In partnership with the UCSF Cancer Center, and in collaboration with members of P30 Centers at USC and UMichigan, EaRTH supported new research exploring links between PFAS and phenol/paraben chemicals and cancer. Led by PI Max Aung PhD (ESI, now faculty at USC Division of Environmental Health/P30) the study found women with higher PFNA levels, a long-chain PFAS, was linked to uterine cancer history and increased phenol exposure, including BPA, linked to increased odds of prior ovarian cancer diagnosis. Published in Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology, EaRTH led communications efforts to promote the study, drafting the press release, providing media training for Dr. Aung, and coordinating media outreach with UCSF, USC, and UMichigan.
Communication Impact: EaRTH communications helped generate 400+ media stories in outlets with 1 billion+ monthly views.
Policy Impact: The media coverage caught the California Attorney General’s Office’s attention and they invited Dr. Aung to speak at a press conference on PFAS health risks to inform California statute AB1200 restricting PFAS in food packaging in California.
Collaboration: Joint Pilot on Cancer and Environmental Health with the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
Paper: Multi-pollutant profiles of hormonally mediated cancers and endogenous hormones in men and women
Blog: Exposure to PFAS chemicals doubles the odds of a prior cancer diagnosis in women
Recognition: NIEHS paper of the month, November 2023