Category: EaRTH Center

Industrial farms, pregnancy, and public health: what we found in California

~ PRHE

If you’ve ever driven along I-5 through the California Central Valley, you likely detected an acrid stench that permeates the air. The noxious odor comes from Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), industrial-scale meat and dairy production facilities that confine large numbers of animals. The manure waste generated by these animals – thousands to millions of … Continue reading Industrial farms, pregnancy, and public health: what we found in California

What heat, pollution and rising energy demand mean for reproductive health

~ PRHE

Investigating climate change impacts on reproductive health reveals a minefield of urgent questions: How do heat and pollution affect fetal development? What role do endocrine-disrupting chemicals, such as microplastics and PFAS, play in infertility? Why have fecundity and fertility declined over the last 40 years, and could climate-related exposures be contributing factors? In “Climate Change … Continue reading What heat, pollution and rising energy demand mean for reproductive health

Why social conditions must be part of environmental health risk

~ PRHE

When we talk about the health risks of toxic chemical exposure, we tend to focus on the chemicals themselves — how much, how long, how often. But the research my colleagues and I published recently in Journal Of Exposure Science And Environmental Epidemiology argues that this picture is incomplete in ways that matter enormously, especially for … Continue reading Why social conditions must be part of environmental health risk

Everyday chemicals detected in the womb

~ PRHE

The fluid that surrounds a baby during pregnancy does more than cushion and protect. Amniotic fluid reflects what a developing fetus is exposed to in the womb, offering a direct snapshot of both fetal metabolic processes and the prenatal environment. Yet despite its importance, scientists have rarely studied it for environmental chemicals.  In our new study, … Continue reading Everyday chemicals detected in the womb

New clues on how PFAS may disrupt placental function

~ PRHE

A new study from UC San Francisco, published yesterday in Environmental Science & Technology, provides clues to how PFAS may contribute to pregnancy complications and adverse developmental outcomes.  Forever chemicals such as PFOA and other PFAS contaminate drinking water supplies across the United States, are detected in the blood of nearly all pregnant women, and … Continue reading New clues on how PFAS may disrupt placental function

Surviving extreme heat: expanding access in a warming world

~ PRHE

Extreme heat is now one of the deadliest weather-related public health threats in the United States, contributing to thousands of emergency department visits and preventable deaths each year. Longer heat waves, higher temperatures, and more frequent extreme weather events are placing growing strain on individuals, healthcare systems, and community infrastructure. Some communities face greater risks … Continue reading Surviving extreme heat: expanding access in a warming world

Common pesticides may disrupt placental health

~ PRHE

Pregnancy depends on a healthy placenta, but how environmental chemicals affect placental development is still poorly understood. Growing evidence suggests that exposure to common pesticides may increase the risk of pregnancy complications. In our new study examining pregnancy risks from pesticides, one pesticide stood out: naled. You might not have heard of naled - an … Continue reading Common pesticides may disrupt placental health

Scientists identify hundreds of chemicals from plastics in people

~ PRHE

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