World’s OBGYNs say climate crisis threatens human reproduction and urge action on fossil fuels

~ PRHE

The climate crisis has become a public health emergency that disproportionately affects pregnant people, children, those from disadvantaged and marginalised communities, and people of colour, including Black, Brown and Indigenous people. In a special article published in the International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, leading obstetricians and gynaecologists (OBGYNs) highlight the impact of the climate … Continue reading World’s OBGYNs say climate crisis threatens human reproduction and urge action on fossil fuels

Behind the Scenes: Meet 3 young scientists working to protect you from toxic chemicals

~ PRHE

In high school, Swati Rayasam thought she would study architecture or Russian literature. Then a friend almost lost his leg to an antibiotic resistant staph infection and she switched gears into science. Today she monitors EPA’s implementation of the updated Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) - the law that governs chemicals in commerce - for … Continue reading Behind the Scenes: Meet 3 young scientists working to protect you from toxic chemicals

Environmental contaminants interfere with our metabolism

~ PRHE

We know that all humans are exposed to some mixture of contaminants through consumer products and contaminated food, air, and water, but how do we determine which ones interfere with our metabolism and compromise our health? Scientists develop analytical methods to identify and measure the quantities of chemical compounds in people and in the environment. … Continue reading Environmental contaminants interfere with our metabolism

Running out the TSCA clock could give hazardous chemicals a “pass”

~ PRHE

Is EPA giving itself enough time to evaluate the safety of chemicals and protect health? Or is the Agency’s planned process to gather data for risk evaluations on chemicals under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), called the “Tiered Data Reporting Rule,” giving harmful substances a “pass” by running out the clock? When TSCA was … Continue reading Running out the TSCA clock could give hazardous chemicals a “pass”

How does wildfire smoke affect pregnancy outcomes?

~ PRHE

As wildfires blaze in the U.S., Canada, and other places around the globe this summer, millions of people are gearing up yet again to protect themselves and their families from the health risks of wildfire smoke. And as wildfires have become more intense over the years—quadrupling in size over the last four decades—researchers have begun … Continue reading How does wildfire smoke affect pregnancy outcomes?

How do PFAS and PBDEs affect telomeres and what does that mean for our health?

~ PRHE

Every day we are exposed to hundreds of chemicals in the food we eat, the water we drink, and products we use in our homes. But what makes some chemicals more problematic than others and what does that mean for our health? Our new study sheds light on what PFAS and PBDEs are doing to … Continue reading How do PFAS and PBDEs affect telomeres and what does that mean for our health?

How EPA can improve identifying and reducing environmental health inequities

~ PRHE

Advancing health equity through environmental health science and policy is a core mission of PRHE. Inequities in exposures to environmental contaminants are an important contributor to health inequities and can have a significant effect on the quality of life in at-risk communities. A potentially important step toward addressing inequities came with President Biden’s Executive Order … Continue reading How EPA can improve identifying and reducing environmental health inequities

5 years after TSCA reform – Why EPA must prioritize science to protect public health

~ PRHE

Implementation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) does not fully account for science or protect the public’s health, so how can EPA strengthen implementation of the law? The Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment (PRHE) has closely monitored EPA’s TSCA implementation, submitting public comments on how inadequate … Continue reading 5 years after TSCA reform – Why EPA must prioritize science to protect public health

FIGO urges removal of PFAS use around the globe

~ PRHE ~ 2 Comments

Today, the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics issued an opinion calling for PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) chemicals to be restricted around the globe. PRHE has been working in partnership with FIGO and the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) on efforts to interpret the science and inform ob-gyn patients about how chemicals impact pregnant … Continue reading FIGO urges removal of PFAS use around the globe