Recent News Maryland Pesticide Newsletter 20 Mar 2023 I recently started as an assistant professor in the Department of Entomology at the University of Maryland, College Park. As part of my extension duties, I am serving as Maryland's…
Recent News Pesticide updates from the EPA 27 Nov 2022February 3, 2023 The EPA Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) regularly shares updates via this link (you can also sign up for updates). Over the last three months, the OPP tackled multiple issues,…
Recent News EPA’s plan to keep up with ESA 22 Apr 2022April 30, 2022 Workplan reference: https://www.epa.gov/endangered-species/epas-workplan-and-progress-toward-better-protections-endangered-species#workplan Feature image: https://www.epa.gov/endangered-species The EPA recently announced that it will evaluate the potential effects of all new pesticide active ingredients on federally endangered or threatened (i.e., listed)…
Special Topics What’s true when it comes to chemical regulations in the U.S. 20 Oct 2019November 27, 2021 Given the details and complexities of chemical regulation, it is not surprising that there is some confusion over what it entails. It took me several classes and specific readings to…
NAS reports Preparing for future biotech products 16 Oct 2019January 5, 2020 The "Preparing for Future Products of Biotechnology" National Academy Sciences (NAS) report was released in 2017. The report can be read or downloaded here for free: https://www.nap.edu/catalog/24605/preparing-for-future-products-of-biotechnology. All images used…
Special Topics Why synthetic chemicals seem more toxic than natural ones 24 Aug 2019December 7, 2019 This post was originally published in Aeon Magazine. I wrote this article in the hope that it addresses the disproportionate fear that many people associate with chemicals, and to also…
Basics of Toxicology Estimating risk to non-humans 28 Dec 2018December 29, 2021 Featured image: Due to their pollination services and declining numbers, bees are often tested for their susceptibility to pesticides. Photo source: Maciej A. Czyzewski [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 4.0…
Basics of Toxicology Estimating risk to humans 25 Dec 2018December 29, 2021 Featured image: The difference between hazard and risk. Image source: European Food Safety Authority, 2016 We all know sharks can be dangerous. But most of us don't spend our waking…
Special Topics Environmental toxicology laws in the U.S. 13 Jan 2018December 5, 2022 Feature image: EPA is responsible for implementing most of the environmental protection laws in the United States (Image source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) Many environmental toxicology laws (and laws pertaining…
Special Topics Rachel Carson’s legacy 8 Jan 2018October 29, 2021 Feature image: Rachel Carson (Photo source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) If there is one name you should know if you want to learn more about environmental toxicology, it is…
EnTox Simplified 