The fox shouldn’t guard the hen house

EPA says it must consider the perspective of multiple stakeholders when regulating, but the chemical industry can play an outsized role in Agency rulemaking. For example, when people paid by industry, through grants, contracts, or as employees, are appointed to EPA scientific advisory committees, this financial conflict of interest (financial COI) can lead to weaker … Continue reading The fox shouldn’t guard the hen house

Briefing Capitol Hill on why EPA must use best available science

The PRHE team went to Washington, DC last week to brief lawmakers and policy staff on how EPA can use best available science to improve the way it evaluates chemicals for potential human health harm for the Agency to better protect health, communities, and the environment.  Moderated by Tracey J. Woodruff, PhD, MPH, PRHE’s director, UCSF … Continue reading Briefing Capitol Hill on why EPA must use best available science

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!

From COVID to zebrafish: exploring new approaches to environmental health research

EaRTH Center Annual Research Forum  November 2, 2022  1:30-5:00pm PT  Do you want to look at environmental health in new ways? Are you trying to fill important data gaps? Want inspiration to ask fresh questions? Join other brilliant scientists, health care professionals, early-stage investigators, and postdocs who are trying to solve research challenges to improve … Continue reading From COVID to zebrafish: exploring new approaches to environmental health research