Category: News Release

Exposure to PFAS chemicals doubles the odds of a prior cancer diagnosis in women

~ PRHE

A new study shows a clear association between exposure to certain PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) and phenol (including BPA) chemicals and a previous cancer diagnosis in women from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The study was conducted by researchers in NIEHS-funded P30 centers from UC San Francisco (UCSF), University of Southern … Continue reading Exposure to PFAS chemicals doubles the odds of a prior cancer diagnosis in women

PFAS and chemicals used in plastics associated with increased risk of poor pregnancy outcomes

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Chemicals used in plastic production and PFAS are widespread in Bay Area pregnant women and are associated with an increased risk of poor pregnancy outcomes including gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, and hypertension, according to UCSF researchers. In a new study published in the July 19, 2023, Environmental Health Perspectives, UCSF researchers with the Program on Reproductive … Continue reading PFAS and chemicals used in plastics associated with increased risk of poor pregnancy outcomes

Makers of PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ covered up the dangers

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Widely used in clothing, household products and food, they resist breaking down in the environment The chemical industry took a page out of the tobacco playbook when they discovered and suppressed their knowledge of health harms caused by exposure to PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), according to an analysis of previously secret industry documents by … Continue reading Makers of PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ covered up the dangers

Code OB: Urgent action on climate and toxic chemicals needed

~ PRHE

The problem: Atmospheric rivers in California. Deadly snow in New York. Devastating floods in Pakistan. Drought and famine in Africa. The fallout from climate change is here and no one is immune.   And this crisis, driven by fossil fuel use, is seriously affecting women’s health, pregnancy, and reproductive care, physicians and scientists say. Special … Continue reading Code OB: Urgent action on climate and toxic chemicals needed

Scientists recommend changes to chemical regulatory process

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As Chemicals Proliferate in the Environment, a Science-Based Approach Is Needed to Protect Human Health With chemical production and use on the rise, and continued evidence that many chemicals in everyday products are linked to health problems such as cancer, infertility, and neurodevelopmental conditions, an interdisciplinary group of scientific experts said changes are urgently needed … Continue reading Scientists recommend changes to chemical regulatory process

PRHE paper wins ES&T “Best Paper Award for Environmental Science”

~ PRHE

This is a first for PRHE! One of our papers received a 2022 “Best Paper Award for Environmental Science” from the journal Environmental Science & Technology, ES&T. The honor was especially poignant as the editors reflected on the landscape that scientists – and everyone – is working under: "Facing the COVID pandemic, war, political conflict, … Continue reading PRHE paper wins ES&T “Best Paper Award for Environmental Science”

Poll: Voters Agree on Need for More Protections from Chemicals

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American voters overwhelmingly say they want government and industry to ensure the products they buy are free of harmful chemicals, and they are willing to pay more for it, according to a national online survey commissioned by the Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment (PRHE) at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). “At … Continue reading Poll: Voters Agree on Need for More Protections from Chemicals

Long-term study of pregnant women finds increasing chemical exposure

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A national study that enrolled a highly diverse group of pregnant women over a 12-year period found rising exposure to chemicals from plastics and pesticides that may be harmful to development. Many of the chemicals that the women had been exposed to were replacement chemicals: new forms of chemicals that have been banned or phased … Continue reading Long-term study of pregnant women finds increasing chemical exposure

FIGO study: Dietary changes can reduce exposure to EDCs

Pregnant woman chopping vegetables
~ PRHE

Avoiding food in plastic or cans, and avoiding fast foods are among the recommendations in a new study from the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) to reduce exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and improve pregnancy outcomes. The study, published in the International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics, was a semi-structured review to learn … Continue reading FIGO study: Dietary changes can reduce exposure to EDCs