work thinks twice next time about, oh my god, do I even want to put out something about Gaza if I have to sully myself with this stuff, they've done a disservice — done a disservice to the Palestinian cause, which they are ostensibly trying to further. I mean, they need to realize that,' he said. ___ Find AP Fact Checks here: .
Int'l Business Times
02-06-2025
- Health
- Int'l Business Times
Air Quality Expert Steve Fontaine Explains The Relationship Between Indoor Air Quality and Student Health and Academic Performance
Indoor air quality (IAQ) plays a crucial role in student health and academic performance. Schools are environments where children spend a significant portion of their day, making it essential to ensure that the air they breathe is clean and free of harmful pollutants. Poor IAQ has been linked to various health issues, including respiratory conditions, allergies, and asthma, which can all affect a student's ability to learn and perform academically. According to Steve Fontaine, America's indoor air quality expert and founder of IAQ Solutions and Consulting Inc., "Indoor air pollution is an invisible yet powerful barrier to student success. Schools must prioritize air quality to support both health and cognitive development." Health Implications of Poor Indoor Air Quality Many schools face challenges related to air quality due to factors such as inadequate ventilation, dust accumulation, mold growth, and the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from cleaning supplies and classroom materials. Children are particularly vulnerable to air pollution because their lungs are still developing, and they tend to have higher breathing rates than adults. Exposure to airborne pollutants can result in symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, nasal congestion, and throat irritation. Over time, these health effects can lead to increased absenteeism, affecting a student's ability to keep up with coursework. A growing body of research highlights the dangers of prolonged exposure to indoor pollutants. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that poor indoor air quality in schools contributes to increased cases of asthma and other respiratory conditions ( EPA ). These issues not only impact student health but also lead to frequent doctor visits and disruptions in learning. Steve Fontaine emphasizes, "Schools often overlook indoor air quality, yet it plays a significant role in absenteeism and student well-being. A well-ventilated and filtered environment can drastically reduce illness-related school absences." Academic Consequences Linked to Air Pollution The effects of air pollution extend beyond health concerns; they directly influence academic performance as well. Studies have found that students in classrooms with poor air quality demonstrate lower cognitive performance and decreased concentration levels. High concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2), which can accumulate in poorly ventilated classrooms, have been shown to impair cognitive function, making it harder for students to focus, process information, and retain knowledge. In contrast, schools that have implemented improved ventilation and air filtration systems report better student engagement and higher test scores. A study conducted by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that students who were exposed to cleaner indoor air performed significantly better on standardized tests ( Harvard Study ). These findings reinforce the importance of addressing IAQ concerns as part of school maintenance and facility management plans. Strategies for Improving Air Quality in Educational Settings To create a healthier learning environment, schools should adopt proactive measures to improve indoor air quality. One of the most effective strategies is ensuring proper ventilation to allow fresh air circulation and reduce the buildup of indoor pollutants. Schools should also regularly maintain HVAC systems to prevent dust and mold accumulation, which can contribute to poor air quality. Additionally, the use of high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters in classrooms can significantly reduce the presence of allergens and particulate matter. Schools should also consider adopting green cleaning practices by replacing traditional chemical-based cleaning products with eco-friendly alternatives that produce fewer harmful emissions. The introduction of plants in classrooms can further help improve air quality by naturally filtering toxins from the air. Routine air quality assessments are another crucial step in ensuring a safe school environment. Monitoring IAQ allows administrators to detect potential problems early and implement necessary interventions before they become significant health hazards. Steve Fontaine advises, "Schools should treat air quality assessments as essential as fire drills. Ensuring clean air is a proactive investment in student success." Supporting Research and Case Studies Several studies support the connection between air quality and student performance. The EPA has emphasized that improving indoor air quality in schools leads to better student health outcomes and academic achievement. Research published in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology established a direct link between indoor air pollutants and cognitive function in children, demonstrating that students exposed to cleaner air performed better on cognitive tests. Similarly, findings from Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health revealed that better ventilation and air filtration contribute to improved test scores and reduced absenteeism among students. The importance of indoor air quality in schools cannot be overstated. Ensuring that students have access to clean, breathable air is vital for their health, well-being, and academic success. Schools must prioritize air quality improvements through better ventilation, regular maintenance, and the use of air purification technologies. By taking these steps, educators and administrators can create a safer and more conducive learning environment that allows students to thrive both physically and academically.
