Tag: Research

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

Wildfire smoke and pregnancy: what the science tells us and why it matters right now

~ PRHE

As massive wildfires send smoke billowing across the mid-Atlantic, northeastern United States, and Midwest, many people are focused on the immediate effects of breathing smoky air: burning eyes, irritated throats, and worsening asthma. But for pregnant women, the risks may run deeper and last longer than the smoke itself. Wildfires are no longer just a … Continue reading Wildfire smoke and pregnancy: what the science tells us and why it matters right now

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

Exposure to chemical dyes in clothing increases risk of gestational diabetes

~ PRHE

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

Environmental health research is essential to tackle skyrocketing chronic disease

~ PRHE

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