Are “safe” exposure levels really “safe”?

Health risk assessment is the method that regulators use to determine whether chemicals in the environment pose a risk to people’s health and how much exposure to the chemical produces these effects. Unfortunately, current human health risk assessments don’t capture everyone’s risk level. Our recent paper, Application of Probabilistic Methods to Address Variability and Uncertainty … Continue reading Are “safe” exposure levels really “safe”?

With chemicals that can harm you, one size does not fit all

When the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) evaluates chemical risks, it assumes for the most part that we are all the same. Or, rather, that some of us might be a little bit more sensitive than others. Ten times more sensitive, to be specific. But that’s not exactly true. When it comes to chemicals in … Continue reading With chemicals that can harm you, one size does not fit all

The weak link: gaps in exposure assessments

Protecting the public from the most concerning environmental chemicals and contaminants involves many individual steps. For example, when an agency like the US EPA or FDA evaluates a chemical used in consumer products, they want to evaluate:  the hazards associated with that chemical,   how that chemical causes harm, how much of the chemical is released … Continue reading The weak link: gaps in exposure assessments

Pregnant? Contribute to a healthier future and join the DREAM study!

What harmful chemicals are in pregnant people and how do they get there? How are chemical exposures during pregnancy linked to future health problems in mothers and babies? How can we reduce toxic chemicals in our homes and environment? These are the questions the DREAM Study seeks to answer, and we need your help!   … Continue reading Pregnant? Contribute to a healthier future and join the DREAM study!

Chemicals behind global kidney failure outbreaks found in US pregnant women

No worries, it's melamine

Melamine – a chemical found in certain types of plastic dishware that the World Health Organization recently classified as “possibly carcinogenic” – made global news for causing outbreaks of kidney failure and deaths in pets in 2004 (Korea) and 2007 (U.S.) and later in children in 2008 (China). This was because manufacturers had added melamine … Continue reading Chemicals behind global kidney failure outbreaks found in US pregnant women

Exploring how historic redlining impacts health and environment today

Redlining, a discriminatory practice created by the federal government in the 1930s to deny mortgages in certain neighborhoods characterized by a higher proportion of Black and immigrant residents, established a lasting legacy of systemic racism and environmental inequities. So how can we better understand how historical redlining impacts our health and environment today? With funding … Continue reading Exploring how historic redlining impacts health and environment today

EPA can require chemical companies to provide data on PFAS risks. Why isn’t it?

Scientist examining toxic water samples

In the recent ProPublica article, “She’s Supposed to Protect Americans from Toxic Chemicals. First, She Has to Fix Trump’s Mess and Decades of Neglect,” Dr. Michal Freedhoff, PhD, EPA’s head of the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP) said: “You can’t ask companies to spend a bunch of money producing data that already … Continue reading EPA can require chemical companies to provide data on PFAS risks. Why isn’t it?