Laura Spark – Page 3 – Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow

Major Mount Sinai study links PFAS to reduced fertility

March 27, 2023

Researchers at New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital have found that exposure to PFAS reduces female fertility by 30-40%, significantly lessening the chances of pregnancy and birth among women of child-bearing age. Mount Sinai study was published in Science of the Toal Environment and showed a link between higher blood concentrations of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and reduced fertility. See full study here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36801327/Press release here : https://www.mountsinai.org/about/newsroom/2023/exposure-to-chemicals-found-in-everyday-products-is-linked-to-significantly-reduced-fertility

New York Times: Many personal care products contain harmful chemicals

February 17, 2023

Laura Spark

General, Personal Care Products, PFAS

On February 16, 2023, the New York Times reported on the increasing body of evidence linking chemicals in personal care products to serious health concerns. The NYT provides a great breakdown of steps consumers can to take to avoid problematic chemicals in personal care products: “Understand which chemicals are worrisome… Consider how you’re using your products… Consult a database… Look for third-party certifications… Ask for more transparency and stronger policies.” Read the full story here.

Propublica: “Why the U.S. is losing the fight to ban toxic chemicals”

December 15, 2022

Laura Spark

Flame Retardants, PFAS, Toxic Chemicals, Uncategorized

Why the U.S. is losing the fight to ban toxic chemicals On December 14, 2022, expert environmental reporters at ProPublica wrote this excellent analysis on the state of chemical regulation in the United States. This is a must-read article for anyone who cares about public health! Read full story at: https://www.propublica.org/article/toxic-chemicals-epa-regulation-failures

Report recommends blood testing, medical monitoring for people exposed to PFAS.

September 6, 2022

Laura Spark

PFAS, Uncategorized

On July 28, 2022, WBUR’s Barbara Moran reported on a new National Academies of Science study that recommends blood tests and medical monitoring for people likely to have high exposure to the toxic chemicals known as PFAS. The report describes the link between blood levels of PFAS and certain illnesses. According to Moran, It concludes there is now “sufficient evidence” of association between PFAS exposure and kidney cancer in adults, decreased infant and fetal growth, decreased immune response, and…

Environmental Health News: Washington State Fastest Timeline Banning PFAS by 2025

April 8, 2022

Laura Spark

PFAS

New Washington state bill is the “fastest timeline in the nation” for phasing out PFAS Washington State has passed a new state bill that authorizes state administrators to take steps to ban PFAS in clothing, non-stick pans, cosmetics, cleaning products, and firefighter gear by 2025 In an April 27, 2022 story, Environmental Health News quotes Liz Berry, bill sponsor, who says she filed the bill after reading about a 2021 study on PFAS in breast milk. The study of 50…

Burger King out of PFAS in packaging by 2025

April 8, 2022

Laura Spark

Mind the Store, PFAS

Clean Water Action and Toxic Free Futures, two partners in the Mind the Store campaign, recently announced that Burger King had decided to remove all PFAS from its food packaging by 2025 at https://cleanwater.org/releases/burger-king-announces-global-ban-toxic-forever-chemicals-food-packaging

Care about climate? Get PFAS out of food packaging

April 8, 2022

Laura Spark

Mind the Store, PFAS, Uncategorized

If you are in climate circles, you might be familiar with Daikin America. The company produces refrigerants and air source heat pumps. Their logo often appears in the list of corporations supporting major climate conferences, and the company emphasizes its commitment to sustainability. On September 16, 2021, Toxic Free Future released a new report, showing another side of the company’s operations. Daikin manufacture PFAS for food packaging. PFAS coating prevents wet and fatty food from soaking through paper-based food containers.…

Sierra Club: Keep PFAS out of your garden

May 27, 2021

Laura Spark

PFAS, Toxic Chemicals

In May 21, 2021, Sierra Club and the Ecology Center tested fertilizer products made from sewage sludge, and found that all contained toxic PFAS, despite several brands being marketed as “eco” or “natural.” Read the report at: https://www.sierraclub.org/sludge-garden-toxic-pfas-home-fertilizers-made-sewage-sludge

The Infuriating Case of Toxic Chemicals in Breast Milk

May 27, 2021

Laura Spark

PFAS, Toxic Chemicals, Uncategorized

Sonya Lunder is a scientist and toxics advisor for Sierra Club. She is also a mother. Read her terrific Ms Magazine editorial, on her reaction to a recent studying finding PFAS in the breast milk of 100% of breastfeeding mothers (50 mothers tested in Seattle). The Infuriating Case of Toxic Chemicals in Breast Milk