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
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
The following is a guest blog from Project TENDR. Action is urgently needed to safeguard children’s developing brains from microplastics and plastic-related chemicals say scientists and health professionals from across the U.S. who are part of Project TENDR, a coalition working to protect children from toxic chemicals that can contribute to problems with learning, attention, and … Continue reading Plastic chemicals and microplastic exposures must be reduced to protect children’s brains
As wildfire seasons grow longer and more intense across the United States, a major new study reveals important findings about how smoke exposure affects pregnant women and their babies. The growing threat Wildfires are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change, exposing millions of Americans to smoke-filled air. For pregnant people, this isn't … Continue reading Wildfire smoke and pregnancy: what expecting parents need to know
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
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
Plastics are made of more than 16,000 chemicals, mostly derived from oil and gas. Over 4,200 are known to be hazardous, while the toxicity of the majority of the remaining is unknown. – “Negotiating the plastics treaty to protect health and the environment” Main takeaways: The United Nations (UN) is in the process of negotiating … Continue reading Scientists urge plastics treaty negotiators to prioritize health
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
Causes of gliomas, the most common type of deadly brain tumor, remain a mystery despite improvements in understanding glioma risks. Firefighters have a higher rate of these cancerous tumors, so we explored how exposure to haloalkanes, chemicals present in a number of widely used products including flame retardants, some fire extinguishants, solvents and pesticides, might … Continue reading Chemicals used in firefighting and pesticides linked to most common and deadly brain tumors
As oncologists, we’ve witnessed how extreme weather events have disrupted treatment for our patients. Delays caused by storms or flooding or wildfires can disrupt the timing of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, eroding precious weeks from life-saving treatment schedules. These weather occurrences, which are growing more frequent and severe due to climate change, highlight an urgent … Continue reading How extreme weather is disrupting cancer care
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