WS Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit at UCSF

Wildfire Fighters, Unmasked in Toxic Smoke, Are Getting Sick and Dying

What an amazing piece - giving such depth of coverage to the lived emotional and medical reality of fire fighters as fires escalate in frequency and severity. Bravo, @hannahdreier.bsky.social !

www.nytimes.com/2025/08/17/u...

Text that reads: "Back to School Night: Raising Resilient Kids in an Age of Disasters. Sept. 11. 7-8 p.m. ET." Portraits of speakers with each person's name under their picture. Jason B. Allen, Anya Kamenetz, Melinda Wenner Moyer, Dr. Lisa Patel and Dr. Tara Powell. Climate Mental Health Network logo, with the logos of partner organizations. National Parents Union logo. American Public Health Association logo. Science Moms logo. Children's Environmental Health Network logo. Moms Clean Air Force logo. Capita logo. National Academy of Medicine logo. Climate Communities Network logo. National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) logo. Medical Society Consortium on Climate Change and Health logo.

Join APHA, the Climate Mental Health Network and more for this free interactive webinar that will help foster age-appropriate discussions around climate change, mental health and ways to empower students: bit.ly/44UeaKE

When concerned parents call, the PEHSU answers! "Thallium Exposure Secondary to Commercial Kale Chip Consumption: California Case Highlights Opportunities for Improved Surveillance and Toxicological Understanding" bit.ly/4oGMjFC

California’s Clean-Air Program for Polluted Communities Faces Crossroads | KQED Touted as an environmental justice companion to California’s cap-and-trade system, AB 617 promised cleaner air for frontline communities like Richmond — but has it actually delivered?

Everyone deserves clean, healthy air! California’s Clean-Air Program for Polluted Communities Faces Crossroads @kqednews.kqed.org www.kqed.org/news/1205009...

Our Childhood Cancer & the Environment project just released a newsletter full of excellent resources! bit.ly/3UsMFly

Rising waters and rising risks in Richmond Main takeaways: Sea level rise is raising risks of harmful chemical exposures in shoreline communities like Richmond, CA These risks are falling disproportionately on communities already hard hit by c...

Rising sea levels are raising risks of spreading hazardous chemicals in residential neighborhoods. And that puts people's health in jeopardy. Learn what we can be done to prevent these crises.

prheucsf.blog/2025/08/07/r...

Sat. Aug 9: Silicon Valley Youth Climate Summit! Join SF Bay PSR members and learn about the intersections of health, climate, peace activism, and justice. Campbell Heritage Theater, 1 W. Campbell Ave, Campbell, CA: www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticket...

In this video, Dr. Wiemels explores how some infections can result in abnormal damaging stimulation of the immune system, increasing leukemia risk, & how normal immune “education” can reduce leukemia risk: bit.ly/47iLHzM

Man drinking water in heat wave

Extreme heat is sickening & killing Americans. U.S. governors can protect residents by developing heat plans, investing in surveillance, assessing risks and more, APHA and 100+ partners advised members of the National Governors Association today: APHA.org/Extreme-Heat #ClimateChangesHealth

Exposures to residential & agricultural pesticides can increase the risk of developing certain types of childhood cancers. Learn more in our newest video "Pesticides and Risks of Childhood Cancers": bit.ly/pesticides_c...

Extreme heat worsens air quality. “Air pollution is very harmful for respiratory and cardiovascular admissions and also stroke. Those together can further enhance cardiovascular and respiratory risk.” says Dr. Mary Rice for
@nytimes.com.

Top half of image is head shots of speakers over old archive documents. Bottom half of image is names, titles, logos and event details over cream background.

TOMORROW - Learn about UCSF’s Center to End Corporate Harm, how to use the Industry Documents Library, and how researchers tap these internal documents to understand how corporations influence science & policy.

@ucsf-prhe.bsky.social

RSVP here: www.healthandenvironment.org/che-webinars...

Newborn Screening Current Landscape and Future Directions | National Academies Learn more from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

#NewbornScreening programs identify babies at risk of serious but treatable conditions & connect them to care. A new @NASEM_Health report makes recommendations for navigating a path ahead while preserving a valuable & effective public health achievement:

Title of webinar over background of blue gloved hand sampling water. Inset photo of speaker.

Join us this Thursday, May 8 at 10 am PT/ 1 pm ET for an EDC Strategies Partnership webinar with Dr. Linda Birnbaum to discuss what recent changes at NIH mean for environmental health.

RSVP here: www.healthandenvironment.org/che-webinars...

Childhood Cancer & the Environment: Prevention opportunities Research in the last 25 years has greatly expanded our understanding of environmental risk factors for childhood cancer, including exposure to pesticides, traffic-related air pollution, tobacco, and.....

Want to know more about children's cancer? Here's a recording of a recent talk we spearheaded with partners at the Collaborative for Health & Environment (CHE)! "Childhood Cancer & the Environment: Prevention Opportunities" www.healthandenvironment.org/che-webinars...

Why Dialogue Matters: Dr. K.M. Venkat Narayan on Embracing Conversation and Curiosity in Uncertain Times - NAM By K.M. Venkat Narayan, Karen Meurer Bacellar

How can humility and curiosity lead to stronger science?

In a new Q&A, K.M. Venkat Narayan shares reflections on respectful dialogue, epistemological humility, and the role of storytelling in advancing public health and scientific understanding.

Read more:

🖥️ Next week on April 24, ACAT and @che-healthenv.bsky.social will host a webinar with Dr. Mark Miller and Dr. Catherine Metayer exploring challenges & opportunities in childhood cancer prevention. @berkeleypublichlth.bsky.social

➡️Register here: www.akaction.org/webinars/2025-4

Are ultra-processed foods the new tobacco? Find out May 5 at 12p PT when Dr. Laura Schmidt, UCSF and Jessie Gouck, CA Dept of Public Health share what they know. Moderated by Dr. Isabel Modzerera, Berkeley Public Health. Register today! berkeley.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

It All Adds Up: Toxic Chemicals and the Future of Women’s Health - Center for Environmental Health Learn from experts the Dos and Don’ts of creating a healthy home! Join us for a virtual town hall on November 16!

⏰ One more day until our town hall on women's health, and YOU'RE INVITED! 💚

Can't join us live? Don't worry! We'll send the recording out to everyone who RSVPs: ceh.org/virtual-town...

See you there, and don't forget to bring your questions for the experts!

A Dangerous Climate Harms Healthy Children. What About Kids With Cancer? - Moms Clean Air Force Kids who have had cancer seem to be more vulnerable to the health impacts of global warming. A new scientific article sheds light on the specific climate vulnerability of these kids and charts a path ...

"A Dangerous Climate Harms Healthy Children. What About Kids With Cancer?" Hear from our PEHSU children's cancer experts in this new piece from via @cleanairmoms.bsky.social www.momscleanairforce.org/climate-and-...

Healthy eating in midlife linked to overall healthy aging | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Maintaining a diet rich in plant-based foods and lower in ultra-processed foods was linked to healthier aging.

Eating a diet rich in plant-based foods, low to moderate amounts of healthy animal-based foods, and low amounts of ultra-processed foods may increase the likelihood of healthy aging—defined as reaching age 70 free of major chronic diseases and in good cognitive, physical, and mental health.

Want to learn more about Childhood Cancer & the Environment: Prevention Opportunities? We're collaborating with @che-healthenv.bsky.social to bring you a presentation on 4/24 at 11am PST! us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

ICYMI - a recording of this discussion is now available!

www.healthandenvironment.org/che-webinars...

Learn more about the LA Fire HEALTH Study, an important consortium-led effort looking into the health and environmental impacts of the LA wildfires - recently highlighted in the NY Times: www.nytimes.com/2025/03/12/w...

Pesticides are created to kill living organisms – insects, plants (weeds) & fungi (molds, mildew) that are considered “pests.” They are toxic by design & can harm human health. Learn how to protect yourself with our bilingual newsletter:
mailchi.mp/fae57a25aa91...

2/27 at 8am PST: Dont miss our 5th Annual Herb Needleman Lecture! WSPEHSU Director Emeritus Dr. Mark Miller, joined by Catherine Metayer, will overview key environmental contributors to children's cancer & best practices for prevention: bit.ly/5thneedleman

Resistant to fire but not to harmful chemicals! Infants & toddlers have higher exposure to #PBDEs, which interfere with #hormones. Learn more: bit.ly/Rx-hazards #electronics #homesafety

Seafood is delicious & healthy! But some seafood can contain #mercury – even small amounts can hurt children’s developing brains. Pregnant people & children should limit eating fish high in mercury. Learn more: bit.ly/Rx-hazards #environmentalhealth @ToxFreeFuture @EPA

#PCBs are still in our environment & may increase chances of getting cancer! Exposure to PCBs happens primarily through our diets, even through breast milk for infants. Tips to reduce your exposures: bit.ly/Rx-hazards #environmentalhealth

Want to limit kids’ exposure to toxic chemicals in foods? Feed them a variety of fruits & veggies that you wash under running water, lean proteins, & don't microwave in plastic. Learn more: bit.ly/Rx-sources #childrenshealth #babyfood