Alexandra Zissu

Alexandra Zissu is the author of six books about the connections between environment and health: Earth Squad, Get on Top, The Conscious Kitchen, Planet Home, The Complete Organic Pregnancy, and The Butcher’s Guide to Well-Raised Meat. A longtime journalist, she has worked for the Times Union, New York Magazine, T: The New York Times Style Magazine, the New York Observer, and Women’s Wear Daily, and her stories have appeared in dozens of publications.

A born-and-bred New Yorker, she now calls the Hudson Valley home. She loves living close to the farms that feed her family, is obsessive about family meal, tries to grow vegetables with her two girls, talks to trees as she walks in the woods, and fosters kittens from time to time. Alexandra is a leadership member of the Childhood Cancer Prevention Initiative, as well as a member of the New York State Cancer Consortium Environmental Carcinogen Group. She sits on the board of Clean + Healthy New York. Alexandra's work has been featured in The Cool Down, Michigan Public Radio, Martha Stewart, and SheKnows.

Articles by Alexandra Zissu

Coping With Climate Emotions This Mental Health Awareness Month

by Alexandra Zissu

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, which, for people working in climate, is a good opportunity to talk about the emotional experience of our work.

Groundbreaking EPA Report on Climate Change and Children’s Health

by Alexandra Zissu

EPA just released a report, “Climate Change and Children’s Health and Well-Being in the US.” Its findings underscore the necessity of considering children’s well-being in every climate policy. LEARN MORE…

PVC “Worst of the Worst” Plastic Pipes Threaten Health

by Alexandra Zissu

A new report from Beyond Plastics on the perils of PVC pipes warns against their use for drinking water. The timing is critical; The Biden administration and Congress have provided $15 billion to municipalities that need to replace their lead service lines, old pipes that deliver drinking water to homes, schools, and businesses.

What You Need to Know About Dioxins

by Alexandra Zissu

Dioxins are a group of highly toxic industrial pollutants. They are mostly produced during processes that involve petrochemicals, like the manufacturing of pesticides and plastics. They’re also produced when paper gets bleached with chlorine. Babies and children are particularly vulnerable to dioxin exposure.

Hydrogen Energy: Proceed With Caution

by Alexandra Zissu

Hydrogen’s potential to help the world transition from fossil fuels has led to monumental financial investments. But there are red flags. When existing green electricity is faster, cleaner, and more effective than creating green hydrogen, it should be used.

The Petrochemical and Plastic Crisis Is Spinning Out of Control

by Alexandra Zissu

Plastic is ubiquitous, even for those of us that try to avoid it, and it’s bad news. A new report warns that while manufacture and use of essential plastics may continue, failing to act now on “reckless increases in plastic production” will have immense costs.