Inside UCSF's Successful Campaign to Combat EDC Exposure

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Submitted by scronin on Tue, 10/28/2025 - 11:41

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The Office of Sustainability successfully wrapped up "Reducing Exposure to EDCs through the 3Rs - Rethink, Reduce, Replace," a grant-funded program supported by the SF Department of the Environment,which raised awareness about the risks of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs).

The program supported over 100 pregnant people, including 45% who live in environmental justice-burdened neighborhoods in San Francisco, through in-person and video trainings.

For this effort, the Office of Sustainability partnered with Sandra Curtis, PhD, principal investigator and program director at the Public Health Institute in Oakland.

“The danger of exposure to toxic chemicals have been well documented. They are in what we eat, drink, food packaging, and products for babies and young children,” Curtis said.

In 2023, the Office of Sustainability first partnered with Curtis on a pilot program at UCSF, open to pregnant UCSF staff, faculty, and learners.

“We got funded to see if a simple month-long education program could reduce exposure to the chemicals (EDCs) in plastics, primarily through how people bought, prepared, and stored their food,” Curtis said.

After a successful pilot, former Sustainability Director Gail Lee, Sustainability Analyst Katie Zheng, Sustainability Fellow Robby Barnes, and Chief Sustainability Officer Kira Stoll, built out a new two-year program expanding their reach to focus on UCSF patients.

Zheng, who managed the program and communicated often with the participants, found the process to be affirming.

“Parents want to do what’s best for their new baby and give their family the healthiest start possible. Being able to support them during this important time was very special," Zheng said.

Sandra Curtis stands in front of presentation slide deck — Curtis presenting on EDCs in the Office of Sustainability's *Reducing Exposure to EDCs through the 3Rs - Rethink, Reduce, Replace program.*

Curtis helped develop surveys and educational materials and led information sessions for the participating parents.

And there was a lot to learn.

According to Curtis, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, or EDCs, fall into two classes: Bisphenols - used to make plastics clear and hard, and Phthalates, which provide softness, flexibility, and durability. EDCs disrupt our bodies by mimicking our natural endocrine hormones. These hormones turn on and off all the regulated systems in our bodies, like sleep, menstrual cycles, and the onset of puberty.

“However, there is no direct, one-to-one effect. It’s not as if you do one thing which will cause a particular result. Microwaving food in plastic containers won’t give you cancer, but the chemicals in the plastic, these EDCs, will leach from the plastic due to the high heat. Eating the resulting warmed food will now contain those chemicals. Likewise, leaving plastic water bottles in the car in the sun will cause the same chemicals to leach into the water, so now you’re not only ingesting the chemicals in the water, but contributing to the plastic waste problem,” Curtis said.

While the pervasiveness of plastic usage can be overwhelming, Curtis encourages people to consider limiting EDC exposure as one of the many daily choices that can improve long-term health.

“I like to tell participants that there are so many toxic exposures we don’t even know we may be subject to; if we can limit the ones we do know about, we can exercise some level of control, rather than feeling overwhelmed.”

Glassware and home supplies on table — Participant kits include glass baby bottles, water bottles, and other plastic free alternatives.

After attending an information session or watching the video recording, participants received kits filled with safe, plastic-free alternatives, including glass baby bottles, food storage containers, beeswax wraps, and reusable water bottles, among other items.

“I felt that this program added to my general well-being by encouraging a healthier lifestyle and giving me the strategies to achieve it. I also felt very cared for when I received the package of glass jars and bottles from the program. I still use them for me and my baby! I also felt cared for by my institution and felt very grateful that an initiative like this was available to me,” participant Madeline Yung said.

In addition to the kits, participants received a complimentary 1-year membership to Thrive Market, an affordable online marketplace featuring healthy products. By utilizing this “Buyer’s Model” program, facilitators provide participants with an avenue to continue purchasing safe alternatives long after the program has ended.

“We hope the combination of education, access to safer products, and the sustainable Buyer’s Model will support lasting behavior change among participants. While we encountered challenges, we also gained valuable insights that can inform future efforts. We are grateful to the UCSF OB/GYN clinics for their partnership and SF Environment for their generous grant support,” Zheng said in her final report.

Chart showing concern of health effects of chemicals — Survey results show participants had increased concern about the health effects of chemicals in plastics after completing the program.

Of the participants surveyed at the end of the program, 99% of participants reported that the information was valuable, 95% said they felt confident that it helped them better understand the effect of toxins on themselves and their child, and 85% said they were likely to purchase the kit items on their own.

After the program, participants also showed increase concern about the health effects of chemicals in plastics.

Participant Tina Hu found the program helped her make more mindful choices about the products her family uses.

“It helped me take this topic that I’ve known about in a more serious manner to motivate me to microwave fewer plastic-containing food containers, use less plastic with baby food, toys, and products, and be mindful of where to try to eliminate my plastic exposure,” Hu said.  

After the program concluded, Curtis and Zheng were invited to present their work with the SF Commission on the Environment at City Hall.

“It was rewarding to share what we accomplished, the lessons learned, and the impact of our program. Presenting to the commissioners felt like a great way to wrap up our efforts, and we were glad to receive such positive feedback,” Zheng said.

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Tue, 10/28/2025 - 12:00

Toxic chemicals are all around us. This program is helping people limit exposure.

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