Ask a Tox Doc: Are “forever chemicals” in takeout food containers?
Our toxicologist, Dr. Shirlee Tan, explains about why PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” are a concern and what consumers should know about PFAS in food packaging.
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Deathcap Mushroom Season is here: Mushroom foragers should take extreme care
Watch out, mushroom foragers. Fall rains bring blooms of Amanita phalloides, better known as the death cap mushroom. They are common in Western Washington, and were found recently on the University of Washington Seattle campus. The death cap mushroom has no distinctive odor or taste and resembles other nontoxic varieties. Consumption of the Amanita […]
Read MoreWhy testing for lead helps kids…and how you can get free testing
Lead exposure can harm brain growth in young children, so it’s important for toddlers and preschoolers to be tested for lead if they have any of the risk factors. We’re offering free lead testing at many events this August, and we have a comic strip to explain why testing for lead benefits young children.
Read MoreGet Ready for Wildfire Smoke Season
Now is the time to get ready for smoke season, especially taking steps to protect your health. Learn what you may need in your home, what to plan for at work, and when to talk to your healthcare provider about smoke exposure.
Read MoreWhat we love about 2018
We’re nearing the end of 2018, and that means it’s time to look back at our department’s hard work with partners throughout the year for a healthier community. Just a few things that made us proud this year Protecting family planning: Our Family Planning program successfully defended key programs threatened by federal policy changes. Addressing […]
Read MoreWhy lead is a public health issue and what we’re doing about it
If you’ve picked up a newspaper or watched television in the last few years, you’ve probably seen stories about lead poisoning locally and nationally. What’s the deal with lead and why is it a public health issue?
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