Author: Tracey Woodruff

Tracey Woodruff, PhD, MPH is Professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences and Philip R Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies at the University of California, San Francisco and the Director of the Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment. She has done extensive research and policy development on environmental health issues, with a particular emphasis on early-life development. Her research include evaluating prenatal exposures to environmental chemicals and related adverse pregnancy outcomes, and characterizing developmental risks. She has authored numerous scientific publications and book chapters, and has been quoted widely in the press, including USAToday, the San Francisco Chronicle, and WebMD. She was previously at the US EPA, where she was a senior scientist and policy advisor in the Office of Policy, and author of numerous government documents. She is an Associate Editor of Environmental Health Perspectives. She was appointed by the governor of California in 2012 to the Science Advisory Board of the Developmental and Reproductive Toxicant (DART) Identification Committee.

Decades of research document the detrimental health effects of BPA – an expert on environmental pollution and maternal health explains what it all means

Woman drinking from plastic water bottle
~ Tracey Woodruff

Whether or not you’ve heard of the chemical bisphenol A, better known as BPA, studies show that it’s almost certainly in your body. BPA is used in the manufacturing of products like plastic water bottles, baby bottles, toys and food packaging, including in the lining of cans. BPA is one of many harmful chemicals in … Continue reading Decades of research document the detrimental health effects of BPA – an expert on environmental pollution and maternal health explains what it all means

How to fix chemical policymaking at EPA

~ Tracey Woodruff

The last four years have been a master class in how to put the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to work for the chemical industry. Overwhelming scientific evidence demonstrates we are all exposed to multiple, industrial chemicals and pollutants in our environment and that these exposures affect our health, increase risk of disease, and jeopardize children’s … Continue reading How to fix chemical policymaking at EPA

How to prioritize science and health at EPA

~ Tracey Woodruff

Overwhelming scientific evidence demonstrates that exposure to chemicals and pollutants in our environment affects our health, increases risk of disease, and jeopardizes children’s development. Public policies determine what and how much we are exposed to and thus, how much our health is at risk. To protect public health, policies must be created using the best … Continue reading How to prioritize science and health at EPA

What the science says about children’s environmental health

~ Tracey Woodruff

Versions of this post appear in both English and Spanish languages below. October 8 is Children’s Environmental Health Day, started by the Children’s Environmental Health Network four years ago to bring attention to how environmental policies influence children’s health and development. PRHE and our new EaRTH Center are co-sponsors. Children’s health and the environment are … Continue reading What the science says about children’s environmental health

Launching the UCSF EaRTH Center to Reimagine Environmental Health Science

~ Tracey Woodruff ~ 1 Comment

To transform current approaches to studying harmful environmental pollutants that undermine health and human development, and contribute to chronic disease, today we launched the new UCSF Environmental Research and Translation for Health (EaRTH) Center. It is critical that we accelerate the pace of discovery of harmful chemical exposures and improve strategies for prevention, particularly for … Continue reading Launching the UCSF EaRTH Center to Reimagine Environmental Health Science

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

EPA method will curtail science used in chemical evaluations

~ Tracey Woodruff ~ 1 Comment

EPA recently released its new TSCA “systematic review” method that establishes how the Agency will use science to make decisions about whether to limit toxic chemicals in our air, water, food and everyday products. Unfortunately, our analysis finds that instead of ensuring a comprehensive, unbiased evaluation, like a systematic review is supposed to do, the … Continue reading EPA method will curtail science used in chemical evaluations

Pruitt’s war on science just got real

~ Tracey Woodruff ~ 1 Comment

EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt just released new proposed regulations that he claims will ‘strengthen science’ and address the ‘replication crisis.’  But let’s be very clear, these regulations will only serve to undermine scientific evidence and contribute to the real crisis here—unraveling public health protection in the U.S. The rulemaking is based on prior proposed legislation … Continue reading Pruitt’s war on science just got real

Research program benefits kid’s health; funding in jeopardy

~ Tracey Woodruff

The Children’s Health Protection Advisory Committee (CHPAC) sent a letter to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt praising the innovative science carried out by the Children’s Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research Centers across the country and supporting continued funding for their vital work which contributes to reducing health risks and improving the quality of life for … Continue reading Research program benefits kid’s health; funding in jeopardy

EPA advisory panels – experts need not apply?

~ Tracey Woodruff

Scott Pruitt, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), recently implemented a new policy banning scientists who receive EPA grant money from serving on its advisory committees. In many cases, independent university scientists, who are leading experts in their fields, will be replaced with advisors funded by the oil, chemical and waste disposal industries—the … Continue reading EPA advisory panels – experts need not apply?