Metals Found at Elevated Levels in Ultrasonic Cigarettes

Dr. Ester Omaiye, a postdoctoral fellow and ETOX alumna and Prue Talbot, a Professor in the Department of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology and ETOX faculty member, have recently published the results of their studies showing that ultrasonic cigarettes contain elevated levels of various metals including arsenic, selenium, nickel, silicon, copper and zinc. Because exposure can occur on a repeated basis over a long period of time, these exposures could potentially result in several serious diseases including respiratory diseases such as silicosis and metal fume fever as well as cancer of the lungs, bladder and other tissues.  More information on their study can be found in a recent UCR News article.  Our congratulations to Ester and Prue for this recognition of their important work.  [The photo above is from the UCR News article.]

Another Successful Annual Student Symposium

On Wednesday May 28, the Environmental Toxicology Graduate Program held its annual Student Symposium which consisted of student oral and poster presentations, several meals, a career panel discussion with two alumni Drs. Zhenshan "Hill" Chen and Vanessa Cheng, and a host of awards.  The symposium was a great success with many excellent student presentations.  The award winners were: 

Fukuto Award   Benjamin Maki

Best Oral Presentation Awards: Xiaochen Liang & William Troxel

Honorable mention: John Hoang & Lillian Tran

Audience Choice Award: John Hoang, William Troxel

Best Poster Presentation Award: Anthony Rios

Honorable mention: Zhixin Fang

Best presentation in the weekly seminar series: Ting Zhao

ETOX Faculty Mentor of the Year: Prof. Adler Dillman

We would like to give a special thanks to Dr. Ying-Hsuan Lin, Dustin Domingo, John Hoang and other members of the organizing committee, the moderators (John Hoang, Ting Zhao, Jacob Perkins, Benjamin Maki), the career panel facilitator (William Troxel) and our alumni (Drs. Zhenshan Chen and Vanessa) and the faculty judges. Below are photos of the event, almost all taken by the Program Director Linlin Zhao.  

Beni Maki, the Fukuto Award Winner

The Career Panel with William Troxel (moderator), Zhenshan Chen and Vanessa Cheng (ETOX Alumni)

Prof. Dave Volz Publishes Article Advocating Restriction of Flame Retardants in Furniture

Dave Volz, professor in the Environmental Sciences Department and ETOX faculty member, recently published an opinion piece in the journal Environmental Sciences & Technology advocating that California permanently ban the use of flame retardants in furniture.  He describes the history and problems associated with flame retardant use in California, and foresees that there will be a resurgence in the use of flame retardants if California does not update its furniture flammability standard to ban their usage.  More information about his proposal and the use of flame retardants can be found in a recent UC Riverside News article.  Our congratulations to Dave for this recognition of his work, and for addressing this important issue. [The photo above is from the UC Riverside News article.]