Prenatal exposure to PFAS and PBDE chemicals linked to greater risk of preterm birth

Prematurity is the second leading cause of death among infants in the United States and exposure to PFAS and PBDEs (chemicals in non-stick pans, water-repellent fabric, and furniture foam) during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of preterm birth. But while there is extensive research on some of these chemicals, the effects of other, … Continue reading Prenatal exposure to PFAS and PBDE chemicals linked to greater risk of preterm birth

Learn how toxics are affecting this generation and the next

Join us for a new webinar series that will provide you with the latest science to help your patients Learn from top scientists and experts about the impacts of environmental exposures and toxics on reproductive health, pregnancy, and development. “Generation Chemical: How Environmental Exposures Are Affecting Reproductive Health and the Environment” is a dynamic webinar … Continue reading Learn how toxics are affecting this generation and the next

What the science says about children’s environmental health

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

TSCA is 4

Congress amended the law that is supposed to protect people from dangerous chemicals. EPA’s current leadership is exploiting the law’s loopholes and making a mockery of it. Four years ago, Congress passed and President Obama signed legislation to amend the nation's Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) that regulates chemicals in commerce, changes that were 40 … Continue reading TSCA is 4

So many chemicals—how do we decide which ones to study?

The question is no longer whether environmental chemical exposures produce adverse health effects in children, but rather which chemicals have the most harmful impact. Fetuses and children are especially susceptible to environmental influences. Scientists and physicians are concerned that over the last 10-30 years, the prevalence of certain childhood diseases has increased, including adverse birth … Continue reading So many chemicals—how do we decide which ones to study?

PRHE at American Public Health Association Annual Meeting & Expo 2019

The Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment invites you to the following events at the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting & Expo 2019. November 2-6, 2019 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center Monday, November 4th Translating Environmental Health Sciences for Diverse Audiences to Protect Children’s Health Session 3354.0 Time: 3:00 - 4:30pm Location: 104B Protecting children’s … Continue reading PRHE at American Public Health Association Annual Meeting & Expo 2019

New flame retardants, old problems

Replacement flame retardants present serious risks, caution scientists New flame retardants escaping from our TVs and children’s car seats are just as toxic as the flame retardants they’re intended to replace, according to a peer-reviewed study published today in Environmental Science & Technology Letters. The authors found that the replacement chemicals, called organophosphate flame retardants, … Continue reading New flame retardants, old problems

Bringing the environment into the clinic

People trust doctors, such as their pediatricians and obstetricians/ gynecologists (OB/Gyns), to give them important health information about their pregnancy and children. But by and large, pediatricians and OB/Gyns nationwide are not doing their part to protect children from toxic environmental chemicals that increase risks of cancer, endocrine disruption, autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, and lower … Continue reading Bringing the environment into the clinic

The attack on children’s health

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