Located in western Massachusetts, UMass Amherst is the flagship campus of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' five-campus University of Massachusetts system. UMass Amherst is a nationally recognized teaching and research institution with a current enrollment of about 28,500 students.

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Skeletal Muscle Function Is Altered in Male Mice on Low-Dose Androgen Receptor Antagonist or Estrogen Receptor Agonist

The regulation of endocrine-disrupting chemicals to minimize their impact on health

Benzophenone-3 exposure alters composition of tumor infiltrating immune cells and increases lung seeding of 4T1 breast cancer cells

Evaluating adverse effects of environmental agents in food: a brief critique of the US FDA’s criteria

Association between urinary phthalate biomarker concentrations and adiposity among postmenopausal women

A renowned environmental health scientist, Laura Vandenberg looks at how exposures to chemicals and chemical mixtures, especially early in life, can predispose individuals to diseases. 

Her work instead addresses how low doses of chemicals during critical windows of development can alter gene expression, cell differentiation, and tissue organization in subtle ways that can lead to diseases in adulthood, including  such as cancer, obesity and infertility. 

Vandenberg is specifically interested in the class of chemicals termed "endocrine disruptors" and have worked extensively with chemicals used as plasticizers and flame retardants. Her research also focuses on how traditional toxicology assays have failed to identify a number of ubiquitous endocrine disruptors, and how current risk assessment practices can be improved in the study and regulation of this class of chemicals.

Plastics and Human Health

Endocrine Disruptors

Plastic Exposure

Developmental Biology

Hazard Assessment

Chemical Exposure

UMass Amherst Faculty Profile

Google Scholar Citations

California College Pushes Back on Damning Report About Plastics in Food

UV radiation vs. chemicals in sunscreen: Which is a bigger threat?

plastics

We got rid of BPA in some products — but are the substitutes any safer?

No, You Shouldn't Microwave Plastics

receipts

TOXIC Walmart and McDonald’s receipts could be a danger to your health & contain chemicals that can ‘never be in a human body’

How gas utilities used tobacco tactics to avoid gas stove regulations

Definitely Do Not Put Plastic in the Microwave

Opinion: Hitting the gym or going to yoga? Your workout clothes could be doing more harm than you realize

What you should know about Tupperware and plastic container safety

Associate Vice Chancellor and Vice Provost for Research and Engagement and Professor of Environmental Health Sciences

Experts from the Endocrine Society were taken by surprise earlier this year when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration declared the chemical Bisphenol A (BPA) safe for consumers. BPA is sometimes added to plastics and has been found to interfere with human hormones. Laura Vandenberg, an associate professor with the UMass Amherst School of Public Health and Health Sciences, was among by the announcement. Vanderberg points to the FDA’s data showing an increased risk of breast and prostate cancer as evidence that BPA health risks exist. Prof. Vandenberg joined Host Carrie Saldo in studio to discuss BPA health risks and more.

BPA Health Risks with UMass Professor Laura Vandenberg | Connecting Point | Nov. 27, 201

Laura Vandenberg, PhD discusses "An Introduction to Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals"

EDC Introduction | Laura Vandenberg, PhD

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