Laurel Schaider
@laurelschaider.bsky.social
PhD environmental chemist and public health researcher at Silent Spring Institute. Working to reduce exposures to PFAS and other harmful chems. Mom of 2, love to knit, bake, cook veg food, wander in the woods. "Not all those who wander are lost."
Extremely concerning that the new NIEHS director was selected without a regular search process despite a lack of major leadership experience or expertise in environmental chemicals. Hard to think he would have gotten this job without being close friends with the VP.
Scientists are denouncing the appointment of Kyle Walsh, a close friend of Vice President JD Vance, to lead the NIH’s environmental health institute, calling it blatant cronyism. They say Walsh lacks experience in environmental science and proper vetting.
Scientists Call Appointment of JD Vance’s Friend to Top NIH Position “Cronyism”
Critics say Kyle Walsh is unqualified to head an institute that is focused on environmental chemicals and disease.
truthout.org
October 23, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Extremely concerning that the new NIEHS director was selected without a regular search process despite a lack of major leadership experience or expertise in environmental chemicals. Hard to think he would have gotten this job without being close friends with the VP.
Want to learn more about #PFAS? Catch these 2 webinars:
"Understanding PFAS Together: Tribal Voices & Risk Communication" -- I'm moderating this discussion hosted by the STEEP Superfund Research Program and featuring the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. Wed. 10/15 @ 12pm ET
uri-edu.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
"Understanding PFAS Together: Tribal Voices & Risk Communication" -- I'm moderating this discussion hosted by the STEEP Superfund Research Program and featuring the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. Wed. 10/15 @ 12pm ET
uri-edu.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
October 15, 2025 at 5:27 AM
Want to learn more about #PFAS? Catch these 2 webinars:
"Understanding PFAS Together: Tribal Voices & Risk Communication" -- I'm moderating this discussion hosted by the STEEP Superfund Research Program and featuring the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. Wed. 10/15 @ 12pm ET
uri-edu.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
"Understanding PFAS Together: Tribal Voices & Risk Communication" -- I'm moderating this discussion hosted by the STEEP Superfund Research Program and featuring the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. Wed. 10/15 @ 12pm ET
uri-edu.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Such a missed opportunity to address non-essential uses of #PFAS. Cookware, dental floss, cleaning products -- there are substitutes readily available for all of these, and everyday consumer items increase PFAS exposures for consumers and contribute to PFAS in wastewater and the environment.
BREAKING: Gov. Gavin Newsom of California just vetoed a bill that would have banned #PFAS in cookware and other consumer products. Given California's market clout, this is massive blow to public health.
October 14, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Such a missed opportunity to address non-essential uses of #PFAS. Cookware, dental floss, cleaning products -- there are substitutes readily available for all of these, and everyday consumer items increase PFAS exposures for consumers and contribute to PFAS in wastewater and the environment.
Love this article. So many everyday uses of PFAS are non-essential, including cookware.
"A good pan is like a trusted friend: It improves with time, instead of slowly poisoning you."
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/o...
"A good pan is like a trusted friend: It improves with time, instead of slowly poisoning you."
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/o...
Opinion | Relax, America, There Is Life After Nonstick Pans
www.nytimes.com
October 11, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Love this article. So many everyday uses of PFAS are non-essential, including cookware.
"A good pan is like a trusted friend: It improves with time, instead of slowly poisoning you."
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/o...
"A good pan is like a trusted friend: It improves with time, instead of slowly poisoning you."
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/o...
Proud of my alma mater for being the first of 9 universities to reject an unacceptable deal with the administration. Hope the others follow suit.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/u...
M.I.T. Rejects a White House Offer for Special Funding Treatment
www.nytimes.com
October 11, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Proud of my alma mater for being the first of 9 universities to reject an unacceptable deal with the administration. Hope the others follow suit.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/u...
So inspiring to see @mariahblake.bsky.social at the Harvard Bookstore in Cambridge, talking about her important new book on the history and rippling effects of #PFAS. Especially meaningful on the birthday of Rachel Carson, whose book Silent Spring paved the way for the modern environmental movement.
May 30, 2025 at 8:45 PM
So inspiring to see @mariahblake.bsky.social at the Harvard Bookstore in Cambridge, talking about her important new book on the history and rippling effects of #PFAS. Especially meaningful on the birthday of Rachel Carson, whose book Silent Spring paved the way for the modern environmental movement.
Excited to moderating the first in our new STEEP webinar series this Thursday - PFAS on Cape Cod: Connecting Communities with Science for Solutions - featuring Rainer Lohmann of URI and Chris Powicki from Sierra Club Cape Cod & the Islands Group.
To register: web.uri.edu/steep/cape_w...
To register: web.uri.edu/steep/cape_w...
March 18, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Excited to moderating the first in our new STEEP webinar series this Thursday - PFAS on Cape Cod: Connecting Communities with Science for Solutions - featuring Rainer Lohmann of URI and Chris Powicki from Sierra Club Cape Cod & the Islands Group.
To register: web.uri.edu/steep/cape_w...
To register: web.uri.edu/steep/cape_w...
This is awful and will undermine #EPA's ability to protect public health and the environment.
Just in the field of #PFAS, much of what we know about the range of PFAS compounds in our environment and the extent of PFAS contamination was uncovered by the extraordinary work of EPA scientists.
Just in the field of #PFAS, much of what we know about the range of PFAS compounds in our environment and the extent of PFAS contamination was uncovered by the extraordinary work of EPA scientists.
Devastating.
One snippet of what #EPA ORD has accomplished in just the last year: create the most comprehensive map of US water system service area boundaries to date.
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/17/c...
One snippet of what #EPA ORD has accomplished in just the last year: create the most comprehensive map of US water system service area boundaries to date.
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/17/c...
Trump Administration Aims to Eliminate E.P.A.’s Scientific Research Arm
More than 1,000 chemists, biologists and other scientists could be laid off under a plan to dismantle the Office of Research and Development.
www.nytimes.com
March 18, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Our new Silent Spring Institute paper in Environmental Health Perspectives found that nearly a third of people in the U.S. have been exposed to unregulated contaminants in their drinking water that could impact their health.
ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/...
with @jahredwithanh.bsky.social
ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/...
with @jahredwithanh.bsky.social
Socioeconomic Disparities in Exposures to PFAS and Other Unregulated Industrial Drinking Water Contaminants in US Public Water Systems | Environmental Health Perspectives | Vol. 133, No. 1
Background: Unregulated contaminants in drinking water, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
(PFAS), can contribute to cumulative health risks, particularly in overburdened and
less-advantaged ...
ehp.niehs.nih.gov
January 17, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Our new Silent Spring Institute paper in Environmental Health Perspectives found that nearly a third of people in the U.S. have been exposed to unregulated contaminants in their drinking water that could impact their health.
ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/...
with @jahredwithanh.bsky.social
ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/...
with @jahredwithanh.bsky.social
Thanks to Houston FOX 26 for inviting me to talk about the dangers of PFAS in dental floss.
Teflon dental floss like Oral B Glide is a non-essential use of #PFAS. Everyone should floss daily, but there are plenty of non-Teflon options out there.
www.fox26houston.com/video/1570788
Teflon dental floss like Oral B Glide is a non-essential use of #PFAS. Everyone should floss daily, but there are plenty of non-Teflon options out there.
www.fox26houston.com/video/1570788
Is your dental floss toxic?
Dr. Laurel Schaider co-authored a dental floss study. The study shows that some dental floss brands have PFAS. Dr. Schaider explains how concerned we should be about this.
www.fox26houston.com
January 3, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Thanks to Houston FOX 26 for inviting me to talk about the dangers of PFAS in dental floss.
Teflon dental floss like Oral B Glide is a non-essential use of #PFAS. Everyone should floss daily, but there are plenty of non-Teflon options out there.
www.fox26houston.com/video/1570788
Teflon dental floss like Oral B Glide is a non-essential use of #PFAS. Everyone should floss daily, but there are plenty of non-Teflon options out there.
www.fox26houston.com/video/1570788
Thank you Senator
@jeff-merkley.bsky.social for hosting today’s Senate subcommittee hearing on #PFAS exposures and health effects. It’s critically important that we take steps to avoid unnecessary PFAS exposures now and work to develop additional PFAS-free alternatives in the future.
@jeff-merkley.bsky.social for hosting today’s Senate subcommittee hearing on #PFAS exposures and health effects. It’s critically important that we take steps to avoid unnecessary PFAS exposures now and work to develop additional PFAS-free alternatives in the future.
December 5, 2024 at 9:18 PM
Thank you Senator
@jeff-merkley.bsky.social for hosting today’s Senate subcommittee hearing on #PFAS exposures and health effects. It’s critically important that we take steps to avoid unnecessary PFAS exposures now and work to develop additional PFAS-free alternatives in the future.
@jeff-merkley.bsky.social for hosting today’s Senate subcommittee hearing on #PFAS exposures and health effects. It’s critically important that we take steps to avoid unnecessary PFAS exposures now and work to develop additional PFAS-free alternatives in the future.
Excited to be at the Senate today with Dr Sue Fenton of NC State to provide testimony to talk about the importance of addressing the many challenges of #PFAS.
Starts at 9:30!
Live-streaming at:
www.epw.senate.gov/public/index...
Starts at 9:30!
Live-streaming at:
www.epw.senate.gov/public/index...
December 5, 2024 at 2:05 PM
Excited to be at the Senate today with Dr Sue Fenton of NC State to provide testimony to talk about the importance of addressing the many challenges of #PFAS.
Starts at 9:30!
Live-streaming at:
www.epw.senate.gov/public/index...
Starts at 9:30!
Live-streaming at:
www.epw.senate.gov/public/index...
My first post on BlueSky - nice to be connecting and reconnecting with so many people in this new space.
I'm honored to be speaking at this Senate subcommittee hearing next week on "Examining the Public Health Impacts of PFAS Exposures"!
www.epw.senate.gov/public/index...
I'm honored to be speaking at this Senate subcommittee hearing next week on "Examining the Public Health Impacts of PFAS Exposures"!
www.epw.senate.gov/public/index...
Examining the Public Health Impacts of PFAS Exposures
www.epw.senate.gov
November 26, 2024 at 6:45 PM
My first post on BlueSky - nice to be connecting and reconnecting with so many people in this new space.
I'm honored to be speaking at this Senate subcommittee hearing next week on "Examining the Public Health Impacts of PFAS Exposures"!
www.epw.senate.gov/public/index...
I'm honored to be speaking at this Senate subcommittee hearing next week on "Examining the Public Health Impacts of PFAS Exposures"!
www.epw.senate.gov/public/index...