Aurora Hao, Author at Sampan

Aurora Hao

Health September 13, 2024 0

Why ‘Forever Chemicals’ Don’t Have to Stick Around … Forever

Rain jackets, shampoo, meat, and cookware might wear out and go away, but they might never leave you. Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are integrated into almost every aspect of daily life. Given their strong carbon-fluorine chemical bonds, PFAS take an extremely long time to break down, lingering in the environment and the human body, and thus coined “Forever Chemicals.” These persisting forever chemicals can be found in water and soil, especially near waste sites as they enter the environment through production […]

Health August 23, 2024 0

Asian American’s No. 1 Killer Goes Under the Microscope – As National Cancer Institute Funds Large Study, We Talk to Doc About the Disease

To advance study of cancer among the Asian Americans, the National Cancer Institute this spring set aside $12.45 million for researchers at the University of California at San Francisco. The researchers’ aim will be to gather data and uncover potential causes of cancer in the Asian American population for whom the disease is the leading cause of death.“This study represents a significant advancement by recognizing these distinctions and offering relevant data specific to diverse Asian populations,” said Dr. Tim Rebbeck, […]

Boston August 9, 2024 0

Hub Aims to Clean City of Rats With ‘BRAP’s

Boston City officials have recently turned their attention toward the furry, unwanted guests occupying Boston neighborhoods — and it’s finally come up with a plan. Rats have been taking over streets, foraging through trash, and finding themselves taking comfort in residents’ homes. Mayor Michelle Wu has worked closely with the Boston Inspectional Services Division and Dr. Bobby Corrigan, a consulting Urban Rodentologist based in New York, to create the Boston Rodent Action Plan (BRAP), which was published on June 17. […]

Boston July 26, 2024 0

‘I Feel So Hopeless’ With No Severance and LimitedEnglish, Ex-East West WorkersFear for Their Financial Future

The closure of East West Manufacturing in Boston in June has left 51 workers, many of whom are Chinese immigrants, uncertain about their financial and career prospects – and with no severance. “I feel so helpless and don’t know what to do right now,” one former employee, Mandy, told the Sampan. She asked not to use her last name. “Now I get unemployment benefits, but I don’t know so much English and I need someone to fill out some forms […]

Features July 26, 2024 0

Judy Chang to Serve on Federal Energy Commission

Judy W. Chang, a Boston-based energy economist and regulatory policy expert, was confirmed as a member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on June 3, under President Biden’s nomination. Chang will be the first Asian American woman to serve on the FERC, where she will work alongside four other members serving the commission’s mission to promote reliable, affordable, and modern energy as well as environmental and economic justice. Prior to her confirmation, Chang has a long history of working […]

Front Page June 24, 2023 0

Out of Control Inflation: The Devastating Impact on America’s Low-Income Families

As of February 2023, more than 630,000 Massachusetts households faced a loss of about a third of what they had received in SNAP benefits over the past two years. For many, this means working extra hours and struggling to meet needs on a daily basis. For undocumented immigrants, it can mean finding informal work paid in cash under the table, often at rates far below minimum wage without the benefits of insurance and legal protection. The lack of accessibility to […]

Aurora Hao

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