Scientists identify hundreds of chemicals from plastics in people

Hundreds of plastic-related chemicals were identified in pregnant women by scientists at UC San Francisco in a study published today in Environment & Health Journal. Alarmingly, many of these chemicals have little to no current exposure data, which means little is known about how much they are impacting people and their health. “It is extremely … Continue reading Scientists identify hundreds of chemicals from plastics in people

UCSF EaRTH Center furthers environmental health at NIEHS annual meeting

NIH-funded environmental health centers from 18 states are gathered in Lexington, Kentucky this week for their annual meeting to further science and public health research. The Environmental Health Sciences Core Centers, a consortium of 26 centers including the UCSF EaRTH Center, are collaborating with colleagues and sharing the latest science despite the government shutdown that … Continue reading UCSF EaRTH Center furthers environmental health at NIEHS annual meeting

PRHE at ISEE 2025: The newest science on how toxic chemicals impact pregnancy and child health

A team of PRHE scientists will share their latest research on how plastic-related chemicals, pesticides, and chemicals in antimicrobials and clothing are affecting pregnancy and child development. What lesser-known chemicals are affecting pregnancy? Which toxic chemicals are linked to miscarriage and gestational diabetes? What combinations of toxic chemicals and social stressors are harming children’s neurodevelopment? … Continue reading PRHE at ISEE 2025: The newest science on how toxic chemicals impact pregnancy and child health

Rising waters and rising risks in Richmond

Photo credit: Richmond Shoreline Alliance. Source: https://www.richmondshorelinealliance.org/

Main takeaways: Sea level rise is raising risks of harmful chemical exposures in shoreline communities like Richmond, CA These risks are falling disproportionately on communities already hard hit by contamination and pollution  One of those risks is increase in exposure to VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which enter buildings and can increase cancer risk  The Richmond … Continue reading Rising waters and rising risks in Richmond

Exposure to chemical dyes in clothing increases risk of gestational diabetes

Exposure to chemical dyes found in textiles increases the risk of gestational diabetes, especially among pregnant women carrying male fetuses, according to researchers at UC San Francisco. The study is also one of the first to find that racial discrimination increases risk of gestational diabetes. People can be exposed to aromatic amines, which are found … Continue reading Exposure to chemical dyes in clothing increases risk of gestational diabetes

Chemicals used in firefighting and pesticides linked to most common and deadly brain tumors

Causes of gliomas, the most common type of deadly brain tumor, remain a mystery despite improvements in understanding glioma risks. Firefighters have a higher rate of these cancerous tumors, so we explored how exposure to haloalkanes, chemicals present in a number of widely used products including flame retardants, some fire extinguishants, solvents and pesticides, might … Continue reading Chemicals used in firefighting and pesticides linked to most common and deadly brain tumors

Environmental health research is essential to tackle skyrocketing chronic disease

Have you heard of a P30 Environmental Health Center? There are 26 of them in the U.S. funded by the National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences to investigate the health impacts of air and water pollution, chemicals in everyday products, microplastics, and other ways contaminants put into our environment affect people. These centers have been … Continue reading Environmental health research is essential to tackle skyrocketing chronic disease

Microplastics may be leading to lung and colon cancers

A review of 3,000 studies also suggests these minute plastic air particles may be causing male and female infertility. Tires and degrading garbage shed tiny pieces of plastic into the air, creating a form of air pollution that UC San Francisco researchers suspect may be causing respiratory and other illnesses. A review of some 3,000 … Continue reading Microplastics may be leading to lung and colon cancers