February is National Pesticide Awareness Month |
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Chlorpyrifos in Review: Banning of a
Harmful Neuro-Toxin
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The Center celebrated 20 years in 2019, for those 20+ years the Center’s research on chlorpyrifos has been informing environmental policy at the federal and state levels.
In 2001 the EPA banned chlorpyrifos from indoor use. This policy had an immediate impact among our cohort. The Center's Researchers noted a significant drop of chlorpyrifos in air and blood samples, which prior to the policy exposure was noted in 99% of air, and in 71% of the blood samples.
In 2007 the Center’s researchers testified on the effects of chlorpyrifos on birth outcomes and child development. In 2015 the EPA proposed banning chlorpyrifos completely. During 2016-2020 banning the neuro-toxic chemical would no longer be on the national agenda. A few states acted independently banning the use of chlorpyrifos completely, Hawaii, (2019) was the first state, followed by California, (2020) and New York State, (2021).
How a pesticide known to be a nerve gas used in chemical warfare (causing tremors, convulsions and death) has made it this long in our homes and foods demands that our research and vigilance persist. We are hopeful that this time around, the federal ban on chlorpyrifos will finally be issued.
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Center for Children's Environmental Health Research |
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President Biden's initial wave of planned executive actions includes an order to reexamine one controversial, but widely used, pesticide called chlorpyrifos. The Trump administration had stepped in to keep the chemical on the market after Obama-era officials tried to ban it. READ MORE
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February 17, 2021,Ya Wang, Frederica Perera , Jia Guo , Kylie W. Riley , Teresa Durham , Zev Ross, Cande V. Ananth , Andrea Baccarelli , Shuang Wang & Julie B. Herbstman
Scientists at the Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health (CCCEH) developed a method using a DNA biomarker to easily screen pregnant women for harmful prenatal environmental contaminants like air pollution linked to childhood illness and developmental disorders. This approach has the potential to prevent childhood developmental disorders and chronic illness through the early identification of children at risk. READ MORE
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Neurotoxicity of Ortho-Phthalates: Recommendations for Critical Policy Reforms to Protect Brain Development in Children, February 18, 2021,Stephanie M. Engel, PhD, Heather B. Patisaul, PhD, Charlotte Brody, RN, Russ Hauser, MD, ScD, MPH, Ami R. Zota, ScD, MS, Deborah H. Bennet, PhD, Maureen Swanson, MPA, and Robin M. Whyatt, DrPH
Robust data from longitudinal birth cohort studies and experimental studies of perinatally exposed animals indicate that exposure to ortho-phthalates can impair brain development and increase risks for learning, attention, and behavioral disorders in childhood. This growing body of evidence, along with known adverse effects on male reproductive tract development, calls for immediate action. READ MORE
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Experts in maternal-fetal medicine and fertility from Columbia and New York-Presbyterian recently addressed these questions in town halls for faculty, staff, and students to discuss what is known about the safety of these vaccines for women of reproductive age. READ MORE
THE TEST IS HIGHLY SENSITIVE AND PREVENTS FALSE POSITIVES THAT HAPPEN DUE TO THE GENETIC SIMILARITY OF SARS-COV-2 AND OTHER HUMAN CORONAVIRUSES
Scientists at the Center for Infection and Immunity (CII) at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and SunYat-Sen University in China have set the stage for the development of highly sensitive antibody tests for infection with all known human coronaviruses, including new variants of SARS-CoV-2. The research is published in Communications Biology, a Nature journal. READ MORE
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February is Black History Month |
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This February the Center's Youth Council, EHJ Advocates, made it a point to share lesser known Black leaders in American History at each session. In celebration of Black History Month we share these with you.
We want to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank the many African American families that have been part of the Center's Research, some families for more than 20 years. We would also like to acknowledge our African-American researcher workers and staff at the Center for their your years of work and dedication to protecting children's environmental health.
Thank You!
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As part of the ECHO (Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes) National Institutes of Health research initiative, Dr. Julie Herbstman is part of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion working group that values insights from the field. We are proud to share thoughts from our study participants and staff in the next few monthly newsletters.
(Final Entry# 4)
1. I enjoy being in a research study because it allows data collected from me to be used to aid others throughout the world.
2. The challenges of being in a research study is that, sometimes I do not feel comfortable sharing some information. A benefit of being in a research study is that It brings different people together. (K.W. CCCEH Youth Council Member)
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Support Columbia's Center for Children's
Environmental Health
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Help us create a world in which every child has a healthy start.
The Center’s research is powering action to reduce the impacts of climate change, air pollution, and toxic chemicals on children and families.
Your support is yielding both immediate and long-term benefits to children’s health today and in the future. Your gift will protect the gains that we have achieved together.
We hope you will make a tax-free gift donation to the Center in order to continue this important work.
With Gratitude
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Julie Herbstman, PhD
Director, Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health
Frederica P. Perera, DrPH, PhD
Director of Translational Research and Founding Director
Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health
Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health
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