EDC Science Weekly, Dec. 16-23, 2022

Post author:HEEDS
Post published:December 23, 2022
Post category:EDC Science Weekly

A summary of articles on endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) added to PubMed this week.

I’ll be off next week so see you in January and happy holidays!

Contents: Events, Regulations/Policy, Methods/Tools/Screening, Commentaries, Reviews, Human Health Studies, Laboratory Studies, Exposure/Environment Studies

Events

See the December issue of HEEDS Monthly for some upcoming events.

Regulations/Policy

Advancing exposure knowledge and its uptake into policy: The European exposure science strategy 2020-2030 (Special Issue). [see this special issue in Environ Int]

Unlocking India’s Potential in Managing Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs): Importance, Challenges, and Opportunities.

The HBM4EU chromates study – Outcomes and impacts on EU policies and occupational health practices. [also includes PFAS]

Risk assessment of food contact materials.

foodsafety4eu: paving the way for the food safety system of the future.

Toxicological Comparison of Pesticide Active Substances Approved for Conventional vs. Organic Agriculture in Europe.

Methods/Tools/Screening

Methods

From Protein Sequence to Structure: The Next Frontier in Cross Species Extrapolation for Chemical Safety Evaluations.

Comparison of Rat Hepatocyte 2D-Monocultures and Hepatocytes Non-Parenchymal Cell Co-Cultures for Assessing Chemical Toxicity.

Computational chromatography: A machine learning strategy for demixing individual chemical components in complex mixtures.

New approach methodologies: A quantitative in vitro to in vivo extrapolation case study with PFASs.

Assessment of the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances analysis under the Stockholm Convention – 2018/2019.

The use of NAMs and omics data in risk assessment.

An interdisciplinary framework for derivation of occupational exposure limits. [from ExxonMobil]

Tools

PACEMweb: a tool for aggregate consumer exposure assessment.

Screening

Thyroid-on-a-chip: An Organoid Platform For In Vitro Assessment of Endocrine Disruption.

Predicting Endocrine Disruption Using Conformal Prediction – A Prioritization Strategy to Identify Hazardous Chemicals with Confidence.

Targeted Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) assessments for high throughput screening: Analytical and testing considerations to inform a PFAS stock quality evaluation framework.

High-Throughput Screening of Toxicants that Modulate Extravillous Trophoblast Migration.

Physicochemical and bioinformatic characterization of Oreochromis niloticus vitellogenin as an endocrine disruption biomarker.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Two In Vitro Assays in Evaluating Aromatase Activity: “A Cell-Based and a Cell-Free Assay”.

Commentaries

Integrating a Chemicals Perspective into the Global Plastic Treaty.

The Importance of Fostering and Funding Scientific Research and Its Relevance to Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.

Editorial: Application of computational tools to health and environmental sciences, Volume II. [intro to a research topic in Frontiers in Pharmacology]

Invited Perspective: Temporality and Recursive Dynamics in Stress-Pollution Interactions.

Aged before Their Time: Atrazine and Diminished Egg Quality in Mice. [Science Selection in EHP]

Nutritional Multitasking? Exploring Calcium Supplementation to Reduce Toxic Metal Effects. [Science Selection in EHP]

Reviews

Numerous Chemicals/Mixtures

South American National Contributions to Knowledge of the Effects of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in Wild Animals: Current and Future Directions.

A scientometric analysis of research trends on emerging contaminants in the field of cancer in 2012-2021.

Environmental endocrine disruptors and amphibian immunity: A bridge between the thyroid hormone axis and T cell development.

Microbiota analysis for risk assessment of xenobiotics: cumulative xenobiotic exposure and impact on human gut microbiota under One Health approach.

Toxicant exposure and the developing brain: A systematic review of the structural and functional MRI literature.

BPA/Phenols

Human exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) through medical-hospital devices: a systematic review.

Susceptibility of male reproductive system to bisphenol A, an endocrine disruptor: Updates from epidemiological and experimental evidence.

[Bisphenol A and breast cancer: State of knowledge and meta-analysis]. [in French]

Persistent Organic Pollutants: PCBs, Dioxin, OCPs

Association between polychlorinated biphenyl exposure and thyroid hormones: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Polychlorinated biphenyls: A review of recent updates on food safety and environmental monitoring, health and toxicological implications, and analysis.

Perfluoroalkyl Substances

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in breast milk and infant formula: A global issue.

Flame Retardants

Occurrence of organophosphorus esters in outdoor air fine particulate matter and comprehensive assessment of human exposure: A global systematic review.

A Review of Hydroxylated and Methoxylated Brominated Diphenyl Ethers in Marine Environments.

Pesticides

Organophosphate pesticides an emerging environmental contaminant: Pollution, toxicity, bioremediation progress, and remaining challenges.

Chemicals/materials of emerging concern in farmlands: sources, crop uptake and potential human health risks.

Multiple Neurological Effects Associated with Exposure to Organophosphorus Pesticides in Man.

Exposure Levels of Pyrethroids, Chlorpyrifos and Glyphosate in EU-An Overview of Human Biomonitoring Studies Published since 2000.

Metals/Metalloids

Gut as the target tissue of mercury and the extraintestinal effects.

Contemporary Comprehensive Review on Arsenic-Induced Male Reproductive Toxicity and Mechanisms of Phytonutrient Intervention.

Microplastics/Nanomaterials

Gross Negligence: Impacts of Microplastics and Plastic Leachates on Phytoplankton Community and Ecosystem Dynamics.

Air Pollution

Different components of air pollutants and neurological disorders.

Adverse Effects of Black Carbon (BC) Exposure during Pregnancy on Maternal and Fetal Health: A Contemporary Review.

Pharmaceuticals/Personal Care Products

Environmental impacts of the ultraviolet filter oxybenzone.

Environmental exposure to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and potential contribution to eggshell thinning in birds.

Miscellaneous

Potential Endocrine Disruption of Cyanobacterial Toxins, Microcystins and Cylindrospermopsin: A Review.

Human Health Studies

Numerous Chemicals/Mixtures

Plasma bisphenol a and phthalate levels in children with cerebral palsy: a case-control study.

Joint effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance alternatives and heavy metals on renal health: A community-based population study in China.

BPA/Phenols

Associations between urinary concentrations of bisphenols and serum concentrations of sex hormones among US. Males.

Phthalates

Increased maternal non-oxidative energy metabolism mediates association between prenatal di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) exposure and offspring autism spectrum disorder symptoms in early life: A birth cohort study.

Associations of early life phthalate exposures with adolescent lipid levels and insulin resistance: The HOME Study.

Associations between Phthalate Exposure and Gestational Age at Delivery in a Diverse Pregnancy Cohort.

Parabens/Triclosan/Antimicrobials

Concentrations of urinary parabens and reproductive hormones in Iranian women: Exposure and risk assessment.

Persistent Organic Pollutants: PCBs, Dioxin, OCPs

Do good carefully: The long-term effects of low-dose DDT exposure in early childhood on education, marriage and employment.

Perfluoroalkyl Substances

Changes in perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) concentrations in human milk over the course of lactation: A study in Ronneby mother-child cohort.

Cross-sectional associations of maternal PFAS exposure on SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody levels during pregnancy.

Prenatal perfluoroalkyl substances exposure and neurodevelopment in toddlers: Findings from SMBCS.

Perfluoroalkyl Substance Serum Concentrations and Cholesterol Absorption-Inhibiting Medication Ezetimibe.

Pesticides

Alteration of oral microbiome composition in children living with pesticide-exposed farm workers.

The association between organophosphate pesticide exposure and methylation of paraoxonase-1 in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Occupational and environmental pesticide exposure and associated health risks among pesticide applicators and non-applicator residents in rural Ethiopia.

Metals/Metalloids

Maternal Metals Exposure and Infant Weight Trajectory: The Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS).

Associations of metal exposure with hyperuricemia and gout in general adults.

Association of Community Water Lead Levels and Erythropoietin Stimulating Agent Use among End-Stage Kidney Disease Patients.

Association of Blood Heavy Metal Exposure with Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD) Among White Adults: Evidence from NHANES 1999-2018.

Relationships Between Indicators of Metabolic Disorders and Selected Concentrations of Bioelements and Lead in Serum and Bone Tissue in Aging Men.

In utero arsenic exposure increases DNA damage and gene expression changes in umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) from newborns as well as in UC-MSC differentiated hepatocytes.

Adverse Health Effects and Mercury Exposure in a Colombian Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Community.

Selenium attenuates the association of co-exposure to arsenic, cadmium, and lead with cognitive function among Chinese community-dwelling older adults.

Comparison of monoamine oxidase and selected heavy metal levels in the blood and the workplace among e-waste sorting workers in Ubon Ratchathani Province, Thailand.

Air Pollution

Long-term air pollution exposure and Parkinson’s disease mortality in a large pooled European cohort: An ELAPSE study.

Do wildfires exacerbate COVID-19 infections and deaths in vulnerable communities? Evidence from California.

The relationship between hair metabolites, air pollution exposure and gestational diabetes mellitus: A longitudinal study from pre-conception to third trimester.

Miscellaneous

Adolescence is a sensitive period for acrylamide-induced sex hormone disruption: Evidence from NHANES populations and experimental mice.

Associations between repeated measurements of urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites and thyroid hormones among reproductive-aged men.

Laboratory Studies

Numerous Chemicals/Mixtures

Acute Toxicity of Daphnia magna Neonates Exposed to Single and Composite Mixtures of Four Emerging Contaminants.

Toxicological effect and enzymatic disorder of non-studied emerging contaminants in Artemia salina model.

Accounting for transgenerational effects of toxicant exposure in population models alters the predicted long-term population status.

Lipophilicity profiling and cell viability assessment of a selected panel of endocrine disruptors.

Exposure to lead and dietary furan intake aggravates hypothalamus-pituitary-testicular axis toxicity in chronic experimental rats.

Prediction of the toxic effects of (agro) chemical mixtures on organisms using simple time-based models.

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate aggravates fine particulate matter-induced asthma in weanling mice due to T follicular helper cell-dependent response.

BPA/Phenols

The effects of bisphenols on the cardiovascular system ex vivo and in vivo.

Effects of Perinatal Exposure to Bisphenol A on Induction of Prostate Cancer in Sprague Dawley Rats by MNU and Testosterone.

Bisphenol S Impairs Behaviors through Disturbing Endoplasmic Reticulum Function and Reducing Lipid Levels in the Brain of Zebrafish.

Bisphenol S induces oxidative stress-mediated impairment of testosterone synthesis by inhibiting the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

Neurotoxicity of Bisphenol A and the Impact of Melatonin Administration on Oxidative Stress, ERK/NF-kB Signaling Pathway, and Behavior in Rats.

In vitro transcriptomic analyses reveal pathway perturbations, estrogenic activities, and potencies of data-poor BPA alternative chemicals.

Bisphenol A exacerbates anxiety-like behavior and neuroinflammation in prefrontal cortex of adult obese mice.

Renoprotective effect of N-acetylcystein and vitamin E in bisphenol A-induced rat nephrotoxicity; Modulators of Nrf2/ NF-κB and ROS signaling pathway.

Melatonin attenuates bisphenol A-induced colon injury by dual targeting mitochondrial dynamics and Nrf2 antioxidant system via activation of SIRT1/PGC-1α signaling pathway.

Toxicity of bisphenol A and its replacements in the mice Leydig cells in vitro.

Phthalates

Impact of mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) on the development of mouse embryo in vitro.

MicroRNA-375 Mediated Regulation on Pre-mRNA Processing Factor 3 in Zebrafish Embryos Exposed to Di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate at Low Concentrations.

Parabens/Triclosan/Antimicrobials

Thyroid hormone disrupting potentials of benzisothiazolinone in embryo-larval zebrafish and rat pituitary GH3 cell line.

Triclosan Reprograms Immunometabolism and Activates the Inflammasome in Human Macrophages.

Acute toxicity, oxidative stress, and apoptosis due to short-term triclosan exposure and multi- and transgenerational effects on in vivo endpoints, antioxidant defense, and DNA damage response in the freshwater water flea Daphnia magna.

Persistent Organic Pollutants: PCBs, Dioxin, OCPs

Polyhalogenated carbazoles induce hepatic metabolic disorders in mice via alteration in gut microbiota.

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-dioxin induces liver lipid metabolism disorder via the ROS/AMPK/CD36 signaling pathway.

In vitro hepatic metabolism of polychlorinated biphenyls with different chlorine-substituted structures in rats and humans: Kinetics, metabolism, and potential nuclear receptor affinities.

Perfluoroalkyl Substances

Variability in fecal metabolome depending on age, PFBS pollutant, and fecal transplantation in zebrafish: A non-invasive diagnosis of health.

Perfluorotetradecanoic Acid (PFTeDA) Induces Mitochondrial Damage and Oxidative Stress in Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Embryos/Larvae.

¹ H-NMR Metabolomics Analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana Exposed to Perfluorooctanoic Acid and Perfluoroctanesulfonic Acid.

Utilizing a Population-Genetic Framework to Test for Gene-Environment Interactions between Zebrafish Behavior and Chemical Exposure.

Flame Retardants

Postnatal exposure to low-dose tetrabromobisphenol A increases the susceptibility of mammal testes to chemical-induced spermatogenic stress in adulthood.

Developmental toxicity of TCBPA on the nervous and cardiovascular systems of zebrafish (Danio rerio): A combination of transcriptomic and metabolomics.

Genotoxic and Toxic Effects of The Flame Retardant Tris(Chloropropyl) Phosphate (TCPP) in Human Lymphocytes, Microalgae and Bacteria.

Pesticides

Azole pesticide products and their hepatic metabolites cause endocrine disrupting potential by suppressing the homo-dimerization of human estrogen receptor alpha.

Glyphosate-triggered hepatocyte ferroptosis via suppressing Nrf2/GSH/GPX4 axis exacerbates hepatotoxicity.

Behavioral and neuroinflammatory changes caused by glyphosate: Base herbicide in mice offspring.

Maternal Exposure to Glyphosate-based Herbicide Causes Changes in the Vascular Function of Offspring Adult Rats.

Metabolic profiling and in vitro–in vivo extrapolation of furathiocarb in mammalian hepatic microsomes.

Thiamethoxam affects the developmental stages of banded gourami (Trichogaster fasciata).

Rosmarinic acid mitigates chlorpyrifos-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and kidney injury in rats by modulating SIRT1 and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling.

Behavioral and neurochemical impairments after intranasal administration of chlorpyrifos formulation in mice.

Evaluation of Toxic Effects Induced by Sub-Acute Exposure to Low Doses of α-Cypermethrin in Adult Male Rats.

Lambda-cyhalothrin induces lipid accumulation in mouse liver is associated with AMPK inactivation.

Is nanoparaquat safer than bulk paraquat? An in vitro and in vivo evaluation.

In vivo exposure to pyriproxyfen causes ovarian oxidative stress and inhibits follicle maturation in zebrafish.

Gestational Exposure to Cyfluthrin through Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) Stress-Mediated PERK Signaling Pathway Impairs Placental Development.

Ecotoxicological Risk Assessment of Actellic 50 EC Insecticide on Non-Target Organisms in Parallel with the Application of Standardized Tests.

Metals/Metalloids

Copper and Zinc Treatments Alter the Thyroid Endocrine System in Zebrafish Embryos/Larvae.

Arsenic-induced differential inflammatory responses in mouse thymus involves NF-κB/STAT-3 disruption, Treg bias and autophagy activation.

Microplastics/Nanomaterials

Maternal exposure to polystyrene microplastics alters placental metabolism in mice.

Toxicity assessment of polyethylene microplastics in combination with a mix of emerging pollutants on Physalaemus cuvieri tadpoles.

Polystyrene microplastics induce gut microbiome and metabolome changes in Javanese medaka fish (Oryzias javanicus Bleeker, 1854).

Influence of microplastics on the photodegradation of perfluorooctane sulfonamide (FOSA).

Application of transcriptome profiling to inquire into the mechanism of nanoplastics toxicity during Ciona robusta embryogenesis.

Evaluation of toxicity of polystyrene microplastics under realistic exposure levels in human vascular endothelial EA.hy926 cells.

Nanoplastics promote arsenic-induced ROS accumulation, mitochondrial damage and disturbances in neurotransmitter metabolism of zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Morphological Alterations in the Early Developmental Stages of Zebrafish (Danio rerio; Hamilton 1822) Induced by Exposure to Polystyrene Microparticles.

Pharmaceuticals/Personal Care Products

Low concentrations of benzophenone-type UV-filters impair testis development in the amphibian Xenopus laevis.

Thyroid endocrine disruption and neurotoxicity of gestodene in adult female mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis).

Effects of the Antidepressant Amitriptyline on Juvenile Brown Trout and Their Modulation by Microplastics.

Miscellaneous

Transgenerational bone toxicity in F3 medaka (Oryzias latipes) induced by ancestral benzo[a]pyrene exposure: Cellular and transcriptomic insights.

Comparative cytotoxicity, endocrine-disrupting effects, oxidative stress of halophenolic disinfection byproducts and the underlying molecular mechanisms revealed by transcriptome analysis.

Cytotoxicity assessment and suspected screening of plastic additives in bioplastics of single-use household items.

Hormone-mediated multi- and trans-generational reproductive toxicities of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate on Caenorhabditis elegans.

Evaluating the alterations of the estrogen-responsive genes in Cyprinodon variegatus larvae for biomonitoring the impacts of estrogenic endocrine disruptors (EEDs).

Exposure/Environment Studies

Numerous Chemicals/Mixtures

Emerging Contaminants and New POPs (PFAS and HBCDD) in Endangered Southern Resident and Bigg’s (Transient) Killer Whales (Orcinus orca): In Utero Maternal Transfer and Pollution Management Implications.

Co-variate adjusted associations between serum concentrations of selected perfluoroalkyl substances and urinary concentrations of selected arsenic species.

Postnatal exposure to organic pollutants in maternal milk in north-western Spain. [POPs, PBDEs, pesticides, PAHs]

Co-exposure levels of volatile organic compounds and metals/metalloids in children: Implications for E-waste recycling activity prediction.

Bottled water contaminant exposures and potential human effects.

Exposure to Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers and Phthalates in China: A Disease Burden and Cost Analysis.

BPA/Phenols

An Assessment of Mass Flows, Removal and Environmental Emissions of Bisphenols in a Sequencing Batch Reactor Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Persistent Organic Pollutants: PCBs, Dioxin, OCPs

Legacy Chemical Pollutants in House Dust of Homes of Pregnant African Americans in Atlanta.

First WHO/UNEP survey of the current concentrations of persistent organic pollutants in human milk in Morocco.

Detection of indicator polychlorinated biphenyls (I-PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in cow milk from selected areas of Dhaka, Bangladesh and potential human health risks assessment.

Preliminary assessment of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in tissues of Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus) specimens stranded along the Italian coasts.

Perfluoroalkyl Substances

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in cord serum of newborns and their potential factors.

Isomer-Specific Serum Concentrations of Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid among U.S. Adults: Results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation Multi-Pollutant Study (SWAN-MPS).

Federal PFAS Testing and Tribal Public Water Systems. [see related Invited Perspective: Tribal Water Issues Exemplified by the Navajo Nation.]

Quantitative relationships of perfluoroalkyl acids in drinking water associated with serum concentrations above background in adults living near contamination hotspots in Sweden.

Targeted PFAS analyses and extractable organofluorine – Enhancing our understanding of the presence of unknown PFAS in Norwegian wildlife.

Spatiotemporal variations and bioaccumulation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and oxidative conversion of precursors in shallow lake water.

Direct evidence of the important role of proteins in bioconcentration and biomagnification of PFASs in benthic organisms based on comparison with OPEs.

Flame Retardants

Seasonal and source characteristics of organophosphorus flame retardants in air and house dust in Taiwan residential microenvironments: Implications for young children’s exposure and risk assessment using a probabilistic approach.

Exposure and Risk Assessment of Korean Firefighters to PBDEs and PAHs via Fire Vehicle Dust and Personal Protective Equipment.

Temporal trends in concentrations of brominated flame retardants in UK foodstuffs suggest active impacts of global phase-out of PBDEs and HBCDD.

Pesticides

Changes in concentration of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables during household processing.

Outcome of the first survey of atrazine in drinking water from Ijebu-North, South-West, Nigeria: Human health risk and neurotoxicological implications.

Detections of organophosphate and pyrethroid insecticide metabolites in urine and sweat obtained from women during infrared sauna and exercise: A pilot crossover study.

Detection of Neonicotinoid Insecticides and Their Metabolites in Human Cerebrospinal Fluid.

Impact of drinking water treatment processes on the residues of plant protection products for consumer and aquatic risk assessment: theoretical and experimental studies.

Relationship between Pesticide Standards for Classification of Water Bodies and Ecotoxicity: A Case Study of the Brazilian Directive.

Trends of Total Applied Pesticide Toxicity in German Agriculture.

Microplastics/Nanomaterials

Atmospheric microplastics and nanoplastics as vectors of primary air pollutants – A theoretical study on the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) case.

Towards a Better Understanding of the Contribution of Wastewater Treatment Plants to the Microplastic Pollution in Receiving Waterways.

First evidence of microplastic contamination in ready-to-use packaged food ice cubes.

Microplastics in Widely Used Polypropylene-Made Food Containers.

Air Pollution/PAHs

Study on dietary intake, risk assessment, and molecular toxicity mechanism of benzo[α]pyrene in college students in China Bashu area.

Association of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in moss with blood biomarker among nearby residents in Portland, Oregon.

Pharmaceuticals/Personal Care Products

Occurrence, potential sources, and risk assessment of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in atmospheric particulate matter in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Occurrence, ecological risk assessment and source apportionment of pharmaceuticals, steroid hormones and xenoestrogens in the Ghanaian aquatic environments.

Miscellaneous

Characteristics and Statistical Analysis of Large and above Hazardous Chemical Accidents in China from 2000 to 2020.

Urinary excretion of estrogenic chemicals following consumption of capsule coffee and French press coffee: A crossover study.

Tracing toxic chemical releases embodied in U.S. interstate trade and their unequal distribution.

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This list is not meant to be exhaustive, and generally does not include studies on detection, remediation, or treatment of EDCs. Note that journal publication dates may be different from dates added to PubMed. To see the searchable archives, please email me at sar…@gmail.com and ask to join the EDC Science Weekly group EDC_re…@googlegroups.com. The searchable archives are at https://groups.google.com/d/forum/edc_research or online at https://heeds.org/category/edc-science-weekly/. Compiled by Sarah Howard, Diabetes and Environment and HEEDS, a program of Environmental Health Sciences.

EHN EHN

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals: hazards and opportunities (ECHO) course
by Sarah Howard on October 31, 2024 at 2:50 pm
This course focuses on the chemical, biological, and societal challenges of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and new opportunities for moving forward. ECHO is a two-week intensive bootcamp-style career development course for graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and professionals in the field. It is held at Woods Hole, Massachusetts.
Lou Guillette Jr. Memorial Symposium
by Sarah Howard on October 22, 2024 at 1:30 pm
On March 14-15, 2025, HEEDS is hosting the Lou Guillette Jr. Memorial Symposium on endocrine disrupting science at the University of Florida. It will celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Guillette, gather together his trainees and colleagues, and focus on the research topics that Lou made famous. Information here.
Webinar: The overturning of Chevron deference: impacts on environmental health decision making
by Sarah Howard on October 17, 2024 at 4:21 pm
In this Nov. 13 webinar, legal experts will discuss the implications of the overturning of Chevron deference and its profound impact on science, public health and decision-making. Sponsored by CHE and UCSF's EaRTH Center.

EHN EHN

Ultra-processed foods and plastic packaging make for the ultimate toxic pair, scientists say
by Katherine McMahon,Sarah Howard on October 25, 2024 at 10:37 am
A recent paper published in Globalization and Health explores the relationship between ultra-processed foods (UPFs), plastic packaging, and their combined threat to public health. “Consumers do not have the power to solve a problem of this scale, and thus it is the responsibility of policymakers to ensure that transitions away from unhealthy, unsustainable foods are accompanied by structural measures that support demand and access to healthy foods.”
Microplastic exposure linked to reduced sperm quality in humans
by Katherine McMahon,Sarah Howard on October 23, 2024 at 4:29 pm
Exposure to microplastics is associated with a decrease in sperm concentration, motility, and shape, according to a new study published in The Lancet. “The identification of non-stick pan coating material PTFE as a particularly hazardous microplastic for male fertility underscores the importance of targeted interventions to reduce exposure to this and similar substances.”
Exposure to PFAS in ski wax may be linked to high cholesterol
by Katherine McMahon,Sarah Howard on October 16, 2024 at 7:42 pm
According to a new study published in Environmental Research, skiers and snowboarders may face health risks from their exposure to PFAS via ski wax, which can contain up to 100% PFAS by mass. “Interventions to remove PFAS from fluorinated wax could decrease direct exposure to skiers and reduce PFAS release into the environment.”

EHN EHN

Stricter toxic chemical rules reduce Californians’ exposures
by Kristina Marusic on October 31, 2024 at 11:25 am
Californians have lower levels of toxic chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects and reproductive harm in their bodies than people in the rest of the country, according to a new study. The study, published in Environmental Health Perspectives and conducted by researchers at Silent Spring Institute, a nonprofit scientific research organization, and the University of California at Berkeley (UC Berkeley), looked at nationwide data on the levels of 37 toxic chemicals in people’s blood before and after California introduced its stringent regulations. It found that for 18 of these chemicals, Californians have lower levels in their bodies than the rest of the country.
EPA dismissed data on the neurotoxicity of common insecticides
by Katherine McMahon,Sarah Howard on October 30, 2024 at 5:56 pm
A recent paper in Frontiers in Toxicology examined research submitted by industry to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the neurotoxicity of neonicotinoids - the most widely used class of insecticides in the U.S. and worldwide - and found that the data was evaluated improperly by the agency. Why this matters: Neonicotinoids are widely used not only for commercial agriculture but also for more personal uses like home gardens and in some flea and tick treatments for pets. Humans are regularly exposed to neonicotinoids – which are structurally similar to nicotine – through the environment, food and water. Neonicotinoids’ popularity partly comes from the belief that their harmful effects are mostly limited to insects, but studies like this one demonstrate that mammals may also be harmed by the chemicals, and highlight the urgent need for stronger regulations around their use.
Pesticide regulations ignore critical threats to insect health and ecosystems
by EHN Curators on October 30, 2024 at 10:26 am
In a study revealing regulatory gaps, researchers found that pesticides impact insect behavior and survival at non-lethal doses, especially in warmer temperatures, calling into question the effectiveness of current pesticide safety protocols. Dave Goulson writes for The Conversation.