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

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

Chemicals and Pregnancy Complications: Findings from Nontargeted Analysis

EDC Strategies Partnership, in partnership with the Collaborative for Health and the Environment (CHE), hosted the following webinar on Thursday, September 14th. Drs. Jessica Trowbridge and Tracey Woodruff from PRHE presented. Chemicals and Pregnancy Complications: Findings from Nontargeted Analysis Toxic chemicals are ubiquitous in the environment. Fewer than one percent of the more than 40,000 … Continue reading Chemicals and Pregnancy Complications: Findings from Nontargeted Analysis

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

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

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

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

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”

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

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

Long-term study of pregnant women finds increasing chemical exposure

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

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