Chemical Risk Factors

Dr. Whitehead was honored by the Collaborative on Health and the Environment as one of 20 Pioneers Under 40 in Environmental Public Health. The 20 pioneers were given an opportunity to share their work in a series of webinars. In his talk, Dr. Whitehead discussed how CIRCLE research empowers regulators to affect policy changes for safer chemical use. CIRCLE investigators have worked to reveal the “links in the chain” connecting consumer products, environmental contamination, human exposure, and adverse health effects for children. Using a variety of exposure science tools – including environmental forensic microscopy, vacuum-cleaner dust sampling, and biological monitoring – CIRCLE is helping to fill data gaps for regulators. This webinar highlighted some of the work CIRCLE is doing to assess human exposure to legacy and emerging flame retardants used in consumer products.

The earlier portion of the video features Dr. Simona Andreea Bălan, a Senior Environmental Scientist at California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control.

Dr. Metayer discusses chemical risk factors for childhood leukemia. She indicates that use of pesticides in the home, particularly during the prenatal period, may increase risk of childhood leukemia. She indicates that use of paint in the home after pregnancy may increase risk of childhood leukemia. The introduction is by Dr. Melanie Marty of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment of Cal EPA.

The late Dr. Buffler presents data from the California Childhood Leukemia Study showing that children whose parents smoked are more likely to develop leukemia in early childhood. Risks vary by the time period of smoking (preconception, prenatal, and early childhood), type and subtype of leukemia, and which parents smoked.