Podcasts about silent spring institute

Jennie Liss Ohayon, PhD, Impacts of California's Proposition 65 Dr. Jennie Liss Ohayon is a Research Scientist at Silent Spring Institute, specializing in environmental policy, community-engaged research, and environmental justice. She is currently working on projects to report back to study participants and community partners in the U.S. and Chile their exposures to endocrine disrupting chemicals. She also researches the emergence of scientific and activist concerns around industrial chemicals with Northeastern's PFAS lab, and, in collaboration with co-investigators at the University of California, Berkeley, is evaluating the effectiveness of California-based legislation that aims to reduce or eliminate exposures to toxic substances. With the support of the Massachusetts Toxic Use Reduction Institute, she recently partnered with high schools across the state to translate environmental health research into hands-on curriculum that helps students reduce toxic exposures. She works with the Environmental Data and Governance Initiative, a network formed to address threats to federal environmental policy and data, to track changes to EPA's structure and science production. Dr. Ohayon completed her PhD at the University of California, Santa Cruz researching the remediation of toxic waste in military Superfund sites. With research support from the EPA's Science to Achieve Results fellowship and the National Science Foundation, she did fieldwork to evaluate how policy around public participation and environmental justice is translated into cleanup programs. She also used data from all military Superfund sites for quantitative and spatial analyses of how factors such as the race and class demographics of surrounding neighborhoods contribute to how quickly sites are remediated. During this time, she created an interactive curriculum in environmental sciences for high school students that are disproportionately affected by environmental problems and who come from communities that are underrepresented in the field of environmental science. Prior to beginning her PhD, Dr. Ohayon worked in two conservation biology laboratories and led education and recreation programs for children in low-income housing. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of Toronto, with majors in biology and political science. In her free time, she enjoys traveling (she's explored six continents) and various food-related pursuits—gardening, canning, and of course eating delicious vegetarian food! Links mentioned in the podcast: Chemical Exposure Warnings (Proposition 65 Warnings) California Told Companies to Label Toxic Chemicals. Instead They're Quietly Dropping Them How a Right-to-Know Law Shifts Industry away from Chemicals of Concern: The Case of California's Proposition 65 The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) Silent Spring's tips (including tip sheets and our Detox Me app)

Persistent Organic Pollutants: you don't need a Ph.D. in chemistry to recognize realize they are dangerous.  But Dr. Rainer Lohmann has been studying POPs for some time and their danger to the environment and human beings. Lohmann's research combines marine organic geochemistry and environmental chemistry to study recalcitrant organic compounds, including persistent organic pollutants on the molecular level.  He has led Superfund Research Center at the University of Rhode Island since 2018, one among roughly 20 nationwide.  The Center is a collaboration with scientists from Harvard University and the Silent Spring Institute.  It focuses on the Sources, Transport, Exposure and Effects of PFASs—poly- and perfluorinated alkyl substances.  Lohmann has engaged decision-makers by working with scientists from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Environment Canada to advance the use of novel sampling devices to better characterize fluxes of organic pollutants in water and air.  Lohmann is currently one of several scientists from around the world coordinating the AQUA-GAPS program, a joint effort with the Czech Republic's RECETOX initiative at Masaryk University, which conducts research and education around managing the environmental and health risks associated with the chemicals around us.  The AQUA-GAPS program promotes the use of passive samplers for legacy and emerging organic contaminants in the waters of the world is now underway.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elizabeth Plunk is a Ph.D. candidate in the Toxicology Training Program at the University of Rochester Medical Center in the lab of Ania Majewska. She is currently investigating the effects of Perfluorohexanoic Acid on brain development.Watch the video version of this podcast episode here: https://youtu.be/TdQ1EmnTCeMThroughout this episode, Elizabeth shares her insights into the chemicals that are commonly used by big companies, industry and the military. We discuss why they are so abundant throughout our environment, safety concerns and what we can do about it.You can get in touch with Elizabeth Plunk via Twitter @Elizabeth_Plunk https://twitter.com/Elizabeth_Plunk Or you can find her on Linkedin @Elizabeth PlunkPerfluorohexanoic Acid: https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/iris_drafts/recordisplay.cfm?deid=357314Get guest updates and submit your listener questions via Instagram: https://instagram.com/travellingscience/During this episode, a donation was made to the Silent Spring Institute. This weeks charity, Silent Spring Institute - https://silentspring.org/If you'd like to support this podcast and the charities we donate to each week, you can make a contribution here:  https://www.patreon.com/thetravellingscientist Thank you for making a positive change in the world!

What are PFAS/PFOA, or sometimes referred to as forever chemicals? How do we protect ourselves and our drinking water supply? Dr. Laurel Schaider, Senior Scientist at Silent Spring Institute and the Town of Barnstable's Water Supply Division Supervisor Hans Keijser help us understand these emerging contaminates and how science, regulatory process and infrastructure work in tandem to solve complex challenges

If you take a shower and use basic cosmetics, you could be exposed to more than 100 chemicals. Add in your furnishings and food, and we're talking several hundred chemicals, some of them bioaccumulative—and dangerous. But if we know that certain consumer goods have toxics in them, how did they end up on shelves? And why are they still for sale? This week, Dr. Norah MacKendrick joins Jonathan to break down the history and politics of daily chemical exposure, and what needs to change so that we can stay safe.Dr. Norah MacKendrick is Associate Professor of Sociology at Rutgers University. She's the author of Better Safe Than Sorry: How Consumers Navigate Exposure to Everyday Toxics. Her research falls within the fields of environmental sociology, gender, medical sociology, and consumer studies. You can follow Dr. MacKendrick on Twitter @nmackend, on Instagram @nmackendgreen, and at norahmackendrick.com.  Curious about limiting exposure to toxic chemicals? Here are some resources she recommends: The Center for Environmental Health offers essential information, webinars, and resources and check out the Environmental Working Group's map on PFAS water contamination. Ready to take action? Start with the nationwide Mind the Store campaign – then explore the Detox Me Action Kit from Silent Spring Institute and the EWG's Skin Deep Database for guidance on safer personal care products.  Want to get involved with organizations protecting consumers of color? Check out WE ACT's Beauty Inside Out Working Group and Black Women For Wellness. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram and Twitter @JVN and @Jonathan.Vanness on Facebook. Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com. Our executive producer is Erica Getto. Our associate producer is Zahra Crim. Our editor is Andrew Carson. Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com.

Cheryl Osimo, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition talk with  Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ about the 25th anniversary of their premier fundraising event the Lesbians and Friends LGBTQ Dance Party For Prevention that takes place in person at Club Café in Boston on October 22nd from 6P to 9:30P and virtually via Zoom. This year they're honoring the event's founder Attorney Susan Wilson. Osimo stated, "Susan is a true humanitarian, scholar, visionary and friend to MBCC and all of those who have been touched by breast cancer. I don't know of anyone who excels beyond Susan in the spirit of service and leadership – she is truly a remarkable person." Funds raised from the Party for Prevention help support MBCC's education programs designed to provide our communities with vital health information on ways to reduce exposure to toxic chemicals in the products they use and in the environments in which they live, learn and work. MBCC is the only breast cancer non-profit working closely with a research and sister organization Silent Spring Institute to investigate preventable environmental causes of the disease. This work is funded through annual fundraising events like the upcoming Lesbians and Friends LGBTQ Dance Party For Prevention. The in-person Dance will be held at Boston's best LGBTQ venue Club Café with DJ Andrea spinning and there will also be a dance lesson from OUT to Dance's founder and director Liz Nania. We talked to Cheryl about what she hopes to accomplish with her work at MBCC and her spin on our LGBTQ issues.    Cheryl Osimo is a fierce LGBTQ ally and devoted breast cancer activist and advocate since 1991 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 41. She has been a catalyst in raising public awareness of the possible environmental links to breast cancer. Her commitment to breast cancer prevention and awareness benefits women worldwide. Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition is the leading breast cancer organization dedicated to preventing the environmental causes of breast cancer through community education, research advocacy and changes to public policy. Tickets for the in-person Club Café 21 years or older event are $40 in advance and $45 at the door. Student tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door for 21 years or older with a student ID. Tickets for the virtual event are $20 via Zoom. For More Info… LISTEN: 600+ LGBTQ Chats @OUTTAKE VOICES

http://futureofrisk.com/ (http://futureofrisk.com/) Get ahead of EPA PFAS regulations, for your business and for the environment. Chris Garrabrant, Sr. Principal Engineer and Fred Myatt, Technical Underwriter, tell us what PFAS are, the dangers, and how businesses can mitigate risks that might arise from the potential EPA regulations. Websites mentioned in this episode: Silent Spring Institute: https://silentspring.org/project/pfas-reach (https://silentspring.org/project/pfas-reach) EPA: https://www.epa.gov/pfas (https://www.epa.gov/pfas) National Institutes of Health: https://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/programs/pfas/index.cfm (https://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/programs/pfas/index.cfm) Zurich Resilience Solutions: http://www.zurichna.com/risk (www.zurichna.com/risk) Recorded: 2-25-22

Hear from Dr. Julia Brody, executive director and senior scientist at Silent Spring Institute. A nationally recognized expert, she will share her insights on environmental chemicals and breast cancer. FOLLOW Green Inside and Out Web: greeninsideandout.org Facebook: greeninsideout Instagram: @greeninsideandout Twitter: @greeninsideout MUSIC Opening: Maltese anthem on flute by Ray Furuta Closing: Alien Chatter

Today on Boston Public Radio: Art Caplan weighs in on Denmark getting rid of all COVID restrictions, desires for the U.S. to do the same, and ethical approaches to the metaverse following reports of sexual assault online. Caplan is director of the Division of Medical Ethics at the New York University School of Medicine. Then, we ask listeners their thoughts on whether the U.S. should follow the path of Denmark and ramp down COVID restrictions, or continue fighting the spread. Juliette Kayyem discusses the latest in the Jan. 6 committee news, tensions at the Russia-Ukraine border and a report into Miami's dangerous condo development history following Surfside. Kayyem is an analyst for CNN, former assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security and faculty chair of the homeland security program at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. Michelle Singletary prepares listeners for tax season, including tips on how to deal with income through Venmo and Paypal and a racially biased IRS facial recognition software, and her advice when it comes to financial infidelity. Singletary is a nationally syndicated columnist for The Washington Post, whose award-winning column “The Color of Money” provides insight into the world of personal finance. Dr. Julia Brody and Dr. Mary Beth Terry talk about their series, “Cancer and the Environment,” about the link between chemicals and cancer. Brody is the executive director and senior scientist at Silent Spring Institute, a scientific research organization dedicated to uncovering the environmental causes of breast cancer. Terry is a cancer epidemiologist at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center. Joanne Chang updates listeners on the challenging state of the restaurant industry amid Omicron and uneven federal aid, and shares her Lunar New Year traditions. Joanne Chang is a James Beard Award-Winning baker and owner of Flour Bakery, as well as the fantastic Myers + Chang with her husband Christopher Myers. We end the show by asking listeners whether they're early birds or night owls, and why people enjoy the early hours of the morning.

The NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP) is hosting a Risk e-Learning webinar series focused on strategies to communicate potential environmental health risks to reduce exposures and improve health. The four-part series will showcase effective risk communication strategies and how they have been tailored to the needs of diverse communities. Presentations will also highlight first-hand experiences designing risk communication messages and campaigns, evaluating impact, and adapting communication strategies for different populations. The webinar series builds on an SRP workshop held in June 2021. The fourth and final session will feature work by SRP-funded researchers who are translating research into communication tools and tailoring them for specific community needs. These specialized tools work to successfully communicate health risks and increase environmental health literacy. BJ Cummings, M.A., and Lisa Hayward Watts, Ph.D., of the University of Washington SRP Center, will discuss how community and agency partners were involved in developing multilingual videos as the preferred tool for communication of risk from fishing in the Lower Duwamish Waterway Superfund Site. Presenters will emphasize the empowerment process used to select and develop the project. We will also discuss challenges in resolving different risk perspectives and messaging needs and how we've adapted our approach in subsequent projects. Julia Brody, Ph.D., of Silent Spring Institute, and Phil Brown, Ph.D., of the Northeastern University SRP Center, will describe the process of reporting back personal biomonitoring and environmental exposure results. Examples will range from their earliest paper-based methods to their Digital Exposure Environmental Report Back Interface (DERBI) in its computer and smartphone versions. They will also address elements of training clinicians to use report-back methods. Kathleen Gray, Ph.D., Sarah Yelton, M.S., and Megan Rodgers, M.E.A., of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill SRP Center will share their process for collaborating with diverse partners to communicate about potential environmental health risks. Featured projects address fish consumption advisories, toxic metals contamination of well water, and PFAS in water and air. To view this archive online or download the slides associated with this seminar, please visit http://www.clu-in.org/conf/tio/SRPREIH4_102221/

The NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP) is hosting a Risk e-Learning webinar series focused on strategies to communicate potential environmental health risks to reduce exposures and improve health. The four-part series will showcase effective risk communication strategies and how they have been tailored to the needs of diverse communities. Presentations will also highlight first-hand experiences designing risk communication messages and campaigns, evaluating impact, and adapting communication strategies for different populations. The webinar series builds on an SRP workshop held in June 2021. The fourth and final session will feature work by SRP-funded researchers who are translating research into communication tools and tailoring them for specific community needs. These specialized tools work to successfully communicate health risks and increase environmental health literacy. BJ Cummings, M.A., and Lisa Hayward Watts, Ph.D., of the University of Washington SRP Center, will discuss how community and agency partners were involved in developing multilingual videos as the preferred tool for communication of risk from fishing in the Lower Duwamish Waterway Superfund Site. Presenters will emphasize the empowerment process used to select and develop the project. We will also discuss challenges in resolving different risk perspectives and messaging needs and how we've adapted our approach in subsequent projects. Julia Brody, Ph.D., of Silent Spring Institute, and Phil Brown, Ph.D., of the Northeastern University SRP Center, will describe the process of reporting back personal biomonitoring and environmental exposure results. Examples will range from their earliest paper-based methods to their Digital Exposure Environmental Report Back Interface (DERBI) in its computer and smartphone versions. They will also address elements of training clinicians to use report-back methods. Kathleen Gray, Ph.D., Sarah Yelton, M.S., and Megan Rodgers, M.E.A., of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill SRP Center will share their process for collaborating with diverse partners to communicate about potential environmental health risks. Featured projects address fish consumption advisories, toxic metals contamination of well water, and PFAS in water and air. To view this archive online or download the slides associated with this seminar, please visit http://www.clu-in.org/conf/tio/SRPREIH4_102221/

A major Alaska drilling project to tap 600 million barrels of oil has been blocked. A federal judge ruled in favor of Indigenous and environmental groups, finding that the permitting process has yet to fully consider impacts on the climate and polar bears.   Also, higher levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone lead to a greater risk of breast cancer. Researchers at the Silent Spring Institute have shed new light on how chemical exposure can raise those hormone levels in women, and found that nearly 300 chemicals increased one or both hormones.   And an intricate web of roots and fungi connects life in an old growth forest, allowing ancient “mother trees” to nourish and protect their kin. A forest ecologist shares her research findings and reflects on how mother trees helped her through the challenges of motherhood and a cancer diagnosis.

Red and processed meat linked to increased risk of heart disease, study shows Oxford University, July 21, 2021 Globally, coronary heart diseases (caused by narrowed arteries that supply the heart with blood) claim nearly nine million lives each year1, the largest of any disease, and present a huge burden to health systems. Until now, it has been unclear whether eating meat increases the risk of heart disease, and if this varies for different kinds of meat. Researchers at the University of Oxford's Nuffield Department of Population Health have conducted the largest systematic review of the prospective evidence to date, including thirteen cohort studies involving over 1.4 million people. The study participants completed detailed dietary assessments, and their health was tracked for up to 30 years. The results are published today in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. Overall, the evidence from the analysis indicated that: Each 50 g/day higher intake of processed meat (e.g. bacon, ham, and sausages) increased the risk of coronary heart disease by 18%. Each 50 g/day higher intake of unprocessed red meat (such as beef, lamb and pork) increased the risk of coronary heart disease by 9%. There was no clear link between eating poultry (such as chicken and turkey) and an increased risk of coronary heart disease. The findings may be because of the high content of saturated fat in red meat, and of sodium (salt) in processed meat. High intakes of saturated fat increase levels of harmful low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, whilst excess salt consumption raises blood pressure. Both LDL cholesterol and high blood pressure are well-established risk factors for coronary heart disease. Previous work from the same research team has also indicated that even moderate intakes of red and processed meat are associated with increased risk of bowel cancer2. Dr. Keren Papier (Nuffield Department of Population Health), co-lead author of the study, said: "Red and processed meat have been consistently linked with bowel cancer and our findings suggest an additional role in heart disease. Therefore, current recommendations to limit red and processed meat consumption may also assist with the prevention of coronary heart disease." Dr. Anika Knüppel, from the Nuffield Department of Population Health and the other co-lead author of the study, added: "We know that meat production is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and we need to reduce meat production and thereby consumption to benefit the environment. Our study shows that a reduction in red and processed meat intake would bring personal health benefits too." Currently in the UK, about 10 in 100 people would be expected to eventually die from coronary heart disease. Based on the findings from the present study and current red and processed meat intakes in the UK,4 if all these 100 people reduced their unprocessed red meat intake by three-quarters (for example from four times a week to one time a week), or if they stopped consuming processed meat altogether, deaths from coronary heart disease would decrease from 10 in 100 down to 9 in 100. The studies involved in this analysis were mostly based on white adults living in Europe or the U.S.. The research team say more data are needed to examine these associations in other populations, including East Asia and Africa.   C is for Vitamin C -- a key ingredient for immune cell function Harnessing the combined power of Vitamin C and TET proteins may give scientists a leg up in treating autoimmune diseases   La Jolla Institute for Immunology and Emory University, July 22, 2021 You can't make a banana split without bananas. And you can't generate stable regulatory T cells without Vitamin C or enzymes called TET proteins, it appears.  Regulatory T cells (Tregs) help control inflammation and autoimmunity in the body. Tregs are so important, in fact, that scientists are working to generate stable induced Tregs (iTregs) in vitro for use as treatments for autoimmune diseases as well as rejection to transplanted organs. Unfortunately, it has proven difficult to find the right molecular ingredients to induce stable iTregs. Now scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology and Emory University School of Medicine report that Vitamin C and TET proteins can work together to give Tregs their life-saving power.  "Vitamin C can be used to stabilize iTregs generated in vitro," says LJI Instructor Xiaojing Yue, Ph.D., who served as co-first author for the EMBO Reports study. "We hope that these kinds of induced Tregs can be used in the future for treatment of autoimmune diseases and organ transplantation." The recent study, led by LJI Professor Anjana Rao, Ph.D., and Emory Instructor Benjamin G Barwick, Ph.D., builds on the previous discovery that Vitamin C can enhance the enzymatic activity of TET proteins and prompt the generation of stable iTregs under lab conditions. This finding was encouraging, but the scientists did not want to work toward new autoimmune therapies without first analyzing the gene expression patterns and other key epigenetic features of the induced Tregs.  "We wanted to study the entire system at a whole genome level using next generation sequencing technology to better understand the molecular features of these cells," says Yue. Study co-first author Daniela Samaniego-Castruita, a graduate student at LJI, spearheaded the analysis of gene expression and epigenetic changes in the iTregs. A major type of epigenetic modification involves the DNA itself through the addition or removal of molecules called methyl groups from cytosines, one of the four DNA bases. The methyl groups can be further oxidized by TET enzymes. All of these interactions can eventually change how cells "read" the DNA code.  Another type of epigenetic change involves the alteration of DNA accessibility: whether DNA is loosely or tightly coiled. As the DNA coils unwind, regulatory regions become exposed which subsequently influence gene expression. In their analysis, the researchers found TET proteins are absolutely required for maintaining the gene expression and epigenetic features that make Tregs as what they are; and adding Vitamin C led to iTregs with similar similar gene expression and epigenetic features as normal "wild type" Tregs found in the body. The study also reveals an intriguing connection between TET enzymatic activity, Vitamin C and IL-2/STAT5 signaling. "In mice that are deficient for components of IL-2/STAT5 signaling, such as IL-2, IL-2 receptors or STAT5, the Tregs cannot develop properly or they can have impaired function," Yue says. The researchers demonstrate that on one hand, TET-deficiency in Treg cells leads to impaired IL-2/STAT5 signaling; on the other hand, Vitamin C confers iTregs enhanced IL-2/STAT5 signaling by increasing the expression level of IL-2 receptor and the functional form of STAT5, and STAT5 binding to essential regions in the genome, rendering these cells survive better in tough environments with low IL-2 supplementation. "We are looking for more small molecules to stabilize TET activity and generate induced Tregs that are even more stable," says Yue. "These induced Tregs could eventually be used to treat patients." "This research gives us a new way to think about treating autoimmune diseases," says Samaniego-Castruita.       Resveratrol ameliorates high-fat-diet-induced abnormalities in liver glucose metabolism in mice via the AMPK pathway Hebei Medical Institute (China), July 19, 2021 A new study on high fat diet is now available. According to news originating from the Department of Internal Medicine by NewsRx correspondents, research stated, “Diabetes mellitus is highly prevalent worldwide.” Our news reporters obtained a quote from the research from Department of Internal Medicine: “High-fat-diet (HFD) consumption can lead to liver fat accumulation, impair hepatic glycometabolism, and cause insulin resistance and the development of diabetes. Resveratrol has been shown to improve the blood glucose concentration of diabetic mice, but its effect on the abnormal hepatic glycometabolism induced by HFD-feeding and the mechanism involved are unknown. In this study, we determined the effects of resveratrol on the insulin resistance of high-fat-diet-fed mice and a hepatocyte model by measuring serum biochemical indexes, key indicators of glycometabolism, glucose uptake, and glycogen synthesis in hepatocytes. We found that resveratrol treatment significantly ameliorated the HFD-induced abnormalities in glucose metabolism in mice, increased glucose absorption and glycogen synthesis, downregulated protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) and activated Ca2+/CaM-dependent protein kinase kinase b (CaMKKb), and increased the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). In insulin-resistant HepG2 cells, the administration of a PP2A activator or CaMKKb inhibitor attenuated the effects of resveratrol, but the administration of an AMPK inhibitor abolished the effects of resveratrol. Resveratrol significantly ameliorates abnormalities in glycometabolism induced by HFD-feeding and increases glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis in hepatocytes.” According to the news editors, the research concluded: “These effects are mediated through the activation of AMPK by PP2A and CaMKKb.”     Hundreds of chemicals, many in consumer products, could increase breast cancer risk List includes potential carcinogens that act by stimulating production of hormones that fuel breast tumors Silent Spring Institute, July 22, 2021 Every day, people are exposed to a variety of synthetic chemicals through the products they use or the food they eat. For many of these chemicals, the health effects are unknown. Now a new study shows that several hundred common chemicals, including pesticides, ingredients in consumer products, food additives, and drinking water contaminants, could increase the risk of breast cancer by causing cells in breast tissue to produce more of the hormones estrogen or progesterone. "The connection between estrogen and progesterone and breast cancer is well established," says co-author Ruthann Rudel, a toxicologist and research director at Silent Spring Institute. "So, we should be extremely cautious about chemicals in products that increase levels of these hormones in the body." For instance, in 2002, when the Women's Health Initiative study found combination hormone replacement therapy to be associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, women stopped taking the drugs and incidence rates went down. "Not surprisingly, one of the most common therapies for treating breast cancer is a class of drugs called aromatase inhibitors that lower levels of estrogen in the body, depriving breast cancer cells of the hormones they need to grow," adds Rudel. To identify these chemical risk factors, Rudel and Silent Spring scientist Bethsaida Cardona combed through data on more than 2000 chemicals generated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s ToxCast program. The goal of ToxCast is to improve the ability of scientists to predict whether a chemical will be harmful or not. The program uses automated chemical screening technologies to expose living cells to chemicals and then examine the different biological changes they cause. Reporting in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, Rudel and Cardona identified 296 chemicals that were found to increase estradiol (a form of estrogen) or progesterone in cells in the laboratory. Seventy-one chemicals were found to increase levels of both hormones. The chemicals included ingredients in personal care products such as hair dye, chemical flame retardants in building materials and furnishings, and a number of pesticides. The researchers don't yet know how these chemicals are causing cells to produce more hormones. It could be the chemicals are acting as aromatase activators, for instance, which would lead to higher levels of estrogen, says Cardona. "What we do know is that women are exposed to multiple chemicals from multiple sources on a daily basis, and that these exposures add up." The Silent Spring researchers hope this study will be a wakeup call for regulators and manufacturers in how they test chemicals for safety. For instance, current safety tests in animals fail to look at changes in hormone levels in the animal's mammary glands in response to a chemical exposure. And, although high throughput testing in cells has been used to identify chemicals that activate the estrogen receptor, mimicking estrogen, the testing has not been used to identify chemicals that increase estrogen or progesterone synthesis. "This study shows that a number of chemicals currently in use have the ability to manipulate hormones known to adversely affect breast cancer risk," says Dr. Sue Fenton, associate editor for the study and an expert in mammary gland development at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. "Especially concerning is the number of chemicals that alter progesterone, the potential bad actor in hormone replacement therapy. Chemicals that elevate progesterone levels in the breast should be minimized." The researchers outlined a number of recommendations in their study for improving chemical safety testing to help identify potential breast carcinogens before they end up in products, and suggest finding ways to reduce people's exposures, particularly during critical periods of development, such as during puberty or pregnancy when the breast undergoes important changes. The project is part of Silent Spring Institute's Safer Chemicals Program which is developing new cost-effective ways of screening chemicals for their effects on the breast. Knowledge generated by this effort will help government agencies regulate chemicals more effectively and assist companies in developing safer products.     Antioxidant activity of limonene counteracts neurotoxicity triggered by amyloid beta 1-42 oligomers in cortical neurons University of Naples (Italy), July 19, 2021 According to news reporting from Naples, Italy, by NewsRx journalists, research stated, “Many natural-derived compounds, including the essential oils from plants, are investigated to find new potential protective agents in several neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD).” The news editors obtained a quote from the research from School of Medicine: “In the present study, we tested the neuroprotective effect of limonene, one of the main components of the genus * * Citrus* * , against the neurotoxicity elicited by Ab [ [1-42] ] oligomers, currently considered a triggering factor in AD. To this aim, we assessed the acetylcholinesterase activity by Ellman's colorimetric method, the mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity by MTT assay, the nuclear morphology by Hoechst 33258, the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by DCFH-DA fluorescent dye, and the electrophysiological activity of K [ [V] ] 3.4 potassium channel subunits by patch-clamp electrophysiology. Interestingly, the monoterpene limonene showed a specific activity against acetylcholinesterase with an IC [ [50] ] almost comparable to that of galantamine, used as positive control. Moreover, at the concentration of 10 g/mL, limonene counteracted the increase of ROS production triggered by Ab [ [1-42] ] oligomers, thus preventing the upregulation of K [ [V] ] 3.4 activity. This, in turn, prevented cell death in primary cortical neurons, showing an interesting neuroprotective profile against Ab [ [1-42] ] -induced toxicity.” According to the news editors, the research concluded: “Collectively, the present results showed that the antioxidant properties of the main component of the genus * * Citrus* * , limonene, may be useful to prevent neuronal suffering induced by Ab [ [1-42] ] oligomers preventing the hyperactivity of K [ [V] ] 3.4.”     Meditation And Yoga Change Your DNA To Reverse Effects Of Stress, Study Shows Coventry University (UK), July 22, 2021 Many people participate in practices such as meditation and yoga because they help us relax. At least those are the immediate effects we feel. But much more is happening on a molecular level, reveal researchers out of Coventry University in England. Published in the journal Frontiers in Immunology, this new research examined 18 studies on mind-body interventions (MBIs). These include practices such as mindfulness meditation and yoga. Comprehensively, these studies encompassed 846 participants over 11 years. The new analysis reveals that MBIs result in molecular changes in the human body. Furthermore, researchers claim that these changes are beneficial to our mental and physical health. Body's Response to Stress Causes Damage To elaborate, consider the effect that stress has on the body. When we are under stress, the body increases the production of proteins that cause cell inflammation. This is the natural effect of the body's fight-or-flight response. It is widely believed that inflammation in the body leads to numerous illnesses, including cancer. Moreover, scientists also deduct that a persistent inflammation is more likely to cause psychiatric problems. Unfortunately, many people suffer from persistent stress, therefore they suffer from pro-inflammatory gene expression. But there is good news! According to this new analysis out of Coventry, people that practice MBIs such as meditation and yoga can reverse pro-inflammatory gene expression. This results in a reduced risk of inflammation-related diseases and mental conditions. Lead investigator Ivana Buric from Coventry University's Centre for Psychology, Behaviour and Achievement stated: Millions of people around the world already enjoy the health benefits of mind-body interventions like yoga or meditation, but what they perhaps don't realise is that these benefits begin at a molecular level and can change the way our genetic code goes about its business. These activities are leaving what we call a molecular signature in our cells, which reverses the effect that stress or anxiety would have on the body by changing how our genes are expressed. Put simply, MBIs cause the brain to steer our DNA processes along a path which improves our wellbeing. More needs to be done to understand these effects in greater depth, for example how they compare with other healthy interventions like exercise or nutrition. But this is an important foundation to build on to help future researchers explore the benefits of increasingly popular mind-body activities.               Large-scale study finds greater sedentary hours increases risk of obstructive sleep apnea Study finds that maintaining an active lifestyle can reduce the risk of OSA, encourages physicians to recommend exercise-based interventions for those at risk Brigham and Women's Hospital, July 22, 2021 A new study by investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital examined the relationship between active lifestyles and the risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The study followed around 130,000 men and women in the United States over a follow-up period of 10-to-18 years and found that higher levels of physical activity and lower levels of sedentary behavior were associated with a lower risk of OSA. Their results are published in the European Respiratory Journal.  "In our study, higher levels of physical activity and fewer hours of TV watching, and sitting either at work or away from home were associated with lower OSA incidence after accounting for potential confounders," said Tianyi Huang, MSc, ScD, an Associate Epidemiologist at the Brigham. "Our results suggest that promoting an active lifestyle may have substantial benefits for both prevention and treatment of OSA."  OSA is a type of sleep apnea in which some muscles relax during sleep, causing an airflow blockage. Severe OSA increases the risk of various heart issues, including abnormal heart rhythms and heart failure.  Using the Nurses' Health Study (NHS), Nurses' Health Study II (NHSII) and Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (HPFS), the research team used statistical modeling to compare physical activity and sedentary hours with diagnoses of OSA. Both moderate and vigorous physical activity were examined separately and both were strongly correlated with lower risk of OSA, showing no appreciable differences in the intensity of activity. Moreover, stronger associations were found for women, adults over the age of 65 and those with a BMI greater than or equal to 25 kg/m2.  "Most prior observational studies on the associations of physical activity and sedentary behavior with OSA were cross-sectional, with incomplete exposure assessment and inadequate control for confounding," said Huang. "This is the first prospective study that simultaneously evaluates physical activity and sedentary behavior in relation to OSA risk."  This study also differs from others because of its large sample size and detailed assessment pf physical activity and sedentary behaviors. The research team was able to take many associated factors into account, making the findings more credible.  The authors note that all collected data, both of OSA diagnosis and physical activity or sedentary behavior, were self-reported. While all study participants were health professionals, mild OSA is often difficult to detect and can remain clinically unrecognized. Furthermore, only recreational physical activity was taken into consideration, leaving out any physical activity in occupational settings. Sedentary behavior was only counted as sitting while watching TV and sitting away from home or at work.  According to Huang, the next research steps would be to collect data using actigraphy, home sleep apnea tests and polysomnography, rather than self-reports.  In light of the findings, investigators encourage physicians to highlight the benefits of physical activity to lower OSA risk.  "We found that physical activity and sedentary behavior are independently associated with OSA risk," said Huang. "That is, for people who spend long hours sitting every day, increasing physical activity in their leisure time can equally lower OSA risk. Similarly, for those who are not able to participate in a lot of physical activity due to physical restrictions, reducing sedentary hours by standing or doing some mild activities could also lower OSA risk. However, those who can lower sedentary time and increase physical activity would have the lowest risk."

For years, with members all around the globe, the MIT Alumni Association produced events both big and small to keep alumni connected to their alma mater. In this episode, we hear from Jamie Brogioli, Director of Alumni and Friends Engagement for the MIT Alumni Association. He walks us through all the stop-on-a-dime twists and turns of shifting a global event program online.  Episode Guest(s): Jamie Brogioli is the Director of Alumni and Friends Engagement at the MIT Alumni Association. He oversees the Association's events and class programs teams and works closely with MIT's fundraising office on a series of events supporting MIT's 6 billion dollar campaign. Jamie just completed his 20th year at the Institute and has worked in a variety of capacities at MIT, managing regional programs, the parents association, and student/alumni relations. Prior to joining MIT, Jamie worked in a variety of community-based organizations supporting fundraising efforts including Silent Spring Institute, Boston Children's Services, AIDS Action Committee, and Project Bread. Key Takeaways: Virtual events give you access to previously unattainable people, both as speakers and guests They can level the playing field Speaking to a live audience is different than speaking to a virtual one, so the messaging has to reflect that Expectations are changing, mainly around showing up; now there's no excuse not to Useful Links: MIT Alumni Association, https://alum.mit.edu/

In episode 215, Kestrel welcomes Kameese Davis, the founder and CEO of Nylah’s Naturals, to the show. A young plant-based hair care brand, Nylah’s Naturals has introduced a science-based approach to textured hair products, and is pushing boundaries for clean and sustainable products. “It’s about combining that plant-based knowledge with the knowledge that our foremothers had and our grandmothers had in terms of how they would use plants and herbs for natural healing and for their beauty treatments as well — so, our passion really is combining those two elements to ensure that we are developing the best possible products for our consumers.” -Kameese Davis, Founder + CEO of Nylah’s Naturals On this week’s show, Kameese shares more on her journey and how a journey with her daughter ended up leading her to build Nylah’s Naturals. Also, Kestrel and Kameese discuss some of the aspects of the Silent Spring Institute study “Hair products for Black women contain mix of hazardous ingredients” — and how the findings could help researchers understand why Black women have higher exposures to hazardous chemicals than other groups and how these elevated exposures contribute to health disparities in the U.S. population. The below thoughts, ideas + organizations were brought up in this chat: Silent Spring Institute Study EWG’s Skin Deep Nylah’s Naturals’ Ingredients Feed My Creative, company that Nylah’s Naturals is working with to showcase creative ways to reuse their product bottles Some other resources that Kameese recommends: Cosmilly Skincare Community CosDNA Think Dirty App, listen to our show with their founder here > Follow Nylah’s Naturals on Instagram >

Cheryl Osimo, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ about the 23rd anniversary of their premier fundraising event the Lesbians and Friends LGBTQ Dance Party For Prevention that takes place virtually on October 24th from 7P to 9P via Zoom. This year MBCC will feature a special guest appearance and award presentation to long-time environmental activist, comedian and actress Lily Tomlin. The MBCC Environmental Activist Award will be presented to Ms. Tomlin in acknowledgment of her passion and work on many environmental issues. Osimo stated, “We are constantly inspired by trailblazers like Ms. Tomlin who have fearlessly and relentlessly paved the way of putting the greater good of our planet and families first. Including her in MBCC’s history of individuals dedicated to making a positive impact in the world is thrilling news.” The online event will also include laughs with guest comedian Karen Williams and dance lessons with OUT to Dance's Liz Nania where you can learn to dance the cha-cha, rhumba, salsa or merengue with no partner needed. DJ Shelly Cullen will be spinning the tunes throughout the virtual event with a Silent Auction that will run from October 17th through October 24th. MBCC is the only breast cancer non-profit working closely with a research and sister organization Silent Spring Institute to investigate preventable environmental causes of the disease. This work is funded through annual fundraising events like the upcoming virtual Lesbians and Friends LGBTQ Dance Party For Prevention. We talked to Cheryl about what she hopes to accomplish with her work at MBCC and her spin on our LGBTQ issues.  Cheryl Osimo is a fierce LGBTQ ally and devoted breast cancer activist and advocate since 1991 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 41. She has been a catalyst in raising public awareness of the possible environmental links to breast cancer. Her commitment to breast cancer prevention and awareness benefits women worldwide. MBCC is currently working on crucial national health projects to address environmental causes of breast cancer including water testing and how PFAS enters groundwater from firefighting foams, wastewater and other pollution sources as well as their impacts on children’s health. The studies will also assess PFAS exposure on a range of health effects including immune response, kidney function, thyroid disease, liver disease, glycemic parameters, diabetes and neurobehavioral outcomes. Funds raised from the Lesbians and Friends LGBTQ Dance Party For Prevention will help support MBCC's community education programs and their local and national work toward breast cancer prevention. Tickets to attend the virtual event for adults are on a sliding scale of $15, $30, or $45 with tickets for students $10. For More Info & Tix: mbcc.org LISTEN: 500+ LGBTQ Chats @OUTTAKE VOICES 

Did you know that there are at least 4,700 highly fluorinated chemicals, often called “PFAS” in many everyday consumer products, and that these chemicals pose harm to human health? Join Food Sleuth Radio host and registered dietitian, Melinda Hemmelgarn, for her interview with Laurel Schaider, Ph.D., Research Scientist at the Silent Spring Institute. Schaider discusses water contamination from PFAS chemicals, and the consumer products that contain them, including: non-stick cookware, grease-proof food packaging, and even dental floss. For a map of the U.S. with identified PFAS contamination see: https://www.ewg.org/interactive-maps/2019_pfas_contamination/map/ Related website: https://silentspring.org/project/everyday-exposures-pfas-chemicals

Cheryl Osimo Executive Director of the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition talks with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ about their 22nd premier annual fundraising event the "Lesbians and Friends LGBTQ Dance Party For Prevention" that takes place at The Inn at Brookline at 1200 Beacon Street in Brookline, Massachusetts on October 26th from 8P to 12P. This year MBCC is proud to be honoring Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey. Osimo stated, "Attorney General Healey has worked tirelessly for the citizens of Massachusetts across so many important issues. We admire all that she has accomplished and continues to work towards on behalf of her constituents and look forward to honoring her at this year’s event." AG Healey will not be present at the event but will be appearing in a special video presentation to be shown during the evening’s festivities. MBCC will also be recognizing longtime MBCC supporter Laura Diamond owner of Diamond Physical Therapy Associates and Moving Violations Motorcycle Club the oldest women’s motorcycle club in New England. In Massachusetts breast cancer incidence rates are 12% higher than the national average which estimates that 1 in 8 U.S. women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. However the most commonly cited risk factors, genetic inheritance and lifestyle factors, are present in only 20-30% of breast cancer cases. This leaves 70-80% of cases unexplained. MBCC is the only breast cancer non-profit working closely with a research and sister organization Silent Spring Institute to investigate preventable environmental causes of the disease. This work is funded through annual fundraising events like the upcoming Lesbians & Friends Dance: A Party for Prevention. We talked to Cheryl about what she hopes to accomplish with her work at MBCC and her spin on our LGBTQ issues. Cheryl Osimo is a fierce LGBTQ ally and devoted breast cancer activist and advocate since 1991 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 41. She has been a catalyst in raising public awareness of the possible environmental links to breast cancer. Her commitment to breast cancer prevention and awareness benefits women worldwide. The Lesbians and Friends LGBTQ Dance Party For Prevention features DJ Shelly Cullen, complimentary hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar and a silent auction with items donated from LGBTQ+ friendly businesses across New England. To kick off the event longtime supporter Liz Nania of Out to Dance will lead a free one-hour dance workshop for all interested participants from 7P to 8P. Tickets are $45 general and $20 for students online or on the day of the event $50 general and $25 for students at the door. Halloween Costumes are optional.For More Info & Tix: mbcc.org LISTEN: 500+ LGBTQ Chats @OUTTAKE VOICES

Andrea Hindman is a postdoctoral fellow at Silent Spring Institute and Northeastern University. She presents her bold idea at the Global Challenge to Prevent Breast Cancer -- Make knowledge linking breast cancer risk and chemical exposures accessible and measurable, using the rodent mammary gland, to prioritize prevention in safety testing. Series: "Global Challenge to Prevent Breast Cancer" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 34871]

Andrea Hindman is a postdoctoral fellow at Silent Spring Institute and Northeastern University. She presents her bold idea at the Global Challenge to Prevent Breast Cancer -- Make knowledge linking breast cancer risk and chemical exposures accessible and measurable, using the rodent mammary gland, to prioritize prevention in safety testing. Series: "Global Challenge to Prevent Breast Cancer" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 34871]

Andrea Hindman is a postdoctoral fellow at Silent Spring Institute and Northeastern University. She presents her bold idea at the Global Challenge to Prevent Breast Cancer -- Make knowledge linking breast cancer risk and chemical exposures accessible and measurable, using the rodent mammary gland, to prioritize prevention in safety testing. Series: "Global Challenge to Prevent Breast Cancer" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 34871]

The full broadcast of Boston Public Radio from Friday, February 15th, 2019. Amid financial setbacks, General Electric decided to scale back its plans for a headquarters by selling its Seaport District property and doing away with most of the jobs that would come with it. Did Massachusetts get duped? Or is it a win that the state will be reimbursed the $87 million of tax incentives we gave them to move to Boston? Shirley Leung, the Boston Globe’s interim editorial page editor and a WGBH contributor, joined us for that and more. Then, on top of GE pulling out of Boston, Amazon bailed on New York, rescinding its plans to develop another headquarters in Long Island City, Queens. We opened the lines to ask you, is it time we bail out on corporate America? As she does every Friday, Emily Rooney joined us for her famous list of fixations and fulminations, and more. Rooney is the host of Beat The Press on WGBH and a Boston Public Radio contributor. We review the latest headlines at the intersection of tech, policy and commerce with tech writer, podcaster and blogger Andy Ihnatko. You can follow him on Twitter @Ihnatko. Detox products have become a staple in the health and wellness industry. There are detox teas, detox massages and detox gut cleanses … but do we know what we’re actually detoxifying ourselves of? And where these toxins are coming from? Researchers at the Silent Spring Institute have developed a test that detects the presence of 10 of the most common household chemicals that can accumulate in our bodies. This is all part of a scientific study to get a better sense of our collective exposure to environmental chemicals. Joining us to talk about the study are Ruthann Rudel, director of research at Silent Spring Institute, and Dr. Cathie Ragovin, a psychiatrist, co-founder of the Silent Spring Institute and co-chair of its Board of Directors. A sporting goods store goes bust for refusing to sell Nike products because of the Colin Kaepernick connection. Callie Crossley, the host of Under The Radar on WGBH, joins us for that and more. And finally, it’s time for our Friday News Quiz with Kyle Amato and Corey Purcell, the guys behind the Ethan Hawke-obsessed podcast, "The Hawke Cast," dedicated to the films of Ethan Hawke.

About Julia Brody: Dr. Julia Brody and her team at the Silent Spring Institute in Massachusetts are well-known pioneers in exploring linkages between toxic chemicals exposures and breast cancer, prompted by the high incidence of breast cancer in Cape Cod. Upholding the legacy of Rachel Carson in exploring how environmental threats contribute to disease incidence, Brody has produced compelling results from her work in Cape Cod. Recent work has brought her team to Richmond and Bolinas where the team as tested a number of homes for the presence of toxic chemicals in indoor and outdoor air. Householders in both towns found the results surprising. Like most people, they assumed that exposures to toxicants occurred primarily if one were to live near an industrial area, a military facility or near the site of some sort of chemical accident. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit healthmatters.substack.com

Living Lab: A study of flame-retardant chemicals by the Silent Spring Institute.

Julia Brody, PhD Endocrine Disruptors in Indoor and Outdoor Air Dr. Julia Brody and her team at the Silent Spring Institute in Massachusetts are well-known pioneers in exploring linkages between toxic chemicals exposures and breast cancer, prompted by the high incidence of breast cancer in Cape Cod. Upholding the legacy of Rachel Carson in exploring how environmental threats contribute to disease incidence, Brody has produced compelling results from her work in Cape Cod. Recent work has brought her team to Richmond and Bolinas where the team as tested a number of homes for the presence of toxic chemicals in indoor and outdoor air. Householders in both towns found the results surprising. Like most people, they assumed that exposures to toxicants occurred primarily if one were to live near an industrial area, a military facility or near the site of some sort of chemical accident. Join Michael Lerner in a conversation with Julia about her research, which indicates that many of us may be additionally exposed to toxicants through the use of products we use everyday, products such as cleaners, personal care products, paints, solvents, or the materials we use in constructing our houses. Julia Brody, PhD Julia, executive director of Silent Spring Institute, is a leader in research on breast cancer and the environment and in community-based research and public engagement in science. Brody’s current research focuses on methods for reporting to people on their own exposures to hormone disruptors and other emerging contaminants when the health effects are uncertain. Find out more about The New School at tns.commonweal.org.