Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment
@ucsf-prhe.bsky.social
Working to create a healthier #environment for human reproduction and development through advancing #science and policy. Part of UCSF and @ucsf-obgynrs.bsky.social
Save the date! PRHE partner the EaRTH Center is hosting a webinar on Wednesday, August 19 at 11 AM PT with Dr. Stephanie Gaw on how wildfire smoke exposure may affect placental function and what multi-omic research is revealing about maternal and fetal health. Register at earth.ucsf.edu/events.
Wildfire smoke is now a national health issue — and for pregnant people, the risks run deeper than most realize. PRHE Acting Director Dr. Amy Padula shares what the science says and how to protect yourself. Read our latest blog here: https://wp.me/p96JEP-2dm
A new PRHE study published in the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology shows that social conditions — like poverty, discrimination, and limited healthcare access — can compound the harm of chemical exposures. Read our new blog to learn more: https://ow.ly/urc750ZljV9
Dr. Jessica Trowbridge, Associate Research Scientist at PRHE and a breast cancer survivor, testified today with @bcppartners.bsky.social on the Safer Food Packaging Act (AB 1148) at a CA State Assembly Health Committee hearing. Great job, Dr. Trowbridge! 👏
Did you know tire wear is one of the biggest sources of microplastics in our waterways? A new study found that fish and shrimp readily eat these tiny rubber particles — and it's stunting their growth and altering behavior in ways that ripple up the food chain. 🐟
What Tires Leave Behind Can Become Toxic Fish Food - Eos
Tire particles might seem tasty, if you’re a fish—but a new study shows how this pervasive microplastic can affect growth and behavior in marine species.
eos.org
New research from our team at UCSF sheds light on the prenatal environment. Scientists examined amniotic fluid and confirmed 10 environmental contaminants, 9 of which had never previously been detected. Read more about it in our new blog post. 🧪
Everyday chemicals detected in the womb
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
prheucsf.blog
New UCSF research offers clues into how #PFAS may disrupt placental function and and contribute to adverse pregnancy outcomes.. Read more on the PRHE blog. ⬇️
New clues on how PFAS may disrupt placental function
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
prheucsf.blog
The leading scientists affiliated with Project TENDR - Targeting Environmental Neuro-Development Risks have developed a scientific consensus paper on what plastic-related chemicals and microplastics are doing to children's brains - and it's not good.
Plastic chemicals and microplastic exposures must be reduced to protect children’s brains
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
wp.me
Several states, including California, have a primary election today — get out there and vote!
Extreme heat is one of the deadliest public health threats — and not everyone has equal access to potentially life-saving information. Our new blog post highlights the "How to Survive a Heatwave" resource, now available in Arabic. #ExtremeHeat #PublicHealth #ClimateHealth
Surviving extreme heat: expanding access in a warming world
Extreme heat is now one of the deadliest weather-related public health threats in the United States, contributing to thousands of emergency department visits and preventable deaths each year. Longer h...
wp.me
TOMORROW at noon! More info + registration link here: www.healthandenvironment.org/che-webinars...
CHE@che-healthenv.bsky.social · 3mo agoJoin us next Tuesday, May 19 for a discussion about pesticides & children's health. “Prenatal Exposure to OP Pesticides: Health outcomes & potential mechanisms” highlights new research from Eleanor Medley & Dr. Haleigh Cavalier. RSVP here: www.healthandenvironment.org/che-webinars...
PRHE correspondent Ari Eastburn is in Sac today for the Fund California Science rally—where scientists, clinicians and more are calling for funding for life-saving research. Ari says: “Everyone here has a story about how they’ve been impacted by loss of funding.” 🔬 #SaveScienceSaveLives
This #InternationalWorkersDay, we stand with every worker who deserves better protections from chemical exposures — and all other hazards — in the workplace. We also stand for the right to organize and thank every person who makes their voice heard on #MayDay2026. 💪
Congratulations to our long-time collaborator Rachel Morello-Frosch on becoming the first-ever associate provost for energy, climate, and environment at UC Berkeley! We're so proud to see her work recognized at this level. 🌱
UC Berkeley appoints Rachel Morello-Frosch as inaugural associate provost for energy, climate, and environment - Berkeley News
The public health expert and Berkeley professor will unite scholars across campus to address crucial environmental challenges.
news.berkeley.edu
PRHE is back in action! Our staff gathered this week for a strategic planning retreat — coming together to reflect, align, and map out what's next. Big things are on the horizon. 🔭
New blog post: A major study of 20,000+ pregnancies found that wildfire smoke exposure — especially multi-day smoke events — is linked to increased risk of preterm birth. Timing during pregnancy matters too. prheucsf.blog/2026/04/16/w...
Wildfire smoke and pregnancy: what expecting parents need to know
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 th...
prheucsf.blog
New blog post: A major study of 20,000+ pregnancies found that wildfire smoke exposure — especially multi-day smoke events — is linked to increased risk of preterm birth. Timing during pregnancy matters too.
Wildfire smoke and pregnancy: what expecting parents need to know
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 th...
prheucsf.blog
@amypadula.bsky.social spoke at CVAQ's Annual Clean Air Action Day in Sacramento last week. Don't miss her impactful speech on the PRHE blog.
Rallying for clean air at the California State Capitol
On March 11th, Dr. Amy Padula spoke at the Central Valley Air Quality Coalition‘s 23rd Annual Clean Air Action Day rally at the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The following is her full speech...
prheucsf.blog
"When we look more comprehensively, we see that babies are exposed to far more #PFAS chemicals before birth than we previously realized..."
Babies Are Exposed to 42 'Forever Chemicals' Before Birth, Study Finds
Babies are exposed to many more 'forever chemicals' before they're born than previously thought, new research suggests, as the potential harms of these substances continue to be investigated.
sciencealert.com
You've heard of the pesticides chlorpyrifos and malathion, but have you heard of naled? Dept. of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Science at UCSF Robinson Lab postdoc Lin Li, MD, PhD, explains how naled might affect placental health in our latest blog post. ⬇️
Common pesticides may disrupt placental health
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
prheucsf.blog
Project TENDR scientists urged policymakers to protect children from toxic chemicals that harm children's brains at a Hill briefing last week. That means stopping the chemical lobby from gutting America's chemical safety law. #TSCA #ProtectKidsHealth www.thenewlede.org/2026/02/heal...
Health advocates clash with chemical industry as Congress proposes TSCA changes
Scientists and health advocates say proposed changes to a key US chemicals safety law would upend protections for children and other vulnerable populations suffering from toxic exposures, while indust...
thenewlede.org
Your Friday reminder that there are easy ways to reduce your PFAS exposure, including something you may already be doing: washing your hands before eating.
Forever Chemicals Are Everywhere — But Avoiding These 2 Types Of Products Will Seriously Reduce Your Risk
Environmental scientist Tasha Stoiber reveals some simple ways to limit contact with PFAS.
huffpost.com
Despite the snow storm our Hill briefing is still ON. Join us on Capitol Hill Wed, Feb 25 at 11:30 am ET.
A resident of the Golden Triangle of Texas on ethylene oxide exposure: “You live here, you’re gonna get cancer.”
Toxic Smoke and Mirrors: How a Petrochemical Giant Broke Its Promise
Documents obtained by Hunterbrook show Indorama exposed thousands to carcinogens, violated environmental permits, and concealed toxic leaks from regulators.
hntrbrk.com
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Amy Padula as PRHE’s new interim director! Discover more about her background and vision for PRHE's future in our newest blog post. https://prheucsf.blog/2026/02/12/announcing-new-prhe-interim-director-amy-padula/
Announcing new PRHE interim director Amy Padula
PRHE announced earlier in February that Dr. Amy Padula, a leading PRHE researcher who was named one of 20 Pioneers under 40 in Environmental Health by the Collaborative on Health and the Environment and received a NIEHS Outstanding New Environmental Scientist R01 Award for her work on wildfire smoke and preterm birth, will serve as … Continue reading Announcing new PRHE interim director Amy Padula
prheucsf.blog
Today, the EPA chose to abandon its key duty by repealing the #EndangermentFinding. This decision will make people sicker and leave families to pay the cost, all while shielding polluters from accountability. Our statement: medsocietiesforclimatehealth.org/statements/c... @lisapatel.bsky.social
Firefighters face elevated cancer risks compared to the general population, yet the health impacts on wildland firefighters remain less understood than those who respond to structural fires. #PFAS is likely one of the culprits.
Firefighters Wore Gear Containing “Forever Chemicals.” The Forest Service Knew and Stayed Silent for Years.
As early as 2021, government officials were alerted to the presence of potentially dangerous chemicals known as PFAS in pants used by wildland firefighters, according to emails obtained by ProPublica.
propublica.org
"Black women already have the highest death rates due to asthma, a condition caused and exacerbated by air pollution. ... Black children are also 8x more likely to die from an asthma attack than White children." https://19thnews.org/2026/02/epa-air-pollution-black-women-health/
As EPA weakens air pollution regulations, Black women stand to face the greatest health risks
They already face the highest rates of asthma-related mortality in the nation. Dirtier air will make that worse.
19thnews.org
The chemical lobby is trying to weaken America's main chemical safety law. If they succeed, people will be exposed to a lot more toxic chemicals and chronic disease. https://sharylattkisson.com/2026/02/industry-lobbies-congress-to-weaken-protections-against-toxic-chemicals/
Industry lobbies Congress to weaken protections against toxic chemicals | Sharyl Attkisson
Industry-backed lawmakers are pushing changes to safety law that would block lawsuits and weaken protections against toxic exposures.
sharylattkisson.com
“These are chemical weapons that are harmful to the human body and harmful to particularly vulnerable folks, like children,” says Asha Hassan, an epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota https://www.sciencenews.org/article/tear-gas-pepper-spray-health-effects
Tear gas and pepper spray can have lasting health effects
The chemicals are widely used for crowd control, but their long-term health risks are poorly understood.
sciencenews.org