Listen to the podcast.

What's Up with Mixtures?

WHEN THE EPA TESTS CHEMICALS FOR SAFETY, THEY DO IT ONE AT A TIME.  WHAT HAPPENS WHEN, IN THE REAL WORLD, WE’RE EXPOSED TO MANY CHEMICALS ALL AT THE SAME TIME?  LEARN MORE ON TODAY’S ENVIRONMINUTE.  

TYRONE HAYES, A PROFESSOR AT UC BERKELEY, THOUGHT THE STANDARD WAY TO TEST HEALTH EFFECTS MIGHT BE MISSING SOMETHING -- THOSE TESTS ARE ALL DONE ONE CHEMICAL AT A TIME. HE EXPOSED TADPOLES TO A MIXTURE OF NINE PESTICIDES, EACH ONE AT A LEVEL WHERE IT HAD ALMOST NO EFFECT.  WHEN HE EXPOSED YOUNG TADPOLES TO THE MIXTURE, THIRTY-FIVE PERCENT DIED AND THE REST HAD A BACTERIAL INFECTION MAKING THEM UNABLE TO SIT UP, AKIN TO A TADPOLE MENINGITIS.  IT TURNS OUT THE CHEMICAL MIXTURE DESTROYED THE TADPOLES’ DISEASE RESISTANCE, MAKING THEM VULNERABLE TO A BACTERIA THEY NORMALLY WOULD HAVE FOUGHT OFF SUCCESSFULLY. 

THE RESULTS SUGGEST WE NEED TO RETHINK THE WAY CHEMICALS ARE EXAMINED FOR SAFETY.

THE ENVIRONMINUTE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HEINZ FAMILY PHILANTHROPIES AND THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS.  LEARN MORE BY VISITING ENVIRONMINUTE-DOT-COM. 

Read more in the Oakland Tribune.