Podcasts about environmental health sciences niehs

(Conversation recorded on January 21st, 2025)   Many of us are familiar with the problem of plastics as a distant issue in the ocean, primarily affecting fish and sea turtles. While these environmental effects are critical, the full scope of plastic's repercussions on human health and well-being is largely unknown by most people, even as the research shows alarming – and growing – adverse effects. What do we need to know about this pervasive material and how it affects the human body?  Today, Nate is joined by environmental health researchers Leo Trasande and Linda Birnbaum, as well as environmental policy advocate Christina Dixon, to discuss the harmful effects of plastic on human health and the ongoing global policy efforts to regulate the plastic and petrochemical industries. Their conversation dives into the risks of frequent plastic exposure, paths toward a world with reduced plastics use, and what it might mean for the economy if we made – or did not make – significant changes to the ways we use plastic. How can we balance the requirement for essential plastics with the urgent need to reduce our production and consumption of these toxic materials? What further unknown health effects are still in need of research - especially in the case of thousands of untested chemicals used on the market? Lastly, what is the current state of regulation on plastic production and consumption, and how can everyday citizens play a role in shaping the future of the plastic industry?    About Leo Trasande: Dr. Leo Trasande is the Jim G. Hendrick MD Professor, Director of the Division of Environmental Pediatrics, and Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Pediatrics at NYU School of Medicine. He also serves on the faculty of the NYU Wagner School of Public Service and the NYU College of Global Public Health. Leo is an internationally renowned leader in environmental health. His research focuses on the impacts of chemicals on hormones in our bodies. He has also led the way in documenting the economic costs for policy makers of failing to prevent diseases of environmental origin proactively.   About Linda Birnbaum: Linda S. Birnbaum, Ph.D., D.A.B.T., A.T.S, was director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) of the National Institutes of Health, and the National Toxicology Program (NTP) from 2009 to 2019. As board certified toxicologist, Linda also served as a federal scientist for 40 years, including 19 years at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), where she directed the largest division focusing on environmental health research. Birnbaum is now a Special Volunteer at NIEHS and conducts research as part of the Mechanistic Toxicology Branch. In October 2010, she was elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, one of the highest honors in the fields of medicine and health.    About Christina Dixon: Christina Dixon is a campaign leader at the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) in the UK, using policy, advocacy, and corporate campaigning skills towards environmental issues. Christina currently leads the EIA's plastics treaty campaign, where she oversees a diverse and highly skilled team of legal, policy and campaigning experts combating plastic (over)production & pollution, waste trade, commercial whaling, illegal marine species trade, and bycatch.    Please note that, starting with this episode, Reality Roundtables will be released on Mondays going forward.   Show Notes and More Watch this video episode on YouTube   Want to learn the whole story of The Great Simplification? Watch our 30-minute Animated Movie.   ---   Support The Institute for the Study of Energy and Our Future Join our Substack newsletter Join our Discord channel and connect with other listeners  

Separating Skincare Science Fact from FictionCould your skincare be hiding more than just a few blemishes? Or, is the word “toxic” getting a li'l too much attention these days… You may have heard the buzz about endocrine-disrupting compounds that silently interfere with our hormones. But with so much misinformation online fueling the fear-fire, it's hard to know what's really harmful and what's all hype.In our ‘Nice Genes!' season 4 opener, host Dr. Kaylee Byers re-joins forces with the one and only Dr. Samantha Yammine (aka Science Sam) to clear up some of the confusion surrounding cosmetic safety. With help from environmental toxicologist Dr. Isabelle Plante, we're un(face)masking the science of dosage and exposure to decode cosmetic formulas and why it's more complex than TikTok would have you think!—Highlights:(06:55) Dr. Plante Defines Endocrine disruptors.(16:43) Dr. Plante talks about the relationship between endocrine disruptors and health concerns.(26:38) Science Sam highlights the important role of regulation.—Learn-A-Long: (coming soon)—Resources:1. Clean Beauty Is Wrong and Won't Give Us Safer Products - Lab Muffin2. Parabens in Cosmetics - U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)3. Parabens and Breast Cancer - Breast Cancer UK4. The Association between Paraben Exposure and Human Health - MDPI5. Parabens, Fragrance, Colorants, Talc: Debunking Bobby Parrish's TikTok Misinformation - Lab Muffin6. Endocrine Disruptors - National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)7. Chapter: Parabens in Cosmetics - SpringerLink8. Environmental Exposure to Parabens and Health Effects - Nature9. Canadian Institute for Environmental Assessment - CIAPE ICEDA

Videos: Ralph Schoellhammer: Elites Are Turning Against Their Own Civilization (23:43) Bill Clinton and Blackrock team up to ACCELERATE the great reset | Redacted with Clayton Morris Clare Daly Ireland pimped out like prostitutes for Obama (4:00) Noam Chomsky – The Crimes of U.S. Presidents (11:00) 5.Ukraine Targets Elon Musk, US Aid Dwindles, Ukraine's Offensive Increasingly Depleted (35:00)   Aronia berry supplementation supports gut, arterial health King's College London, October 17 2022. The issue of Clinical Nutrition reported findings from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that uncovered a benefit for supplementation with aronia berry among men and women with prehypertension. “Aronia melanocarpa, or black chokeberry, has gained increased attention for its high content of (poly)phenols, and potential protection against chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes,” authors Melanie Le Sayec of King's College London and colleagues remarked. The trial included 102 participants between the ages of 40 and 70 years who received aronia berry extract capsules that contained 106 milligrams total polyphenols or identical placebo capsules for 12 weeks. Blood pressure, arterial function, gut microbiome composition and other factors were assessed before and after the treatment period. At the end of the study, augmentation index and pulse wave velocity, which measure arterial stiffness, significantly improved among participants who received aronia in comparison with the placebo group. The aronia-supplemented group also had a significant increase in microbiome species richness and abundance of species that produce butyrate, a compound that has a favorable effect in gut health. The researchers observed associations between plasma and urinary aronia-derived polyphenol metabolites, decreased arterial stiffness and various gut flora species. “To our knowledge, this is the first time these species are shown to correlate with beneficial effects on arterial function,” they announced. “The present findings suggest that daily consumption of aronia berry extract led to improvements in arterial function in healthy middle-aged people, with a concomitant and related increase in potentially health-promoting bacterial taxa,” the authors concluded. Zinc enhances albumin's protective role against Parkinson's disease University of Science and Technology, October 17, 2022 Revealing zinc's interaction with a critical transport protein underscores the need to study biological pathways under physiologically relevant conditions. Heavy metals in the body have long been thought to induce the aggregation of disease-linked proteins, but a KAUST study shows this is not always the case. It turns out that zinc ions tune the ability of human serum albumin (HSA), an abundant transport protein in the body, to better prevent α-synuclein from aggregating, a process directly linked to Parkinson's disease. In unrealistically massive quantities, zinc tends to accelerate the aggregation of α-synuclein, a neuronal protein implicated in Parkinson's disease. This is what other scientists had shown in the past. But, under the types of biologically plausible experimental conditions considered by Al-Harthi, the metal actually interacts with HSA to cause the opposite effect. Using a state-of-the-art imaging technique known as proton-less nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Al-Harthi and colleagues showed that zinc binding alters the chaperone function of HSA, a multifunctional molecule that plays a role in blocking α-synuclein accretion. In particular, zinc ions biased HSA toward stronger interactions with the aggregation-prone fragments of α-synuclein, a change that blunts fibril formation and slows down the toxic process of protein deposition that can lead to neurodegeneration. High exposure to glyphosate in pregnancy could cause lower birth weights in babies Indiana University School of Medicine, October 17, 2022 Indiana University School of Medicine researchers are learning more about the effects of herbicide exposure during pregnancy, finding glyphosate in 99% of the pregnant women they observed in the Midwest. In the study, published recently in Environmental Health, higher glyphosate levels were associated with lower birth weight and may also lead to higher neonatal intensive care unit admission risk. This is the second study the researchers have conducted with significant findings. The team's previous study, published in 2018, was the first study to confirm glyphosate in 93% of pregnancies which found associations with shortened pregnancies. Other recent studies have also confirmed their findings. “Pesticide exposure in pregnancy, especially in early pregnancy, can imprint DNA and alter gene expression,” said Paul Winchester, MD, professor of clinical pediatrics and the study's lead author. Glyphosate is a chemical, commonly found in Roundup, used to kill weeds. It is used by farmers and homeowners across the United States, but especially in the Midwest on corn and soybeans. Previous studies have shown people can be exposed to glyphosate in all the foods they eat, even packaged or organic foods. “As a neonatologist, I'm seeing more and more infants with problems like low birth weight as well as mothers with issues like obesity or gestational diabetes,” Winchester said. “We need to keep studying these herbicides long term to find out how they could be causing these issues and what we can do to prevent them.” Omega-3 supplements linked to younger biological age in older people University of South Australia & University of Newcastle, October 13, 2022 Supplements of omega-3s may slow cellular ageing in older people with mild cognitive impairment, according to results of a pilot randomized clinical trial DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) was associated with reduced shortening of telomeres, DNA sequences at the end of chromosomes that shorten as cells replicate and age, report researchers from Australia in Nutrition . The aging and lifespan of normal, healthy cells are linked to the so-called telomerase shortening mechanism, which limits cells to a fixed number of divisions. During cell replication, the telomeres function by ensuring the cell's chromosomes do not fuse with each other or rearrange, which can lead to cancer. Elizabeth Blackburn, a telomere pioneer at the University of California San Francisco, likened telomeres to the ends of shoelaces, without which the lace would unravel. With each replication the telomeres shorten, and when the telomeres are totally consumed, the cells are destroyed (apoptosis). Previous studies have also reported that telomeres are highly susceptible to oxidative stress. This is not the first time that omega-3s have been linked to reduced telomere shortening, with findings from a study by researchers from the University of California, San Francisco indicating that high blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids may slow cellular ageing in people with coronary heart disease (JAMA, Vol. 303, pp. 250-257). The new study, performed by scientists from the University of South Australia, and the University of Newcastle is an intervention study, albeit on a pilot scale. Results of the study showed that the omega-6 group exhibited the greatest shortening of telomere length, compared to the DHA and EPA groups. Increased levels of DHA in red blood cells was significantly associated with reduced telomere shortening in the DHA group, said O'Callaghan and his co-workers. Reading Is Good for Your Health University of Stavanger (Norway) Oct. 8, 2022 People with poor reading skills are likely to be less healthy than those who read easily, according to recent research. Literacy skills are important for keeping in good shape. A relationship exists between self-perceived health and literacy, and draws on data from the international adult literacy and life skills survey (ALL). Self-perceived health can mean feeling pains, physical condition hampering everyday activities, fatigue, or emotional problems which affect social relationships. “Other research shows that self-perceived health is closely related to actual well-being,” explains Lundetræ. “So adults with low literacy skills, as a group, are likely to be in worse physical shape than those who can read well.” A perception of poor health increases among weak readers with age. It is greatest among those aged 45-65 and lowest in the youngest group, aged 16-24. “So it's natural that the relationship between weak reading skills and the perception of poor health rises with age. That's when you usually feel the effects of an unhealthy lifestyle or failing to look after yourself properly.” “Advice on nutrition, healthy diet and physical activity is increasingly communicated through newspaper and magazine articles and on the internet,” Lundetræ explains. “We receive a great deal of information by reading. It's conceivable that certain people miss out on important health advice because they read poorly and seldom.” How well people understand such written details could be crucial for how good they are at looking after their own health, Lundetræ observes. Health-related text is often complicated. It can contain a lot of technical terms, and is frequently badly written. That makes it difficult to grasp for poor readers. A general improvement in reading skills might accordingly give more people better health and, in the longer terms, have a beneficial effect on the cost of health services. Since a lot of those who are most in need of such knowledge are poor readers, these texts have to be easy to read. They must be written in a language which is not too technical or which uses too many words, and must communicate clearly and simply. Hair straightening chemicals associated with higher uterine cancer risk National Institutes of Health, October 17, 2022 Women who used chemical hair straightening products were at higher risk for uterine cancer compared to women who did not report using these products, according to a new study from the National Institutes of Health. The researchers found no associations with uterine cancer for other hair products that the women reported using, including hair dyes, bleach, highlights, or perms. The study data includes 33,497 U.S. women ages 35-74 participating in the Sister Study, a study led by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of NIH, that seeks to identify risk factors for breast cancer and other health conditions. The women were followed for almost 11 years and during that time 378 uterine cancer cases were diagnosed. The researchers found that women who reported frequent use of hair straightening products, defined as more than four times in the previous year, were more than twice as likely to go on to develop uterine cancer compared to those who did not use the products. “We estimated that 1.64% of women who never used hair straighteners would go on to develop uterine cancer by the age of 70; but for frequent users, that risk goes up to 4.05%,” said Alexandra White, Ph.D., head of the NIEHS Environment and Cancer Epidemiology group and lead author on the new study. “This doubling rate is concerning. However, it is important to put this information into context—uterine cancer is a relatively rare type of cancer.” Uterine cancer accounts for about 3% of all new cancer cases but is the most common cancer of the female reproductive system, with 65,950 estimated new cases in 2022. Studies show that incidence rates of uterine cancer have been rising in the United States, particularly among Black women. The researchers did not collect information on brands or ingredients in the hair products the women used. However, in the paper they note that several chemicals that have been found in straighteners (such as parabens, bisphenol A, metals, and formaldehyde) could be contributing to the increased uterine cancer risk observed. Chemical exposure from hair product use, especially straighteners, could be more concerning than other personal care products due to increased absorption through the scalp which may be exacerbated by burns and lesions caused by straighteners.

This webinar will offer small businesses and academic researchers an opportunity to hear from some of the Federal agencies that fund water technologies, with a special focus on investments in nanotechnology-enabled solutions. Webinar speakers will describe the fundamental goals of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs at various agencies and share details of current and upcoming solicitations. The SBIR and STTR programs fund a diverse portfolio of startups and small businesses across technology areas and markets to stimulate technological innovation, meet Federal research and development (R&D) needs, and increase commercialization to transition R&D into impact. The webinar will be co-hosted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI). Representatives from the EPA, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the National Science Foundation (NSF) will provide an overview of their current and upcoming SBIR/STTR funding opportunities for water nanotechnologies. The agencies' presentations will be followed by a Q&A session. To view this archive online or download the slides associated with this seminar, please visit http://www.clu-in.org/conf/tio/SBIR-STTR_082522/

This webinar will offer small businesses and academic researchers an opportunity to hear from some of the Federal agencies that fund water technologies, with a special focus on investments in nanotechnology-enabled solutions. Webinar speakers will describe the fundamental goals of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs at various agencies and share details of current and upcoming solicitations. The SBIR and STTR programs fund a diverse portfolio of startups and small businesses across technology areas and markets to stimulate technological innovation, meet Federal research and development (R&D) needs, and increase commercialization to transition R&D into impact. The webinar will be co-hosted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI). Representatives from the EPA, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the National Science Foundation (NSF) will provide an overview of their current and upcoming SBIR/STTR funding opportunities for water nanotechnologies. The agencies' presentations will be followed by a Q&A session. To view this archive online or download the slides associated with this seminar, please visit http://www.clu-in.org/conf/tio/SBIR-STTR_082522/

Lutein and zeaxanthin isomers benefits during high screen exposure University of Georgia, July 10, 2022 An exciting new peer reviewed publication based on ongoing research on macular carotenoids from the University of Georgia demonstrates that supplementation with lutein and zeaxanthin isomers can protect against a growing issue among the general population -- the undesirable effects of prolonged exposure to high-energy blue light emitted from digital screens of computers, tablets and smartphones. Lutein and zeaxanthin isomers -- known as the macular carotenoids -- are natural filters of high-energy blue light. High-energy blue light reaches deep into the eye and can harm the macula -- the region of the eye responsible for highest visual acuity- by promoting the production of free radicals. Short-term effects can cause eye fatigue while long-term exposure can lead to a progressive loss of visual function. This is the first study to examine the impact of macular carotenoids supplementation to protect visual health and performance, improve sleep quality and reduce eye strain and fatigue during prolonged exposure to blue light emitting digital screens. The study was a 6-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled supplementation trial with 48 healthy, young adults with screen time exposure of at least 6 hours daily. Subjects were evaluated at baseline, 3-months and 6-months for MPOD (Macular Pigment Optical Density) and markers of visual performance including contrast sensitivity, photostress recovery and disability glare. Sleep quality, which is affected by blue light exposure, and physical indicators of excessive screen use were also measured. The results show that supplementing with lutein and zeaxanthin significantly improved macular pigment optical density, visual performance and indicators of excessive screen use, including eye strain and fatigue and headache frequency. Sleep quality also improved significantly.   Study explores the effects of eating dark chocolate on the brain Isfahan University of Medical Science (Iran), July 14, 2022   Elham Kalantarzedeh, Maryam Radahmadi and Parham Reisi, three researchers at Isfahan University of Medical Science in Iran have recently carried out a study on rats investigating the impact of different dark chocolate dietary patterns on synapses in a specific region of the brain, known as the hippocampal CA1 area. Their findings, published in Nutritional Neuroscience, suggest that dark chocolate consumption could have beneficial effects on the brain of individuals exhibiting chronic isolation stress. "Although stress causes brain dysfunction, consumption of dark chocolate (DC) has positive effects on brain functions," the researchers wrote in their paper. "The current study investigated the impact of different DC dietary patterns on synaptic potency and plasticity in the hippocampal CA1 area, as well as food intake and body weight in rats under chronic isolation stress." Overall, the experiments carried out by this team of researchers suggest that the systematic consumption of dark chocolate could reverse the adverse effects of chronic isolation stress on the synaptic potency and plasticity of the hippocampal CA1 area. This would in turn have beneficial effects on both memory and learning.   Vitamin C found to block growth of cancer stem cells, says peer reviewed study University of Salford (UK),  July 8, 2022   Increasingly, researchers are discovering the role played by cancer stem cells in the growth and spread of the disease. In groundbreaking new research, vitamin C showed its ability to target cancer stem cells and stop their growth – preventing the recurrence of tumors. In a newly-published study conducted at the University of Salford in Manchester, vitamin C demonstrated its power to stop tumors in their tracks by interfering with cancer stem cell metabolism – suppressing their ability to process energy for survival and growth. The study explored the effects of vitamin C on cancer stem cells – and provided evidence that vitamin C, in the form of ascorbic acid, can target and kill them. The team investigated the impact on cancer stem cells of seven different substances. Three were natural substances, three were experimental drugs, and one was an FDA-approved clinical drug that is widely used. The natural products studied, along with vitamin C, were silibinin – derived from milk thistle seeds – and caffeic acid phenyl ester – or CAPE – derived from honeybee propolis. The experimental drugs were actinonin, FK866 and 2-DG, and the clinical drug was stiripentol. Researchers noted that vitamin C destroyed cancer stem cells by inducing oxidative stress. And, the vitamin performed this process ten times more effectively than 2-DG. By inhibiting glycolysis, vitamin C inhibited mitrochondrial protein synthesis in cancer stem cells – while leaving healthy cells unaffected. All seven of the substances tested inhibited the growth of cancer cells to varying degrees – including the non-toxic natural substances. But researchers said the most “exciting” results were with vitamin C. Again, vitamin C was 1,000 percent more effective than 2-DG, an experimental pharmaceutical drug – in targeting cancer stem cells.      Preterm birth more likely with exposure to phthalates  National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, July 11 2022 Pregnant women who were exposed to multiple phthalates during pregnancy had an increased risk of preterm birth, according to new research by the National Institutes of Health. Phthalates are chemicals used in personal care products, such as cosmetics, as well as in solvents, detergents, and food packaging. After analyzing data from more than 6,000 pregnant women in the United States, researchers found that women with higher concentrations of several phthalate metabolites in their urine were more likely to deliver their babies preterm, which is delivering three or more weeks before a mother's due date. “Having a preterm birth can be dangerous for both baby and mom, so it is important to identify risk factors that could prevent it,” said Kelly Ferguson, Ph.D., an epidemiologist at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of NIH, and the senior author on the study published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics. Higher concentrations of most phthalate metabolites examined were associated with slightly higher odds of preterm birth. Exposure to four of the 11 phthalates found in the pregnant women was associated with a 14-16% greater probability of having a preterm birth. The most consistent findings were for exposure to a phthalate that is used commonly in personal care products like nail polish and cosmetics. The researchers also used statistical models to simulate interventions that reduce phthalate exposures. They found that reducing the mixture of phthalate metabolite levels by 50% could prevent preterm births by 12% on average.    Study finds vitamin A directs immune cells to the intestines Purdue University, July 9, 2022 A key set of immune cells that protect the body from infection would be lost without directions provided by vitamin A, according to a recent study. A team of researchers from Purdue University found retinoic acid, a metabolite that comes from digested vitamin A, is necessary for two of the three types of innate immune cells that reside in the intestine to find their proper place. "It is known that vitamin A deficiencies lead to increased susceptibility to disease and low concentrations of immune cells in the mucosal barrier that lines the intestines," said Chang Kim, the professor and section head of microbiology and immunology in Purdue's College of Veterinary Medicine who led the research. "We wanted to find the specific role the vitamin plays in the immune system and how it influences the cells and biological processes. The more we understand the details of how the immune system works, the better we will be able to design treatments for infection, and autoimmune and inflammatory diseases." Within the immune system there are two categories of cells that work together to rid the body of infection: innate immune cells, the innate lymphoid cells and leukocytes that are fast acting and immediately present to eliminate infection; and adaptive immune cells, the T-cells and B-cells that arrive later, but are specific to the pathogen and more effective at killing or neutralizing it. All innate immune cells are produced in the bone marrow, but eventually populate other areas of the body.  Innate lymphoid cells first gather in the lymph nodes before traveling to their final destination, and this is where retinoic acid acts upon two of the three subsets destined for the intestines. Kim and his team found that retinoic acid activates specific receptors in the cells that act as homing devices for the intestines. "It is interesting that both innate and adaptive immune cells share a vitamin A-regulated pathway for migration."   Drinking alcohol while pregnant could have transgenerational effects University of California, Riverside, July 7, 2022 Soon-to-be mothers have heard the warning – don't drink while pregnant.  The  study by Kelly Huffman, psychology professor at the University of California, Riverside, was published in the journal Cerebral Cortex. "Traditionally, prenatal ethanol exposure (PrEE) from maternal consumption of alcohol, was thought to solely impact directly exposed offspring, the embryo or fetus in the womb. However, we now have evidence that the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure could persist transgenerationally and negatively impact the next-generations of offspring who were never exposed to alcohol," Huffman said. To determine whether the abnormalities in brain and behavior from prenatal ethanol exposure would pass transgenerationally, Huffman generated a mouse model of FASD and tested many aspects of brain and behavioral development across three generations. As expected, the first generation, the directly exposed offspring, showed atypical gene expression, abnormal development of the neural network within the neocortex and behavioral deficits. However, the main discovery of the research lies in the subsequent, non-exposed generations of mice. These animals had neurodevelopmental and behavioral problems similar to the those of the first, directly exposed generation. "We found that body weight and brain size were significantly reduced in all generations of PrEE animals when compared to controls; all generations of PrEE mice showed increased anxiety-like, depressive-like behaviors and sensory-motor deficits. By demonstrating the strong transgenerational effects of prenatal ethanol exposure in a mouse model of FASD, we suggest that FASD may be a heritable condition in humans," Huffman said.  

The FDA received an application for the first ever over the counter birth control. Timmerie examines 9 things everyone should know about how birth control impacts women's bodies (2:44). She debunks the Women's March argument from the DC Summer of Rage rally (24:03). You won't want to miss one woman's story of how sterilization/having her tubes tied impacted her (41:49). Resources mentioned :  Podcast on the side effects of the pill  https://omny.fm/shows/trending-with-timmerie-catholic-principles-applied/the-pill-side-effects-3-principles-for-choosing-a Podcast on side effects of a vasectomy  https://relevantradio.com/2022/07/why-shouldnt-i-get-a-vasectomy-the-medical-fallout/ Cancer studies on birth control  – The pill is a cancer-causing carcinogen recognized by the U.N. – Cancer Research UK:  “breast cancer is more common among women who take HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) and the Pill for long periods” – Time Health and Family Study  “A Curious Link Between Birth Control Pills and Prostate Cancer" https://healthland.time.com/2011/11/15/study-a-curious-link-between-birth-control-pills-and-prostate-cancer/ – Journal of the National Cancer Institute:  “Oral contraceptive use has been associated with an increase in the risk of breast cancer in young women.”   – 2003 Columbia University Study:  “National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) added estrogen to its list of known cancer-causing agents” List of “birth control” that can also function as an early abortion (not all inclusive)  The Pill Ella Norplant Depo-Provera Plan B/Morning After Pill Preven  The Patch Ortho Evra IUD Nuvaring Lunelle The Late Period Pill RU-486 (mifepristone) Methotrexate & misoprostol (used together)

In this episode of Causes or Cures, Dr. Eeks chats with Dr. Jerry Heindel about his and other researchers' recent reviews published in Biochemical Pharmacology on how chemicals in everyday products may be fueling the obesity epidemic here in the US and elsewhere. He will discuss what these chemicals are and how we get exposed; what the term "Obesogen" means and why that term should be on our radar; the potential mechanism of actions for how these chemical lead to obesity; when getting exposed to these chemicals puts us more at risk; the current evidence base for these chemicals fueling obesity, and things that we can do on both the individual and population level to reduce or mitigate our exposure. Dr. Henidel has his doctorate in biochemistry and worked in the area of reproductive biology and toxicology while a faculty member at the University of Texas Medical School and the Univeristy of Mississippi. He worked for the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) for 25 years where he focused on the potential impact of environmental chemicals on the developmental origins of health and disease. He is currently the director of the Healthy Environment and Endocrine Disruptor Strategies (HEEDS), an organization that is funded by grants and personal donations, not corporate interests. You can follow Dr. Eeks on Instagram here.Twitter here.Facebook here.Subscribe to her newsletter here.To contact Dr. Eeks, do so through bloomingwellness.com

Dr. Grandner is the Director of the Sleep and Health Research Program at the University of Arizona, Director of the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Clinic at the Banner-University Medical Center, and an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the UA College of Medicine, with joint appointments in the Departments of Medicine, Psychology (UA College of Science), Nutritional Sciences (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences), and Clinical Translational Science. In addition, he is a faculty member of the Neuroscience and Physiological Sciences Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs. He is certified in Behavioral Sleep Medicine by the American Board of Sleep Medicine and is a Diplomate in Behavioral Sleep Medicine by the Board of Behavioral Sleep Medicine. His research focuses on how sleep and sleep-related behaviors are related to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, neurocognitive functioning, mental health, and longevity. Current and recently-completed research projects were funded by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), the American Heart Association (AHA), the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and other organizations. Read more about his research or see his publications. Find out more about Michael here https://www.michaelgrandner.com/about.html  Follow us for more information at www.sleep4performance.com.au     

This week on Sustainability Now!, your host, Justin Mog, takes a break indoors for an important conversation with Dr. Luz Huntington-Moskos about environmental health and indoor air quality in Kentucky. In addition to serving on the UofL Sustainability Council, Luz is an Assistant Professor of Nursing Education at the University of Louisville and Director of the Community Engagement Core at UofL's Center for Integrative Environmental Health Sciences. Learn more at https://louisville.edu/ciehs/cores/cec/cec Dr. Huntington-Moskos' current research efforts focus on the prevention of lung cancer by addressing secondhand smoke and radon exposure in the homes of low-income families with children. Using a life course perspective, she is interested in addressing cancer prevention early in the trajectory of a child's life through the use of home testing for chronic environmental exposures. Her educational background includes a strong foundation in maternal child health and health disparities. As a recipient of two Maternal Child Health Bureau (MCHB) traineeships, she completed specialized training in child health theory, growth/development and adolescent resiliency. Her PhD dissertation examined the impact of tobacco use behaviors and secondhand smoke exposure on the cardiovascular health of rural adolescents. As a postdoctoral scholar with the Bridging Research Efforts and Advocacy Toward Healthy Environments (BREATHE) research team at the University of Kentucky, College of Nursing, she assisted in participant recruitment and expanded her knowledge of intervention research and home testing. As a co-investigator, funded by a National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) diversity supplement, she examined the influence of having children in the home and the completion of home testing for radon and secondhand smoke. She has experience working with under-resourced communities during her service in the United States Peace Corps, as a registered nurse working in inner city Baltimore and on the Navajo Nation. As always, our feature is followed by your community action calendar for the week, so get your calendars out and get ready to take action for sustainability NOW! Sustainability Now! airs on Forward Radio, 106.5fm, WFMP-LP Louisville, every Monday at 6pm and repeats Tuesdays at 12am and 10am. Find us at http://forwardradio.org The music in this podcast is courtesy of the local band Appalatin and is used by permission. Explore their delightful music at http://appalatin.com

Retired National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Director and lifelong federal scientist Linda S. Birnbaum discusses the intersection of policy and science, as well as the effect of environmental exposures on public health, with co-hosts Anne Chappelle and David Faulkner. Dr. Birnbaum also shares her insights on how to be an effective leader and the importance of mentorship.  About the GuestLinda S. Birnbaum, PhD, DABT, ATS, is the former Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the National Toxicology Program (NTP). After retirement, she was granted scientist emeritus status and still maintains a laboratory. As a board-certified toxicologist, Dr. Birnbaum served as a federal scientist for 40 years. Before her appointment as NIEHS and NTP Director in 2009, she spent 19 years at the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), where she directed the largest division focusing on environmental health research. Dr. Birnbaum has received many awards and recognitions. In 2016, she was awarded the North Carolina Award in Science. She was elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, one of the highest honors in the fields of medicine and health. She was also elected to the Collegium Ramazzini, an independent, international academy composed of internationally renowned experts in the fields of occupational and environmental health, and received an honorary Doctor of Science from the University of Rochester and a Distinguished Alumna Award from the University of Illinois. Dr. Birnbaum also has received honorary doctorates from Ben-Gurion University in Israel, Amity University in India, and the University of Rhode Island; the Surgeon General's Medallion 2014; and 14 Scientific and Technological Achievement Awards, which reflect the recommendations of the US EPA external Science Advisory Board, for specific publications. Dr. Birnbaum is an active member of the scientific community. She was Vice President of the International Union of Toxicology (IUTOX), the umbrella organization for toxicology societies in more than 50 countries, and she is a Past President of the Society of Toxicology (SOT), the largest professional organization of toxicologists in the world. She is the author of more than 800 peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, and reports. Dr. Birnbaum's research focuses on the pharmacokinetic behavior of environmental chemicals, mechanisms of action of toxicants including endocrine disruption, and linking real-world exposures to health effects. She is an Adjunct Professor in the Gillings School of Global Public Health, the Curriculum in Toxicology, and the Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, as well as in the Integrated Toxicology and Environmental Health Program at Duke University, where she also is a Scholar in Residence.A native of New Jersey, Dr. Birnbaum received her MS and PhD in microbiology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. DisclaimerThe viewpoints and information presented in Adverse Reactions represent those of the participating individuals. Although the Society of Toxicology holds the copyright to the production, it does not vet or review the information presented, nor does presenting and distributing the Adverse Reactions podcast represent any proposal or endorsement of any position by the Society.

In this episode Dr. Devra Davis presents about the dangers of cellphone radiation at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) in 2012. Watch the video here.

June 19th 2020 Today, we are here with Ophra Wolf of the Newburgh Clean Water Project, who will host a Q & A online via ZOOM this Wednesday June 24th 6-7pm including Drs. Erin Bell and Michael Bloom of the SUNY Albany School of Public Health. On Weds Drs. Bell and Bloom will answer your questions about the health effects of PFAS chemical contamination in drinking water. The public can register for Wednesday's online Q&A about PFAS health effects at "newburghcleanwaterproject.org". Click the image at the top left for "Water Session" and scroll down to "register here". https://newburghcleanwaterproject.org/2020/06/18/join-us-water-session-6-24-20/ This report is by Jared Wesley Singer of WOOC 105.3FM at the Sanctuary for Independent Media in Troy, NY--for the Water Justice Laboratory. In 1990 there was an accidental spill of 4,000 gallons of fire-fighting foam at Stewart Air Base. In 1996, the firefighting foam was used to extinguish a crash at Stewart International Airport. Until 2017, the foam was used for firefighting practice drills and they continue to use similar chemical substitutes. Our understanding of PFAS toxicity is evolving: In 2009 EPA sets a health advisory limit of 200 parts-per-trillion (ppt) for PFAS chemicals in drinking water, revised down to 70 ppt in 2016. In late 2018 the New York State Drinking Water Quality Council (NYSDWQC) recommended a lower standard of 10 ppt for PFAS chemicals. New research by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) suggests toxic effects at even lower concentrations of 1 to 0.1 ppt! Meanwhile the City of Newburgh’s 2016 Water Quality Report noted PFOS levels of 150-170 ppt in Lake Washington. Since that time New York State has switched the City of Newburgh to a temporary, uncontaminated water supply.

Podcast series host Jill James interviews Chip Hughes, award-winning Director with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). Chip runs an innovative program securing cooperative agreements for rapid deployment of new safety and health training programs for workers involved in hazardous substance response.

The neurons in our brains use both electrical and chemical signals to communicate. When those signals are not generated or interpreted correctly, serious problems can arise. Dr. Jerry Yakel is a neurobiologist studying acetylcholine receptors, which allow neurons to turn signals transmitted using the chemical acetylcholine into electrical messages. Because acetylcholine receptors are found on so many nerve cells, numerous neurological disorders can arise when they fail to work properly, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and epilepsy. By studying these receptors, Dr. Yakel’s team hopes to better understand how they contribute to disease, which could eventually lead to therapies for a variety of neurological conditions. Jerry Yakel, Ph.D., is a Senior Investigator in the Ion Channel Physiology Group at the NIH’s National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). Learn more about Dr. Yakel and his research at https://irp.nih.gov/pi/jerrel-yakel

The Staying Young Show   Show Topic: Fecal Transplant (FMT) Co-Hosts:  Judy Gaman, Walter Gaman, Mark Anderson Guest: Gene Anders   Segment 1: Today we are focused on gut health and we are going to the weird science realm – talking stool transplants to cure disease. We will actually have a fecal transplant recipient in the studio with us so you can hear firsthand from someone whose life was completely changed by this new procedure.  Gut health – what we know about the microbiome Gut/brain connection Infections of the gut DOC SHOC Do you breast feed or formula feed?  The argument over which is best has been going on for years.  Obviously, if a mother is able and willing, breastfeeding is the best option. However, in some cases, formula is needed.  Soy based formulas are used to help sooth colicky babies.  However. scientists at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) found that soy formula use was linked to severe menstrual pain in early adulthood.  Women who drank soy-based formulas as an infant were 50% more likely to have severe menstrual pain than those who didn't.  It has also been linked to a higher risk of developing endometriosis.  Because of this, scientists are cautioning parents to only use soy formula if necessary.   Learn More! Follow Us on Facebook! Tweet us on Twitter! Download the show on iTunes! Visit our website! Call us at 844-well100  Segment 2: Today's focus is on gut health and curing common gut infections. We have a recipient of a fecal matter transplant in the studio with us and this is a story you'll have to hear to believe. Immortal minute C-Diff kills 29,000 Americans per year and nearly half a million people contract C Diff each year in the US alone Drugs used in C Diff Why C Diff is on the rise Gene's story Segment 3: The fecal transplant procedure MIT students Founded Open Biome first public stool bank in US Segment 4:  Medical Mania Trivia – True or False. It is common to lose a lot of hair during a crash diet. (True) Ecchymosis is another term for what? A. The elbow B. A droopy eye C. A bruise D. A broken bone ( A bruise) True or False. Otalgia is another name for a stomach ache. (False, an earache) “Rhinorrhea” is another name for what? Leaky bowels B. Runny nose C. Bleeding wound D. Sweaty Feet (B. Runny nose) Laughing 100 times is equivalent to how many minutes of exercise on a stationary bicycle? A. 15 B. 30 C. 45 D. 5 ( 15 minutes)  DEMENTIA DEFENDER LAST WEEKS RIDDLE WAS:  You can carry it everywhere you go, and it does not get heavy. What is it? Answer: Your Name This Weeks Riddle:  What word starting with BR, that with the addition of the letter E, becomes another word that sounds the same as the first? Thank you for listening to the Staying Young Show! With all the mixed messages on health, you need information that you can use and that you can trust. Listen in as the experts discuss all topics health related. It's time to STAY YOUNG and stay healthy! Each week we tackle a topic and often with leading scientists, best-selling authors, and even your favorite celebrities! As a listener of our show, your input is important to us. Please take a moment to fill out this quick survey so we can serve you better - https://survey.libsyn.com/stayingyoung2 For more information on The Staying Young Show, please visit our website at www.StayYoungAmerica.com, and subscribe to the show in iTunes, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app. You can also reach out to our host, Judy Gaman on www.judygaman.com for book purchasing, and speaking opportunities in your area!  

Michael A. Grandner, PhD, Arizona College of Medicine, provides an overview of the many aspects of sleep, how it impacts functioning, and the ways we can improve the quality of our sleep. Dr. Grandner is an experienced researcher, noted speaker, and respected colleague at many prestigious institutions. He serves as the director of the Sleep and Health Research Program at the University of Arizona, and as director of the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Clinic at the Banner-University Medical Center. Additionally, Dr. Grandner is an assistant professor in the departments of psychiatry and medicine in the UA College of Medicine, assistant professor of psychology in the UA College of Science, as well as an assistant professor of nutritional sciences in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He is certified in behavioral sleep medicine by the American Board of Sleep Medicine. Dr. Grandner discusses the connections between sleep and health and how it plays an important role in many and various areas of functioning. He states that a lot of their research focuses on finding ways to help with sleep improvement. He looks at quality and quantity of sleep, timing, when people are sleeping, and why. He gives details on the range of ways they study sleep in their laboratory. He talks about the various types of emerging technologies that can assist them with measuring the aspects of sleep. As sleep exists deep in the brain, it is impossible to perfectly measure sleep, thus Dr. Grandner states that they must measure around it, guessing at other measures such as movement and brain wave activity, etc. Achieving healthy sleep is crucial for great overall health, cardiovascular health, and is also an important factor in obesity, diabetes, and psychological well being. And as such, when we don't get enough of it, or the quality level is low, functioning can be impacted in many ways. Interestingly, Dr. Grandner points out that many people actually degrade their own opportunity to achieve quality sleep by reinforcing periods of insomnia. As he states, the best thing to do when you're in bed and can't sleep is to get up. Lying in bed and trying to fight it only reinforces the state, essentially teaching your brain that bedtime is a time for brain activity and thought. Thus getting out of bed and taking on some sort of activity till you feel ready to sleep could prove helpful. Dr. Grandner outlines some of the research and interesting studies his team is involved with currently as well as other studies on the horizon. Current research focuses on the ways sleep and sleep-related behaviors could be connected to cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, neurocognitive functioning, mental health, and even longevity. Their projects have been funded by the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA), the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), and the American Heart Association (AHA). Their community-based studies consider a vast swath of issues from social environment, access to care, stress, diet, and exercise, as well as aspects of cardiometabolic functioning, to look at the ways sleep is related to each. Dr. Grandner seeks to develop new tools to help people gauge the kind of sleep they are getting and how to improve it. In regard to sleep, Dr. Grandner states, it is not something that you can command. We need to give ourselves the right environment, mentally and physically, that will allow sleep to happen. He discusses the quality versus the quantity, and the ways to evaluate that, as well as the importance of regular sleep patterns. Dr. Grandner discusses the internal body clocks that govern function, and the various types of personalities and genes that play a role in sleep schedules. He discusses the sleep-wake system versus the circadian system, which relates to the biological process that displays an endogenous, entrainable oscillation of approximately 24 hours. He explains how hormone shifts and rhythms can be changed, shifted, and blunted, and how light can help with making adjustments, in regard to the winter blues, seasonal affective disorder, etc. Dr. Grandner has published over 100 articles and chapters on myriad issues relating to sleep and health. His significant work in the field has been cited over 2,500 times. Dr. Grandner is associate editor of the recognized journal, Sleep Health, and he serves on the editorial boards of various other journals: SLEEP, Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, Sleep Medicine, and others. He is a sought-after speaker on the connection between sleep and good health and as such has been invited often to the National Institutes of Health, and has presented for the US Congress.

Stay engaged with the social and environmental justice dialogues started at the 2016 National Funding and Resources Training Summit to Revitalize Vulnerable Communities – http://www.survivingtothrivingsummit.org/ (Learn How HERE)   TOPIC Worker Training and Workforce Development IN THIS EPISODE [02:05] Introduction of Sharon Beard. [02:22] Sharon describes the Worker Education and Training Program at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). [03:38] Sharon tells why there was a need for the Minority Worker Training Program at NIEHS. [06:56] Sharon identifies some of the most successful outcomes of the Minority Worker Training Program. [09:04] Sharon conveys the purpose of the 2016 National Training & Resources Summit to Revitalize Vulnerable Communities. [10:50] Sharon answers the question of why it was important for NIEHS to co-sponsor an event like the 2016 National Training & Resources Summit to Revitalize Vulnerable Communities. [11:43] Sharon gives her response to the criticism that federal dollars could be better spent elsewhere than in job training and workforce development. [14:37] Sharon explains if the target of the Environmental Career Worker Training Program is those who have been in the criminal justice system. [16:37] Sharon gives information about the hourly wage of those who come through the program. [18:26] Sharon tells if there are any people, of the thousands who have been helped, who stick out in her mind. [20:02] Sharon communicates her hopes of what is accomplished at the National Training & Resources Summit to Revitalize Vulnerable Communities and what the ongoing impact will be. [25:21] Sharon discusses one change that would lead to more effective, more dynamic, better-funded environmental worker training. [27:38] Sharon states the action listeners can take to help build a more equitable workforce. [29:12] Sharon gives information on how people can reach her program. [30:25] Sharon shares what federally supported environmental workforce development and employment opportunities look like 30 years from now. GUEST/ORGANIZATION Sharon Beard is an Industrial Hygienist in the Worker Education and Training Program of the Division of Extramural Research and Training (DERT) at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institute of Health (NIH) in Research Triangle Park, NC. As an industrial hygienist, Sharon is responsible for coordinating, evaluating, and improving the nation-wide worker education and training program especially in the area of the Minority Worker Training Program (MWTP) initiative. She uses her background in industrial hygiene to provide expert review, guidance, and leadership in managing a multi-million portfolio of worker training grants in the area of hazardous waste, emergency response, and nuclear weapons/radiation reaching communities all over the US. She has also worked within in DERT assisting with efforts to facilitate and coordinate translational research through the Partnership for Environmental Public Health (PEPH) Program. The PEPH program is an umbrella program that brings together scientists, community members, educators, health care providers, public health officials, and policy makers in the shared goal of advancing the impact of environmental public health research at local, regional, and national levels. Building on her environmental and occupational health experience acquired while working in the Environmental Restoration and Industrial Hygiene & Safety Departments at Westinghouse Savannah River Company in SC, she is currently a member of the NIEHS Science Advisory Committee, HHS Environmental Justice Working Group and the Brownfields Federal Partnership Interagency Working Group. She is also a member of the American Public Health Association and ACGIH. Beard holds a Master of Science in Environmental Science and Management from Tufts University, Medford, MA where she received...

Children are particularly vulnerable to environmental contaminants, and three-quarters of American children under age five spend at least 20 hours per week at an out-of-home child care facility. In this podcast, Dr. Barbara Fiese speaks about ways to reduce harmful exposures and create healthy environments in child care settings. Podcast is courtesy of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)

In the United States more than 40,000 women die of breast cancer each year, and almost 200,000 women develop the disease. Although survival rates have improved and risk factors have been identified, the causes of breast cancer remain unclear. In 2004 researchers at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) began recruiting sisters of breast cancer patients for a study to explore environmental and genetic factors behind this disease. Now that more than 50,000 women have been recruited, Dale Sandler discusses what comes next for the Sister Study. Sandler is the principal investigator of the Sister Study and chief of the Epidemiology Branch at the NIEHS. Visit the podcast webpage to download a full transcript of this podcast.

Guest: Dale Sandler, PhD, MPH Host: Lisa Mazzullo, MD Rising rates of breast cancer are of concern to everyone in medicine. To what can we attribute this disturbing trend? For answers, host Dr. Lisa Mazzullo welcomes Dale Sandler, PhD, MPH, chief of epidemiology at the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), and principal investigator of the NIEHS Sister Study, a bold initiative to evaluate 50,000 sisters of women with breast cancer, measuring a confluence of environmental factors against their disease risk.

Guest: Dale Sandler, PhD, MPH Host: Lisa Mazzullo, MD Rising rates of breast cancer are of concern to everyone in medicine. To what can we attribute this disturbing trend? For answers, host Dr. Lisa Mazzullo welcomes Dale Sandler, PhD, MPH, chief of epidemiology at the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), and principal investigator of the NIEHS Sister Study, a bold initiative to evaluate 50,000 sisters of women with breast cancer, measuring a confluence of environmental factors against their disease risk.