The UW EDGE Center

Ask a doctor: Microplastics edition You’re probably heard the term “microplastics.” And you’ve probably also heard that they’re bad for you. But what exactly are they?

Our member Dr. Sheela Sathyanarayana chatted with @kuow.org's Libby Denkmann about microplastics-what they are, where they're found, and what we can do to limit our exposure. Catch the full segment here:
m.kuow.org/stories/ask-...
@uwdeohs.bsky.social

19.11.2025 18:16 — 👍 1    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0

Join us this Thursday for an EDGE-sponsored seminar by Rachel Sklar titled "Environmental Health in Prisons and Jails." The event will be held online and in person in UW's Hans Rosling Center on Nov. 13, 2025, 12:30 – 1:20 p.m. deohs.washington.edu?trumbaEmbed=...

10.11.2025 20:09 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

A beautiful story about important autism research being done in the lab of our member, Yijie Geng.

10.11.2025 20:08 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

King County pilot study brings “forever chemical” testing into the community A first-of-its-kind pilot initiative by King County’s Hazardous Waste Management Program is bringing cutting-edge chemical testing into neighborhoods to detect toxic “forever chemicals” in everyday…

Testing for forever chemicals (PFAS) used to require costly, time-intensive lab work. Thanks to work done by our Diana Ceballos, there's a new option: a portable handheld X-ray fluorescence device that screens for PFAS without damaging the item tested. nwasianweekly.com/2025/10/king...

14.10.2025 19:09 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

A brick building at the University of Washington.

Drumheller Fountain at the University of Washington, with colorful flowers in the foreground and a campus building in the background.

Suzzallo Library and Red Square at the University of Washington Seattle campus, with students walking through the open area.

We are hiring tenure-track faculty:
▪️Assistant Professor, Informatics (up to two positions) apply.interfolio.com/171020
▪️Assistant Professor, Information Mgmt./Information Systems apply.interfolio.com/172354

Help us spread the word by resharing this post!
#faculty #uofwa #tenuretrack #hiring

17.09.2025 18:22 — 👍 10    🔁 6    💬 0    📌 0

Your kitchen is full of microplastics. Here's how to eat less of them Microplastics gush out of our taps and flake off cookware. They find their way into the yolks of eggs, and into meat and vegetables. But there are things we can do to eat less of them.

#Microplastics are everywhere, but there are things we can do to consume less of them. Our member Sheela Sathyanarayana is quoted: www.bbc.com/future/artic... @uwdeohs.bsky.social

29.09.2025 16:35 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Wildfire Smoke Now Kills 41,000 Americans a Year, Study Finds FRIDAY, Sept. 19, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Every summer, hazy skies and the smell of burning wood remind Americans that wildfires affect far more than just the c

Wildfire smoke now kills an estimated 41,000 Americans a year acccording to a new study. Our Director, Joel Kaufman is quoted: healthday.com/health-news/...
#wildfiresmoke #wildfires #airpollution @uwdeohs.bsky.social

22.09.2025 16:55 — 👍 1    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0

Were you at the ISES/ISEE 2025 conference in Atlanta? Many of our reserachers were there with tons of data to share. Read the official recap here: edge.deohs.washington.edu/blog/many-ed... #ISES2025 #ISEE2025
@uwdeohs.bsky.social

@isee-global.bsky.social

25.08.2025 18:50 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

As Air Pollution Rises, Local Programs Help South Seattle Families Breathe Easier As asthma rates climb in South Seattle due to worsening air quality, families like the Browns are turning to local health programs for relief. Jadenne Radoc Cabahug reports on how pollution, policy, a...

Airport traffic, highway air pollution, and industry all contribute to higher rates of air pollution and asthma in Seattle's Duwamish Valley. Our Anjum Hajat works with the Duwamish River Community Coalition to combat childhood asthma in these neighborhoods.
southseattleemerald.org/community/20...

21.08.2025 16:45 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

In Memoriam: Steven Gilbert DEOHS community reflects on a treasured toxicology colleague, science communicator and public health advocate

It is with great sadness that we mark the passing of beloved mentor and colleague, Steven Gilbert, our former Director of Community Engagement. He leaves behind a profound legacy of work to improve environmental health for all.
deohs.washington.edu/hsm-blog/mem...

18.08.2025 18:47 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Better understanding Alzheimer’s disease risk by creating a model of interacting brain vulnerabilities | Interdisciplinary Center for Exposures, Diseases, Genomics and Environment The root causes of Alzheimer’s disease are complex and likely involve multiple risk factors that increase a person’s chances of developing the disease. Conducting lab experiments to study the combined...

Shelly Erickson used an EDGE pilot grant to model interacting risk factors in the brain with the ultimate goal of developing better treatments for Alzheimer's disease. Read more about her work here: edge.deohs.washington.edu/blog/better-...

16.07.2025 18:07 — 👍 2    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0

Protecting auto shop workers' health DEOHS researchers partner with the King County Hazardous Waste Management Program to reduce auto repair workers' exposure to hazardous chemicals

Degreasers are commonly used in auto shops to clean mechanical parts, but they typically contain hazardous chemicals that can harm human health. Our member Diana Ceballos tested what the effects on workers would be of switching to safer degreasers. deohs.washington.edu/hsm-blog/pro...

08.07.2025 17:18 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

DEOHS faculty member will be a Fulbright Scholar in Spain Clinical Associate Professor Jamie Donatuto plans to analyze human-ocean engagement

Congratulations to our Co-Director of Community Engagement, Jamie Donatuto, who was recently awarded a #Fulbright to study human-ocean interactions in the Mediterranean! deohs.washington.edu/hsm-blog/deo...

02.07.2025 17:27 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Congratulations to our member, Julia Cui, who was recently awarded the University of Washington Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Outstanding Faculty Mentor award!

30.06.2025 20:32 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0