Howard E. Woodin Environmental Studies Colloquium Series - Pesticides in Paradise

A Howard E. Woodin Environmental Studies Colloquium Series talk by Virginia Rauh ‘69, Professor and Vice Chair, Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University.

The pristine island of Kauai is ground zero for agrochemical test fields, exposing farm families, school children and local community residents to high levels of a widely used organophosphate pesticide, chlorpyrifos. This is a story of traditional Hawaiian respect for the environment, science, big business, advocacy, and regulatory policy that spans of period of almost 20 years. It is also a story of public health in action.

Dr. Virginia Rauh, Professor and Vice Chair of the Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, is an environmental epidemiologist, whose work focuses on the long-term health effects of toxic social and physical environmental exposures, particularly with respect to socioeconomically disadvantaged and minority populations. Grounded in neuroscience, she has studied the combination of exposure to social and physical stressors, including adverse childhood experiences, the built environment, and specific chemical hazards (tobacco smoke, pesticides, and air pollutants) on pregnancy, maternal, child and family health. She has served on numerous national committees including the Scientific Advisory Board for the Environmental Protection Agency, NIH, and EPA. She is currently Director of Trauma-Free NYC, a New York City academic-community partnership for trauma informed action.

Please visit go/woodincolloquiumseries for Zoom details.