To View Lecture Slides: Click on topics underlined below
The Fire Retardant Dilemma, Session VIII: New Research on Human Health Impacts
February 12, 2010
How can we achieve fire and environmental safety as well as protect public health? This series brings together contributors from industry, government, academia, and citizen groups to share information and research results on the impacts of new fire retardant technologies, materials, and policies and discuss solutions to the fire retardant dilemma. We will expand this continuing discussion of protecting human health and the environment by reducing toxic chemicals in consumer products.
Conference Details
Agenda (Word Doc)
The Green Science Policy Institute Fire Retardant Dilemma Symposia are held from 8:30am - 4:00pm
150 University Hall, UC Berkeley
2199 Addison Street, Berkeley (Corner of Oxford & Addison Streets)
To attend, RSVP with your contact information: FRDilemma@gmail.com or 510.644.3164.
Speakers to date:
- Mary Turyk, PhD, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, PBDEs and Human Health: Effects on Thyroid and Reproductive Hormones.
- Tom Webster, DSc, Department of Environmental Health, Boston University Introduction to Human Exposure and Epidemiology Studies: Flame Retardants and other Persistent Halogenated Chemicals
- Asa Bradman, PhD, MS, Center for Children's Environmental Health Research, School of Public Health, UCB, PBDE exposure and health effects in pregnant women and children in a California agricultural community.
- Glenys Webster, MRM, Director, Chemicals, Health and Pregnancy study, U. British Columbia, Do brominated flame retardants impact maternal thyroid hormones? Preliminary results from the CHirP study in Canada.
- Arlene Blum, Ph.D., Visiting Scholar, UC Berkeley, Do Flame Retardants Save Lives? How Science Can Impact Regulation and Report from the Dioxin 2009 meeting in Beijing
- Judith Murawski, MSc, CIH, Industrial Hygienist, Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, Welcome aboard Toxic Airlines: Chemicals and Flight Attendant Health
Panel Sessions:
- How can human health results be brought into the policy arena to protect health and the environment?
- Making a plan to bring human health results into policy decisions about chemicals with actions steps and milestones
The Fire Retardant Dilemma: Part VIII
May 8, 2009
Presentations:
Arlene Blum, PhD, Visiting Scholar, Department of Chemistry, UC Berkeley
The Fire Retardant Dilemma
Dr. Susan D. Shaw, DrPH, Director, Marine Environmental Research Institute (MERI), Blue Hill, Maine
Bioaccumulation and Health Risks of PBDEs and PFCs in Marine Mammals: Are We Running out of Time?
Dr. Donna Mensching, DVM, U of Illinois, College of Veterinary Medicine
The ABCs and PBDEs of Feline Hyperthyroidism: Current Findings on a Modern Epidemic
Kris Senecal, Research Biologist, US Army Natick Soldier Center
Protecting our Troops from Fire Injuries as well as Fire Retardants
Dr. Carl Cranor, PhD, University of California, Riverside
Reckless Nation, Contaminated Nation: Some Legal Strategies to Reduce Risks to Children
Panel Discussion with speakers and Daniela Maldini, PhD, Okeanis, Steve Shimek, The Otter Project, Andrea Neal PhD, Ocean Futures
California Sea Otters: Immune Suppressed Otters are Swimming in a Soup of Disease
- Can health problems of marine mammals be related to chemical exposures?
The Fire Retardant Dilemma: Part VII
January 30, 2009
Presentations:
Arlene Blum, Ph.D., Visiting Scholar, UC Berkeley; “Review of The Fire Retardant Dilemma Parts I-VI" (part 2)
Sarah Janssen, PhD, MD, MPH, Natural Resources Defense Council
“Halogenated Fire Retardants“
Laura A. Geer, PhD, MHS, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY
“How to measure human exposure to persistent halogenated chemicals“
Tom Webster, D.Sc., Associate Professor and Associate Chair, Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health
“Exposure to PBDEs: From Product to Person“
Rachael A. Baker, Environmental Supply Chain Manager, and Tom Cooper, Environmental Design and Research, Kaiser Permanente.
“How Kaiser is using supplier engagement and environmental disclosure practices to drive the market for safer materials“
Russ Batson, VP, Government Affairs, American home Furnishing Alliance
“Manufactures caught in the crossfire: achieving fire, health, and environmental safety“
Lauren Heine, Alexandra McPherson, Clean Production Action Moving to Safer Alternatives
“Moving to Safer Alternatives“
Jerker Ligthart, International Chemical Secretariat (ChemSec), Sweden
“ChemSec, the SIN (Substitute It Now) List and how to eliminate hazardous substances including brominated and chlorinated fire retardants“
Panel Discussions:
- How to obtain information on the impact of fire retardant chemicals on human health.
- How can business, industry, NGOs, and scientists work together to reduce the unnecessary use of halogenated fire retardants in consumer products?
The Fire Retardant Dilemma: Part VI
September 19, 2008
Presentations:
Arlene Blum, Ph.D., Visiting Scholar, UC Berkeley; Review of The Fire Retardant Dilemma Parts I-V
Margarita C. Curras-Collazo, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Neuroscience, Department of Cell Biology & Neuroscience, UC Riverside
“New information on how exposure to fire retardant chemicals before birth can permanently harm the neuroendocrine system, body water regulation, and cardiovascular function.“
Susan Klosterhaus, San Francisco Estuary Institute,
“Firemaster 550, the major pentaBDE replacement, is found is sewage sludge and household dust“
Brendon Levitt, LOISOS + UBBELOHDE ASSOCIATES
“Non-toxic insulation for Green Buildings”
Michael Wilson and Megan Schwarzman, School of Public Health, UC Berkeley
“Green Chemistry: Cornerstone to a Sustainable California“
Alastair Iles, Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Science, Policy, & Management, UC Berkeley
“Seeking Alternatives: How Industry Can Move to Safer Chemical Products”
Panel Discussions:
- Non-toxic insulation for Green Buildings
- How can Green Chemistry help solve the Fire Retardant Dilemma? What else can be done?
