Vulnerable populations bear the burden of EPA’s inadequate policy on industrial chemicals

~ Patricia Koman, MPP, PhD

In 2016 with bipartisan support, the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act became law, updating the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Before the update, TSCA was widely seen as ineffective at protecting public health, especially for susceptible groups like pregnant women, infants, children, the elderly, and workers. Under the new Lautenberg … Continue reading Vulnerable populations bear the burden of EPA’s inadequate policy on industrial chemicals

Lights, Camera, Research! PRHE takes the Spotlight on CNN

~ Courtney Cooper

The scientific community usually disseminates research in peer reviewed journals, scientific magazines, and other academic literature. But sharing innovative research with a wider audience is also important – especially when it involves Emmy award-winning, CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta. In fall 2018, captivated by our work to understand how environmental exposures affect women … Continue reading Lights, Camera, Research! PRHE takes the Spotlight on CNN

The attack on children’s health

~ Tracey Woodruff ~ 1 Comment

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Trump Administration has undermined children's health again-- this time by unceremoniously defunding the Children’s Environmental Health Research Centers program. These centers, based at academic institutions around the country, including the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) are charged with examining how pollution and chemicals in our air, water, … Continue reading The attack on children’s health

Don’t put pregnancy in a corner: it’s about more than fetal health

~ Julia Varshavsky

Many people know that developing fetuses are especially vulnerable to toxic chemicals — this is why during pregnancy doctors advise you not to eat fish high in mercury as it affects the fetus’ rapidly growing brain. But ask anyone who has been pregnant, and they’ll tell you their bodies also underwent radical changes. To better … Continue reading Don’t put pregnancy in a corner: it’s about more than fetal health

EPA pushes ‘transparency’ rule as science advisors dissent

~ Veena Singla

EPA’s Science Advisory Board (SAB) is meeting June 5-6, 2019 to discuss key issues underlying how the Agency evaluates and uses science in policy decisions. Dr. Tracey Woodruff, Professor and Director at the University of California, San Francisco Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, gave this statement: Listening to today's EPA meeting with its … Continue reading EPA pushes ‘transparency’ rule as science advisors dissent

The deadly omission in EPA’s Methylene Chloride rule

~ Swati Rayasam

In October 2017, Drew Wynne, 31, succumbed to methylene chloride fumes while removing paint from the floors of his coffee company. This was almost a year after EPA proposed but refused to finalize a rule to ban methylene chloride paint strippers (“2017 rule”) which could have prevented his death. When EPA finalized their rule in … Continue reading The deadly omission in EPA’s Methylene Chloride rule

House investigates EPA’s failures on workers and toxic chemicals

~ Veena Singla

The House Energy & Commerce sub-committee on Environment and Climate Change is holding a hearing on “Mismanaging Chemical Risks: EPA’s Failure to Protect Workers.” Dr. Tracey Woodruff, Professor and Director at the University of California, San Francisco Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, gave this statement: "The science is clear: workers face disproportionately high … Continue reading House investigates EPA’s failures on workers and toxic chemicals

ROBINS-E: Good studies gone bad

~ PRHE

Assessing environmental hazards often requires the evaluating a diverse body of evidence of varying quality. It is critical to consider the credibility of the individual studies used in the evaluation to reach conclusions through a consistent, transparent, and empirically-demonstrated methods such as those used in systematic review. The GRADE Working Group recently released one such … Continue reading ROBINS-E: Good studies gone bad

Paint strippers need informed solutions, not regrettable substitution

~ PRHE

Methylene chloride is a chemical used in paint strippers that is bad for the environment and very toxic — it can even kill you. Methylene chloride is dangerous for workers and consumers and we need safer strippers- but my new research shows the dark side of making a substitution without a careful evaluation. My colleagues from … Continue reading Paint strippers need informed solutions, not regrettable substitution