By Jordan Meadows
Staff Writer
Dr. Shamira A. Brown and Dr. Lewis Ross Brown are longtime scientists and environmental advocates whose work has had a profound impact on communities across Louisiana, Virginia, North Carolina, and beyond. The Browns founded the National Environmental Action Network (NEAN) to address pressing environmental health issues, assist individuals affected by chemical pollution, and hold institutions accountable for environmental safety.
The focus of NEAN’s work is on harmful “forever chemicals” such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). These chemicals are found in water, food, and soil, and they don’t break down over time. Studies link them to cancer, birth problems, and other serious health issues.
NEAN utilizes funding to develop more effective methods for testing and removing these chemicals from drinking water and natural water sources. NEAN also has a Meals on Wheels program, which delivers food and environmental health information to seniors and families in need. These man-made, persistent, and toxic chemicals have been widely used to resist heat, water, and oil, making them ideal for products like non-stick cookware, firefighting foam, and waterproof fabrics.
PFAS and PCBs enter waterways through industrial discharge, firefighting foam runoff, landfill leakage, and wastewater systems that can’t filter them out. Once in the water, these chemicals persist for years, accumulating in fish, wildlife, and human bodies through the consumption of drinking water and food.The researchers also monitor waterways for lead, arsenic, and mercury, and collect tissue samples from fish and birds to publicize information for community education.
A special focus is placed on aiding underserved communities, who often bear the brunt of environmental harms. NEAN has also implemented innovative programs such as the Drone Environmental Health program in the Greater Macon area, which uses drones to collect samples of water, soil, and air for analysis. These drones can gather samples of PFAS, PCBs, VOCs, inorganic mercury, selective insecticides, selective herbicides, inorganic arsenic and lead, and greenhouse gases, including methane. Soil samples are collected with automated scoopers, while water and air are sampled using syringes and micropipettes with program dial setters to ensure accuracy.
Dr. Lewis Brown, originally from New Orleans, and his wife, Shamira, a Baton Rouge native, married in 1997. Shamira Brown specializes in environmental chemistry and oncology. The pair met at Dillard University, the oldest historically Black college in Louisiana, and previously worked with the Louisiana Environmental Action Network before going to Washington, D.C., to work for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Dr. Lewis Brown has built a distinguished career in environmental health, working with both the first Bush and first Trump administrations on policy matters. In 1988, he received an award medal from the National Institutes of Health for his groundbreaking research on arsenic exposure in aquatic environments.
The Browns’ work has expanded to North Carolina, where NEAN established an office in Raleigh to respond to the growing number of inquiries about water, soil, and air quality.
Brown explained, “They call us asking what we can do. We explain everything about the tutorial programs we offer for the high school and college kids. And we tell them about the water, soil, and air testing programs.” He added, “I think the biggest disservice that’s being done right now in communities is that individuals aren’t being told about the forever chemicals.”
Brown noted that chemicals are also present in electronics: “They put it in an underground storage tank. When those computers start to break down—the keyboards, the desktops, the hard drives—they break down to a certain standpoint and then you’re going to have problems dealing with that.”
Environmental factors such as rainfall, flooding, and wind can worsen the problem, allowing the chemicals to spread into groundwater, drinking water, air, and soil. He also points to everyday examples, like microplastics in water bottles left in hot cars, which can introduce harmful substances into household water systems.
The Browns also educate residents on home environmental safety. Brown recommends potential homebuyers conduct a life cycle assessment to evaluate environmental impacts, including chemical levels in the ground, water quality, pipe materials, and air quality.
Dr. Brown’s work in North Carolina began in 1998 with connections with local figures like Sylvester Ritter, a former Fayetteville State football player and WWE Hall of Famer, he identified areas in Wadesboro and surrounding communities in need of water testing.
For residents, Dr. Brown recommends solutions such as Reverse Osmosis (RO) pumps, which use semi-permeable membranes to purify water, and Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) filters, which effectively remove organic chemicals and impurities that affect water taste and odor, including hydrogen sulfide and chlorine.
The organization promotes environmentally conscious and healthy lifestyles, encouraging individuals to assess potential homes using a life cycle assessment—a scientific method for evaluating the total environmental impact of a property.
